Southwest Pre-Boarding

[DIS-NH]

Does anyone have experience with Southwest pre-boarding?

I just booked a surprise for the family (4 nights in June). I normally take Jet Blue with the assigned seats but I could not pass up $54.00 each way, direct flights from Manchester NH !!!

How do you get approval to pre-board? Like most of us...I can't take a chance that we'll be seperated.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[shovan]

We choose SW first if we have the option when flying. My DH is in a wheelchair & they do a great job with handling this. We let them know when we book to note it on the reservation that he will need to take the WC to the door of the plane & needs assistance boarding. When you check in at the gate, they always tell us to go to the section rope offed by the door for pre-boarding. They will offer this for guests in WCs & families with babies. But if they don't mention it, just ask when checking in.

 

[breebella]

We flew out of Philadelphia. Southwest roped off 3 sections. First section was for people needing assistance, wheelchairs & such, they and their families boarded first. Second was for families with small children. Third was all other passengers.

 

[bumbershoot]

Good link here.


On one flight last year, we preboarded b/c it was just me and my 2 year old and the need to install a carseat in the first row if it was available (he's a seat-kicker), and there were two other similar pairings of mom/kid. We thought we were the only ones in the preboard section, but when we got up to get on board, the gate people stopped us verbally and putting out a "stop" hand signal, so that several people with physical limitations could get on board first. (as it should be! I'm not complaining)

I don't know if they all let SW know ahead of time, but they were definitely taken care of before anyone else!

I just hope that they all knew the 3 women with 2 year old boys did NOT know they were there, which is why we all jumped up to board; I hope they didn't think we were jerks. We just didn't realize (none of them were in wheeled conveyances, otherwise I know that would have alerted me!). (I think the gate people thought we were jerks though, from the looks they gave us. )

So anyway, it seemed pretty smooth for those who truly pre-boarded, though I don't know if they let SW know ahead of time.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

We've always had good luck with SW's pre-boarding (hmmm, pre-boarding ... to get on before you get on? )

Even at MCO where many, many families with babies and young children are pre-boarding, they've always taken DS10 (who's in a custom wheelchair) first or at least in a group with other wheelchair users.

They definitely seem to give preference to the folks with their own wheelchairs, before rentals/airport, before families-with-children.

Just talk to the SW rep. at the counter and explain why you need to pre-board (if it's not obvious, like having someone in a WC).

 

[emma'smom]

My brother is a SW pilot and reports that they load all wheelchairs, walkers, etc. first so that they can then gate check them onto the plane without holding up the rest of the passengers.

If one waits until the end of the boarding time (as some parents do to avoiding prolonging the time the children are sitting on a plane) this just holds everyone up while they gate check the stroller.

Trying to be nice, my mother would hold off on boarding as a stand-by passenger until the end, but he told her that she really holds everyone up while they load her rollator under the plane.

 

[shovan]

Good link here.


On one flight last year, we preboarded b/c it was just me and my 2 year old and the need to install a carseat in the first row if it was available (he's a seat-kicker), and there were two other similar pairings of mom/kid. We thought we were the only ones in the preboard section, but when we got up to get on board, the gate people stopped us verbally and putting out a "stop" hand signal, so that several people with physical limitations could get on board first. (as it should be! I'm not complaining)

I don't know if they all let SW know ahead of time, but they were definitely taken care of before anyone else!

I just hope that they all knew the 3 women with 2 year old boys did NOT know they were there, which is why we all jumped up to board; I hope they didn't think we were jerks. We just didn't realize (none of them were in wheeled conveyances, otherwise I know that would have alerted me!). (I think the gate people thought we were jerks though, from the looks they gave us. )

So anyway, it seemed pretty smooth for those who truly pre-boarded, though I don't know if they let SW know ahead of time.

My brother is a SW pilot and reports that they load all wheelchairs, walkers, etc. first so that they can then gate check them onto the plane without holding up the rest of the passengers.

If one waits until the end of the boarding time (as some parents do to avoiding prolonging the time the children are sitting on a plane) this just holds everyone up while they gate check the stroller.

Trying to be nice, my mother would hold off on boarding as a stand-by passenger until the end, but he told her that she really holds everyone up while they load her rollator under the plane.

