Southwest Airlines Community

I walk just fine, by looking at me you’d never expect that I would be in the preboarding group. I can’t guarantee to you that I have seen things and experienced things you wouldn’t want to see, or have seen, but for most I have. I’ve seen the dirty looks I get, and have heard the mumbling. Your completely selfish viewpoint, that all those who preboard should be wheelchair bound, or not allowed to walk around with no apparent limitations, is offensive and appalling. I typically wouldn’t wish negative thoughts towards anyone, but I can definitively say dealing with what I’ve seen, and dealt with what I have. I hope you never have to walk or journey through an airport, dealing with what runs through my mind, as crowds ebb and flow around me. People rushing towards you, walking up from behind you, touching you, and generally causing you distress and anxiety, to where you’re almost immobile.    Good luck and and I truly hope you never get PTSD, and if you do, it’s not because something bad happens to someone you know, or because of something you witness in a crowd, like maybe someone ending their life, with the intention of ending as many others as possible as well.    To you, I say good day and BLESS YOUR HEART! ... View more

Thank you Lindsey w/Southwest. You are correct not all of us have a visible disability. I don’t use a wheelchair or assistive device and I usually take one of my sons on board with me. I take them with because my wife and other son wait for their position to board. I have PTSD and prefer to sit in the back of the plane. I board early so no one touches me in the crowd. I board early so I can see everything going on in front of me. While all the people that pay for their A list boarding position, I can appreciate, they’re not the type of people I’d like running into me or touching me. I assume they are all very relaxed on the plane inflight, possibly even dozing off. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had the luxury of catching a nap on a plane. I know I’m not the norm by sitting in the back, but also know I don’t do it because I’m worried about one of the entitled A list boarders think of me. I do it because no one sees what I do and can’t see my disability, making it such a smoother process to board if I am allowed to pre-board.  ... View more