Preboarding Scammers

[Aztraveler]

I recently heard a passenger say that he bought a collapsable cane for $20.00 and keeps it in his carry on bag specifically for southwest preboarding. He even bragged that he had never used the cane but the $20.00 investment has allowed him to preboard without buying business select fares!

[DancingDavidE]

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@Aztraveler wrote:

I recently heard a passenger say that he bought a collapsable cane for $20.00 and keeps it in his carry on bag specifically for southwest preboarding. He even bragged that he had never used the cane but the $20.00 investment has allowed him to preboard without buying business select fares!

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That's just a whole different level to brag about it openly, what a miserable person.

[buzzchris]

My neighbor has been scamming for a couple of years now. She just did it again last week. She also has a cane that collapses and sometimes uses a knee brace (on the outside on her clothing). She is very phsically capable. Last week, she pre boarded with her husband (who "helped" her boarding). Then her two sons accompanied her as well.  She laughs about it and even will post it on Facebook. She just wants the first few rows, overhead bin space, and her family sitting together.  Now, her sons do it.   

[floridaguy]

I think Southwest's pre boarding policy is very nice.  It gives people the ability to select a seat that they will enjoy for the flight.

Many people have medical conditions so quit complaining.

[buzzchris]

My neighbor has been doing this for years. She is not disabled,. She is an avid hiker.  She has a cane that collapses, then pre-boards with her two adult sons. She laughs about it and even has posted it on FB. Then last week, her son who boards with her, grabs an emerg row seat after passengers start boarding and saves it for his brother.  She says it is really simple. She says the FAs don't have a clue or don't care.  Not too long ago,  I saw five adult family members board with "grandma" in a wheelchair who preboarded. Five to assist? Why is that allowed?   ...and this is not the first time I have witnessed this. 

[DancingDavidE]

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@buzzchris wrote:

My neighbor has been doing this for years. She is not disabled,. She is an avid hiker.  She has a cane that collapses, then pre-boards with her two adult sons. She laughs about it and even has posted it on FB. Then last week, her son who boards with her, grabs an emerg row seat after passengers start boarding and saves it for his brother.  She says it is really simple. She says the FAs don't have a clue or don't care.  Not too long ago,  I saw five adult family members board with "grandma" in a wheelchair who preboarded. Five to assist? Why is that allowed?   ...and this is not the first time I have witnessed this. 

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The FA will eject people who preboard from the exit rows, I've never seen this happen myself. Unless you are saying they preboarded and sat in front, then when general boarding started they got back up and grabbed the exit row?

[buzzchris]

That is what her adult sons do. Pre board, then mix in with the other boarding passengers and grab the emerg row seats. I don't see how they get by with that with the FAs watching. Both sons are 6'4" and like the extra room in the emerg row seats.  

[ukchris2002]

Rally - You are missing the point.  The preboarders do not materially impact the folks who would otherwise board after A15.  The frustration comes from buying Business Select, checking in exactly 24 hours in advance, lining up as A1...then waiting for the first 4-5 rows to fill up before you are allowed to board.  

[jamespatton22]

I do all of that and I always see numerous people with no signs of needing assistance getting pre-boarding passes just by asking for them. They do not require an explainer as to why you need it. I still fly other airlines sometimes other than SWA when going somewhere SWA doesn’t fly and you never see anyone pre-boarding on United or Delta unless they have a visible physical need because everyone on those flights already know where they sitting and pre-boarding cannot change that. 

[Aztraveler]

Southwest just needs to follow it's written policies. It states that preboarding and family boarding occurs After "A" boarding. Those of us that pay a SIGNIFICANTLY higher ticket price have had many conversations at the gate as we watch 15-22 passengers preboard about spending less on our tickets and buying the priority boarding pass which would save us hundreds of dollars on each ticket and secure the same seats. Policy also states that 1 guest can accompany a disabled passenger and 2 passengers can accompany a child BUT I've seen gate attendants allow 5-8 guests accompany one special needs passenger. Yes I was A1 on my last flight and watched 22 passengers board before me. 7 of which were a whole family that accompanied one senior who bragged the entire flight about getting such good seats all together for such low prices.