Southwest Medical Pre-Board

[red712371]

Hi. Flying on Southwest this year - it was such a good deal. I have a knee problem and require extra time for boarding and an aisle seat on the left hand side. I have a note from the doctor. Do I just go up to the counter at the gate and explain my issue and get a blue sleeve? Is that how it works? Wish I didn't have to do it and I feel so silly, but I guess it is better to do that than rush and injure myself more or to wait and not be able to find a seat to suit my needs.

Thanks for the info!

 

[kerplop]

Check in at the counter and ask for a preboard pass for a medical issue. They don't need to see a doctor's note as it's illegal to make you "prove" it. They'll give you a pass and then you just preboard once you get to the gate and they call for it. HTH

 

[jsilvers]

My understanding is that Southwest has unusual procedures for passengers with disabilities. If you need a specific seat, you will pre-board before other passengers; but if you only need extra time to board, you will board between groups A and B (see http://www.regulations.gov/contentS...e6cb98&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf). Thus, you may need to make sure that Southwest understands that you need "true" pre-boarding.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

i have knee problems so i do understand but remenber if you have isle seat other will be going past you to sit in your row. also means passing you to use bathroom,you can not prevent this. not much room if you need to get up and let them out of row. just something to think about where you plan to sit.

 

[DebbieB]

Hi. Flying on Southwest this year - it was such a good deal. I have a knee problem and require extra time for boarding and an aisle seat on the left hand side. I have a note from the doctor. Do I just go up to the counter at the gate and explain my issue and get a blue sleeve? Is that how it works? Wish I didn't have to do it and I feel so silly, but I guess it is better to do that than rush and injure myself more or to wait and not be able to find a seat to suit my needs.

Thanks for the info!

A friend's dad has knee issues. He likes to preboard and get the first row for more room. You cannot sit in the exit room if you preboard.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Not sure here but I was thinking the same thing about preboarding an aisle seat...you'll probably have to get up and down to let people into your row.

 

[jdb in AZ]

A friend's dad has knee issues. He likes to preboard and get the first row for more room. You cannot sit in the exit room if you preboard.

DH prefers an aisle seat for his knees as well, and that first row has a lot more leg room, allowing other passengers to crawl over him without bothering his knees.

 

[red712371]

I can get up and down easily, but I just need a little more room to keep my knee a bit more straight and to stretch. I will try for the first row. Thanks for the advice everyone!!!

 

[Lewisc]

My understanding is that Southwest has unusual procedures for passengers with disabilities. If you need a specific seat, you will pre-board before other passengers; but if you only need extra time to board, you will board between groups A and B (see http://www.regulations.gov/contentS...e6cb98&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf). Thus, you may need to make sure that Southwest understands that you need "true" pre-boarding.

The link you offered was a letter from the DOT granting Southwest a one year trial to allow Southwests alternate process of limiting pre-boarding. The effective date was May 13, 2009.

The language on Southwest's site:
Prior to general boarding, preboarding is available for Customers who have specific seating needs to accommodate a disability, and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft, and/or need to stow an assistive device........


Customers who have any other special needs related to boarding should speak with the Customer Service Agent at your departure gate.

suggests you might be right. Southwest may be allowed to limit pre-boarding to only passengers with disabilities which meet specific criteria. However the link you offered doesn't prove your point as it doesn't offer information regarding what happened during or after the one year trial.

 

[stitchlovestink]

My understanding is that Southwest has unusual procedures for passengers with disabilities. If you need a specific seat, you will pre-board before other passengers; but if you only need extra time to board, you will board between groups A and B (see http://www.regulations.gov/contentSt...ontentType=pdf). Thus, you may need to make sure that Southwest understands that you need "true" pre-boarding.

