https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:47:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-918158 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:52:13 +0000 mynoahbear 918158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So sorry you had such a bad flight. United really does suck. We flew United this past spring when we went home to the States. They also no longer let babies and kids pre board plus the service in flight, as well as on the ground, was really horrible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-918153 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:43:06 +0000 lemondrop 918153@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Terrible! Making a mental note not to ever use United if I can avoid it! So glad your husband will be able to fly with you next time, that is just so unacceptable how they treat people :(</p> <p>I had a great experience flying alone with my little guy on Delta- everyone bent over backwards to help us out. I've also had good experiences with Southwest while pregnant. US Air has tried to bump my seats too many times, so I tend to avoid them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-918148 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 01:30:27 +0000 BSB 918148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man. That sucks. I'm sorry. </p> <p>I've flown Alaska and US Air and they usually allow families with small children board. I would hope if I was pregnant they would let me pre-board. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-918134 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 00:58:03 +0000 littlepenguin 918134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sucks that people didn't give up their seat for you. I probably would have just sat on the floor.</p> <p>I flew at 2 months, and I was noticeably pregnant. People were pretty nice to me. I checked my luggage at the gate so I didn't have to worry about lifting it, since I'm on the shorter side.</p> <p>I recently flew alone (on Alaskan Airlines) with my 4 month old and the stewardess and other passengers were exceptionally nice to me. They even offered to let me move to an empty row so we could have more space. </p> <p>A tip a friend told me for traveling with a baby is to bring ear plugs and/or candy bars for the people around you. I didn't do it on my most recent trip, but on a longer flight I might consider doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-916669 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:29:22 +0000 LemonLong 916669@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew 8 times when I was preggo, most of the flights were in my second and third trimester. I never got any special treatment from anyone. I always checked my bag even though it was carry on size so I wouldn't have to lift it. It did annoy me when I rode the airport trams that no one would move so I could sit or hold onto the pole since I felt very unbalanced. One one flight there was 4 of us in our third trimester which was pretty funny. The flight attendant said she was hoping there was a doctor on board just in case! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-916667 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:29:07 +0000 Bookish 916667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I am so sorry. We flew United at 32 weeks and they definitely did not give a crap that I was preggo. Icing on my cake was the dude in front of me, after seeing a visibly pregnant woman behind him, put his seat allll the way back. I couldn't put my tray down :( I shoved the hell out of his seat every time I got up to pee.. :p </p> <p>but man...your experience makes me so sad. What bs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-916665 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:27:33 +0000 Sprite 916665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I"m so sorry lady. :( In my experience United just overall sucks. Unfortunately they're the only airline that flies direct to where my parents live and I have to endure them a few times a year, but geez. At least a passenger could have helped you lift your bag!</p> <p>I'm glad to hear that your next flight will be with your DH so you'll have some help. If you ever do fly solo again though, you could download the airline's app on your phone, and it will tell you if there are further delays or if it's boarding on time. Then you could go find a spot further away from your gate to find a seat. And maybe a much deserved snack or milkshake while you're at it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-916653 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:23:23 +0000 Foodnerd81 916653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: I had a similar experience-- I was flying at 30 weeks and super swollen, so very, very visibly pregnant. There were crazy storms so everyone in the airport was delayed, and as I was walking around my gate looking for a seat, SO many people stared at my belly, like obvious blatant stares, yet no one thought to say, oh, hey you look exhausted and like you may have just been crying in the bathroom because you missed your connection and are really pregnant, please, sit here. I purposely gate checked my luggage so I wouldn't have to deal with putting it overhead though because I know better than to expect people to help out. In terms of preboarding, I think I would have just walked through and not asked. It's not like they can actually say, hey you, are you disabled? Right? Normally I wouldn't have cared but if I'd been standing for hours you better believe I would have wanted on that plane. </p> <p>I even flew SW for part of that trip but check in took so long that I missed pre boarding anyway AND couldn't buy myself breakfast and OJ. Hungry tired and thirsty pregnant lady coming through! