Southwest Airlines Community

So update to this process. Spoke with my specialist doctor who knows about my medical conditions, and knows how masking can affect me, but basically said airports will not allow anyone with even a legit medical reason to not fly without a mask. This was during my process of trying to go through Southwest's process for being exempt and being denied to fly without a mask. I had tried wearing a mask in an airport previously with nearly having a asthmatic attack and other concerning symptoms, which was why I wanted to try and fly without to eliminate the possibility of having this happen again. So if you have a medical reason for you not being able wear a mask or have trouble doing so, for reasons the CDC said you shouldn't, you are screwed by this process. Not very happy with this system that is making those who cannot wear a mask or has difficulty become second class in the flight transport industry. Not to mention those I know who have been victims of sexual assault and can't have anything cover their face. So if you are planning to fly and can't do a mask, don't support the airports by flying right now, unless you can afford to fly private without masking (or an airplane company decides not to). Had I known it was going to be so freaking difficult, I would not have paid for a flight.  ... View more

Unfortunately, their process is to ask for sooo many things before you can fly without a mask if you have a medical condition. Have to disclose what medical condition you have, have a doctors note, fill out a form, send out an email, and HOPE they allow you to fly without one. And that's if they get back to you in time. Can be a wait time of 30 days plus by email to even know if you can or can not, which can be too much time for some or to call which as many know can take forever to get through.  ... View more

So it seems like this process is highly detailed for getting the exemption. Asking highly personal medical questions, and for a doctors note. I'm not someone that likes to bother my doctor with every little thing, and should just be able to request based off of having a medical condition that makes mask wearing undoable. So in all, I have to fill out a form with personal medical information, ask a doctor for a mask pass, wait 10 to 30 days for a response according to an email I received on this question, and hope that it all works out in time for my flight. Feels like a lot of hoops to go through just to choose not to wear a mask because of ones medical condition. I think this should be changed to not require so much.  ... View more

Not everyone can medically wear a mask so that is so discriminatory on your part to make it a requirement. For those of you on this chain to see how you can get around the masking when you have a medical condition, there is an ability to do so with South West. You will have to fill in a medical form you can get here: https://www.southwest.com/assets/pdfs/coronavirus/Mask-Exemption-Application-Form.pdf and then go to their contacts page: https://support.southwest.com/email-us/s/  and click the "comment/question" option where you can request to be allowed not to wear a mask for a medical condition. Remember to attach the form you filled out. Have gone through the process to see how well they handle those with medical conditions that make mask wearing an issue and if they are discriminatory towards those who can not wear a mask. Will add to this chain depending on how they handle.   ... View more