08-28-2023
11:50 AM
This is my first time on the Discussion Board and was not surprised to find that my issue with SW has been mentioned and replied to many, many times. I, too, am a GOLD member, and spend the extra money to assure myself a good seating position, etc. However, over the past year, the pre-board situation for "handicapped" people has gotten out of hand. My last flight had over 20 people pre-boarding ... people who were 20 years younger than me, with no physical or mental issues. None. Apparently, they have discovered a loophole in the SW system that enables them to simply click the "physical disability" box when purchasing a ticket, and then pay the LOWEST fare possible while getting the BEST seating position. I have no issue with people who legitimately need help boarding, but if you can walk down the jetway, you can board with everyone else. if you need a wheelchair, double canes, etc. you may absolutely board first. When I mention this to SW staff, they do absolutely nothing. To be fair, there's probably nothing they CAN do since it's a systemic problem. This needs to stop. You are stealing money from GOLD Members, or people who spend premium ticket prices, only to have their position taken from them by unscrupulous fliers. Please do something to address this. I love fluing SW otherwise, but now I dread getting in line only to see 20-30 able-bodied people who've lied to get their seating position allowed onto the plane before me.
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