But if she receives a Blue sleeve she will pre-board and be among the first on the plane. Now the drawback to this is that the rest of the passengers are going to have to file past you to board. And you need to make sure you are at the gate early. They only call for pre-boards once and then once regular boarding starts, you are out of luck. SW's pre-boarding is great & very efficient if you are there at the gate, paying attention and prepared. Best of Luck with your travels!!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

 

[jsilvers]

Southwest may be allowed to limit pre-boarding to only passengers with disabilities which meet specific criteria. However the link you offered doesn't prove your point as it doesn't offer information regarding what happened during or after the one year trial.

N.B., that is why I described it as my understanding, rather than anything more definitive. Unfortunately, the DOT "equivalent alternative" docket hasn't been consistently updated, so it's not clear what the outcome of the Southwest trial was (among other issues).

 

[Fire14]

every swa flight i've ever flown had Medical preboards ( blue sleeves) board than a 1-15, rest of A group, family boarding ( traveling with under 4) B group than I'd assume C group ( i've never been that far back)

 

[Lewisc]

But if she receives a Blue sleeve she will pre-board and be among the first on the plane. Now the drawback to this is that the rest of the passengers are going to have to file past you to board. And you need to make sure you are at the gate early. They only call for pre-boards once and then once regular boarding starts, you are out of luck. SW's pre-boarding is great & very efficient if you are there at the gate, paying attention and prepared. Best of Luck with your travels!!


Posted from Disney Forums Reader for Android

According the document posted by jsilvers Southwest was granted a one year trial (which was scheduled to have ended more then 2 years ago) which allowed GA to issue a white blue sleeve to passengers who only require more time to board. Those passengers would board after the As (just before family mid-boarding). JMO but a way to accommodate passengers that might try board before the As by taking advantage of the issues (legal and time wise) in evaluating passengers claims.

N.B., that is why I described it as my understanding, rather than anything more definitive. Unfortunately, the DOT "equivalent alternative" docket hasn't been consistently updated, so it's not clear what the outcome of the Southwest trial was (among other issues).

The document is an interesting find. I haven't read any reports observing any passengers being issued a white boarding sleeve. It's a shame you're not able to give us any definitive information as to current Southwest policy.

A post which describes a trial which ended 2 years ago offers interesting information, but doesn't offer any information which can be relied on by people reading this thread.

 

[jsilvers]

A post which describes a trial which ended 2 years ago offers interesting information, but doesn't offer any information which can be relied on by people reading this thread.

Which is why I said: "Thus, you may need to make sure that Southwest understands that you need "true" pre-boarding." (emphasis added)

[EDIT - Digging further, it does appear that Southwest has been allowed to continue the practice of having two different boarding procedures for disabled passengers, even though there have not been any later documents involving Southwest in the "equivalent alternative" docket; a recent DOT notice mentions the special procedures, without any qualifications. See http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-07-05/pdf/2012-15233.pdf#page=50. Of course, that doesn't confirm that Southwest actually is still doing the "spit" preboarding - so as I believe Lewisc has emphasized before, it's always a good idea to check directly with the airline in advance.]

 

[natfrac]

We just flew to MCO on SWA and my husband was boarded before the "A" group because he just finished dialysis before our flight and was having difficulty walking. That came about when he asked the gate agent for a wheelchair to meet him at our connecting flight.

They were very accomodating.

 

[CoffeeCup]

DH prefers an aisle seat for his knees as well, and that first row has a lot more leg room, allowing other passengers to crawl over him without bothering his knees.

Do you really mean that your DH boards first, sits in the first row aisle seat and expects other people to crawl over him and not bother his knees just because he "prefers" that seat? I find that extremely rude and inconsiderate. Bad knees are very common, and most of us like a first-row aisle seat for the extra leg room, but I've never run into many people who expected me to crawl over them to get to my seat when I didn't have an aisle seat. What is his reaction if someone accidently hits his knees as they crawl over him while trying to manage with a purse and carry on bag? I have a bad knee and leg and sometimes have poor balance. If I had to crawl over him, I likely would end up falling into lap or falling into the floor.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do you really mean that your DH boards first, sits in the first row aisle seat and expects other people to crawl over him and not bother his knees just because he "prefers" that seat? I find that extremely rude and inconsiderate. Bad knees are very common, and most of us like a first-row aisle seat for the extra leg room, but I've never run into many people who expected me to crawl over them to get to my seat when I didn't have an aisle seat. What is his reaction if someone accidently hits his knees as they crawl over him while trying to manage with a purse and carry on bag? I have a bad knee and leg and sometimes have poor balance. If I had to crawl over him, I likely would end up falling into lap or falling into the floor.

