Southwest Airlines Community

It is not irrelevant. How do you expect the airline to verify this medical information? Presumably they would ask for something from a covered entity. HIPAA cleary states that a person has complete control over what information can be disclosed. You can not be compelled by the airline to give consent. ... View more

I agree those with real disability need to board.  I’m 62, spinal fusion in 2 places. Paid to be placement 1 and there are right now 11 wheelchairs.. of which 5 are empty as the people in them just got up and walked with no problem down the terminal to grab something to eat..  people have no shame abusing the system then just smirk at you once they take all the front seats ... View more

The situation that you described sounds like this passenger/Spirit employee was traveling on a confirmed ticket purchased by their employer.  Other airlines often purchase SWA Business Select fare tickets to ‘deadhead’ their employees to their destination for work purposes.  ... View more

removed ❤️ ... View more

After 4 flights in 2 days which each had over 25  pre-boarders- I'm over it. And breaking news states that SW has increased the maximum charge for earlybird check-in and upgraded boarding ( up to $149!).  That will surely increase the number of pre-boarders.   Also- SW policy regarding saving of seats ( they don't officially have one)  has also been put out there on social media and now abused. Between the 2 policies- the abuse has gotten out of control.   I used to like no assigned seating  - but now I wish that Southwest had pre-assigned seating.  ... View more

We see people gaming most any system put in place. This is just one such example. I have been in line with a veteran of war that could easily legitimately qualify for pre board but he would not have it. He was pretty outraged at the people he saw clearly gaming the policy. This was going on with emotional support dogs as well. To the people that do this, shame on you. ... View more

@honduh8 wrote:   Well the rules have changed since 2020. ESA's a no longer allowed.   You certainly have the right to fly with your service dog, and by your description of your situation you do need a service dog.   I hope you find a way to control your seizures, but if not you do have your 130 pound friend there to help out. A very good friend indeed.   All the best to you...   ... View more

I've seen this abused many, many times. SWA has allowed this to matastasize over the years and now it's common. SWA can stop this but it's easier to turn their heads and act like it's not going on. They don't have the will to fix the matter.   I have no problem with a person that is wheel chair bound boarding first. But why are they allowed the premium seats that people have paid extra for?  Why can't they sit in the middle or even the rear of the plane?   What if you had a simple fee of $5 (nominal at best) to preboard? The abuse would not stop but the filthy person who abuses the system might not come up with the five bucks. I believe it would marketedly reduce the abuse. ... View more

Might I suggest that you review FEDERAL LAW before posting such comments as recommendations to Southwest? ... View more

guess is that if you call southwest and say you would like a refund, they will tell you that there is no policy on seat saving and tell you that you could have sat in that seat.  It's several years after your post and the same seat saving is still being done today.  At this point, I do not think it will ever change.  Southwest got their money and that is where they stopped caring.  ... View more

Hi PamG   Just do like everyone else does on Southwest.  Pretend you’re disabled and then get miraculously cured after boarding.   This is something that Southwest’s model of boarding promotes, so take advantage of it.   Jim                                    ... View more

I haven't checked luggage in over 25 years. After the second time my luggage did not arrive, once again with very specific clothing required, a suit for an international presentation & a banquet down the first time, that was the very last time I ever checked luggage.   I do love your thinking. It's a great idea if it works for you. However, never have the luxury to sit around and wait for 30 rows of people to deplane.  But if I had the time it sounds very entertaining.  ... View more

@caskey wrote:     Edit: Also, in general if you ask, people are often willing to move forward or back a row to let you sit near each other as things fill up.  Though it's not likely someone will move from an aisle/window to a middle seat unless it is for a special reason (like your flight companion is a child). Children and newlyweds for me.   You co-workers out there can just catch up when you land instead, or use the free messaging.     ... View more

@GregoryAllen wrote: I am AList, spend a lot of money on this card to get this status and stand there in disbelief as most of the time 10-15 people pre-board and most have no trouble boarding, no wheelchairs etc. It is ridiculous the amount of people who claim pre- board status. Physically disabilities aside it is much more prevalent in this airline than others. Today out of St. Louis people with water bottles and workout clothes are pre- boarding. And it is a sham in most cases, all comments about anxiety, dogs, etc. aside.  Apparently you do not understand that  Southwest is merely complying with federal law. By law:   !) Southwest CANNOT ask anyone why he/she needs to pre board 2) Southwest MUST allow anyone who claims  a need to pre board to do so.   Now I don't pre board, but I do have sciatica. By my disability, I would be allowed to pre board. I don't need a wheel chair. Sometimes my condition causes me a whole lot of problems. Other times it does not. Lots of people with various disabilities do not need a wheel chair.   If you don't like the law, contact your members of congress and tell them you want to see it changed. Until that happens Southwest IS REQUIRED to follow federal law ... View more

With every ban comes a work around. You can get a Psychiatric Service Dog document as easy as you could get a ESA paper. https://www.emotionalpetsupport.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuKLVlLii8gIVsyCtBh3FfgsTEAAYASAAEgLP7fD_BwE ... View more

@LainieMorales posts from passengers who think they have the right to board first make me crazy. Most of those who are pre~boarding early would give anything to not be in this position. Please remember to focus on your self, utilize pre~boarding, and enjoy every moment with your loved ones.  Life is way too short. Who cares what other passengers are saying.  ... View more

