Southwest - Boarding Question

[js]

Hi.

We have a Southwest flight tomorrkw and our bording nimbers are A19-25.

Who will be let on before my group beside the A1-18 people?

Thank you.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Only the people who might not be getting off the flight that just landed who are continuing on to the next airport. and the 20 -30 people who are in wheelchairs. It seems now a days everyone who wants to board early arrives in a wheelchair just so they can get on first.

 

[iivye]

Also those who have preboarding (medical issues or need additional assistance) will board before A group.

 

[js]

Thank you.

 

[georgina]

I rarely see more than a few people in wheelchairs on my flights.

 

[DebbieB]

I had A22 on my flight at the end of June from PIT. I was shocked to get on to find many seats filled. The flight started in Baltimore, stop at PIT, then Orlando.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I had A22 on my flight at the end of June from PIT. I was shocked to get on to find many seats filled. The flight started in Baltimore, stop at PIT, then Orlando.

also happened on one of our flights out of Philly. was a full flight and last boarding number at Philly was B15 or 20 I forget

 

[NYIrunDisney]

Last time I took Southwest, they allowed seniors, families with small children, and then a group who paid for advanced boarding. We were A20,21, and had to have been the 40th or 50th people on the flight once all was said and done.

 

[DebbieB]

Last time I took Southwest, they allowed seniors, families with small children, and then a group who paid for advanced boarding. We were A20,21, and had to have been the 40th or 50th people on the flight once all was said and done.

Families with small children should have been between A and B.

 

[NYIrunDisney]

Families with small children should have been between A and B.

I haven't flown Southwest in two years, perhaps they changed that policy since I've flown.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Families with small children should have been between A and B.

And according to the SW web site, family boarding (between A and B) is for children 6 years old and younger, so that’s their definition of “small children.”

 

[Allison]

Last time I took Southwest, they allowed seniors, families with small children, and then a group who paid for advanced boarding. We were A20,21, and had to have been the 40th or 50th people on the flight once all was said and done.

That is so odd. Southwest has no boarding protocol for seniors and families with small children board between A and B. That hasn't changed in the last 2 years.

 

[DebbieB]

They changed small children from before A to between A and B when they started early bird checkin. Has to be at least 5 years.

 

[writerguyfl]

That is so odd. Southwest has no boarding protocol for seniors and families with small children board between A and B. That hasn't changed in the last 2 years.

Do families get to preboard?

An adult traveling with a child six years old or younger may board during Family Boarding, which occurs after the “A” group has boarded and before the “B” group begins boarding. If the child and the adult are both holding an “A” boarding pass, they should board in their assigned boarding position.​

Text taken directly from the Southwest website: https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/faqs.html?topic=boarding_the_plane

According to the internet archive website (aka Wayback Machine), Southwest has had family boarding after the "A" group since at least November 2013. That's as far back as I could check. The only difference is that in 2013, it was age five and under.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

We flew out of MCO today on SW. Had A45/46. Preboards were a few in wheelchair. We got 2nd and 3rd row aisle seats.

There were lots of families but honestly it didn't look like the ones with older kids tried to family board.

 

[focusondisney]

Last time I took Southwest, they allowed seniors, families with small children, and then a group who paid for advanced boarding. We were A20,21, and had to have been the 40th or 50th people on the flight once all was said and done.

The seniors & families with small children probably all had a medical preboard reason. Seniors often have mobility issues which make preboard necessary. And any number of medical reasons for families that include small children to preboard.. And if there is availability in A 1- 15, SW does sell those spots at the gate. That is first come, first served, but anyone can ask to upgrade. Usually around $45 per person I think.

 

[Birdsg223]

Last time i flew out of orlando there were 9 wheelchairs boarding first. Our plane took off roughly 15 mins late because of how long it took.

 

[DebbieB]

I found a post back to 2007:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/sw-explained-new-family-boarding-to-us.1594371/

 

[maxiesmom]

Last time i flew out of orlando there were 9 wheelchairs boarding first. Our plane took off roughly 15 mins late because of how long it took.

A few years back, flying from Orlando to Michigan in May, there were more than 20 wheelchair pre-boards. I stopped counting at 20. It was a sea of those little flags. I'm guessing it was mostly snowbirds flying back home. Funny thing though, when we landed and they would have had to wait for all of those wheelchairs to disembark, most of them walked off.

 

[DVC-Don]

Most wheelchair boardings I've encountered was 12, but that was a flight to Tampa.