More questions on Southwest boarding procedure

[phoenixflight]

DH, DS (5) and I are flying Southwest tomorrow! I got up extra early today to get our boarding passes as soon as I could. Ended up getting B3-B5. (Even though I hit the "sign in" button just as soon as it would let me.) Are these good passes?

Also, I walk with a cane for long distances and have 2 new knees. Does SW board the disabled any sooner than the boarding passes I already have, or should I just use them and not mention it? I know this is a huge travel time, lots of families, and I just don't want us to be separated (Would also be much easier on me if I could snag an aisle seat, but that's not quite as important as the family staying together.)

Any feedback would be great!.

 

[DebbieB]

DH, DS (5) and I are flying Southwest tomorrow! I got up extra early today to get our boarding passes as soon as I could. Ended up getting B3-B5. (Even though I hit the "sign in" button just as soon as it would let me.) Are these good passes?

Also, I walk with a cane for long distances and have 2 new knees. Does SW board the disabled any sooner than the boarding passes I already have, or should I just use them and not mention it? I know this is a huge travel time, lots of families, and I just don't want us to be separated (Would also be much easier on me if I could snag an aisle seat, but that's not quite as important as the family staying together.)

Any feedback would be great!.

They board disabled before A. When you get to the gate, talk to the gate agent. They will give you a blue sleeve for your boarding pass which will allow you to pre-board.

 

[Mkrop]

The people who purchased EBCI were checked in before you, as were anyone on the flight if it connected from somewhere else. But a beginning B pass should be fine to get seats together, but if you feel you need the disabled boarding then go speak to the gate agent

 

[momto2inKC]

I was on crutches with a broken foot a few years back coming home from Disney. I was not allowed to pre-board on either leg of our trip.
B3-B5 are actually pretty good. You should have no problem finding seats together.

EDITED to add- sorry, this was on Airtran not Southwest!

 

[jdb in AZ]

I was on crutches with a broken foot a few years back coming home from Disney. I was not allowed to pre-board on either leg of our trip.
B3-B5 are actually pretty good. You should have no problem finding seats together.

I wonder if the crutches/pre-board is at the discretion of each gate attendant. DH was able to pre-board on crutches but that was several years ago. Who knows how often SWA changes their policies.

B3-B5 are pretty good, unless the flight is continuing from somewhere else and is already half full.

 

[LisaS]

I was on crutches with a broken foot a few years back coming home from Disney. I was not allowed to pre-board on either leg of our trip.

I'm surprised to hear this. Did they give you a reason, for example, is pre-boarding restricted to just those in wheelchairs? I would have thought someone on crutches would qualify.

 

[momto2inKC]

I wonder if the crutches/pre-board is at the discretion of each gate attendant. DH was able to pre-board on crutches but that was several years ago. Who knows how often SWA changes their policies.

B3-B5 are pretty good, unless the flight is continuing from somewhere else and is already half full.

I'm surprised to hear this. Did they give you a reason, for example, is pre-boarding restricted to just those in wheelchairs? I would have thought someone on crutches would qualify.

I was told at both segments (Orlando and Atlanta) that the only pre-boards they were allowing at that time were those in wheel chairs. Not so fun or safe trying to put crutches in the over head bin when the plane is full of people I'm surprised it wasn't automatically a condition to allow pre-boarding.

 

[DebbieB]

I was told at both segments (Orlando and Atlanta) that the only pre-boards they were allowing at that time were those in wheel chairs. Not so fun or safe trying to put crutches in the over head bin when the plane is full of people I'm surprised it wasn't automatically a condition to allow pre-boarding.

Are you sure this was Southwest? SW does not start service in Atlanta until next year. Could have been AirTran or Delta, which have hubs in Atlanta.

 

[momto2inKC]

Are you sure this was Southwest? SW does not start service in Atlanta until next year. Could have been AirTran or Delta, which have hubs in Atlanta.

Ack..you are right! I just pulled up my SW account and we did not fly home SW, it was AT! Sorry for the wrong info. We flew down on SW. Thanks for pointing that out, I hate giving out mis-information.

 

[gmeh1]

I wonder if the crutches/pre-board is at the discretion of each gate attendant. DH was able to pre-board on crutches but that was several years ago. Who knows how often SWA changes their policies.

B3-B5 are pretty good, unless the flight is continuing from somewhere else and is already half full.

Southwest ALWAYS allows those who need more time to board before anyone, the poster did say it was Airtran, not southwest.