?? about Flying Southwest with special needs?

[momsgoofy]

Despite, being not WDW related, I figured I would ask on this board instead of transporation since I'm wanting to know about Southwest airlines and special needs travelers.
In June I'm going to the AADB conference with a friend, who is Deaf Blind. We chose SW because it had the best flight times and my friend heard that the airline is very accomodating for those with special needs. When I called to ask is she'd be pre-boarded, the customer service rep said "yes...she'll be treated like royalty." So, what can ya'll tell me about SW with regard to passengers with special needs?

Thanks so much!

 

[SueM in MN]

We have never traveled Southwest because they don't travel out of Minneapolis, but there are many people on the DIS boards who can give you firsthand advice.
Here's a link to the Southwest Airlines Customers with Disabilities webpage to start you out.

 

[luvmyeor]

Southwest is our favorite airline! I always travel with a group of special needs adults. They have always let our group preboard (one time we had 25 people in our group.) I alway make sure I let the person at the gate know that we need to preboard. Sometimes they give us a preboard card and other times they don't. They just tell us where to line up. The flight attendants always give us a little extra attention also. Just make sure you get to your gate early--we usually are at the gate 1/2 hour - 1 hour before our flight is scheduled to take off.

 

[tarkus]

Never a problem with Southwest.

Enjoy your trip.
Alan

 

[videogal1]

We chose SW because it had the best flight times and my friend heard that the airline is very accomodating for those with special needs. When I called to ask is she'd be pre-boarded, the customer service rep said "yes...she'll be treated like royalty." So, what can ya'll tell me about SW with regard to passengers with special needs?

Thanks so much!

Yep, I fly Southwest for the moderate level of courtesy they have accorded me and Cash...Most of their employees are ignorant of the SWA policy of medical equipment not counting toward the carry-on total and I have had unending arguments over it until they look it up...There are a few Service Dog issues, as well... but, if you don't pose any out-of-the-ordinary challenges for them they seem to handle special needs moderately well. They were not one of the airlines for which I joined a lawsuit, anyway..

 

[SueM in MN]

Most of their employees are ignorant of the SWA policy of medical equipment not counting toward the carry-on total and I have had unending arguments over it until they look it up...T

That brings up a good point.
It is a good idea to print out a copy of the website information that applies to whatever special needs you might have and bring them with you. If they give you any grief - whipping out their own website information does help.
We haven't done that recently, but have in the past.

 

[momsgoofy]

Thank you everyone for the information! I really appreciate it and will be going to the SW link given and print out those guidelines as suggested.

Thanks again!

 

[scrappingtwinmom]

We returned home from our latest Disney/Universal trip just today and we flew SW. They were very helpful and accommodating of my family, my son is 5, has autism and motor delays and uses a wheelchair/stroller for distances. We got very good service and were able to preboard with no difficulties, they took the stroller curbside and returned it to us very quickly on the other end. No complaints

Tami

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

Nothing but praises from us about SW, they have always gone above and beyond for our sons, last time they actually removed the seat cushions in front of us, so no one could sit there (our son's have autism & SID), I am sure it was for the boys, for us (so we wouldn't have to constantly be trying to keep them from kicking and bothering people in front of them), and for who ever would have sat in front. We didn't ask, they just offered. We LOVE SOUTHWEST!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Nothing but praises from us about SW, they have always gone above and beyond for our sons, last time they actually removed the seat cushions in front of us, so no one could sit there (our son's have autism & SID), I am sure it was for the boys, for us (so we wouldn't have to constantly be trying to keep them from kicking and bothering people in front of them), and for who ever would have sat in front. We didn't ask, they just offered. We LOVE SOUTHWEST!!!

Now that is an ingenious solution!
I have to say they were thinking outside the box.

 

[vhoffman]

removed the seat cushions in front of us, so no one could sit there (our son's have autism & SID), I am sure it was for the boys, for us (so we wouldn't have to constantly be trying to keep them from kicking and bothering people in front of them), and for who ever would have sat in front. We didn't ask, they just offered. We LOVE SOUTHWEST!!!

Was it a full flight? Hardly seems fair that the airline should lose revenue for the seats and/or passengers would be told the flight was full because two seats were removed to accomodate two passengers. Not to sound mean, but I've read about overweight people who couldn't sit in a regular seat who either upgraded to first class or bought the seat next to them for the extra room. One ticket entitles you to one seat. Reminds me of the time I was sitting in bulkhead to accomodate a recent knee surgery when the couple next to me asked me to move so she could have privacy for breast feeding. It was a full flight! Then they asked me to stand up while she nursed. I mean, come on! They didn't own the whole airplane and weren't entitled to move other passengers around to suit their situation! What about in a movie theater, should other audience members be told not to sit in a certain seat so the kids behind them could kick away?

