Why families with small children should board planes last, according to a former flight attendant

Any parent who flies with young children knows that the boarding situation can be stressful. Though airlines usually invite families with young children to board first, one former flight attendant is challenging the idea. In fact, she thinks people with small children should board last, and she has convincing reasoning behind it.In a TikTok video that has crossed over 2 million views, Florida-based ex-flight attendant Laura expressed that families with babies should board last, not first. This contradicts decades of standard airline protocol.“Okay, don’t come for me, but I think families with babies should board LAST…” she said in the caption.In the video, the ex-flight attendant shared her own frustrating experience of boarding with her young son. As someone who ‘spent years watching families board first and slowly unravel before we even closed the door’, Laura has a different take.She has seen anxiety building up among families with young children while waiting for the rest of the flight. “Board last. Sit down. Take off immediately. Baby never knows the difference… The pre-board privilege is a trap. I handed it out for years and I’m only now admitting that,” Laura suggested.Her thoughts immediately struck a chord with the audience. Over 4,000 people dropped comments, expressing their views on the same. Some even shared their suggestions.“Hear me out — one parent boards first and gets everything loaded and ready while the other gets the energy out of the kiddo and boards last with them!” one netizen commented. Another said, “I will never understand why they don’t just board the back of the plane first.” A third chimed in, “Hear me out — they don’t board at all…”Some people thought that the protocol should be left as it is. “Gotta get the overhead bin space for the stroller and get the car seat in! Two adults travelling works, but solo with a child, gotta get on first.”One had an alternative idea to boarding first or last. “My husband goes in first, sets the car seats, organises the items we need for the flight, puts away what’s not necessary, and makes sure some ‘what if’ items are easy to reach. Then, when everyone has boarded, I come in with our boys. Best thing ever. No need to have babies sitting there longer.”