United Airlines Letting Families Board Early Again After Reversing 4-Year Policy
United Airlines is finally letting families with young children board early again after four years. Starting Feb. 15, families with children aged two and under will be prioritized before first class and elite members, per the Associated Press.
The airline reversed its policy from April 2012 about families with children aged two and under boarding the airplane after a hoard of passengers. United's Senior Vice President of Customers Sandra Pineau-Boddison said that the policy was reversed because of the company's effort to be more attentive to their passengers' needs, especially after several controversial complaints last year.
"It takes a little bit of the stress out of the travel situation. Some things are just the right thing to do," Pineau-Boddison said. United joins several other airlines like American, Delta Air and Hawaiian, who let families with kids board first before its first-class customers.
Associated Press noted that airlines should balance the way they let their passengers aboard because those who are elite members pay extra for exclusive perks and services. Many passengers are trying to get on the plane quickly because of limited overhead bins for their bags while late boarding passengers usually check in their bags at the gate.
United Airlines also announced last Monday that starting Feb. 1, free snacks are available for passengers on flights within North America, to and from Central America, and between Honolulu, Hawaii and Guam, per the United Newsroom. Customers will be able to enjoy stroopwafels, which is a Dutch-made, cinnamon-flavored, caramel-filled toasted waffle on flights before 9:45 a.m.
The stroopwafels come along with a cup of tea and coffee. Meanwhile, passengers later in the day can choose from two types of available snacks. The first snack is an Asian-style snack mix of rice crackers, sesame sticks and wasabi peas while the other snack is a fresh mix of mini pretzel sticks, Cajun corn sticks and ranch soy nuts.
"With signature service elements and more personal touches, we are redefining what it means to fly United Airlines. For the customer heading home from a business trip and for the family embarking on a long-planned vacation, we are building a new in-flight experience of comfort and familiarity, with complimentary snacks playing a small but important part," United Airlines' Vice President of Food Services Jimmy Samartzis said in a statement.
According to USA Today, United passengers can also purchase other snacks like Chex Mex and Pringles for $3.99 each via United's Choice Menu items. Healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner are also available starting at $9.99 per meal.
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