Flying Southwest to Orlando (1st time)- questions about wheelchair boarding

[triplefigs]

We have never flown Southwest before. My DS uses a wheelchair, and I see there are no assigned seating. Trying to decide if we need to purchase the Early Boarding for $10 each way, or does SW allow those needing assistance to board early in the A group? Would it just be him and me, or would they allow our entire family(DH, DS, DD) to board early as well?

Thanks for any help.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Southwest generally allows a wheelchair user and one person travelling with them to pre-board before A group. The only other situations I could see them definitely allowing more than that are if a second person is needed for the transfer to a seat or if all other members of the party are small children.

One thing to note is that if there are 4 of you on a Southwest flight, I would generally expect to get slightly split up even in A boarding group unless you are flying the absolute first flights of the day. Southwest does a lot of city-hopping with its planes so often there are already other people on the plane and sometimes even A boarding group can't find 3 seats together, but generally possible to find 2 & 2 in any group other than C (not necessarily near each other). Also, my last flight on Southwest going to Orlando there were I think 10 people using wheelchairs (either their own or an airport assistance one; all wheelchairs get preboarded). Most of the people had someone else with them so that's almost 20 seats (wheelchair user plus one other member of their party) at the front of the plane that were taken immediately. They like to have wheelchair users as close to the front as possible since it's a shorter distance and people are less likely to need an aisle chair (I can get my manual wheelchair up to the first row and transfer from there on a Southwest plane, for example).

I have to say that despite the no assigned seating, I've generally had good luck with Southwest. When there have been issues, even if they haven't been SW's fault (generally they haven't been), they've done everything they could to help. This included once holding a seat open for me in the front row for easy transfer when I messed up what time a flight was and showed up at the airport 30 minutes before take-off (I was the last person on the plane).

 

[ls15]

We have never flown Southwest before. My DS uses a wheelchair, and I see there are no assigned seating. Trying to decide if we need to purchase the Early Boarding for $10 each way, or does SW allow those needing assistance to board early in the A group? Would it just be him and me, or would they allow our entire family(DH, DS, DD) to board early as well?

Thanks for any help.

You do not need to purchase the Early Boarding. My mom and I fly SW (she is in a wheelchair) and we are always seated first (sometimes in conjunction with others in wheelchairs). We are even seated before the people who purchase Early Boarding. I am not certain if it would be all of you, because I've only flown just my mom and I. I would think that, perhaps, they wouldn't, but you never know - it might be, say, a limit of four people. But if there is another adult with your other child, they might not let it go through.

The first time we flew together (last year) I called SW and they were awesome and helpful with all of my questions.

When you purchase your flight, you can also include what kind of assistance you need. The folks at SW wheeled my mom right to the seat (they wouldn't let me). We sat in the front so she would be near the bathroom (she has MS).

SW has amazing customer service (except when it comes to damaged luggage, for me, unfortunately!)

But with disabilities, they were perfect.

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/unique-travel-needs/index-pol.html

 

[clanmcculloch]

Some airports will allow you to all board together but that's not how it is supposed to work. In Orlando, you and DS in the chair will board before general boarding while your DH and other kids will board in their assigned boarding positions.

 

[kellyw8863]

I think it's luck of the draw as to whether or not you'll all be able to pre-board, but at the very least, your DS and one attendant will be able to without question. When we were on DD's Make-a-Wish trip, only I was allowed to pre-board out of Manchester, but flying out of Orlando, our entire party of six was allowed even though I only requested it for two.

 

[Lisa71]

Our son has special needs but no WC and United did not let us pre-board last time..he has difficulty walking long distances and the ramps on the airlines are always an issue. We were told that "only elite club members pre-board" or something like that. We complained when we returned and the person I spoke with said bring a doctor's note just in case, as they are supposed to let those with a WC or moblity handicap pre-board but she has seen many cases where they did not. We held up the line as we used his stroller to the gate, then had to slowly walk on and board. It was not fun. Get a letter just in case.

 

[Mary976]

As previously noted, SW allows the person using the w/c and one companion to pre-board. Personally, when we've flown to Orlando there have always been a number of preboarders (like in the 10+ range). On our last flight we had DD (w/c) and her cousin preboard and then DH and I bought the early bird check in for ourselves. Even then we were seated a number of rows back from the girls. There was another man who preboarded who was seated in the row with them (the girls are in college...didn't want anyone to think I left preschoolers alone!)

Be sure to check in a the counter and get your blue "preboard" sleeves. If you are going to need the aisle chair for your son, let them know that. Also, you'll want to be ready to go early and seat yourselves near the boarding area in case the preboard line is long.

