Funny story from MCO

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

On tuesday night we were returning to PHL on Southwest. There was a young couple there with a small child, biggest stroller I have ever seen, what I believe to be 2 grandmothers and the dad was in a wheelchair with a aircast on his leg. He proceeds to ask the attendent how he would be handling preboard. Well SW attendent proceeds to explain that he will help him on the plane and he will take 1 person with him. So the dad in the wheelchair says, so I can take 1 person with me and my wife can take our child and another person with her. The attendent says no, your wife and child can preboard after the A boarding but not with him. This did not suit well. So after asking again, and getting the same answer he tells the attendent that when he flew from PHL they all preboarded. Well it didn't matter, that is not SW's policy and at MCO they don't preboard that way. Guess what, he got out of the wheelchair, pushed it aside, and boarded the plane with the rest of the family and carried carryon bags down the isle. We were happy to see that this Sw employee followed the rules. I think the guy was lucky that the employee didn't call him out for lying about it. After all that they are going to gate check this monster stroller and they don't bother to break it down. Well, the baggage guy didn't know how so they asked the mom to get off the plane and do it. She was livid and stormed off the plane knocking herself into numerous people on on way off and back. The gentlemen next to me was about ready to trip her up, he was hit in the shoulder twice by this women. Why do people act this way.

 

[NJRRK]

Why do people act this way.

Because they're rude and think they are "above" the rules.

 

[inkkognito]

To be blunt, because they are Me-First Morons.

My husband flies SW a lot and has seen some real doozies. Two favorites:

Mom and kid who are last to board. Mom demands people be moved around so she can sit by kid (who's not all that young). FAs get volunteers to free up back row. Mom downright refuses to sit in back row. FA finally says, "It's there or nowhere." Mom still refuses, so she is removed from flight and plane is held while her luggage is removed from baggage hold.

A miracle cure like wheelchair guy. Teen girl is in air cast and drags herself onto plane for preboard as though it's take the last of her strength, along with entire extended family. On plane, leaps up as though she's bathed in the miracle waters of Lourdes and is sprinting to restroom till dad whistles at her and gives her a look. Suddenly she's back to limping pathetically...but on the wrong leg!

 

[M4travels]

To be blunt, because they are Me-First Morons.

My husband flies SW a lot and has seen some real doozies. Two favorites:

.......

A miracle cure like wheelchair guy. Teen girl is in air cast and drags herself onto plane for preboard as though it's take the last of her strength, along with entire extended family. On plane, leaps up as though she's bathed in the miracle waters of Lourdes and is sprinting to restroom till dad whistles at her and gives her a look. Suddenly she's back to limping pathetically...but on the wrong leg!

You know, I've thought many times of how someone might work the system and this was actually one of them BUT just because I thought about it doesn't mean I'd do it. The fact that dad actually encouraged it (and probably planned it, huh?) really irks my chicken.

Unbelievable.

 

[bab31]

All stories are unbelievable! I wish airlines would ban these people from flying on them..oh yeah ..they need the money.. it is no win...I feel sorry for the FA who have to put up with this junk

 

[Brer Chump]

Flying from BWI to CLE. A senior citizen aged male is pushed by a porter at BWI for a pre-board on SWA. He looked to be about 70 years old or so and looked fairly physically fit and not fraile. I believed at the time he was a legitimate blue sleeve. I wind up sitting across the aisle from him and upon landing at CLE, he takes his black leather carryon and speedwalks to baggage claim where he finds his American Tourister bag on wheels and heads off to the garage.

How about pre-board = last to deplane?

On that same flight, as we were coming in for approach for landing, right after the FAs did their final cabin check, a teenage male received a text message on his cellphone. He continued to receive and send texts all throughout descent all the was to we got to the gate.

 

[MegandNatesMommy]

I havn't flown to much so thats prob why I don't know this but why are these ppl doing this? To pre board? So what? Aren't we all going to our seats and leaving at the same time anyway?
Do you get something extra when you preboard?

 

[sorul82?]

I don't understand the need to be first on the plane or the need to sit near the front. We actually prefer to sit in the back, but that's probably because we are Baptist.

 

[shocker]

because we are Baptist.

Me too, so I get that one


Our funny from MCO is when me, hubby, son 2 and daughter 6 arrive at security as most over weighted parents do (they see many, many families with young children at this airport which is why the following is so appalling to us). As we are at the first check point for ID's the employee points to me the mom to go to a specific security line and my husband and children to go to another security line. We immediately assume I've been choosen for the extra scrutiny/pat down line. We load as much stuff as possible onto dad and give him the stoller and 2 kids (who are btw crossing under ropes to try to get to me, this is not going smoothly). Come to find out, it was just the opposite, Dad was in the heightened scrutiny line. Now he has all the stuff for them to rifle through and now my children are sitting down and being entertained by security while he gets patted down. What a nightmare for the children to be separated from mom unnecessarily (they were not being patted down). They should know better! They should have been more clear about separating the family and probably should have sent all of us to one line or another, at least we could have stayed together.

 

[swift]

Do you get something extra when you preboard?

You get to put your bags in the overhead bins. I have been on flights where the people who boarded last had to check their carryon bags because the people in front of them had taken up all the space.

 

[slruud]

On a recent SWA flight, there were quite a few preboards, including at least 8 in wheelchairs. After the plane landed only 2 wheelchairs were required.

On another flight, before the new boarding process, we were connecting to another flight in Phoenix, and were near the back of the A line when an older lady in line with us commented how embarassed she was because her friends in wheelchairs at the front of the line had lied at checkin and said they needed wheelchairs, and she should ask for one also. She commented they were all perfectly healthy, and were just working the system.

