Pre-boarding remains out of control

[kDub2022]

@ dfwskier - you solved the riddle for me.  Federal law does not allow discrimination of pre-boarders and since Southwest offers “pick your seat” to anyone they can’t discriminate.  

Thank you for the clarification! 

[DancingDavidE]

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@kDub2022 wrote:

I thought this was a Southwest forum to bring things to their attention?  

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It's not - it is intended as a customer-to-customer forum. So we the peanut gallery can answer questions, in some cases we may know the answers or have good advice, people can commiserate with people having issues, etc.

Monitoring of content here is mainly to keep the community healthy, not to bring back the occasional post to HQ. The management of the community does overlap with other communication type activity like the app or to identify bugs in app or website or other technical glitches.

Anyway - I'm sure the management is aware of preboarding issues, but it is tied to how the airline has chosen to perform boarding. Unless they chose to assign seats, it is going to continue.

[Flyingforfun]

Larger aircraft with First or Business frequently have an entrance which is between Coach and Business or First so people flying Coach don't even walk through First or Business. I flew Business as a newly disabled person with double fractured legs and was boarded last as I had to be transferred from a terminal wheelchair to an aircraft wheelchair into an aisle seat at the back of Business class. As I described, Business was on the left when I boarded. It wasn't a 737 but it wasn't a wide body aircraft.

[buzzchris]

Yes, pre-boarding abuse is, has been, and always will be a "hot" topic on this forum.  Three friends of mine, one a SW Captain, another a SW First officer (I use to fly with them in the Air Force) and a good friend, a senior SW FA, have all told me that SW allows such liberal pre-boarding to avoid verbal or even physical confrontations between the gate attendants, the FAs and the pre-boarders.   It would be bad PR, a bad image, for this to happen. Plus, confrontations at the gate would likely lead to a late departure which would really anger most passengers. 

[dfwskier]

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@buzzchris wrote:

 SW allows such liberal pre-boarding to avoid verbal or even physical confrontations between the gate attendants, the FAs and the pre-boarders.   

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That may be but, SW's pre boarding rules are not "liberal." SW is only doing what federal law requires it to do. 

Federal law   

1) Requires SW to Allow anyone who claims a need to pre board to in fact pre board

2) Prohibits SW from asking the reason why someone wants to pre board

3) Prohibits SW from asking for proof of the reason to pre board

4) Requires SW to not treat   pre boarders worse than other passengers (by for example saying that pr boarders must sit in certain seats or are prohibited from sitting in certain seats, or must deplane last).

[navjag03]

Oh yes, a "hot" topic. I agree with a posting stating the pre-boarding policy is "liberal"  but  not with legitimate disabled passengers. I agree that it is "liberal" in the sense that SW allows multiple passengers to escort the wheelchair passenger down the ramp. I just came from three flights in the last few days. On each boarding, I questioned why it took four to five passengers to escort "grandma" down the ramp.  A family member of mine is a SW Captain and a neighbor is a senior SW Captain.  I am told SW allows it to avoid verbal confrontation, to avoid delays in arguing with the gate attendant (They're not paid enough to argue).  Avoiding delays is critical to ensure on time departures.      And don't get me started on Saving Seats. SW doesn't enforce their policy of open seating. Again, due to avoiding confrontations and delaying departure. 

[bwallet]

@navjag03 Actually, Southwest's policy is one person is allowed to accompany preboarders. Unfortunately, this policy is not always enforced. However, most times when I see it not properly enforced, it involves families with multiple children.

As for seat saving and open seating, Southwest doesn't have a policy on seat saving. Saying they aren't enforcing their open seating policy assumes a definition of "open seat". I've only saved a seat once for my wife and then 6 year old daughter. Those seats weren't open. My wife and daughter were the occupants. They just hadn't boarded yet.

[buzzchris]

Regarding the post where the wife and daughter are the occupants,.they just haven't boarded yet.    ??   Riddle me that.   What is an open seat?  I will  go with my friend  who is a SW Captain  (who is laughing at this) have defined "open seating":  'Nobody physically in the seat at that moment'.  People actually need clarification on that?   I have no issue with saving a seat for one or two family members but not in the emerg row (more leg room) for their group C friends.  I'm 6'3" and I pay Business Select to try and get a seat in the emerg row when flying alone. When flying with my wife, I get the Early Bird and sit in the rear of the aircraft to save a seat for my wife.  (Close to the bathroom for her). 

[navjag03]

"Occupied seats but they haven't boarded yet?".  Open Seating: Definition?   Seriously, this needs clarification?      As another person posted , and as two SW Captains that I know very well,   just told me a few minutes ago, "open seating" means 'nobody is sitting there at that moment. If the seat doesn't have a human being in it, it is open. Period.`'   Of course, it is the FAs that have to do with dense remarks like the one you gave, not the Captains.  However, like others, I have no issue with saving a seat for a family member or two. Just don't do it the emergency row section where there is more leg room. Those purchasing Business Select should have that benefit.  

[cmdr05]

First, Pre-boarding abuse. No problem with LEGITIMATE passengers needing extra time. But why five to seven extra adults accompanying them?    I see this occasionally, saw it a few days ago.       Second: Open seating?   From what my SW flight crew friends tell me, open seating means there is no one in the seat. However, from what they tell me, don't insist on an open seat if someone says they are saving it. The FAs will tell you to sit elsewhere and will not intervene of your behalf.     Not a problem,.UNLESS you pay for Business Select, you are A5 and two different people are saving both their emerg row for family,..who are group C.  At 6'3", both my business partner (6'4") and I get the Business Select to get our legs to fit more comfortably.  That has happened in the last five out of seven flights for us.    However, everything revolves around getting passengers on quickly, safely and get that all critical on time departure. I am told that verbal confrontations will delay flights and is bad "image".       For budget reasons, my company will not allow us to use another airline.