southwest preboard question Aspergers

[tinkerbell423]

Hello we are flying Southwest from hartford in a few weeks. There are 6 of us all together. Two of my children have aspergers and we have requested special assistance, it is noted on their reservation. When we called Southwest the woman told us to speak to the gate agent and our children will be allowed to preboard. I assume either DH or myself will be allowed to board with them while the other on stays with the other two children. Is this correct. Could someone explain the preboarding procedure to me. Will they be in line and bussled in like everyone else or will it happen before so they don't feel so closed in? I am trying to head off any meltdowns so I would like to be able to explain to them exactly what to expect. Also will it work the same way coming home from MCO (I don't know if airport size makes a difference) Thanks everyone

I just wanted to add we have flown before just not with Southwest so we always had assigned seats.

 

[kamik86]

First I will admit I know very little about aspergers beyond what I have learned on this board... I do however know something about southwest boarding.

Would pre-boarding really be better with aspergers? I would almost think the best thing if they would allow you to do this would be to send one parent in first and allow them to save your seats (which really for everyone else is the same if you preboarded) then allow you to go in last... That way everyone is settled when you get in.

If you can't do that then I would definitely suggest choosing a row and then being sure to put your children in the window and middle seat while everyone else boards. The people going by with bags and sometimes bumping into you and all that commotion as everyone boards I would think would be difficult for someone with aspergers.

If you preboard you won't be rushed, they will let you get on and get settled then let on the huge line... but that does mean your children will have to sit on the plane longer while everyone rushes in.

 

[tinkerbell423]

First I will admit I know very little about aspergers beyond what I have learned on this board... I do however know something about southwest boarding.

Would pre-boarding really be better with aspergers? I would almost think the best thing if they would allow you to do this would be to send one parent in first and allow them to save your seats (which really for everyone else is the same if you preboarded) then allow you to go in last... That way everyone is settled when you get in.

If you can't do that then I would definitely suggest choosing a row and then being sure to put your children in the window and middle seat while everyone else boards. The people going by with bags and sometimes bumping into you and all that commotion as everyone boards I would think would be difficult for someone with aspergers.



If you preboard you won't be rushed, they will let you get on and get settled then let on the huge line... but that does mean your children will have to sit on the plane longer while everyone rushes in.

Your suggestion sounds perfect. We wait until last to board when we have assigned seats so they aren't pushed and knocked about. If one of us can go on and save the seats and they could go in last that would be best if not I will have them sit by the window as you suggested.

 

[bookwormde]

For southwest you stop by customer service in the concourse and get a blue disabilites preboard card for each child with Aspergers. You need to wait right by the gate so you do not miss the call

If it is anxiety of seperating the family is an issue everyone can preboard (they usualy let the family load toether anyway)

Getting settled before everyone else boards help my son a lot. We sit near the back also so not as many people are crowding by.

MCO is the same returning.

 

[kamik86]

For southwest you stop by customer service in the concourse and get a blue disabilites preboard card for each child with Aspergers. You need to wait right by the gate so you do not miss the call

If it is anxiety of seperating the family is an issue everyone can preboard (they usualy let the family load toether anyway)

Getting settled before everyone else boards help my son a lot. We sit near the back also so not as many people are crowding by.

For the sitting in the back part... just be sure you know how your airport loads... One airport near me has two entrances to the plane one in front and one in back... so its the middle that sees the least traffic crowding by.

 

[NotUrsula]

Let the GA know and they will issue the blue sleeves. If your other kids are less than high school age there will be no problem for all of you to preboard; the airline is generous about nuclear families if the kids who have issues could be at risk for meltdown in the case of a separation.

The best thing you can do is go sit in the second- and third-to-last rows (last row is OK if you don't mind seats that don't recline, but the FA's work back there during the flight, so if you think that the bumps against the back bulkhead would be an issue, go one row up.) Then you can just sit until everyone else is off the plane on arrival.

 

[deegack]

First I will admit I know very little about aspergers beyond what I have learned on this board... I do however know something about southwest boarding.

Would pre-boarding really be better with aspergers? I would almost think the best thing if they would allow you to do this would be to send one parent in first and allow them to save your seats (which really for everyone else is the same if you preboarded) then allow you to go in last... That way everyone is settled when you get in.

If you can't do that then I would definitely suggest choosing a row and then being sure to put your children in the window and middle seat while everyone else boards. The people going by with bags and sometimes bumping into you and all that commotion as everyone boards I would think would be difficult for someone with aspergers.

If you preboard you won't be rushed, they will let you get on and get settled then let on the huge line... but that does mean your children will have to sit on the plane longer while everyone rushes in.

I don't think SW allows people to save seats. Maybe one, but not five.

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think SW allows people to save seats. Maybe one, but not five.

