Have a Seat

Board stiff:

One of the privileges of parenthood is getting to be one of the first to board airplanes. But from now on the kids and their car-seat carriers will have to wait, at least if they fly on Southwest.

The airline said Wednesday that it's tweaking its "open seating" policy, assigning boarding numbers - but not assigned seats - to passengers. It also plans to eliminate the practice of letting families board first.

In a Dallas news conference Wednesday, chief executive Gary Kelly said the policy was changed so that late-arriving families couldn't jump ahead of others who had waited in line to board.

But it may not sit well with parents bringing carriers, strollers and squirmy toddlers into the cabin. "In my case, I don't see it being much of a problem," said mother of three Charlotte Ross of San Carlos. "But some people like to get situated with their stuff and not have to deal with the masses."

Then they can bloody well get there early. The fact that someone has spawned does not mean they rate special privileges. Fish spawn too, but they at least have the decency to eat their own young.