INDIANAPOLIS -
The airlines may have made the decision to drive or fly a little easier for families this summer.
Premium pricing for seats sometimes means families have to say goodbye at the gate, even though they are on the same plane.
For Nathan Lewis, traveling with his wife and three children has never been an easy endeavor. With extra bags and baby gear, pre-boarding made the process a little easier.
"It's helpful to have a little more time without the crush of all the people to get settled and get ready to fly," said Lewis.
That option may be a thing of the past. United Airlines recently announced it's cutting pre-boarding for passengers with young children in an effort to streamline take-off times. The move comes on the heels of the latest fee for window and aisle seats American, United and Delta are now charging. Sometimes, the economy-plus seating means extra leg room, but increasingly more often it just means passengers have to pay to pick a seat.
Ultimately, moms and dads may not be able be next to their kids and that's not sitting well with passengers - parents or not.
"Why should I have to pay more to sit next to my child? That's absurd. That ought to be...that shouldn't even be a question," said Lewis.
Mette Milland says it's not fair to the child, the parent or the passenger stuck babysitting someone else's child.
"I would not feel good about it. It's just not right, it's just wrong thinking," said Milland.
Brent Bowen, head of Purdue University's Aviation Technology and author of the Airline Quality Report, says this is a move that can make the entire cabin unhappy.
"No one will be happy if the children aren't happy," he said.
Bowen says airlines are not concerned with passengers, including families who are paying low fares.
"Those fares pay the bills, but the elite class passengers bring in the profits, so their comfort comes first," Bowen said.
With all of the added fees and hassles that come with flying, some families are saying forget it. They are bypassing the runway and hitting the highway.
Joe Campagna says he plans on taking his two kids on a summer vacation, but he is not sure if they will fly or drive. He says loading up the family truckster has its benefits.
"We control our own destiny. We stop where we want to stop, we stay where we want to stay," said Campagna.
Bowen says the airlines aren't necessarily anti-family, but will continue to make moves to boost profit and lower the bottom line.
Extra airline fees have families splitting up on flights.
The rising costs have many families hitting the road for vacation.
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