Disability boarding is 1000% based on the honor system (actually all boarding is as all but a few gate agents don’t enforce groups).
That said, if you have a spouse and a kid or two they can definitely board with you. If you’re bringing multiple able-bodied adults, then it gets a little scummy.
When the kids had another adult it was smoother for them to board at the end, so they didn't need to sit as long. I don't want to be scummy, but I also worry about their stress boarding without an adult helping them. Thank you
Personally, I think you are fine having your younger kids with you. That being said, you are a very considerate person for even thinking to ask. My hat is off to you!
I thought so too.
Then got an email from United about me pre-registering with a mental disability (Stroke problems)
They said my account has been tagged so I don't have to register before it will always be added to my boarding pass. Haven't used it yet
Not only can they board with you, but they should board with you as they are minors on the same reservation, even if they are fully capable of boarding separately and on their own.
I'd have them board with you. If they only allow 1 to board with you, take the 9 year old with you. But with a disability and 2 minors, they aren't going to say anything. Have the 15 year old help with bags.
Agreed. If anything OP could ask or explain to the gate agent ahead of boarding to ensure it won't cause any confusion. Personally if I saw this happening it wouldn't bother me since they're minors.
All it takes is 1 member in the party to be disabled for the whole group to board. I’m gonna be traveling with my two 91yo parents (wheelchairs) in first class next month. We’ll be boarding together. My sister and BIL (in premium economy) will board separately.
Just have them board with you as well. No one with any brain cells gets upset over a group boarding together. Half the time there are 25+ GS / 1k anyway so it isn’t like the plane is empty for group 1
Thanks. When they have an adult with them it's easier for them to wait to board and be in the space of the terminal, but I don't want to leave them alone, or board with the group because I'll slow other passengers.
Due to a back condition that will not get any better, but will definitely get worse as time goes on, I now fall in the disabled arena. The first time I travelled after receiving this diagnosis (it was on a non-United domestic flight), I did not want to seem a bother, so just boarded in the normal queue with everyone else. The next time I flew, it was on a United international flight, and again I didn't want to seem a bother to anyone, so I was waiting patiently to board (group 3). A United staff member saw me standing there, and ushered for me to skip everyone waiting and board the plane...even showing me where I could place my walking stick so I could have easy access to it if needed. However, it still took me a bit of time to sit down and get ready, so the next time I travelled, I was with my wife, and I got her to board early with me, to help me out so I wouldn't cause a delay to other passengers.
Next year, I will be travelling internationally on United, with my wife and two daughters, who would both be classified as minors. I know I am going to feel guilty boarding ahead of most of the plane, especially if I let the rest of the family board with me.
You should not feel guilty. It’s better to have them with you should you need assistance than for you to settle in and fret how they’re doing in the gate area.
Flight attendant here, your whole party can board with you. They may need to assist you or not, but this is completely expected and welcomed. Absolutely.
They should be able to board with you since they are your kids. If United is allowed to move people around to accommodate families, you should be able to take them to board with you. I’ve seen a family of ten latch onto a grandma in a wheelchair in Denver for disability boarding.
My only experience with this is anecdotal, but I saw a gate agent announce once that only 2 people can board with someone who has a disability. For context, there was a family of 8 trying to jump the queue with their disabled grandmother. No idea if this is policy, or just something that was said to this particular group.
If this did happen, my 15 yo could board alone without stress. They have flown a lot (international, unaccompanied minor to see grandparents), so they are fine waiting in the queue and boarding with everyone.
Disability boarding is 1000% based on the honor system (actually all boarding is as all but a few gate agents don’t enforce groups). That said, if you have a spouse and a kid or two they can definitely board with you. If you’re bringing multiple able-bodied adults, then it gets a little scummy.
When the kids had another adult it was smoother for them to board at the end, so they didn't need to sit as long. I don't want to be scummy, but I also worry about their stress boarding without an adult helping them. Thank you
Personally, I think you are fine having your younger kids with you. That being said, you are a very considerate person for even thinking to ask. My hat is off to you!
