Pre Board Questions

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I thought the OP didn't have mobility issues - they needed preboard for another reason. I get having the people who need the aisle wheelchair and/or a wheelchair for the airport waiting for the way to be clear, but not someone who needs it for a child with autism, for example. Expecting that person, sitting in one of the first rows, to wait (while getting bumped by people coming by) is ludicrous, IMO. Is that really a SWA policy?

I didn't say they did. I said pre-boards as the topic (which is what the OP is asking about) and gave an example with people with mobility issues as an example of individuals who are pre-boards and then try to get up and off the plane as quickly as they can cause problems.

When you're leaving the plane it's usually with a lot of other people equally trying to leave the plane and get through the jetway as quickly as possible. Pre-boards are usually intended to stay on the plane until others have gotten off when that is used more consistently, it helps cut down on those trying to use it just to get on the plane quicker (either by getting overhead bin space or a more favorable seat or both) and helps provide that further assistance at a more leisurely pace.

But for the sake of the conversation with the OP they have a daughter who has sensory issues and has meltdowns and a recipe for those melt downs is a plane full of people trying to get off the plane as quickly as possible, getting their luggage from up above and leaving. If the OP by any chance gets the front row or first few rows if she makes a run for it maybe she can get ahead but what happens if her daughter has a meltdown with all the people around them? And the OP themselves has claustrophobia and while needing to be in open spaces would likely help with that being around a plane full of people all trying to leave at once with a person in their traveling party with their own set of needs set off by sensory overloads seems like not the best solution trying to rush out of the plane. Sometimes jetways are longer sometimes they are shorter but you still have to use them to get into the actual gate area. Waiting until the people, noise and chaos is over seems a better option.

If you're in the first rows you're not getting bumped by people coming by. I've never seen that happen with someone seated in the first rows and we just flew last month with a person who pre-boarded and sat in the first row and if you think that's an issue well it would be even more of an issue during boarding..don't you think? Which would totally negate someone wanting to pre-board when anywhere between 140+ to 170+ passengers are boarding.

 

[Lilsia]

oops

 

[dawnball]

IMO. Is that really a SWA policy?

To the best of my knowledge (I haven't needed to preboard in several years, but try to stay in the loop for change information) that is not a SWA policy. It certainly wasn't documented in the preboarding paperwork last time I flew, and I haven't heard a kerfuffle about changes. If you need a wheelchair you'll want to wait until the wheelchair is available, but you don't otherwise need to wait.

Typically I'd ask the flight attendant or another passenger to help get my bag down once we landed, take some time to get myself all arranged and ready to stand, then I'd catch someone's eye and ask them to give me some space to deplane. Flight attendants would make a space for me if no one wanted to make eye contact, but generally folks were understanding.

 

[DisneyElite4]

I have some first-hand experience with this, specifically flying SWA.

My DS (almost 8) has moderate autism and has been too old for family boarding for almost two years now. We started buying EBCI (Early Bird Check-In) for him and my husband to use as a solution. He doesn't need extra time to board or a seat near the front, and he's not prone to meltdowns, however, he absolutely always needs one of his parents sitting next to him to keep him, and everyone else around him, safe and comfortable. Usually EBCI gets them into A boarding, and they have no issues getting two seats together. When they get B boarding, I will go talk to the Gate Agent about my concerns, and they have always given them both Pre-Boarding in that situation. You can usually still get two seats together with early B boarding, but I don't like to chance it as he absolutely can't sit with strangers, and I think it's very rude to ask others to move.

Myself and my other two kids take whatever seating we can get - my DH never saves us seats, although he will purposely sit near the back, and we are usually in a row right next to, behind or in front of them with this method. I realize we would probably be fine if we just took our chances, but that cause ME great anxiety, so paying extra for EBCI is worth it to save myself that anxiety.

 

[anonymousegirl]

Know OP that the front row cannot have under the seat bags, sometimes people don't realize that. Your personal item IF you get front row will need to be stored overhead. If that make a difference in wanting that row just know that, some people need immediate access to their personal bag so that can make a difference.

SWA tends to be forgiving on their pre-board policy but those with pre-board are supposed to wait until everyone gets off the plane first before leaving although that does not always happen. If your daughter feels crowded or rushed she may experience issues with that because often people do want to get off the plane quickly. You'll want to talk with the gate agent about ensuring you are on the window and middle seat so as not to block someone who needs to get out. It will get crowded/rushed if say someone is on the window seat needing to get out. On the downside this would also potentially make it harder to get out to walk about if you need to with your blood clot issues.

