Pre-boarding SWA with a special needs (non visible) child?

[riu girl]

How does it work with pre-boarding SWA with a special needs child? Are you allowed to pre-board, and if so do you need a letter from the doctor/therapist and do you need to make prior arrangements with SWA?

We are unable to obtain "A" boarding passes since we will be at a stopover hotel the night prior to our flight and will not have access to a computer.


DD7 does not look "special" but is , that's why I figure I would need to make prior arrangements.

Any tips/suggestions would be greatly apprciated.

Suzy V.

 

[DisneyGirl]

I think that any families with children can pre-board, so you should be ok!

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

From what I've heard about Southwest, they are very accomodating to their passengers.

If you don't get many responses from people here or any responses from people in the same situation, you might also ask this question on the DISabilities board.

 

[tjmw2727]

I think that any families with children can pre-board, so you should be ok!

Unfortunately SW only allows pre-boarding for children under 5, at least according to the website. If you are flying to Orlando and they allow the under 5 preboard, sometimes that is 1/2 the aircraft.

The SW website has some good information, this that may help:

""Upon arrival at the airport please inform a Southwest Airlines Agent or Skycap if you need assistance within the airport.

Priority preboarding is available for those who have specific seating needs to accommodate their disability. Federal safety regulations may prohibit a Customer with a disability from selecting a seat in an emergency exit row."""

Head over to southwest.com and see what you can find. My best advice is to see if they have access to a computer at the hotel you are staying at. If you can come up with an A pass that will help. Some places will help you out, others will not but its worth it to ask.

I would also call ahead and make a note with your reservation that you will either need to pre-board with your son or be guaranteed seats together. I would also mention this at check in and at the gate. Be polite and kind but also firm!

.Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

You will not have any difficulty. By law, an airline cannot ask for proof of a disability; if you say that you have one and ask for help, they must accomodate you. You just need to go to the gate agent and tell them that your son cannot manage alone due to his disability; you will get a blue-sleeve preboard. Any fellow passenger who gets snarky with you over it is a twit who should be firmly ignored.

 

[Threehearts]

I also have a child with an unseeable disability. I always carry a letter from both of her doctors, recently dated. The most effective strategy for our family is to call the airline ahead of time and have them mark it(the disability) on the manifest. We've had no trouble this way and we have never been asked for the letter. Good luck. You have all of my best wishes and heaps of envy that you're going on such a fabulous trip. Threehearts

 

[tjmw2727]

You will not have any difficulty. By law, an airline cannot ask for proof of a disability; if you say that you have one and ask for help, they must accomodate you. You just need to go to the gate agent and tell them that your son cannot manage alone due to his disability; you will get a blue-sleeve preboard. Any fellow passenger who gets snarky with you over it is a twit who should be firmly ignored.

Just had to say - "snarky" LOVE it just the perfect world for someone who gets into your business. I will likely be using that one.

Ok sorry OT
TJ

 

[DBC]

We've never had any trouble getting a preboarding pass wit SW for our autistic son. We carry a doctor's note but have never been asked to produce it.

However, be prepared for comments from people waiting in line like "Why are they getting to pre-board? He looks too old" and th elike.

Maybe you'll get "lucky" and he'll throw a fit a fit at the wrong time to shut them up.

Oops, did I say that out loud or was I just thinking it?

You'll be fine-have fun

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for all your help with my questions. What is a "blue sleeve pre-board"?

Suzy V.

 

[NotUrsula]

The gate agent will give you a blue "sleeve" that your boarding pass slips into. These are given to folks who do not have an obvious reason to be in the preboard category, so that they will not be questioned again by the staff member manning the doorway. When you hand over your boarding pass to be scanned, the agent will keep the sleeve. The sleeve also *should* serve as notice to any busybodies that you have asked for permission to preboard, and have been given permission.

 

[agnes!]

riu girl -

If you are concerned about getting "A" passes, maybe you could try this...

When we had our return flight from Orlando on our last trip, we were flying Southwest. Luckily we had gotten upgraded to use of a concierge floor, so we asked the concierge to please get our boarding passes for us. She was happy to do so when she came on duty(about 6am I think) the morning we left.
You might not have access to concierge, but perhaps guest services/front desk folks could help you out? That way, at least you'd have confirmed "A" passes in hand if you're concerned about the blue-sleeve passes.

I seem to have read somewhere that WDW hotels (maybe as part of the 2005 Magical Express?...) were going to start to offer a "printing out of boarding passes service" to guests. (Hmmmm...do you think they want us to spend more time in the parks?!? Lol!)

have a wonderful time at WDW ,
agnes!

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for the info. The procedure does not seem very comlicated. I would just ba a little worried about the "looks" we would get from other passengers though.
But to be guaranteed a seat with DD7, it really doesn't matter. Do you know if DH and DS4 (who will be older by then) will be able to board with us as well?

Thanks,
Suzy V.

 

[riu girl]

Agnes, thanks for the info. I'm not overly familiar with Magical Express but are hoping to use it on our next WDW vacation. But, I think (but not sure) that you have to fly with certain airlines to get the boarding passes at the resort front desk. As of right now , I don't know if Southwest is one of these airlines .

maybe someday might be able to tell me this.

Suzy V.

 

[kikipug]

But to be guaranteed a seat with DD7, it really doesn't matter. Do you know if DH and DS4 (who will be older by then) will be able to board with us as well?

SW lets the entire party board together- once you have a blue sleeve, you get one for everyone you are flying with.

I had to laugh (and I hope you don't think I am being insensitive)... but when I saw "non-visible child"... the first thing that popped into my head was, "An invisible kid... hey, neat!!!" (Boy would THAT be a handful)... guess I've been watching WAYYYY to many Nicktoons with DS7! Hope you have a wonderful trip! Disney is a Magical place!!!

 

[riu girl]

"A non-visible child", sorry, what what I thinking? Believe me, this kid is ANYTHING but invisible. She doesn't stop talking from the time she wakes up until she goes to bed. YIKES!!!!

Hope everyone is having a great day. We are having major snow here today and it must be about -20 C with the wind chill. Brrrrrrrrr.

 

[kilee]

Definetly have them note it on your reservation. My only thinking is that SW has made it publicly known that this year they are going to be seriously cracking down on pre-boarding (haven't flown yet so don't know if they are holding true to this). In case you get some over-zealous agent trying to prove a point you'll want it noted somewhere. This way you don't have to worry either, and it will be much less stressful for you.

 

[kikipug]

"A non-visible child", sorry, what what I thinking? Believe me, this kid is ANYTHING but invisible. She doesn't stop talking from the time she wakes up until she goes to bed. YIKES!!!!

Hope everyone is having a great day. We are having major snow here today and it must be about -20 C with the wind chill. Brrrrrrrrr.

I knew what you meant... it just struck me funny. (Doesn't take much...) Hope you are staying warm... hate to tell you, but its 70 and sunny here.

 

[Aruba]

Southwest is one of the best for making sure that if your child needs help you get it.. just mention it to one of the agents at the gate. I have a child too and sometimes you can guess that we may need some assitance and one time I was late getting to the gate area and I thought oh well I don't want to upset all these people in line already - and an agent came to ME and said follow me folks! My kids felt like royals! So we just smiled and got on first. Don't even look at those folks looking at you - shame on them! Let them walk a step, not a mile, in your shoes and they would be singing a different tune! Enjoy