Preboarding Scammers

[HauseofMouse]

FYI, Preboarders are not allowed to sit in the emergency exit row.  HOWEVER, Preboarders may have a significant need to sit in the bulkhead seats and the ACAA  specifically states that they cannot force the disabled to sit or not sit in particular seats unless it affects the safety (i.e.  they cannot perform the tasks necessary for sitting in the emergency exit row.)  So trying to force the disabled to not sit in the first rows is not going to happen.  

[Rallytime14]

I’ve been on countless Southwest flights and I’ve never seen any “scammers” as you so mention. The simple truth is you don’t know what’s going on with every person just by a glance. They could have legitimate reasons to need to be on aircraft early. 

If you are so concerned with getting a good seat, then make sure to check in exactly 24 hours before your flight. Still not satisfied? Buy early bird check-in so you get a good boarding spot. Or convince your company to purchase business select fares.

[Froggy812]

 I fly frequently and on a flight tonight there was a group of 5 woman who were together and not one of them was disabled and they boarded first. I travel mostly business class and  the first window seat that was available was row 5 and I boarded A4 tell me how that is fair. There was numerous other preboarders that were very questionable.

[dfwskier]

As has been said many times, disabled people don't always appear disabled.

In my case, I have sciatica. I can be absolutely fine getting on a plane, and in absolute agony getting off (or not depending on the day).

[Dkasp]

Everybody has something.

[Aztraveler]

I agree. southwest policy states 1 "aide" may accompany a speical needs passenger. By following that it would have cut down the preboarding on my last flight from 22 to about 6!! 

Us Business select passnegers are getting tired of Southwest talking the talk but NOT walking the walk. And don't get me started on carry on bags!! 

[Lmkel68]

I remember being in MN for a celebration and I attended many parties while there.  You can imagine the look on my face when I saw a lady that I had seen a number of times through out the week long celebration, in a wheel chair when it was time to board the plane to leave.  They even had the nerve to cause a raucous....It happens

[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]

---

@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!

---

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.