Help Needed with booking for disabilities

[katallo]

Has anyone booked a handicap seat on SW for after January 26? I’ve called Southwest three times and had three different answers. I will have my own wheelchair but need some extra space in time.
Do I have to purchase a ticket and then add extra legroom ticket? By doing this, my ticket that cost $143 one way seven months ago well now cost $345 one way..

 

[Neener16]

Has anyone booked a handicap seat on SW for after January 26? I’ve called Southwest three times and had three different answers. I will have my own wheelchair but need some extra space in time.
Do I have to purchase a ticket and then add extra legroom ticket? By doing this, my ticket that cost $143 one way seven months ago well now cost $345 one way..

I have a link if you read down I think it answers your question. I believe you would have to pay the fare for extra legroom. Here is the link and I hope I copied it correctly, but I would also definitely call Southwest. Edit to add, sorry, I see you’ve done that. Maybe request a supervisor if you’re getting three different answers.
Sorry, couldn’t be more helpful.
https://support.southwest.com/helpcenter/s/article/disability-seating

 

[Simba's Mom]

Has anyone booked a handicap seat on SW for after January 26? I’ve called Southwest three times and had three different answers. I will have my own wheelchair but need some extra space in time.
Do I have to purchase a ticket and then add extra legroom ticket? By doing this, my ticket that cost $143 one way seven months ago well now cost $345 one way..

I have! I did exactly what you said. I booked exactly what you said, a Choice Preferred and selected a seat near the front. I assume I'll still be able to pre board, but you'll go to whatever seat you paid for. I'd be interested to know what 3 answers you got. I noticed that, at least when I booked, Choice Preferred cost me $50 more than the next level down, but it came with free luggage.
Although when I booked the price wasn't too much different than the old, basic tickets, I just priced Choice Preferred for next September, and was shocked at how very much higher it is.

 

[katallo]

I will try to call again and ask for a supervisor. The first response was you can book a basic ticket and you will preboard to seat in front. The second was, book a choice and choose a seat and they would offer a seat with additional room in needed, and third, book a choice seats then choose a preferred seat and then pay for the extra legroom. Perhaps it’s me, but I’m so confused with this new system. Thank you, everyone.

 

[sam_gordon]

I am just guessing. I am not disabled, and have rarely flown SW. But my understanding on how things work for other airlines...

The handicapped person is assigned a seat. Whether that's because they selected a seat at time of booking or waited to be assigned a "left over" seat close to departure is immaterial. There are no, as far as I know, "handicapped" seats.

The handicapped person is allowed to board first and they go to wherever their assigned seat is.

That's it.

I would book a seat that matches your needs, even if you have to pay more for it. Here's what SW website says regarding needing a specific seat for a disability...

 

[LoveToDisney]

I have booked my “disability” seat 2 different ways. The first trip was booked at the choice preferred pricing tier because I could make it back to row 7 or 8 but knew I couldn’t get back much farther with my disability. It was expensive because I use points for the flexibility. From what I can tell, one needs to choose and pay for the seat you need…no free upgrades due to disability. You also pay for any extra seat if you need one.
For the second trip reservation I made, I upgraded my Plus card to Priority so I could save points. I can now book a Basic tier (for point savings) and my Priority CC benefits let me choose a Preferred seat at booking. It saved me about $600 in points for the 2 of us and more than paid for the higher annual fee. Plus, at 48 hours before the flight, I can upgrade to an extra legroom seat if one still is available.
I still hate all the changes SWA has made but they are the only airline with nonstop flights to Orlando in my market so I’m forced to play by their rules.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am just guessing. I am not disabled, and have rarely flown SW. But my understanding on how things work for other airlines...

The handicapped person is assigned a seat. Whether that's because they selected a seat at time of booking or waited to be assigned a "left over" seat close to departure is immaterial. There are no, as far as I know, "handicapped" seats.

The handicapped person is allowed to board first and they go to wherever their assigned seat is.

That's it.

I would book a seat that matches your needs, even if you have to pay more for it. Here's what SW website says regarding needing a specific seat for a disability...
View attachment 1030780

That's exactly the way I thought it was also, and I AM disabled. I'll still be able to pre board, but after January 26th, I'll be going to my assigned seat when I pre board.