Southwest passenger assistance

[siouxi31]

My mother and aunt will be flying Southwest out of Midway. When I purchased their tickets online, I had them listed as people who need assistance to and from the gate.
What do I do now? How is this handled when they arrive at the airport? They are both senior citizens who need to pre-board. We are hoping to get my aunt a seat up front where there is a little more leg room due to two knee replacement surgeries. My mother has also had one so they have difficulty sitting in a very confined position for long. They would not be able to assist in case of an emergency so an exit row is out.
Do I need to do something to get them pre-boarding? Can I request that they board first to be able to get a seat with some room?

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, they would most likely be able to preboard. But, since there are only so many seats with a bit more legroom, you could have a problem snagging one. When you get to the gate, checkin with the gate personnel. They most likely will give your aunt and mother a preboard card. However, realize that there may be others ahead of them in the preboard line...it is first come, first served. And people do get there early. Please do not take this as a criticism, but I'm sure there are others who will feel they also should be able to have a front row. I'm not sure how the gate personnel handle it. I would get there as early as you can.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Our experience has been "first to arrive= first in line = first on plane" The preboard line includes families with small children (under 3 usually) as well as passengers needing assistance. The only people who board before that are U/A minors. The staff boards these children then the pre-board line, then A, B and C lines in order. If you really need to be first on you will need to get there about 3 hours before flight time. We have been first once and second once by arriving 2.5 to 3 hours early.

I know it is not the answer you were looking for, but I do hope that it helps you and your family plan to meet your needs.

 

[NotUrsula]

Are they in wheelchairs? IME, passengers in wheelchairs are always boarded behind the unaccompanied minors but before the walking preboards; this is usually because they need to get the wheelchairs out of the way and stowed.

If they cannot get the bulkheads, the next best thing for them to do is both pick aisle seats and sit across from one another.

 

[Hannathy]

I would say get there early because really knee replacement isn't exactly a disability anymore. I'm sure there will be at least a half dozen people on the flight who have had a knee or hip replaced . I know of 3 people my age who have hade a hip or knee or both hips done and we are 2 decades or more from being senior citizens so if they started pre-loading everyone with replacement surgery and all the other needs - like 6 people with one toddler, there would be only 2 people left to get on with regular boarding!

 

[lovetoscrap]

I was on crutches when we flew out on SW in Feb. I didn't know what to do to preboard and we were at the airport really early. I was in the waiting area and it was obvious that I had the crutches but no one from SW ever asked if I needed assistance. Finally, about an hour before the flight I went to counter and asked if I would be able to preboard and they gave me a card--no problem.

So, they may not OFFER the assistance--you need to ask them for a preboard card. If they really are in bad shape it might be best to ask for wheelchairs from the airport when you arrive--it will make the trip to the gate easier, and probably will allow them priority preboarding. When I went we were boarded as Special Assistance, wheelchairs and me (and my family), and then the families with children. In fact a family tried to block my way from "getting in front of them" in the preboard line and the FA made them move for me (he said something like " families aren't boarding until all Special Assistance passes are through, so you better move!").

Since you think they need assistance to and from the gate the best thing is for them to get the wheelchairs as soon as they get to the airport--skycaps should be able to bring them to the curb or the ticket counter area. They should be given 1st chance to preboard-- but it will just depend on how many others are also in wheelchairs when they get there.

 

[siouxi31]

Thank you all for your advice. They're both in their 80's so to add to their replacement surgeries and not being able to move very quickly, I've called to have wheelchair assistance for them during boarding.
My aunt was concered about walking on the ramp to the plane. The last thing we want is for either of them to lose their balance and break something.

 

[CarolA]

Just a note on ALL airlines you need to ask. In most cases the gate agents will not approach you.

Also, for the OP you need to make sure that SW has noted that they need wheelchair assitance at the end of thier flight. SW will arrange to have wheelchairs waiting. Your family members will have to wait until all others are off to leave the plane.

It is customary to tip the skycaps pushing the chairs. (I have no idea what folks tip them having never used them, but I know they do tip) They are usually not airline employees and are in tip dependent positions.