Bathrooms on Southwest

[Momto3chicks]

Hey all...I am flying out with my family in November on SW..I am in a wheelchair so I will be pre-boarded...My only request for seating is that I am right beside the bathroom..how many bathrooms are on the plane and are there seats right next to it? Also, are the seats set up with 2 rows of 3?

Kelley

 

[KJSJpipe]

There are bathrooms at the front and back of the plane. The seats are three across on both sides of a center aisle. As far as how close they are to the bathroom, my guess would be 5 feet +/- a foot. The front bathrooms are right next to the pilots door to the cockpit, then the galley (very small) then the seats.

 

[madenon]

Kelley, check seatguru.com On there you can see each configuration for each planetype of a lot of aircarriers. With you in a wc, you won't be allowed to seat in the row in front of the (emergency) exits. Normally those are the closest to the bathrooms. Bulkhead seats tend to be very close also, but again; all depends on the specific plane configuration.

Why do you worry about this? Did you know there is something called an isle-chair? It's a sort of wheelchair that fits right in the isle. While you can't (nor are allowed to) get around on it yourself or have somebody in your party push it, the FA's will be happy to give you a push to and from the bathroom.

Another thing; there are smaller and bigger bathrooms. (allthough not on each plane). You booking a seat "close to the bathroom" could mean you being close to the small bathroom which could be a no-helper if you need the bigger one. (Just to give you some insight; I actually prefer the smaller one. I can stand to make the transfer and find the smaller bathroom to give me more space to lean into while doing that, without having to really reach. This is also very welcome in case of some turbulance right at the moment I'm standing. I'll never stand "free", I'll allways fully lean into a wall. It's saved me from numerous turbulance fallings.

When flying, I always do bulkhead seats. They have the risk of running into a baby bassinet (on intercontinental flights), but they're easier to deal with for me than standard chairs. Having a chair in front of me is a big risk of dislocating something due to the chair moving at unexpected moments, so I don't want to go that way and neither will an airline if they don't want to run the risk of diverting the plane. Having the wall in front of me is another wall for me that I can lean into while transferring without hurting myself to much (leaning down on things like armrests hurt) and secure my grip a bit in case of turbulance.

Also bulkheadseats give more space for the legs, which again saves me dislocations. I always take an aisle-seat. While this has the risk of someone bumping into you, I can regulate that better than having people sitting on both of my sides during the whole flight bumping into me. (somehow they allways seem less understanding about risks of bumping into me than FA's and people that only have to deal with you for a couple of minutes) The aisle-seat has the second benefit of not having to climb over somebody if you have to use the bathroom. I could get them to get out of their chairs for me, but I tend to do night-flights so I hate to have to do that. The good thing is that almost allways the person sitting next to me understands that crawling over me to get out of their seats causes me more distress than an "averegde" person so they never go past me, but past the other 2 persons on the other side to get out.

Another thing you'll want to check at seatguru.com is which seats have foldable armrests. Not all do and if you need those to transfer you'll love knowing which rows and which seats do have them.

So it really depends on what your needs are, which are good seats to travel in when having a disability. For somebody using a wc, not needing foldable armrests to transfer into the seat and no added medical needs any chair will do. Sure one chair is better than the other (more space, quieter place) or worse (backrest not able to recline), but everybody has to deal with that anyway.

 

[Jestocost]

On SWA's 737s, there is one lavatory all the way up front just behind the cockpit and across from the front galley. The closest seats to this would be the bulkead seats in row 1, of which I would suggest D, E or F. The other lav is all the way in the back of the plane, past the galley in which is behind the last row of seats (23). This row is not ideal for you, I'm guessing, since in addition to being at the back of the plane, the seats don't recline.

Check seatguru, as a pp recommended to see exactly what the layout is like.

 

[Momto3chicks]

Wow, thanks for the replies and the seatguru site...I have been looking for a site for seating on SW for quite a while. I have printed it out and to me it looks like the best/closest seat would be the very back ones..are they "poor seats" just because they don't recline?