As bumbershoot has said & we have suspected seeing babies board first on some flights , it seems that the SW employees aren't always on top of the situation.of who should board first.

 

[BillSears]

How do you get approval to pre-board? Like most of us...I can't take a chance that we'll be seperated.

I'm not certain but the OP may have a different situation then wheelchair users. From thier decription of the problem I'm thinking that they may have a disability that is not mobility involved. I'm not sure how SWA would handle that.

 

[cmwade77]

I recommend SW as the absolute last option, we refuse to fly them ever, they always want us to buy two seats "due to our weight" even though with both fit without any real problems, I have never had a problem on any other airline with this. Also the people that work there just seem plain out and out rude.

 

[DIS-NH]

Thanks, Good info from all.

My sons are Autistic and do not have any mobility issues. My only concern has been that, due to the A-B-C style of boarding...that we could somehow
be seperated. The boys are experienced flyers, but seperation would not work.

I plan to be on-line printing my boarding passes exactly 24 hours in advance to insure "A" boarding. We travel with a laptop and portable printer, so I can also do this on the return trip.

I'll see the gate attendent about pre-boarding.

Thanks to all.

 

[shovan]

I recommend SW as the absolute last option, we refuse to fly them ever, they always want us to buy two seats "due to our weight" even though with both fit without any real problems, I have never had a problem on any other airline with this. Also the people that work there just seem plain out and out rude.

I'm really surprised to hear this! We have never had anything but really good treatment from the guys at SW! My DH needs to be lifted from his WC to the aisle chair, aisle chair to the plane seat, & they always treat him with respect! If fact I've noticed that they actually speak to him directly & not me, which is nice & doesn't typically happen. For some reason, many people think if you have a physical disability you can't speak for yourself.

Thanks, Good info from all.

My sons are Autistic and do not have any mobility issues. My only concern has been that, due to the A-B-C style of boarding...that we could somehow
be seperated. The boys are experienced flyers, but seperation would not work.

I plan to be on-line printing my boarding passes exactly 24 hours in advance to insure "A" boarding. We travel with a laptop and portable printer, so I can also do this on the return trip.

I'll see the gate attendent about pre-boarding.

Thanks to all.

I would call SW ahead of time & find out if you can pre-board. I'm sure they would allow you to do so, even if it's after the WC users, babies etc.. At least if you are in the pre-boarding section, it would be much less hectic & little chance of being seperated.

 

[cmwade77]

I'm really surprised to hear this! We have never had anything but really good treatment from the guys at SW! My DH needs to be lifted from his WC to the aisle chair, aisle chair to the plane seat, & they always treat him with respect! If fact I've noticed that they actually speak to him directly & not me, which is nice & doesn't typically happen. For some reason, many people think if you have a physical disability you can't speak for yourself.

Well, between costing us DOUBLE the normal fare to fly on Southwest (which I am a 6'2" tall guy that is built like a football player, ironic that I hate sports, huh? I don't care what I do, I will always be "big" by SW standards) Is it fair that I should have to pay twice as much as you do, even though I only take one seat? I don't think it is, this one of the biggest reasons that I will not fly on Southwest.

 

[MEM]

Thanks, Good info from all.

My sons are Autistic and do not have any mobility issues. My only concern has been that, due to the A-B-C style of boarding...that we could somehow
be seperated. The boys are experienced flyers, but seperation would not work.

I plan to be on-line printing my boarding passes exactly 24 hours in advance to insure "A" boarding. We travel with a laptop and portable printer, so I can also do this on the return trip.

I'll see the gate attendent about pre-boarding.

Thanks to all.

Just wanted to share our experience with SW. When we flew out of Providence, RI airport, we told the desk clerk about DS need to pre-board and they gave us a sleeve to put over our boarding passes. We were the first to pre-board and they allowed all four of us to board at the same time. DS12 is on the highly-functioning end of the autism spectrum and even though we had "A" passes, we did not want there to be any chance of not sitting together.

