Assistance at airport for Southwest

[Henlady]

For our next flight my husband is probably going to need wheelchair assistance getting to our gate. He doesn’t normally use a wheelchair, however his gait has been off and he is unsteady the last few months and he has a tendency to trip at times. So walking the distance from baggage dropoff to gate may be an issue. We already booked our flights and requested assisted boarding. Should I call southwest and add wheelchair assistance before we show up at the airport?

 

[NYCgrrl]

Yes, you should.

 

[Travel60]

Just don't have a miracle recovery on the plane!

 

[Henlady]

Nah, I wish he would have a miracle! It is nerve wracking watching him walking sometimes. He’s 73 and it definitely shows.

 

[Mle8308]

Just don't have a miracle recovery on the plane!

Amazing how often that happens! Not saying that is the case here, but I have witnessed some major miracles on Southwest - must be the water!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Just don't have a miracle recovery on the plane!

No, Please! Southwest's rule (probably like most airlines) is that only a Southwest employee can push the wheelchair down the jetway. But on a couple Southwest flights recently, there was just the one gate agent, so she made an announcement that any pre boarders who could walk to the plane themselves feel free to do so. Well, suddenly there was a mass "miracle" as about 90% of the pre boarders jumped out of their wheelchairs and either walked fast or faster down the jetway. Only about 2-3 of us were left, unable to walk.
If you don't get a chance to call, you can usually just tell them when you check in that you need wheelchair assistance to the gate. I've been using Southwest needing wheelchair assistance for at least 7 years.

 

[Henlady]

It’s not that he can’t walk, he is just very unsteady on his feet and walking a long distance through the airport would be difficult. I honestly worried about getting him assistance but it would be better than having him trip and fall and injure himself

 

[Debbie Jean]

It’s not that he can’t walk, he is just very unsteady on his feet and walking a long distance through the airport would be difficult. I honestly worried about getting him assistance but it would be better than having him trip and fall and injure himself

If you are able to push the wheelchair tge wait may be shorter… I gave found the longest waits are for a “pusher” since there never seem to be enough.

BTW, I have no issue walking onto the plane… I need a wheel chair for the distance from the terminal to the gate and back. Usually when I reach the gate, I thank my pusher, tip generously and find a comfortable seat. No miracle involved.
I prefer to board last… I book an aisle seat with no luggage in the overhead. Don’t know why people rush the gate… they don’t leave any sooner than I do.

 

[Mle8308]

If you are able to push the wheelchair tge wait may be shorter… I gave found the longest waits are for a “pusher” since there never seem to be enough.

BTW, I have no issue walking onto the plane… I need a wheel chair for the distance from the terminal to the gate and back. Usually when I reach the gate, I thank my pusher, tip generously and find a comfortable seat. No miracle involved.
I prefer to board last… I book an aisle seat with no luggage in the overhead. Don’t know why people rush the gate… they don’t leave any sooner than I do.

They are flying Southwest, can't book specific seats. That is why "miracles" are mentioned. People using wheelchairs board before people who pay for early boarding, it *can* be away to avoid paying the early check in fee for some. And that is why miraculously when the plane lands, these people are sometimes some of the first to be cured of their ailments and jump up out of their seats to be among the first to deplane, no assistance needed. I've been a witness to many miracles in flight!

 

[Debbie Jean]

They are flying Southwest, can't book specific seats. That is why "miracles" are mentioned. People using wheelchairs board before people who pay for early boarding, it *can* be away to avoid paying the early check in fee for some. And that is why miraculously when the plane lands, these people are sometimes some of the first to be cured of their ailments and jump up out of their seats to be among the first to deplane, no assistance needed. I've been a witness to many miracles in flight!

Ah, I forgot that. Southwest hasn’t flown out of Newark for years, though I vaguely remember buying priority booking. Can’t say I was a fan of the whole process. Even if it costs extra, I’d much rather have a guaranteed assigned seat. In this case, I guess there really are people who get a wheelchair to get priority boarding.

 

[MICKIMINI]

MCO is a huge airport vs our local airport MHT. I manage to get from the parking garage (we usually can park in front of the door to the terminal) to the gate and back to the car when we return.

