Southwest Airlines Community

Maybe we could add to the Southwest circus and each preboarder could state their reason for pre boarding and let the rest of the line decide.   Oxygen tank - yes.  IBS / peanut allergy / anxiety….     ... View more

Thanks for that update.  I use Flipbaord and an article came up this week about the merger.  After seeing your comment I searched for recent news and your correct!  Now I question my news feed!    ... View more

It’s pretty easy - you see them walk off the plane without any issues.  In some cases you see them walk the entire time with no apparent issues!  I.e. walking up to the counter to make sure they can preboard, walking to get something before the flight, walking to get in line, walking onto the airplane.    I’m always curious how they got from their house and to the airport. Even the Southwest staff recognizes them and you can pick up an occasional comment.  i think they even have an internal name they use for them.   ... View more

So on other airlines they can sit in first class because they are ADA and can sit anywhere?  No because first class is a section of the plane just like business / business plus’s etc.     There is a solution with sections - Southwest needs to get creative.  Especially with the Spirt / Frontier merger.     ... View more

I agree!  Funny certain hubs are hot spots for preboarders - you always know you will see at least a dozen.   I think we all agree the solution is simple.  In the back of the plane make a section for preboarders.  They can pick any seat they want in the back preboard section.  When it’s time to deboard the plane, they can take all the time they need to get off the plane.   This is a win win for everyone - the people who actually need to preboard get extra time getting on and off the plane and the non-preboarders will not be impacted.  Anyone who is taking advantage of pre boarding to get the front seats will need to rethink their game.   That was easy!    ... View more

I have posted on this thread and have followed the thread for awhile and you are the first person to offer a real solution.  I have also began to book flights on other airlines due to people obviously taking advantage of the situation - and I am not referring to the people who actually need to pre-board for legitimate reasons.   if you can’t find another airline for your route you can always pay a few bucks extra to board in 1-15 which puts you in front of the A-Listers.  I have pre-tsa and have rarely seen the a-list security line faster than pre-tsa.  The only real advantage of Southwest I see is greater flexibility with last minute flight changes.  The a-list perks seem pretty limited.  I also don’t drink so I give away the limited drink coupons they send me as random acts of kindness in flight.  ... View more

Thanks for the additional information.  So that applies to the person with the disability.  Where does the law say that the rest of the family gets to preboard with the disabled person??   I think the early post was suggesting the family members would need to buy the upgraded seats to board early - not the person with the disability.   ... View more

@ dfwskier - you solved the riddle for me.  Federal law does not allow discrimination of pre-boarders and since Southwest offers “pick your seat” to anyone they can’t discriminate.     Thank you for the clarification!  ... View more

I see the confusion.  Federal law versus Southwest policy.  So federal law requires people needing assistance to board the plane first?  It does not state the person can take any seat they want.  For example I booked delta last night.  I have to pay for first class seats, or choice seats etc. and once I pick and pay for my seat I can add the wheelchair request option.   The specific point of this thread is the preboarders, who are not A list, should not get to take any seat they want - the federal government does not have a policy saying mobility/ assist passengers can select any seat they want.   so the point of the thread is to highlight the Southwest Policy does not limit the seating options therefore people are taking advantage of the loop whole to say they require assistance.  If you pay attention in the airport you will notice the number of pre-boarders for Southwest is extremely disproportionate to the rest of the airlines.  I was on a southwest flight last week with about 15 pre-boarders!       ... View more

I thought this was a Southwest forum to bring things to their attention?   You replied, but to date, no one seems to be able to explain how people with mobility / health issues travel on other airlines without buying first class tickets since the theory seems to be they can’t make it 10’ past the entrance of the plane - how they got from home to the airport I have no idea -  but that last 10’ seems to insurmountable.   We all understand it’s a Southwest policy and our heart goes out to people with mobility and health issues, we are just highlighting that it appears to be taken advantage of and it also devalues the point of the A-List / brand loyalty.   ... View more

I have no issue with them getting on the plane first.   Please explain to me why the other airlines are not filling up their first class seats with pre-boarders with mobility issues since your same logic applies?  How do people on other airlines manage to get past first class to the regular seats???   There are many destinations that Southwest does not service.  Do you mean to tell me that people with mobility issues can only fly to destinations that Southwest services?  Or when they fly on other carriers they always buy first class airfare since they can’t possibly make it an additional 10’ onto the aircraft.  Also don’t forget the 2 or 3 people that typically board with the one person with mobility issues - that don’t have any limitations - why should they all take up the front row of the aircraft?   ... View more

A-List loses a lot of brand equity if all of the preferred seats are taken by pre-boarders.  Simple, restrict those seats and first few rows from the pre-boarders.   when I fly other airlines I never see first class taken by the pre boarders nor any of their upgraded seats.  So how do the other airlines do it??? ... View more