HOWever, on the flight back from MCO, the very snippy gate attendant would only let DH and DS pre-board. She told DD10 and I that we would have to wait "like everyone else". I told her how Providence airport handled it and that DS would panic if he couldn't see DD and I and she said "it depends on the airport". WTH!?!?! The airport can interpret a SW policy however it wishes? DD and I went to wait and board in the "A" line which was now huge and I was seething. Yes, I understand how some families might try to abuse the policy and pre-board all 10 people in their party including Great Uncle Melvin. Still, to be allowed to pre-board at one airport and not another just makes no sense to me.

 

[cmwade77]

This is quite normal, some airports dictate rules about pre-boarding, for example for at least while and I believe this is still the case at the Long Beach Airport pre-boarding is not allowed at all for any airline.

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm not sure why an airport would care about individual airlines preboarding on their aircraft, so I would be curious if you know any more about this.

I believe whether or not to do pre-boarding is actually up to the individual gate agent in charge of a flight. It has certainly seemed like that every time we have preboarded. I wonder if some gate agents are making the "airport" the bad guy by saying the airport says they can't do it.

 

[cmwade77]

It's because of safety issues with how close incoming planes come, it is a smaller airport, my point is that the Airport can dictate to some degree too, if people are boarding a plane when one is trying to land it could be an issue, depending on the situation.

 

[talicskai]

My DS10 has a disability similiar to Cerebral Palsy but only on one side of his body. I always ask to pre-board because he walks slowly and I don't want him tripping over people or vice versa ~ Southwest has always been very accommodating.

Teresa

 

[BCV23]

We have two young adult children with disabilities. DS2 has Down's Syndrome and type I diabetes and can not verbalize well at all. Not a good combo with diabetes so I really need to be by him. Our daughter has cerebral palsy and can not walk on her own but is very verbal.

We've flown SW perhaps six roundtrips to MCO from Midway in Chicago...maybe a few more. Until our last two trips when we checked our bags...usually curbside...our boarding passes were put in a blue case. The gate attendants would direct us to one side of the gate opposite A boarders at MDW. At MCO, it has always been a mess. They would tell us to get in line with the preboarding families who were not happy at all when we would eventually be boarded ahead of them.

Our last two trips were different. At Midway, no blue case but we were told to notify the gate and our boarding pass paper folder had a note on it. Once at the gate, all was smooth both times.

MCO was not pleasant either trip. The first time it was only my son and I traveling. At the bag check, we were told to tell the gate agent. Only problem was that there was no gate agent. Instead there was a note to go to a different gate if you needed to see an agent. I did only to watch for some time while the agent chatted with a couple of SW employees about the best routes to take for their deadhead flights. Finally got help and barely made it back to my son in time for preboarding.

Last trip, it was four of us...DH, DS2, DD and me. At MCO, we did curbside checkin. Told to notify the agent of our needs. Again no agent at our gate. I don't think we were ever advised which gate to try for a live person but I approached one with the shortest line as our flight time became near. This guy was not happy that we had not been assisited at checkin. Again, things were accomplished in the nick of time.

We've also flown out of MCO on United/Ted and AA any number of times and not experienced this so in this case anyway I don't think it has to do with the airport. Nor even the gate agent since there was none on the last two flights. Rather it seems to be SW's neglect at MCO. At Midway, things go very smoothly.

 

[kmjmom]

I just flew SW last week. I'm currently in a walking cast for an ankle injury and I had a great experience. I inquired about pre-boarding by phone prior to the trip and was told to see the staff at the gate. I approached the rep as soon as he arrived and was given a wheelchair to sit in in the pre-boarding area. A chair was waiting for me upon arrival in Tampa also. I was quite happy with the treatment I received since I am not able to walk or stand for any length of time.

 

[LisaBi]

I take DS who has Downs to WDW as often as I can, and we always fly SW. He it very finicky about picking a seat, sitting by strangers, etc. If we can get on a mostly empty plane it really helps. And getting him to stand in line with me is a another story! (How do you explain "we need to stand in this line" when there are chairs 5 feet away!) I've tried letting him sit somewhere within view, but he decided to play hide and seek - so I have to leave the line.

Anyway, I usually just go up to the gate agent and tell them "I'd like to pre-board with my son." I've never had a issue except once at St. Louis. We board after the wheelchair/mobility need folks, but before the families with small children.