Madenon, I have heard about the aisle chairs but have never used one..I am an incomplete para so I can stand and take a few steps as long as I am holding onto something to balance me. I have flown a few times with Air Canada and Sky Service over the years and I have just wheeled my own chair on the plane and then I walk holding onto the seats on either side of the aisle. The last flight I took in May, I was able to choose a galley seat which was RIGHT beside the bathroom..it was great, I had no worries and didn't have to depend on anyone to help me. I think, like you, I would prefer the smaller bathroom as I won't have to reach for something stable to keep me up.

I would be in an aisle seat too, not only because it would be easier to get me in and out of my seat, but my kids would want to be by the window anyway..LOL.. In the seat configuration, the seats look quite far from the bathrooms, but I think a pp said it was about 5'..correct?

So, since I am disabled with a chair..I am definately pre-boarded right? Do I still have to check in 24 hrs in advance?

Thanks again everyone, you're all VERY helpful.

Kelley

 

[ironz]

Kelly, wouldn't the front row seats be easier so you don't have to navigate the aisle when boarding and deplaning? Still close to that front lavatory. Since there is no 1st class on SW, the front lav is available to all passengers.

Either way, have a fun trip!

 

[Momto3chicks]

Oh, do they board passengers at the front of the plane??? I was assuming (because all the other flights I have taken) that they board in the middle (ie: row 11)..I figured by boarding in the middle I'd have to either walk up an aisle or down an aisle...If they board at the front, then yeah, of course it would be easier to stay there...In the bulkhead seats right...Thanks, phew!

Kelley

 

[TDC Nala]

Oh, do they board passengers at the front of the plane??? I was assuming (because all the other flights I have taken) that they board in the middle (ie: row 11)..I figured by boarding in the middle I'd have to either walk up an aisle or down an aisle...If they board at the front, then yeah, of course it would be easier to stay there...In the bulkhead seats right...Thanks, phew!

Kelley

This may be a smaller plane than you are used to boarding.

 

[madenon]

It depends on the airport where they board and unboard. I've had flights boarding through first class and unboarding via economy. Ask about this because if it happens, it'll be a lot of rows to get through and probably too many for you.

Like you, if needed I can walk some steps, it just isn't the safest thing to do. So when (about to) flying, I don't do so. They aisle-chairs work great, but you do have to request upfront. When boarding and being in the first row bulkheadseat (and boarding at the right point!) I take my own chair right into the galley -some don't like it, but it safes me pain, so too bad for them it is coming with me- and then only have to make the turn around the wall to get into my seat. In first it's even easier, just have to turn 180 degrees to get from my own chair to the seat. (I was upgraded on both flights from DTW to MCO, the least the could do for ruining 2 wc's)

Normally you preboard, HOWEVER! If you need any assistance, this can become a "normally you would, but........". The assistance needs to be there on time, just like the airport aislechair (they don't use the planes chair for some reason for boarding, weird if you ask me). NWA DTW scr*wed this up for me on one of the flights. Eventhough we let them know I was coming about 4 months prior, them knowing what I need, me being at the gate 2 hours prior and telling them, MCO calling them hours before, those simple souls just totally thought it to be normal for somebody that brings their own manual and powerchair to walk right up the plane from the gate. So they decided not to order any assistance nor an aisle-chair. Picture this; letting 300 people board and try to get me on while those 300 are busy with their own seats and bags forgetting the world around them. Uncomfortable and not safe for anyone involved. I've had it happen once more -I fly regularely with the chair- when the assistance-crew was simply too busy. They were smart enough to then wait untill the whole plane was boarded before helping me on.

First row seats on both sides (not in the middle) regularely are exit rows. You can see this on seatguru and on the site of the airline itself. If that's the case, you aren't allowed to sit there. Because of your reduced mobility yo don't fit the physical requirements to sit there. You need to be able to do certain things in case of an emergency and with reduced mobilty you won't be able.