Maybe that's what John Edwards meant when he was running for VP with Kerry when he said that the day after Kerry won the presidency, people in wheelchairs will be free to walk again. Must have planned to have them fly SWA.

 

[bavaria]

It's a never ending cycle - those who feel that carry on rules do not apply to them hog the bins, those who do not believe that boarding when their zone/row is called do not apply to them. It happens on legacy carriers as well as low cost carriers in the US.

Those of us who do follow the rules are punished simply by being honest and polite. It is far past the time for US carriers to stand up to their passengers and tell them NO means NO.

 

[keishashadow]

OPs story is interesting, glad they are clamping down on the # of people who get to board with the individual

I just hesitate to label those in WCs who look healthy as automatic scofflaws...u never know if they may have a not-so-apparent condition ranging from breathing issues, heart, diseases that impact muscle control that varies, etc.

 

[maxiesmom]

It's a never ending cycle - those who feel that carry on rules do not apply to them hog the bins, those who do not believe that boarding when their zone/row is called do not apply to them. It happens on legacy carriers as well as low cost carriers in the US.

Those of us who do follow the rules are punished simply by being honest and polite. It is far past the time for US carriers to stand up to their passengers and tell them NO means NO.

I agree, but I do see a little improvement. Waiting to board for my flight home from Orlando Wednesday, the gate agent made an announcemnt that they were enforcing the carryon limit of one + one. During boarding some "lady" tried to board with her 3 carryon sized bags. They actually made her gate check 2 of them. She looked none to happy, but I wanted to stand up and applaud. Why people think the rules mean everyone but them is beyond me.

 

[Mickey527]

I have to step in for the handicapped. Sometimes you just can't tell by looking. I agree, some do play the system but others may justifieably need to pre-board.
I am one of those who get the blue pass and get on the plane first. If you saw me you would never think I had a problem. At times I can walk great, and at times I need to use my cane.
I am a bit slower when I walk than some because I have neuropathy in my legs and I never know when it will go numb and will collapse on me. My knee just won't accept my weight (and I am not Pooh sized)
I tried to use the regular lines since I fly alone and don't care where I sit but I have actually been trampled. People have pushed past me to get on the plane and I did get knocked to the ground once.
So I grab a blue card and go on early. That way I have sufficient time to get down the runway without the rude people pushing me down.

 

[NJRRK]

I was in a stupidity accident when I was in my 20s and have a fake hip (right) and fake knee (left). I'm with the last poster in that I don't look handicapped and in some cirmunstances I'm ok, but slow.

I have needed a wheelchair at one airport and not at the other due to weather issues (cold/rainy I need one, warm/hot I don't).

But the lady that was embarassed by her "friends" had me laughing.

 

[NotUrsula]

I have to step in for the handicapped. Sometimes you just can't tell by looking. I agree, some do play the system but others may justifieably need to pre-board.

None of us are speaking of the legitimately disabled, invisible or not -- we're talking about the SWA "miracle cure" of the obvious fakers. These are never claiming invisible disability; they put on a show to get the blue sleeve in the first place, and then somehow don't exhibit any of those symptoms when it is time to disembark.

Several times I've been seated up front near someone who limped and struggled when getting on to the plane, but who positively sprinted when getting off. Once or twice I've even heard the FA mutter "It's a miracle!" while watching that person bolt up the jetway at high speed, sans the folding cane that they boarded with.

 

[bab31]

My Mom does not fly - I think maybe 3 times lifetime- She flew to San Jose for her brothers 50th wedding anniversary- flew out with her sister but flying back alone. her brother put her in a wheelchair because he was afraid for her, connections etc...- My aunt took the time to explain everything to her,but obviously something was not getting thru. I am thinking when she finally decides to fly to visit me I will have to drive to Chicago to get her! It will take me all day there and back. (and please no flames at my Mom! Most people can navigate an airport!)

 

[maxiesmom]

My Mom does not fly - I think maybe 3 times lifetime- She flew to San Jose for her brothers 50th wedding anniversary- flew out with her sister but flying back alone. her brother put her in a wheelchair because he was afraid for her, connections etc...- My aunt took the time to explain everything to her,but obviously something was not getting thru. I am thinking when she finally decides to fly to visit me I will have to drive to Chicago to get her! It will take me all day there and back. (and please no flames at my Mom! Most people can navigate an airport!)

I'm ready to duck, but I have to ask: If your mom is unable to navigate the airport by herself, why are you letting her fly alone? Who is going to take care of her in case of an emergency on the plane? The thought of someone like that being all alone during a crash gives me the creeps. I can't imagine sending someone who is unable to get from gate 30A to 47B by themsleves off on an airplane without help.

 

[dlbbwu]

My "funny" story from MCO:

We always fly out of Nashville (I live in Evansville, Indiana and our airport is a joke) and once when we arrived and docked, before the captain could turn off the seat belt sign, a person bolted towards the front. He was complaining of being ill, chest pains, etc. Being a Fireman/EMT, I told the FA, that if I could help I would (we just happen to be sitting towards the front). He refused to be looked at and even gave me the "evil" eye when I told him I was an EMT. The FA told him to calm down and return to his seat (which he didn't). As soon as the door opened he bolted. My curiosity got the best of me, so I tried to follow him, with no luck (I also thanked my wife for being so patient). We went to baggae claim and there he was. I approached him again to see if he was alright and he basically "pushed" me aside and told me to leave him alone. So, as soon as his luggage came up, he grabbed it and turned around to see the FA with airport security waiting for him. Next thing we knew he was being escorted to an office. I looked at him and laughed and as he was being escorted away I mentioned to him, that I hope it was worth it. In my business there are a lot of "fake" illness, but there are also the true ones that make my job rewarding.