Good luck!
Mary

 

[JudithM]

When I have flown with Southwest, I have been able to preboard (due to mobility issues) along with my husband. I wait with the wheelchair passengers - they board before those of us with a blue preboard pass. I have never had a problem with Southwest issuing me the blue preboard pass.

 

[Diznejen1]

We are a group of 7 going to WDW via Southwest for the first time the last week in march. The kids are 20,16,13 and a set of twins age 8. One of the twins has CP and uses a custom manual wheelchair. My concern is Southwest letting the wheelchair and adult preboard and then the rest of us having to wait and be seated no where near each other. Any one been in this situation ? tia

 

[Aerorea]

I've never flown Southwest, but likely will in the future. What's this about a preboarding blue card? With Delta and AirTran, DH and I simply walked up when they called for those needing assistance and were never questioned or stopped. I'm vision impaired and use a white cane, so it's pretty obvious. Preboarding helps a lot so I don't hold up the line.

Is this card something we'll have to request upon arrival?

 

[jmartinez1895]

We are a family or 5 ( 2 adults and 3 kids 12,10 and 7). We always fly SW and we use a special needs stroller. They always let us preboard and we all go on together. Call the airline and have them note on your reservation that you will need to preboard and you are traveling with a chiar. It is not required, but it helps us. As soon as you get through security go to the check in counter and get the pre board slip, even if your flight is not for another hour or so. The pre boards get on first so you should be able to get seats that are together and dhave room to store your carry ons.

THE BLUE CARD- is a plastic slip that says Pre Board. It allerts hte gate agent that you ahev been approved for pre boardsing. It will also have a copy of the rules about where you can and can not sit on the plane.

 

[ls15]

Take a peek here. This should help too!

http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/unique-travel-needs/index-pol.html

 

[triplefigs]

thanks. I think I will buy the pre-board for my DH, DS, DD just in case they aren't allowed to board with me and DS in his wheelchair. thanks!

 

[canwegosoon]

I happened to call SWA about this today because DH is injured and awaiting knee surgery(he will be in a scooter for our trip). They said- give them at least 48 hours adv notice about the wheelchair(because they to reserve room in cargo). DH would have to transfer to wheel chair to preboard. but they could have the scooter at the gate(or baggage) at out destination. They said to be checked in 1 hour prior to flight

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Our son has special needs but no WC and United did not let us pre-board last time..he has difficulty walking long distances and the ramps on the airlines are always an issue. We were told that "only elite club members pre-board" or something like that. We complained when we returned and the person I spoke with said bring a doctor's note just in case, as they are supposed to let those with a WC or moblity handicap pre-board but she has seen many cases where they did not. We held up the line as we used his stroller to the gate, then had to slowly walk on and board. It was not fun. Get a letter just in case.

It is not true that United does not pre-board customers with medical issues. They do. You should have notified personnel when you arrived at the gate area that you required additional time to board. That would have given you time to ask for a supervisor, if necessary. You must have run into a gate agent who was either in a very bad mood or didn't care about the rules. You should have been allowed to pre-board.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

If you have a problem with an airline employee denying you what would be considered a "reasonable accommodation" under the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA), such as pre-boarding because you need extra time to be seated, ask for the Conflict Resolution Officer (CRO). Every airline has to have one; CROs are specifically for dealing with ACAA-related issues.

 

[Andianna]

I have had to board SWA in a wheel chair and they have been exceptional in the way they assist you if needed. They have always treated me with dignity and respect.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

United has posted their boarding policy here:

http://hub.united.com/en-us/News/Company-Operations/Pages/arriving-at-a-single-boarding-process.aspx

Note:

Customers who have requested physical assistance and those customers with disabilities are invited to board the aircraft first.

 

[lanejudy]

We just returned from flying SW for the first time. I was also nervous about the no assigned seats. But it worked fine. Do NOT pay for the A group boarding - get a blue pre-board sleeve for your son and he'll be boarded before the A group. We were allowed to board all together (3 of us - me, DH, DD) at both ALB and MCO. DH took DD onboard while I disassembled and folded her medical stroller to leave in the gateway for gatecheck. If you have young children and the WC needs to be disassembled and folded, they should allow the family to board together so 1 parent is with the kids while 1 deals with the WC. Good luck to you and your family - enjoy your vacation!

 

[jdb in AZ]

When we flew with DMIL and her wheelchair, one of the arm rests got lost somewhere between the gate-check and the cargo hold. So, I would recommend putting the wheelchair and all its disassembled components in a large garbage bag, preferably clear so you can see what's in there, so that if something gets loose, at least you'll still have all the parts. hopefully.

Every time we fly SWA they've always let the wheelchair people pre-board before the A listers.