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-916607 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 16:07:47 +0000 LindsayInNY 916607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: DH and I were on a transatlantic flight in November. We were in the back row and a mom traveling alone with her LO was in the next row over. Long story short, LO ended up being sick and they paged for a doctor on board. But even before that, I noticed he threw up (could smell it) and had to alert the flight attendants to it. She was in the bathroom alone, trying to clean him and her up, and I suggested someone check on her. I felt so bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-916433 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:06:53 +0000 kjpugs 916433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: @Modern Daisy: ugh if I had to clean up POOP when customers would just CRAP ON THE FLOOR in Old Navy, then they can at least call a janitor.</p> <p>@regberadaisy: I agree- I didn't necessarily think I'd be given preferential treatment by the airlines. I thought maybe she could have been nice about it, or maybe let me in a few boarding groups early or something. But yeah, the combination of her RUDE response and every person around me was just too much for me at once!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915995 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:49:48 +0000 regberadaisy 915995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not surprised bc a lot of airlines no longer do pre-boarding for family's with younger kids any more. Honestly, I wouldn't expect preferential treatment from the airline.</p> <p>But I am shocked no one offered you a seat a the terminal or offered to help with your luggage! Every time I've flown solo someone always offers to help me even though I decline. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915982 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:47:14 +0000 Modern Daisy 915982@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: Ugh, that's horrible! To be honest - I have a really weak stomach so if I saw a baby puke all over the place I would leave too only because I am really grossed out by that stuff and would feel super sick. But the airline staff has no excuse, they should at least radio someone for help even if it 'isn't their job'. Don't get me started on finger-pointing when it comes to airline staff, no one is ever able to help you it's always someone else's job. And when you call it's like they're a totally separate company over the phone and not affiliated at all with the company you booked the ticket with, even though they operate under the same name. </p> <p>And I just remembered that one flight attendant was actually nice to me when she saw my huge belly and told me I could use the first class restroom. When I got up to use it a second flight attendant blocked me and told me to go back and use the economy one - it was really awkward and I had to find the first flight attendant to explain things before she finally got out of my way.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915937 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:36:38 +0000 lamariniere 915937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Modern Daisy: reminds me of the time DS puked all over me on a transatlantic flight last summer. I was COVERED in vomit, and we're not talking spit up, holding a crying baby and not a single flight attendant or other passenger even so much as asked if we were ok. DH was there, so he was helping but it was just terrible. Then, I went and stood in the back of the plane and rocked DS to help calm him down. I kept getting the evil eye from the flight attendants and one of them even told me I couldn't stand there. So I'm covered with vomit and trying to rock my crying baby and all she could tell me was that I couldn't stand in the part of the plane where I was disturbing the fewest number of people. </p> <p>But it doesn't end there! Oh no! We had a connecting flight and while we were waiting in the terminal DH went off to the bathroom. DS pukes all over me AGAIN (but mostly water) and not only do people not offer to help, but they get up and leave. After DH is back and we have calmed things down, I tell 3 different people who work at the airport that my kid puked on the floor and maybe they should call someone to clean it. Everyone was like "that's not my job".</p> <p>I was really disgusted not only with the airline staff but just people in general that day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915683 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 12:54:35 +0000 birdofafeather 915683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yikes. I flew once while visibly pregnant on virgin America and they were super nice. A flight attendant brought me a warm water bottle to put behind my back and more water to drink. Sorry you had a bad experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915657 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 12:48:19 +0000 SweetiePie 915657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: I'm only 8 weeks along so no nightmares like this yet. But wanted to recommend that you should look into paying for early boarding. For most airlines now I think you can pay $15 or so to be in the first boarding group. I do it just because I HATE having to navigate through people on the plane and not having overhead space! I just hate airports and travelers in general (MISERY) so I'm not looking forward to pregnant traveling. I am possibly going to a wedding overseas while 20 weeks and its a 12 hour flight. I joke with DH that he's sitting coach and I'm using my Delta points for first and I don't even feel bad about it. ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915474 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:52:47 +0000 MamaMoose 915474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: SW just started flying to Newark not too long ago. I used them to go there just a couple weeks ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915455 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:46:33 +0000 kjpugs 915455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: I wish SouthWest flew anywhere I wanted to go!!! I need to check them out next time I fly out that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915389 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:29:32 +0000 kjpugs 915389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: yeah I think it's time for family to just visit US for a while, haha! I agree I am excited for next weekend but ready to be done with NO trips in the near future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915385 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:28:20 +0000 mediagirl 915385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: seriously, people working for the TSA now are aholes. I am SO GLAD I am not traveling anymore. I never had better treatment than when I was pregnant but I despised traveling for work if I had to fly!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915366 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:24:54 +0000 kjpugs 915366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I really should be more vocal. I was mostly shocked that the gate agent didn't say "oh I wish you could" or something nice and regretful that it's against policy, but she seemed visibly UPSET that I would even ASK!!!? Absolutely crazy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915359 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:23:47 +0000 kjpugs 915359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: exact same- I used to fly Continental exclusively!!! I usually fly Jetblue now (LOVE) when I go to NJ but United was $70 or $80 cheaper. Now that almost sounds worth it, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915346 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:20:51 +0000 mediagirl 915346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kjpugs: Oh honey!! I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. That BLOWS. The agents suck, they SHOULD have let you board first. I boarded first every time I flew and every person I asked about it said it was okay! Next time, TELL them you are preboarding!!!!!!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915337 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:18:53 +0000 Modern Daisy 915337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, the baby so far has been on 6 flights and all of them I've been treated horribly. The other passengers couldn't have cared less if I was dead or alive, people pushed past me while boarding and the flight attendants didn't lift a finger to help me out or get me a better seat when I asked. I'm so glad my flying is all finished now!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915335 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:18:20 +0000 looch 915335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that's pretty standard treatment by United. They are pretty terrible in my book and it's a shame because I loved Continental.</p> <p>I can not remember where I read this, but I think a lot of airlines are less family friendly in order to cater to the business crowd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915315 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:12:32 +0000 MamaMoose 915315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Southwest lets preggos pre-board! I always had really good experiences flying while pregnant. Sorry you had a tough day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/treatment-while-flying-while-pregnant#post-915248 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 10:55:47 +0000 kjpugs 915248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I had a horrendous experience last night and wanted to see what other peoples' experiences were.</p> <p>The (United) flight was delayed and there were no seats available in the terminal area. So I got to stand. For hours. Then I was in boarding group 5 (of 5) and was literally the last person on the plane. I had listened to the pre-boarding but the closest they offered to board early was "people with disabilities." I asked if I could board then and was told "pregnancy is NOT a disability" (as rudely as you can type... yes, it was said quite rudely.) So I spent hours standing waiting and then in line. Then I finally got on the plane and no one would help me lift my carry on to go in the bin. I probably could have asked someone but I just did it. I'm 6 months pregnant and (I feel) look it, so I thought SOMEONE would have at one point offered to let me sit, or help with my bag. Same with de-planing... no help. Can't lie... preggo horomones made me cry when I got to my seat. I have horrible nausea still and amazingly bad hip/sciatic nerve pain (worsened by the standing and my busy weekend) so I was just exhausted and ready to be home.</p> <p>My next (and FINAL) trip will be with DH so I know he will help me.</p> <p>Anyone have any airlines offer assistance or different boarding, or anything like that? I was an aisle seat so I now know why I was last boarding group, but I would have thought they'd maybe CONSIDER letting me on early so I could freaking SIT. Just wondering if this is a standard experience or if United/Newark Airport just suck.</p> <p>(And on my flight TO Newark, a passenger did help me put up my bag, but all else was the same. Just didn't bother me as much because I was feeling better.) </p>