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

Was it a full flight? Hardly seems fair that the airline should lose revenue for the seats and/or passengers would be told the flight was full because two seats were removed to accomodate two passengers. Not to sound mean, but I've read about overweight people who couldn't sit in a regular seat who either upgraded to first class or bought the seat next to them for the extra room. One ticket entitles you to one seat. Reminds me of the time I was sitting in bulkhead to accomodate a recent knee surgery when the couple next to me asked me to move so she could have privacy for breast feeding. It was a full flight! Then they asked me to stand up while she nursed. I mean, come on! They didn't own the whole airplane and weren't entitled to move other passengers around to suit their situation! What about in a movie theater, should other audience members be told not to sit in a certain seat so the kids behind them could kick away?

The flight was not full and the attendant told us that if someone really wanted to sit there that they would let them, but no one did. We were asked why the seat were removed by other passangers but when we explained, they said that they were glad that they did that. Not too many people want to be kicked every 2 seconds and as hard as we try to keep the boys calm and courteious, flying is difficult on them as it is not something we do everyday, they do the best that they can. As I had said in my earlier post, we did not ask for the attendant to do this, they did it as a courtesy to all, so that everyone could have the easiest flight possible and I would never ask or expect it to be done again, especially on a full or near full flight. On SW no seats are assigned, so no one was bumped from their seat. Also comparing a nursing mother and overweight person, to someone with a disability is like comparing apples to oranges. Completely different situations.

As for being in a movie theater..we alway try and sit somewhere where they will not disrupt someone, but I think that your missing the point. It was done so that EVERYONE would be happy and no one inconvienenced. Is it that big of a deal to move somewhere else? You will still get to the same place everyone else will and you will still see the same movie everyone else will. Your comments come off very harsh and I am trying to not take such offense but before I had 2 disabled children, I was only too happy to be able to make whatever accomidations I could for someone with a disability, now that I am the mother of two, I see even more how so much of the world is a barrier to them and that as far as we have come in making things accessible to those with disabilities, by your comments I see we still have so far to go.

 

[momsgoofy]

Thanks again for all the positive replies! I am really looking forward to the trip and can't wait to tell my friend what great comments I've heard. I actually caught one of the Airplane episodes today and a man in a wheelchair was saying that he loved Southwest for the great service he receives every trip...first time I'd caught that program and seen positive experiences...they usually show the bad stuff.

DisneyDreams4P&B...I think that what Southwest did for your family AND everyone on the flight was great. As a passenger, I would appreciate it. I also understand that this probably would not have happened had the flight been full. I don't have a child with disabilities, but I do have experience flying with a child. As a parent I feel for those other parents on a flight with children who are a fussy, chatty or whatever is making the adult seated near me whine like a 2 year old. I don't hesitate to lean over to my DH or whomever I'm traveling with and say loud enough..."ah, poor baby...ears must hurt since they can't pop them like an adult" or something to make the bafoon who has been whining about the irritating child think about why the child may be fussy.

vhoffman...I agree with you that asking you to stand with an injured leg while the mother nursed was inconsiderate. Having been a nursing mother, well, that is the price that one pays for the choice to nurse...lack of privacy in some situations. I, personally, wouldn't have been comfortable nursing on an airplane, while my niece, well, she didn't have a bit of modesty when it came to nursing her children. All I can say on this is to each to her own, and I don't feel that the airline should be responsible for providing a private area for any nursing mother. (And I'm wearing that flame retardant suit, so don't worry...lol)

Now, as for comparing an overweight person to a nursing mother...I agree, apples and oranges. However, I do not agree that comparing a person who is overweight with a person with disabilities as totally different. There are some medical conditions, which are labeled as disabilities that part of the condition is overweight/obesity. As for Southwest's policy on charging extra for passengers who can't fit into one seat...well, I'm not thrilled with that, but...well, I'm still not fully decided. I think that if the flight is not full, then the airline doesn't charge an extra fee, allowing the individual to lift up the armrest for comfort, which is similar to the actions taken during the flight DisneyDreams4P&B was on...allowing comfort for all passengers.

So...with all that said...let me just say again...

Thanks for all the positive replies concerning traveling with Southwest airlines as a person with disabilities...I really appreciate it!