Preboarding Scammers

[ffflyer]

No. The solution is, if you want to avoid this nonsense, if it bothers you that is, fly an airline that allows you to reserve your seat when you purchase your ticket.

Some airlines, if not all by now, charge for this luxury. SWA instead charges for EB or Business Select and then you still take your chances.

[elijahbrantley]

Any seat assignments on SW = longer to turn the plane around.  Frankly, unless those assigned seats = revenue enough to make up for the time delay in getting the plane turned around, I don't see a change coming anytime soon.  But that is just my opinion.

I have learned that my stress during boarding depends directly on whether or not I try to pass judgement and get bend out of shape about pre-boarders.  As I have said before here, I have multiple friends and family members with invisible needs; therefore, I just assume positive intent in folks, I board in my spot, and I enjoy my flight.  

I generally don't like the out bit about "all the seats are going to the same place" since I like to sit in the exit row, but honestly, it is true.  And pre-boards can't sit in the exit row anyway; in my experience, this is always strictly enforced.

[Gstevenson]

Good for you. But playing by the rules is important and a sense of fairness is what makes society work. If you choose to condone people abusing a system, then that is your choice. I recently had my own pre-board experience having been injured and legitimately received pre-board status for about 10 weeks (6 flights). I personally have witnessed pre-boarders skipping down the jet way to the plane to board. I'm a list preferred, with companion pass.  I won't even attempt to advise Southwest how to fix this problem...reading many of the replies here, it's apparent that Southwest doesn't view this abuse as a problem......just know, I, like other disgruntled, yet marginalized fliers, may only be a small percentage of your flying passengers, but we do spend a lot of our company's money flying on Southwest. I am fortunate to be in the DFW area and have airline choices. Choices I will exercise if some measure of control isn't addressed to this issue. 

[bouncethebox]

I literally just complained about this to them on twitter and received a canned response.  My return flight is now with Delta, paying extra for Southwest Business Select is a joke.  It should be known as 'Anything still available that pre-boarding scammers and their attendants didn't grab first' class.  Unfortunately Southwest probably won't enforce their own policies or do anything to address fraud and abuse because they enjoy good business right now. I have to wonder if we are as powerless as we think.  The same Air Carrier Access Act they are bound by should have some kind of process in place to report an airline that allows such rampant abuse by choosing to do nothing.  Specifically if the airline has compliance obligations such as ensuring that the preboarding process is free from abuse to ensure access to those protected by the act.  

My tweet to Southwest and their response: https://twitter.com/bouncethebox/status/1234631796308021253?s=19

[dfwskier]

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@bouncethebox wrote:

  Specifically if the airline has compliance obligations such as ensuring that the preboarding process is free from abuse to ensure access to those protected by the act.  

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You don't seem to understand that EVERY PERSON who claims a need to pre board is protected by the act. NO AIRLINE can inquire  about the nature of the need. NO AIRLINE

can ask for proof of need.

If you don't like what the law requires airlines to do, contact your senators and congressperson and tell them that you want the law changed.

Good luck with that.

[bouncethebox]

Let's put aside that I pay for Business Select, Boarding Group A, Position 3 and it is no better than A31-A40 because of fraud and abuse.

Let's think about the the folks with legitimate disabilities that aren't protected from fraud and abuse of the boarding process in the Air Carrier Access Act.  Do you also tell the member with a disability complaining of the same fraud and abuse that they may be happier with another airline?  What would you tell them when they can't get the seat they need because gate agents hand them out like flyers for a new diner opening?

Also, is it true Southwest has a policy of 1 preboard and 1 attendant?

[dfwskier]

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@bouncethebox wrote:

Let's put aside that I pay for Business Select, Boarding Group A, Position 3 and it is no better than A31-A40 because of fraud and abuse.

Let's think about the the folks with legitimate disabilities that aren't protected from fraud and abuse of the boarding process in the Air Carrier Access Act.  Do you also tell the member with a disability complaining of the same fraud and abuse that they may be happier with another airline?  What would you tell them when they can't get the seat they need because gate agents hand them out like flyers for a new diner opening?

Also, is it true Southwest has a policy of 1 preboard and 1 attendant?

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See posts 4 and 5 in the following thread:

https://www.southwestaircommunity.com/t5/Check-In-Boarding/How-many-Pre-s-in-Boarding-does-Southwest...

[bouncethebox]

I'm trying to see things from your point, honestly.  I'm not trying to be argumentative or combative.

Are you saying that folks without disabilities, can legally claim, without challenge or consequence, they do have a disability, and receive the same protections for folks with disabilities protected by the Air Carrier Access Act?  Surely this had to be predicted and remedied when the Act was written, no?

I just find it very hard to believe that the penalties for parking in a handicap spot are greater than pretending you have a disability to fraudulently board a plane.  I just can't wrap my head around that.

[Gbonne]

The problem is people have no ethics.  SWA is in a tough spot because it allows people to “self identify” their disability.   Unfortunately there are too many Americans who’s biggest disability is they’re holding a C group boarding pass.  

do what I do; shame them.  I flat out ask those who are healthier than me why they’re able to pre-board.  I let them know they have poor ethics.  

[dfwskier]

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@Gbonne wrote:

The problem is people have no ethics.  SWA is in a tough spot because it allows people to “self identify” their disability.  

To be factually correct, SWA is in a tough spot because Federal Law allows people to “self identify” their disability - and there is nothing SWA can do about it..

Unfortunately there are too many Americans who’s biggest disability is they’re holding a C group boarding pass.  

True

do what I do; shame them.  I flat out ask those who are healthier than me why they’re able to pre-board.  I let them know they have poor ethics.  

Actually that is none of your business. If  passengers don't have to tell SWA the reason they are preboarding, they certainly don't have to tell you. If I were one of those people, I'd tell you to go to h__l.