In this particular case, I don't think it will be an issue. One parent can board with 2 of the kids....parent in middle of one row, 2 kids in the aisle/window seats. Then, other parent boards at the end....and take the two other kids. The FAs may actually give the first parent to board some type of placard that would hold the three seats....kind of like the placards for the *** that has to buy 2 seats, but really only uses one. They put the placard on the seat next to them.
I would imagine that the best idea would be for the first three that board to head to the very rear of the plane, and take the last two rows. That way, you can all just sit and wait for the plane to empty without all the hubbub around you.
Talk to the gate agents when you get there...I'm sure something can be done to help the situation.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I've seen the FA's block off seats for various reasons. My advice is to figure out what will work best in your situation and then talk with the ground agent at the check in counter. Then also speak with the gate agent and again explain what you need to happen.

I'm rather sure that it will be no issue at all. Assisting passengers with various special needs is what they do all day long.

 

[kamik86]

I don't think SW allows people to save seats. Maybe one, but not five.

I know they normally don't. But since we are talking about an accomodation I thought they may if asked in this case, since the alternative is that they all preboard to me as a random other traveler that would not have any change.

Case 1: 6 people get on a plane first and sit in seats, 2 of which may be agitated being stuck in one spot with alot of noise and commotion around them.

Case 2: 1 person saves 5 seats on the plane. The 2 people that may have a melt down while stuck on the nosiy plane don't need to be stuck on the noisy plane (thus less chance of a melt down delaying the flight).

Either case there are 6 seats I can't sit in even if I had A1 boarding number. However in the second case I don't have to listen to a melt down and the plane has a greater chance of leaving on time... I like case 2 better so I don't see why the airline or anyone else would be against it.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Mom of an Aspie chiming in here.

I've only preboarded once for her AS. I had problems with my online checkin and got a B boarding position. It was the first time I didn't purchase EBCI. If we're in the first boarding group she's usually pretty good because we get on when she can still see lots of space around her and if something doesn't look "right" to her about the seat we have lots of room to choose another seat. I approached the gate agent and asked about preboarding due to her autism. The GA asked me know many in my party and handed me blue sleeves for us. I asked if it was standard to allow the entire group to preboard because I wasn't expecting it (I figured just me and her while DH and DD11 boarded in their positions) and she said they typically don't split up families with autistic kids because that can cause a lot of problems for the autistic child. I don't at what size of a group they reconsider this and I doubt that's airline policy but it's how they handled things in our small airport (I do love our little airport for lots of reasons).

That being said, they CAN say only the child(ren) with special needs and the minimum number of adults required to help them (plus any children if there wouldn't be any adults left with them). Be prepared for this scenario. Trust me, you don't want your Aspies to find out last minute that you'll be boarding separately if they were expecting to board together (been there, done that, NEVER want to repeat it). We did save seats when that happened but we also had A boarding positions so it's not like the plane was pretty full by the time the others boarded. I wouldnt' want to be in a position to have to argue with other passengers over seats as that would guarantee total AS meltdown just watching it happen.

I don't usually preboard. By purchasing EBCI I can get us good enough boarding positions to ensure that we're together which is enough to meet our needs. I am finding that since DD14's OCD has gotten out of control that I might need more time for her when we board so I might consider it for our next few flights because we've been having to let her have a chance to choose seats more and more since the OCD onset because if there's any sign of food then she freaks out (her OCD is tied to her food allergies; her allergies aren't actually bad enough that we'd need to clean the area but she has a full blown anxiety attack/autistic meltdown if forced to touch something she's allergic to when she's in an unfamiliar setting which is already a stressful situation for her). I've been feeling as though we've been holding up the line when we board with everybody else as I have to let her go in front of me and then she has to have a minute to look at the seat before she knows if she's comfortable with itm all while people are standing behind us. I have purchased EBCI anyway as I'll only ask to preboard based on her emotional state at the time and I plan to tell the GA that only the two of us need to preboard (though I won't say no if they insist that all of us can; I don't expect them to offer that at MCO based on past experience but at our local airport they likely will). If I think she'll need extra time to scope out the seats then I'll ask to preboard, if I don't think she will then we'll board in our assigned positions. I've paid for EBCI regardless; it's good for my own peace of mind.

ETA: She doesn't have a problem with people boarding around her. She sits by the window and pulls out something that occupies her the moment she's sitting. She's pretty good at tuning out her surroundings and hyper-focussing on whatever she's doing. Boarding early is no problem for her.

 

[jayhawk74]

For the sitting in the back part... just be sure you know how your airport loads... One airport near me has two entrances to the plane one in front and one in back... so its the middle that sees the least traffic crowding by.

SWA only has two airports where they load from both the front and back. These airports are Albany and Burbank.

 

[tinkerbell423]

We are flying out of Hartford (Albany is closer but lots more money) so I will preboard with them and go to the back. I'll prepare them for the chance that it will just be the three of us boarding and if all 6 can go firt theat will be great.

 

[nilseks]

I don't know about SW but we have done it with Airtran, and usually a simple explanation will do. My son is in the spectrum and I find it's best if he can sit right behind the bulkhead. Doesn't always happen, but makes my life a little easier.

Happy travels!