Pre Boarding on Southwest

[emily94]

Hi All,
I just broke my foot and was hoping that I could get pre board on my upcoming (less than week flight on SWA). Has anyone had any trouble getting pre boarding with a broken bone? Could it fill up? What documentation should I bring?

Thanks!

 

[jdb in AZ]

Hi All,
I just broke my foot and was hoping that I could get pre board on my upcoming (less than week flight on SWA). Has anyone had any trouble getting pre boarding with a broken bone? Could it fill up? What documentation should I bring?

Thanks!

I don't believe there's an upper limit to the pre-boarding. One passenger I flew with said that on a different flight he counted 27 wheel chairs pre-boarding. DH needed a pre board on one flight and was never asked for documentation. He was not in a wheel chair; he just asked a gate attendant if it would be possible to pre board and it wasn't a problem.

 

[wilkeliza]

You just ask the gate attendant and tell them why you need to preboard. I don't think you need documentation as my fiance just walked up and showed his ankle brace and asked if he could preboard since he was walking pretty slowly.

I would bring a Drs note saying you are okay to fly. Sometimes they can get peculiar about broken bones so it is best to protect yourself and have that note saying the trip is okay and flying will not cause you any harm

 

[supersnoop]

You just tell the person at the desk that you need to pre-board. They'll give you a special card. There isn't really any qualification for pre-boarding. You just have to say you need it.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just don't make the mistake of heading to the exit row seats! I've seen medical preboards do that....the FA made them move!!
If you need to preboard due to a medical issue, you aren't qualified to 'help out in an emergency'!

 

[kristenrice]

Just don't make the mistake of heading to the exit row seats! I've seen medical preboards do that....the FA made them move!!
If you need to preboard due to a medical issue, you aren't qualified to 'help out in an emergency'!

...and don't be expecting to disembark first either...

I was on one of those flights where there were 23 people in wheelchairs that needed assistance to pre-board. When we landed, most of them stood up immediately and were attempting to retrieve their bags from the overhead bins. The FA announced that anyone who required pre-boarding needed to remain in their seats until the other passengers had disembarked, at which time they would receive the necessary assistance. More than a few were a little miffed, but hey, if they needed the extra time to get on the plane, they should need the extra time to get off the plane as well. Amazingly, there were only 8 people that needed wheelchairs once they got off the plane.

 

[wilkeliza]

...and don't be expecting to disembark first either...

I was on one of those flights where there were 23 people in wheelchairs that needed assistance to pre-board. When we landed, most of them stood up immediately and were attempting to retrieve their bags from the overhead bins. The FA announced that anyone who required pre-boarding needed to remain in their seats until the other passengers had disembarked, at which time they would receive the necessary assistance. More than a few were a little miffed, but hey, if they needed the extra time to get on the plane, they should need the extra time to get off the plane as well. Amazingly, there were only 8 people that needed wheelchairs once they got off the plane.

They didn't make us wait getting off but of course we didn't need a wheelchair.

 

[kristenrice]

Let me clarify something...I am not implying that the OP would abuse the pre-boarding in any way, nor that those who do pre-board must always have some sort of crippling disability. I just wanted to point out my experience when we had a lot of medical pre-boards...the FA's made sure that they were the last ones off the plane so that they could have the extra time that they needed when they pre-boarded. I did not notice the same practice on my most recent trip, however there were only 3 wheelchairs/pre-boards on our outbound flight and 4 on the way back so nothing excessive.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Hi All,
I just broke my foot and was hoping that I could get pre board on my upcoming (less than week flight on SWA). Has anyone had any trouble getting pre boarding with a broken bone? Could it fill up? What documentation should I bring?

Thanks!

There doesn't seem to be a limit.

We have flown on MANY Southwest Miracle flights (Not judging those with legitimate mobility / health issues)

You know the ones where there are a tonne of wheel chairs lined up at the gate with people with Blue cards in hand.

Then something amazing happens during the flight because those that needed the wheel chair & boarded early can Miraculously run off the plane to retrieve their luggage. Grrrr..