I've never been in a front row seat that was so close to anything that anyone needed to crawl over anything, fwiw.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Do you really mean that your DH boards first, sits in the first row aisle seat and expects other people to crawl over him and not bother his knees just because he "prefers" that seat? I find that extremely rude and inconsiderate. Bad knees are very common, and most of us like a first-row aisle seat for the extra leg room, but I've never run into many people who expected me to crawl over them to get to my seat when I didn't have an aisle seat. What is his reaction if someone accidently hits his knees as they crawl over him while trying to manage with a purse and carry on bag? I have a bad knee and leg and sometimes have poor balance. If I had to crawl over him, I likely would end up falling into lap or falling into the floor.

NO! My DH is a gentleman and gets up to let people get by him. Do you have a problem with that?

 

[stitchlovestink]

DH prefers an aisle seat for his knees as well, and that first row has a lot more leg room, allowing other passengers to crawl over him without bothering his knees.

Do you really mean that your DH boards first, sits in the first row aisle seat and expects other people to crawl over him and not bother his knees just because he "prefers" that seat? I find that extremely rude and inconsiderate. Bad knees are very common, and most of us like a first-row aisle seat for the extra leg room, but I've never run into many people who expected me to crawl over them to get to my seat when I didn't have an aisle seat. What is his reaction if someone accidently hits his knees as they crawl over him while trying to manage with a purse and carry on bag? I have a bad knee and leg and sometimes have poor balance. If I had to crawl over him, I likely would end up falling into lap or falling into the floor.

Medical Preboards are told when to board and if he qualifies and wants to sit in that type of seat for his comfort, what else do you expect him to do and how is that rude?? The flight attendants aren't going to 'save' the seat for him. He has to be seated in it. Yes, it is very difficult to have the passengers walk past and continuously 'bump' you with their baggage that they really don't mean to or even their own 'person' but what are 'they' to do and what are 'we' (those that are told when we are to board FIRST for medical reasons...or in my case I board first so that they have time to prepare and stow my device since it gets checked at the gate) to do? This is SW's policy. Trust me, I WISH they would let me take me seat last so that I would spend as little time on the plane as possible but that's not the way it works and they set the rules. I hate getting bumped as people pass by and I know people are not doing it on purpose but each and every bump hurts like Hades! And personally I think that first row is really rather generous, even with my situation, I could manage to get by a person sitting in the isle seat without considering myself 'crawling' over them. Now any other row...people definitely would have to get up and move.
What I am surprised at is that there is no proof of need... I guess I don't understand all there is to about ADA. I mean the entire plane could claim to need medical preboard and then what would they do??? I have been on a few flights where there were as many as 20 people 'claiming' medical preboard. And remember each medical preboard is allowed to bring one companion with them. So that doubles the number. On the one flight the attendants started basically assigning people using medical preboards seats because it was just so many...Telling them you sit here and you sit there...because there was too much of "well where do you want to sit?" questions going on. So the attendants started telling the people where to sit...LOL! We were going to be there FOREVER if they didn't. It was worse than regular boarding!

 

[CoffeeCup]

NO! My DH is a gentleman and gets up to let people get by him. Do you have a problem with that?

I don't have a problem with medical pre-boarding, and if your husband gets up to let people get by him, I don't have a problem with that. I responded to your statement that people could crawl over him, which is very different from standing to let people get by. I'm glad your DH is a gentleman and is considerate of others while taking care of his own needs and comfort.