I think a challenge will be seeing the door, that's going to be pretty hard.

Most of what SWA flies is also older planes that are smaller. The MAX 8 planes have more over your head space and the overhead bin space doesn't extend all the way to the aisle seat. The older planes will feel smaller more closed in. I'm 5 ft 3 and on the older planes I can basically stand almost straight but not quite under the overhead bin space with my head just touching. The MAX 8 are roomier in that respect.

You won't be able to get an exit row with your daughter although from the sounds of it not sure that would be what you'd want anyways.

Mine is not a mobility pre-board and I have never been instructed to wait until the plane disembarks. I do believe they ask wheelchair passengers to wait to avoid a bottleneck on the jetway, and in case the wheelchair pushers have not yet arrived. OP and her daughter should be able to exit as usual.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Mine is not a mobility pre-board and I have never been instructed to wait until the plane disembarks. I do believe they ask wheelchair passengers to wait to avoid a bottleneck on the jetway, and in case the wheelchair pushers have not yet arrived. OP and her daughter should be able to exit as usual.

We've heard them request kindly that all pre-boards stay seated more than a few times without qualifying those with wheelchairs only. My original comment was thinking about OP's specific needs. I would hate for an episode on the jetway especially a child with a plane full of people behind them. The only time we saw SWA blatantly not have any care whatsoever was flying from Jamaica back home. I think we were lucky to get in the plane as it seemingly was all just pre-boards. Otherwise sometimes the wheelchairs clog the jetways, etc.

Either way hope the OP has a great trip

 

[Weedy]

You may also want contact TSA to get assistance going through the security screening.
TSA lines are long and crowded and are stressful.
Here’s a contact I found
https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares

 

[SueM in MN]

You may also want contact TSA to get assistance going through the security screening.
TSA lines are long and crowded and are stressful.
Here’s a contact I found
https://www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares

My family has used TSA Cares in the past and has found it kind of hit or miss. We have had pretty good luck with it at Terminal 2 of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul airport.
It does say it is not available at all airports. Although Orlando is not listed as ‘not available‘, we have never gotten any assistance from TSA Cares in any of the times we requested it at the Orlando airport.
We have found it very helpful to have TSA Precheck .
There is a cost and it does take a while to apply, but it usually greatly speeds up security screening and usually don’t need to remove 3-1-1 bag or laptops from your luggage or remove shoes or light jacket. These Pre-Check FAQs talk about some of the limitations .

 

[DisneyOma]

I love TSA Precheck! Lowers my anxiety level quite a bit, which is so nice since I hate to fly.

 

[mamabunny]

We recently found out that you can now apply for - and renew (as long as it is not expired) your TSA Precheck online!

Ironically, since we got the fancy new van, we are driving almost everywhere (I know... airline employee's family *drives* LOL) but when we do fly, Precheck is great!

 

[SueM in MN]

We recently found out that you can now apply for - and renew (as long as it is not expired) your TSA Precheck online!

Ironically, since we got the fancy new van, we are driving almost everywhere (I know... airline employee's family *drives* LOL) but when we do fly, Precheck is great!

Filling out the application to enroll is online, but after completing that, you still need to go to an enrollment center where they look at all your documentation and take fingerprints.
That was how we did it - much easier having the application filled out ahead of time than doing it at the enrollment center.

 

[Weedy]

For the OP
If you decide to enroll in TSA pre check

You have to make an appointment to register for pre check. Appointments may be full for a week or so.
It takes a week or so to get it approved.
It cost $85 and it’s good for 5
years.
https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/factsheets/tsa-precheckr-application-program

 

[Weedy]

Oops double post

 

[fabfemmeboy]

We've heard them request kindly that all pre-boards stay seated more than a few times without qualifying those with wheelchairs only. My original comment was thinking about OP's specific needs. I would hate for an episode on the jetway especially a child with a plane full of people behind them. The only time we saw SWA blatantly not have any care whatsoever was flying from Jamaica back home. I think we were lucky to get in the plane as it seemingly was all just pre-boards. Otherwise sometimes the wheelchairs clog the jetways, etc.