Bring a note from your Dr..this will help when going through security. We once travelled with our young son who had a fresh break and they needed to swab and xray his cast and weren't too gentle with him. They said if there was a note from the Dr' it would have expedited the screening.

 

[emily94]

Just don't make the mistake of heading to the exit row seats! I've seen medical preboards do that....the FA made them move!!
If you need to preboard due to a medical issue, you aren't qualified to 'help out in an emergency'!

Agreed - I've seen this to! Would definitely not head to the exit row for that reason

 

[anonymousegirl]

...and don't be expecting to disembark first either...

I was on one of those flights where there were 23 people in wheelchairs that needed assistance to pre-board. When we landed, most of them stood up immediately and were attempting to retrieve their bags from the overhead bins. The FA announced that anyone who required pre-boarding needed to remain in their seats until the other passengers had disembarked, at which time they would receive the necessary assistance. More than a few were a little miffed, but hey, if they needed the extra time to get on the plane, they should need the extra time to get off the plane as well. Amazingly, there were only 8 people that needed wheelchairs once they got off the plane.

I know that some people abuse the wheelchair usage at airports, but sometimes, people really only need a wheelchair to get on the plane.
I am temporarily in need of a wheelchair at airports due to a back injury. Flying home from Peru last August, I noticed that my 60 minute connection time at Newark would probably not be enough with my super slow walking, the long distance needing to be covered, and the need to do customs and immigration. So we booked a wheelchair transfer. That gal whisked me straight through and even with her fast pace, we barely made the pre-boarding for the next flight. When I got to San Francisco, I could take my time and walk as slowly as I needed, so I didn't "need" the wheelchair and had not booked it.

 

[emily94]

Thanks all for the tips! I'm most concerned about getting a seat in that front row and having more time to get down the jet way. I have a huge walking boot so hopefully there won't be too many other people needing pre-board assistance. I'm flying out of my smallish college town in the morning so hopefully that will help. Thanks again everyone!

 

[emily94]

I would bring a Drs note saying you are okay to fly. Sometimes they can get peculiar about broken bones so it is best to protect yourself and have that note saying the trip is okay and flying will not cause you any harm

I was not aware of this! Good tip I will ask my orthopedist - thanks!

 

[wilkeliza]

I was not aware of this! Good tip I will ask my orthopedist - thanks!

They don't always ask but now that my cousin is flying with cancer we figure it is always better to be safe then sorry if they start trying to say you aren't fit to fly. I know they worry about blood clots with casts especially if it is you legs.

 

[Gary M]

Any of us who have flow SWA often and are observant at all, have been on the "miracle flights" and have seen pre-boarders try to sit in exit rows. I've seen pre-boarders argue with a FA that they are OK to sit in exit rows. Certain people always try to game the system. A broken foot with a cast on, would be a legit pre-board situation to any reasonable person.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.....

I would bring a Drs note saying you are okay to fly. Sometimes they can get peculiar about broken bones so it is best to protect yourself and have that note saying the trip is okay and flying will not cause you any harm

A note is completely unnecessary and will not be looked at.

 

[wilkeliza]

A note is completely unnecessary and will not be looked at.

So what is one suppose to do if their ability to fly is questioned?

 

[stephd219]

But also remember that not all medical conditions requiring a pre board are observable to fellow passengers. We have gotten some glares while pre boarding because from looking at us, you would never know that there is a legitimate disability. This is quite different from those passengers who have miraculous mobility improvements over the course of their flight!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

So what is one suppose to do if their ability to fly is questioned?

I fly very frequently and the only people I've ever seen who are questioned as to their ability to fly are falling down drunks and not always then. The airlines are not medical monitors! Besides, if you don't look fit to fly, the airline can refuse to let you board, note or no note.

 

[wilkeliza]

I fly very frequently and the only people I've ever seen who are questioned as to their ability to fly are falling down drunks and not always then. The airlines are not medical monitors! Besides, if you don't look fit to fly, the airline can refuse to let you board, note or no note.

There was just a woman removed from a plane flying home from Hawaii and the airline said it was because she didn't have a note okaying her to fly. I've also seen many a time where a pregnant woman or child under a certain age need a not from a doctor so airlines clearly will take them.