I pre-board and I have no physical disability. My disability is a mental one. I suffer from claustrophobia and at 5’1” when I am in a situation where everybody around me has to stand up as soon as the plane lands and I can’t see the way out I start to have severe anxiety and an overwhelming desire to start elbowing people to get off the plane. Suppressing my desire to flee generally causes a severe anxiety attack where it’s hard for me to draw breath. I once had to be taken off of a plane by emergency medical personnel. To a lesser degree I will hyperventilate and burst into tears. It’s embarrassing for me and alarming to people around me. I can take Xanax, but not if I wanna be able to get off the plane and function due to the dosage needed to quell my anxiety. I always pay the extra fee for earlybird check-in but I still ask at the gate for a pre-boarding pass so I can get a seat in the first few rows. Where I can always see the exit. The last time I asked for the pre-boarding pass I was harassed by the gate agent as to the nature of my disability, why I needed it and if I had a letter from my doctor. I didn’t have a letter from my doctor, I had never been asked for one over the last three years that I’ve preboarded. I came on here to see what the letter needed to say and what the requirements were, only to find out there weren’t any. I hate that I can’t control myself. I feel like a total a-hole appearing able bodied and standing with people in wheelchairs waiting to pre-board. I see all the not so nice looks. In my mind I know nothing is going to happen and I’ll get off the plane and everything will be fine but it doesn’t do anything to control my anxiety. Regardless of your boarding position everyone’s going to get on the plane. Please remember you can’t always see a disability.
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