MCO is a different story and yet sometimes, there are not chairs available when deplaning. Does anyone notice when a passenger does not use a chair to get on a plane but does when arriving? Things aren't always what they seem. Be kind.

 

[elvispursley]

MCO is a huge airport vs our local airport MHT. I manage to get from the parking garage (we usually can park in front of the door to the terminal) to the gate and back to the car when we return.

MCO is a different story and yet sometimes, there are not chairs available when deplaning. Does anyone notice when a passenger does not use a chair to get on a plane but does when arriving? Things aren't always what they seem. Be kind.

My mom is one those who needs the assistance upon arrival. She can usually walk to the gate (although last few trips I make her use a wheelchair). She has congestive heart failure and is typically fatigued from the nearly 6-hr flight to MCO that she doesn’t have the stamina to get up the jetway and to baggage claim.

 

[gottalovepluto]

In this case, I guess there really are people who get a wheelchair to get priority boarding.

Lots. The abuse is crazy. Look at WN gates and look at other gates when walking around an airport.

There is hope on the horizon. WN has announced changes are coming to seating and will be announced end of the year, though they haven’t said what. They said they are missing out on a lot of money by not selling premium seating, unless they want to reconfigure every cabin in their fleet for extra legroom assigned seats could be coming. I read separately the new computer system they put in place for HI routes gave WN the capability to do this, so they can if they want to.

 

[Lewisc]

Lots. The abuse is crazy. Look at WN gates and look at other gates when walking around an airport.

There is hope on the horizon. WN has announced changes are coming to seating and will be announced end of the year, though they haven’t said what. They said they are missing out on a lot of money by not selling premium seating, unless they want to reconfigure every cabin in their fleet for extra legroom assigned seats could be coming. I read separately the new computer system they put in place for HI routes gave WN the capability to do this, so they can if they want to.

People like to complain about pre boarders. How many parents forget how old are their kids? How many EBCI customers save seats? The system is broken.
The line of preboards always seems longer on flights to FL. Grandparents frequently need more time to board.

 

[NYCgrrl]

MCO is a different story and yet sometimes, there are not chairs available when deplaning

Have you noted a time of day when personnel and/or chairs aren’t available at MCO? I’ll be making a wheelchair assisted flight into MCO and can still change my plane time. TIA!

 

[Henlady]

I wish Southwest would have assigned seats. I would even pay extra to secure an assigned seat. Husband would still need a wheelchair to get to the gate but that’s fine.

 

[lilkitty819]

It’s not that he can’t walk, he is just very unsteady on his feet and walking a long distance through the airport would be difficult. I honestly worried about getting him assistance but it would be better than having him trip and fall and injure himself

I get you my hubby can barely walk and refuses to use a walker, he will use a cane and it helps him some what. I know how scary it can be to have someone who is unsteady and could fall and the worry is he could break something. I hope you have arranged a scooter for him while you are at the resort its been a blessing not having to worry about hubby falling during vacation.

 

[MICKIMINI]

Have you noted a time of day when personnel and/or chairs aren’t available at MCO? I’ll be making a wheelchair assisted flight into MCO and can still change my plane time. TIA!

We always take the first flight out of MHT, usually direct. That would be a mid-morning arrival at MCO. During covid19, SWA did not have direct flights so we were going through Baltimore which added at minimum two hours and often more (something always came up). Those flights were getting to MCO around noon to one. Chairs were few and far between it seemed the later we arrived.

I think it is impossible to guess when chairs are/aren't available so just roll the dice. Early morning direct flights are the best IMO as you have an excellent chance of getting where you are going. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[jo-jo]

I get you my hubby can barely walk and refuses to use a walker, he will use a cane and it helps him some what. I know how scary it can be to have someone who is unsteady and could fall and the worry is he could break something. I hope you have arranged a scooter for him while you are at the resort its been a blessing not having to worry about hubby falling during vacation.

Has he considered a rollator?

 

[Simba's Mom]

Although I've never had a wheelchair be unavailable at MCO, in recent years, I've had an attendant who had to push multiple chairs almost every time.
The only time there was no wheelchair and no attendant was in Houston, and they finally went someplace and got another employee to come push me. Thankfully, they held my connecting plane for me-yes I was "that" person who got on the plane late, and they'd saved a seat for me.