Southwest updates family boarding policy after same-sex couple claims discrimination

Southwest has updated its family boarding policy nearly two years after a same-sex Florida couple with children said they faced discrimination by a boarding agent. The revised policy says “two adults” can board together with children under 6 during family boarding. The policy had read “an adult” can board. “We are happy with the resolution,” said Grant Morse, 56, who said he faced discrimination in 2017 by a gate agent and considered legal action. The airline issued a statement that confirmed the policy was updated but refuted Morse’s account of what happened, as it did two years ago. The airline said no discrimination occurred. “Never has Southwest’s family boarding policy taken into account gender or marital status when determining ability to board early,” the statement said. The airline investigated what happened and said “confusion in the boarding area surrounded the number, not the genders, of adults allowed early access to the aircraft in our family boarding,” the statement said. “Both parents were allowed to board early with their children, but we requested a third adult board with her assigned group,” the airline said.<br/>