Either way hope the OP has a great trip

That's odd - I fly SW a lot and have never heard them (or any other airline) ask that preboards stay put. I haven't even heard them announce that wheelchair-users stay put, but if we're up front (as we often are) they'll usually tell us individually to stay put if the wheelchairs aren't out front yet. Most people who know they take awhile to deplane tend to hang back a bit because the crowd always surges right at the beginning. My parents preboard for other medical reasons and get off in turn with everyone else.

I would suggest to OP that your family may want to hang back a bit if you want to avoid feeling rushed or crowded. Otherwise head out with everyone else.

 

[SirDuff]

That's odd - I fly SW a lot and have never heard them (or any other airline) ask that preboards stay put. I haven't even heard them announce that wheelchair-users stay put, but if we're up front (as we often are) they'll usually tell us individually to stay put if the wheelchairs aren't out front yet. Most people who know they take awhile to deplane tend to hang back a bit because the crowd always surges right at the beginning. My parents preboard for other medical reasons and get off in turn with everyone else.

I would suggest to OP that your family may want to hang back a bit if you want to avoid feeling rushed or crowded. Otherwise head out with everyone else.

I've never heard it either. You might get "If you require assistance, please and one of us will help you when the aisles are clear/aisle is clear", but I'm not even sure that I've heard that recently.

I get that is different for SW (not sure I've ever flown them and it's been years since I've flown any airline with open seating), but generally, who has time to worry about "miracle flight" travelers or remember who preboarded and who didn't.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That's odd - I fly SW a lot and have never heard them (or any other airline) ask that preboards stay put. I haven't even heard them announce that wheelchair-users stay put, but if we're up front (as we often are) they'll usually tell us individually to stay put if the wheelchairs aren't out front yet. Most people who know they take awhile to deplane tend to hang back a bit because the crowd always surges right at the beginning. My parents preboard for other medical reasons and get off in turn with everyone else.

I would suggest to OP that your family may want to hang back a bit if you want to avoid feeling rushed or crowded. Otherwise head out with everyone else.

Yeah it's happened, we tend to fly early flights and late flights maybe it's more common then

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I've never heard it either. You might get "If you require assistance, please and one of us will help you when the aisles are clear/aisle is clear", but I'm not even sure that I've heard that recently.

I get that is different for SW (not sure I've ever flown them and it's been years since I've flown any airline with open seating), but generally, who has time to worry about "miracle flight" travelers or remember who preboarded and who didn't.

I don't worry about it unless there's a lot of pre-boards. You've never flown them so not sure you would understand how it can be frustrating to get an A Boarding position but half the plane has already boarded as pre-boards and then watching people who needed physical assistance to get on don't when it's time to get off. It's a problem existing for a long time.

Unlikely that people are specifically remembering people who needed assistance but if you had 10 people lined up in wheelchairs getting in the plane it's easy to tell. Most of the time people keep to themselves but the miracle passengers are a well documented issue.

It not only affects number of seats one can choose from but also overhead bin space near seats plus people paying for EBCI or these days that or Anytime Fare which now includes it. It's an issue with other airlines too although that would mostly affect overhead bin space and boarding time.

 

[lanejudy]

I would suggest to OP that your family may want to hang back a bit if you want to avoid feeling rushed or crowded. Otherwise head out with everyone else.

This is what we do. DD typically sits by the window and she keeps her headphones on usually playing on her phone until the crush of passengers in the aisle has passed us.

OP - it's been a while since we pre-boarded SW so I'm probably not much help with that aspect. I don't recall being told to wait to deboard, but as mentioned above we tend to do that anyway so maybe I just don't recall. I more typically fly (for business) with United and I've never heard such a request from them either.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is what we do. DD typically sits by the window and she keeps her headphones on usually playing on her phone until the crush of passengers in the aisle has passed us.

OP - it's been a while since we pre-boarded SW so I'm probably not much help with that aspect. I don't recall being told to wait to deboard, but as mentioned above we tend to do that anyway so maybe I just don't recall. I more typically fly (for business) with United and I've never heard such a request from them either.

We mostly fly Sun Country because it’s the best fit for us flying from our home to WDW.

They usually make an announcement that more or less says if you have gate checked a mobility device, it may not be at the gate yet if you get off right away.

 

[lanejudy]

They usually make an announcement that more or less says if you have gate checked a mobility device, it may not be at the gate yet if you get off right away.

Yes, that's what I've heard as well. No blanket statements about all pre-boards.