Hi @jls2662. As you may know, we recently updated our Service Animal Policy (select Trained Service Animals in the left hand margin of the page for full details) to align with recent regulatory changes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). For travel after March 1, Southwest will only accept service dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified person with a disability. We believe these changes improve the overall Safety of travel for our Customers and Employees and are in alignment with federal laws that no longer require airlines to recognize service animals other than service dogs as defined by the DOT.   As a peer-to-peer support forum, we are not equipped to assist you here, but if you have a specific suggestion or concern, I encourage you to Contact Customer Relations.   Thank you,   ... View more

A person can have a service dog that is trained in a specific task (like leading them if they are blind or sensing an oncoming seizure), but that doesn't mean they help with emotional issues such as severe anxiety. ... View more

This is always a touchy subject, as there are many people out there that love their pets as if they were children, and there are other people who have real mental health issues who truly  need an emotional support animal to get by. The difficulty is trying to understand the difference between the two groups of people. Those who "love" their pets and insist they can control them and that they are loving and wouldn't hurt a fly (etc.) are the problem - they try to bring their animals on board an aircraft and the animals can't be controlled. They aren't real service animals and they should not be allowed to board in my view. We need better policies around what qualifies as an emotional support animal and when/how one can bring an animal on board, because apparently people are getting around current policy and bringing non-emotional support animals on board.    --Jessica ... View more

I agree with "spacecoastbill". I use to fly as an LEO and trained as well as the dynamics of a firearm discharged inside an aircraft. I'm also retired Air Force and flew. A discharged firearm, typically a 9 or 40, may put a hole in the window. No one is sucked out. The cabin pressure is compensated for.  At 37,000 feet one time, my right cockpit window came close to being blown out and that could perhaps have sucked someone out,..but we always had our cockpit seatbelts on. Yes, people reference movies as factual. I hear it all the time.  ... View more

Afternoon. Found this thread when researching which airlines will protect my health by following the basic science of viral transmission that we've had locked down for something near a hundred years now.   I was getting a kick from the plandemic people in the thread with their hilarious accusations that masks don't work or that the virus isn't real. Let me guess folks, the earth is flat and the moon landing was faked? 😂 They're spying on us with the five gee?? 🤣   Never fails to make me laugh when people are *proud* of their ignorance.   Anyway, masks do work:   https://www.nature.com/articles   https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449/d41586-020-02801-8   If you simply *must* continue to be ignorant on purpose about it, well shoot you know you're right, right? So you should have no problem saying so with your full name and face attached, right? Come on, I bet your employer would love to hear how much smarter you are than every virologist in the world 🙂 what are you, chicken? 🐔🐔     ... View more

@spacecoastbill wrote: So what is the change? I didnt see any change on the website yet, and they still have the confusing suggestion that TSA locks are acceptable for gun cases.  Obviously they conflict with the Federal Law that states ONLY the passenger can have the key or combo.  We know that anyone who wants TSA keys can just make them, the plans are available on the internet thanks to the TSA making them available.     I believe that Southwest's policy mirrors that of TSA.   Transporting Firearms and Ammunition   Firearms must be unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container and transported as checked baggage only. As defined by 49 CFR 1540.5 a loaded firearm has a live round of ammunition, or any component thereof, in the chamber or cylinder or in a magazine inserted in the firearm. Only the passenger should retain the key or combination to the lock unless TSA personnel request the key to open the firearm container to ensure compliance with TSA regulations. You may use any brand or type of lock to secure your firearm case, including TSA-recognized locks. ... View more

Here’s a pic how my case is better locked. Had an incident with flying SWA where TSA could breech the case, so I’m passing along this lesson learned.  Overall, flying with a firearm as we moved cross country was uneventful. ... View more

@ ffflyer   I could not agree more! I have delayed all absolutely unnecessary travel for now. Not because of any fear, but because of all the inconvenience and BS.   Funny, in the weeks following the whole country shut down, and it wasn't until it started opening back up, I was flying (HOU/DTW, DTW/BOS, & BOS/HOU, numerous segments), and none of us were wearing masks, not the few passengers OR the crew.   All about making the sheep and cattle feel all fuzzy and warm, just like the whole TSA thing! I have issues with wearing a mask but I am tolerating it for the moment, and I have my own personal feelings about the whole Covid 19 BS, but I don't want to get that battle raging here.   Unfortunately, most of my trips to drive would require days v. hours to fly. Shorter ones, around Texas or to New Orleans, I too am driving.   Safe travels, my friend. ... View more

I wish more people had taken the virus this seriously back on March 4. ... View more

@ACL -- you can't board a new flight with your missed flight's boarding pass. You should have gone to the podium at the gate as soon as you knew you were going to miss your flight and they would have given you a new boarding pass for your next flight then and there. Also - boarding passes take seconds to print, so you should not have missed your newer flight if you did not have your boarding pass in hand when you went to board.    It's rare but I've seen it happen, people are in line to board and the scanner beeps when someone's ticket is scanned, indicating that they don't have an actual boarding pass but a security document, or there is another issue, and they have to go to the gate agent and get a boarding pass printed.    --Jessica ... View more

@spacecoastbill wrote: So by your definition every single website out there that provides news must meet your arbitrary definition of media? Yup. And they don't qualify. Case closed.   --Jessica ... View more