United Airlines resumes early family boarding on Feb. 15

When United Airlines did away with early boarding for families in 2012, a blogger for Parenting magazine called the move a crock of "Diaper Genie'' because it was designed to simplify boarding.

"Think about it,'' Matt Villano wrote. "Boarding a plane as a family is a production. Allowing families to board early isolated this rigmarole, minimizing the risk of delay by managing it separately. Now, however, forcing families to board with everyone else undoubtedly will create logjams — which, in turn, will a) slow down the boarding process and b) “inspire” other passengers to loathe family travelers even more than they already do.''

United last week reversed that decision and said it will allow families to board early starting Feb. 15. The move drew cheers from Villano, who now has a family travel blog called Wandering Pod.

"Finally!,'' Villano said on Twitter. "Well done United for admitting a mistake.''

Families will now board right after passengers with disabilities and uniformed military members and before elite frequent fliers, instead of in one of the general boarding groups.

"Based on the feedback (from customers and employees), we think it's the right thing to do,'' United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson said.

Policies at other airlines vary. American Airlines, the largest carrier at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after its merger with US Airways, allows early family boarding upon request. US Airways allowed families to board first until 2011, when it moved family boarding from Zone 1, the first group to board, to Zone 2, behind First Class and uniformed military members. The US Airways brand went away last fall and all flights are now operated as American flights.

American Airlines bringing back free snacks

Southwest Airlines, the other dominant carrier at Sky Harbor, allows an adult traveling with a child 6 or younger to board after the A group, the first group to board, and before the B group. Families with A boarding passes, of course, board with the A group.

Priority boarding, like so many other previously free services, is now a source of revenue for airlines. Passengers on many carriers, including Southwest, can pay to be in the first boarding group, and it's dangled as a perk for signing up for an airline credit card.

Frequent fliers with status in an airline's loyalty program or those flying first class get free priority boarding. Some of them get peeved when passengers with children or a medical issue get to board first.

American Airlines changing frequent flier plan

On a Delta flight from New York to Phoenix in August, a woman in the first-class boarding line angrily stared me down for lining up for early boarding. I didn't owe her an explanation, but I told her I had broken two ribs a couple days earlier and had just suffered through a long flight from Italy (where I boarded early with no stares) and could barely move. She laughed in my face and said, "Good story.''

Travelers, what do you think of airlines' boarding systems? Would you make any changes? Share your thoughts and experiences with me at dawn.gilbertson@arizonarepublic.com.

New flight to Redmond, Ore.? 

Phoenix is apparently in line for a new non-stop flight to Redmond, Ore., according to economic development offices in in the central Oregon city.

An unidentified airline wants to start service as soon as this summer if it can get marketing support from the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board and the community, according to the Bend Bulletin.

The airline had initially expressed interest in beginning flights next year but recently said it could start as soon as June, the paper reported.

Economic development officials there say Phoenix is the most visited destination from central Oregon without non-stop air service from Redmond Municipal Airport, the area's main airport.

Travelers who want to fly between Phoenix and Redmond have to stop in Salt Lake City, Seattle or Portland. Allegiant Air offered non-stop flights between Redmond and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for a few years but those flights ended in 2012.

Travel ticker

• Travel + Leisure magazine last week released its 2016 It List of best new hotels. The winners in the United States: Baccarat Hotels & Residences, New York; Chicago Athletic Association; Faena Miami Beach; Hotel Emma, San Antonio, Texas; Ivy Hotel, Baltimore; L'Horizon Palm Springs in Palm Springs, Calif.; Mama Shelter, Los Angeles; 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Fla.; Palace Hotel, San Francisco; and South Congress Hotel, Austin, Texas.

The It List is featured in the magazine's March issue and is available online

Details:tandl.me/itlist.

• Just in time for peak tourism season, the luxury Phoenician Resort is adding a flying trapeze class. The resort at the base of Camelback Mountain will offer 90-minute classes Tuesdays-Sundays through April in partnership with I.FLY Trapeze. The classes, open to guests and the public, cost $70. Participants must be at least 4 years old. Prefer to watch? The resort is hosting complimentary shows at 7 p.m. Feb. 12, March 11 and 25 and April 8.

Details: 480-599-2345, iflytrapeze.com.