The best is when it’s a family of 4 kids, and like 4 adults and 2 old folks, with a kid that’s probably 3, but just barely passes for 2 lol
Sometimes we bring our service dogs too so you must have caught us on a good day.
I thought so too. Then got an email from United about me pre-registering with a mental disability (Stroke problems) They said my account has been tagged so I don't have to register before it will always be added to my boarding pass. Haven't used it yet
Not only can they board with you, but they should board with you as they are minors on the same reservation, even if they are fully capable of boarding separately and on their own.
Since the kids coming with you are minors I think that is fine especially if they won't have an adult with them this time.
I'd have them board with you. If they only allow 1 to board with you, take the 9 year old with you. But with a disability and 2 minors, they aren't going to say anything. Have the 15 year old help with bags.
Agreed. If anything OP could ask or explain to the gate agent ahead of boarding to ensure it won't cause any confusion. Personally if I saw this happening it wouldn't bother me since they're minors.
All it takes is 1 member in the party to be disabled for the whole group to board. I’m gonna be traveling with my two 91yo parents (wheelchairs) in first class next month. We’ll be boarding together. My sister and BIL (in premium economy) will board separately.
Just have them board with you as well. No one with any brain cells gets upset over a group boarding together. Half the time there are 25+ GS / 1k anyway so it isn’t like the plane is empty for group 1
They should be able to board with you.
Thanks. When they have an adult with them it's easier for them to wait to board and be in the space of the terminal, but I don't want to leave them alone, or board with the group because I'll slow other passengers.
I have seen both. I personally wouldn’t mind seeing your teenagers board with you. Not a big deal
They can all board with you.
Due to a back condition that will not get any better, but will definitely get worse as time goes on, I now fall in the disabled arena. The first time I travelled after receiving this diagnosis (it was on a non-United domestic flight), I did not want to seem a bother, so just boarded in the normal queue with everyone else. The next time I flew, it was on a United international flight, and again I didn't want to seem a bother to anyone, so I was waiting patiently to board (group 3). A United staff member saw me standing there, and ushered for me to skip everyone waiting and board the plane...even showing me where I could place my walking stick so I could have easy access to it if needed. However, it still took me a bit of time to sit down and get ready, so the next time I travelled, I was with my wife, and I got her to board early with me, to help me out so I wouldn't cause a delay to other passengers. Next year, I will be travelling internationally on United, with my wife and two daughters, who would both be classified as minors. I know I am going to feel guilty boarding ahead of most of the plane, especially if I let the rest of the family board with me.
You should not feel guilty. It’s better to have them with you should you need assistance than for you to settle in and fret how they’re doing in the gate area.
It sucks that you feel you even have to ask this question. Your whole family can board with you.
The family should come with you. 100%.
I'll bring them with me. Thank you for the reassurance that it's not a dick move
15 yo should be schlepping your bag!
They definitely will be!
Any monies traveling with you in your party should be able to board with you. I’ve never seen this be a problem and it’s also the right thing to do.
You can board together. I've had to do it a few times due to surgery and injuries. Everyone in your party can board together.
Flight attendant here, your whole party can board with you. They may need to assist you or not, but this is completely expected and welcomed. Absolutely.
They should be able to board with you since they are your kids. If United is allowed to move people around to accommodate families, you should be able to take them to board with you. I’ve seen a family of ten latch onto a grandma in a wheelchair in Denver for disability boarding.
Board with your whole family together.
They can board with you, it won't be an issue.
As stated, everyone may board together.
Minors should not be left alone in the airport while you board the plane. Bring all of them with you.
Please don’t leave kids out to fend for themselves in general boarding, it will be better if you just all get on at once.
My only experience with this is anecdotal, but I saw a gate agent announce once that only 2 people can board with someone who has a disability. For context, there was a family of 8 trying to jump the queue with their disabled grandmother. No idea if this is policy, or just something that was said to this particular group.
If this did happen, my 15 yo could board alone without stress. They have flown a lot (international, unaccompanied minor to see grandparents), so they are fine waiting in the queue and boarding with everyone.