After Southwest Airlines family boarding policy change, here are policies on other airlines
Southwest Airlines updated its family boarding policy after a same-sex Florida couple said they faced discrimination by a boarding agent two years ago.
The policy now allows "two adults" to board together with children under 6 during family boarding, instead of "an adult."
Here are other rules for other major U.S. carriers, as reported by Fort Myers News-Press, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.
American Airlines
American Airlines' website says families traveling with children under 2 years old can ask to board early at the gate. Children 2 and older are required to have their own seat, and children under 5 "can't travel alone under any circumstances," the website reads.
More: Follow this checklist for traveling with kids to keep them safe and smiling
Delta Air Lines
Customers traveling with car seats and strollers are eligible for first class/Delta Premium Select boarding order, which is after preboarding and Delta One. A customer service representative said families are not split up during the boarding process, regardless of gender.
United Airlines
Families with children under the age of 2 are included in preboarding, according to the airlines' website. A media relations representative for United said the airline does not define what a family is.
United's website says purchasing advance seat assignments is the best way for families to stay together on flights.
"If you don’t select your seats in advance, we’ll do our best to find adjoining seats for your family on the same reservation in the cabin you booked a few days before your flight departs," the website reads. "However, available seats may be limited at that time and your family or group may be split."
Alaska Airlines
Families with children under the age of 2 are including in the preboarding group, according to the airline's website.
JetBlue Airways
Passengers flying with children in car seats or strollers can board before general boarding but after preboarding and flyers with elite rewards status, according to JetBlue's website. A JetBlue spokesperson said via email that both parents may board with children during the family boarding process.
Spirit Airlines
Derek Dombrowski, media relations manager for Spirit Airlines, said there is less urgency to get on board Spirit planes because the airline has assigned seating.
"We provide family boarding at the beginning of the boarding process and have no requirements on gender or number of adults," Dombrowski said via email. "The child must be 2 years or younger."
Frontier Airlines
Families board directly after zone 1/priority boarding, according to Frontier Airlines' website.
Allegiant Air
Allegiant does not list a specific family boarding policy on its website, but those with car seats or strollers can preboard, said Allegiant spokesperson Sonya Padgett.
"However, if a passenger requires extra time to board, we do everything we can to assist them," Padgett noted. "That includes welcoming them during preboarding."
Hawaiian Airlines
Families with children under 2 are eligible for pre-boarding, according to Hawaiian Airlines' website.
Sun Country Airlines
Kirsten Wenker, senior communications manager with the Sun Country, said families with infants or small children are invited to board early together.
"We also announce at the gate that any families with children in different boarding zones should all board together," Wenker said via email.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: After Southwest Airlines family boarding policy change, here are policies on other airlines