I don't know how SW handles these things, with them doing the "cattle call". We don't have that overhere and I skip airlines that do that abroad. My standard way of going about is to call the airline as soon as I know I'll be flying and have booked. If needed for medical reasons, you can get a specific seat assigned months prior with a lot of airlines -even before others can pick their seats online-. This makes life a lot easier because those with reduced mobility can't check in online overhere. I don't need to worry about the seats being taken yet, no worry about "do I actually preboard?", no worry about getting the "wrong" seat that'll end me up in hospital. Now I don't know how SWA works with this, nor how medical your reasons are for getting a specific seat. (I know some airlines will gladely give you a specific seat if it reduces the work for the FA, which in your situation would be the case) But I would call them to get some info on this and on the possibilty of boarding and unboarding at different places. In that case you'ld rather have an aisle-chair waiting for you and not needing it, then the FA having to call in for one and you waiting untill they get to the gate. This can go very quickly, but sometimes it can take upto 20 minutes (more??) after everybody else has deplaned.

 

[ironz]

On Southwest--that is the airline, per the OP, correct?--the configuration is virtually the same for all planes. They only use 737s (very minor differences in older vs. newer models). The doors are at the front of the plane by the cockpit, not in the middle. Rarely, they will also use the back door for loading, but I have only seen that at Burbank. They don't use it at MCO, and I can't comment on where the OP is flying out of.

The front row is not considered an exit row on SW that I know of--I can double check this afternoon when I fly out for a business trip, and often see disabled people and children sitting there. There is no first class vs. economy on SW flights.

Kelly, you may consider calling SW Customer service to verify and to make sure some gate assistance is there.

 

[TDC Nala]

On Southwest--that is the airline, per the OP, correct?--the configuration is virtually the same for all planes. They only use 737s (very minor differences in older vs. newer models). The doors are at the front of the plane by the cockpit, not in the middle. Rarely, they will also use the back door for loading, but I have only seen that at Burbank. They don't use it at MCO, and I can't comment on where the OP is flying out of.

The front row is not considered an exit row on SW that I know of--I can double check this afternoon when I fly out for a business trip, and often see disabled people and children sitting there. There is no first class vs. economy on SW flights.

Kelly, you may consider calling SW Customer service to verify and to make sure some gate assistance is there.

The only exit rows on the SW 737s are over the wings (and they have two rows over each wing, five seats each). Preboarders are not permitted to sit there.

She'd be okay in the first row bulkhead seats.

SW never assigns seats. I am not sure if they would assign a seat for medical reasons. I do know the first people to board the plane are preboarders with medical necessities. See the gate agent when you get to the gate about preboarding.

 

[Momto3chicks]

Thanks again everyone...I am flying out of Buffalo and when I purchased the tickets online, it asked if I had a disabilty and what kind of assistance I needed...So, I think I am covered there...I think I will be fine in the front bulkhead seat (that's where I have sat before on other flights) and I was ok there...I wasn't sure if I had to check in 24 hours before hand or if it was just a given that me and my family would be pre-boarded (my kids are 3, 6, and 7). Of course the other members flying with us can do their own check in as I don't think we're allowed nor do I think it's fair that I take EVERY family member on with me..just my kids and hubby...

You are all so wonderful..I appreciate it..

Kelley

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are in a wheelchair, you will be preboarded before the families. But you need to see the gate agent to get a blue preboarding sleeve.

They should allow the whole family to preboard with the wheelchair.

I think they only restrict the preboarding (and then only occasionally, when there are too many of them) for the family preboarders.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just my two cents...

I would still recommend checking in online. It doesn't matter if it's 12 or 24 hours prior to the flight... the objective isn't to get the A boarding pass in this case, since you will pre-board.

The objective really is to secure a boarding pass. As with ALL airlines, Southwest sometimes overbooks flights, to offset the no-show factor. If everyone does show up, the folks who check in last (ie: at the airport) may not make the flight. Those are the people you see on "Airline!" who get bumped from thier flight.

By checking in online, you guarantee your seat, even if something happens and you run late, and get to the airport later than you had originally planned.

It only takes 5 seconds.

Enjoy your flight.