SWA and wheelchair boarding

[Tiiiigergirl]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with SWA and boarding with a wheelchair. We flew them several years ago and I developed some problems mid-trip. The flight home I needed some accomodations and was basically refused. Did not know then what I know now. I think they thought I was faking. It was so bad my husband flat out refuses to fly them but price may change his mind depending on what I can find out. He is very protective of me and will not allow anyone to treat me that rudely again. It could have just been a bad day for them. I do need additional time to get down to the plane. Anyone have any experiences?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have flown SWA since they went to the A-B-C (one round-trip). You had to line up (almost for an hour) before they issued boarding passes, and these were only issued starting 90 minutes prior to the flight. They allowed people in wheelchairs at the very front of the line. I had showed them my HP hang tag and (with my wife) was directly behind the wheelchair people. Then were people with small children. Once the "pre-boarding" was done, they let loose the hoards. Since there were no assigned seats it was very chaotic. We decided that the amount of money we save by flying SWA was not worth the aggrevation of the boarding method and quality of service.

 

[Earstou]

I flew Southwest in Feb. and I use a cane in crowded locations (I have balance problems due to a brain malformation and if I get bumped I can fall easily). I asked the ticket agent about early boarding. I was instructed to go to the desk at the boarding area. In one airport, I was given a "blue sleeve" (basically a small blue folder) and showed that when I arrived at the gate. Another airport handed me a slip of paper, the 3rd airport told me just to tell the gate agent I needed the handicap boarding. There was an area with the handicap symbol next to the regular entrance to the gate where we waited. When it was time to load the plane, the wheelchair passengers were loaded first, while I waited (these were loaner chairs and weren't loaded onto the plane so we had to wait for the chairs to clear the passage). Next the other handicapped passengers were loaded. After that I don't know how the loading went. I had no problems with SW, thought it was a good flight, and would use them again.

 

[BillSears]

I flew SWA down on 7/24/03 and back on 8/4/03 from Baltimore. It was great and I had no problems at all. I'm a paraplegic who uses his own wheelchair. With SWA I show up early and let them know at the counter and the gate that I will be gate checking my wheelchair. About a half hour before the plane is due to leave or if I see people queing up I move over to the lane set aside for pre boarders so that I'm first in line. The front row 2 aisle seats on the standard SWA plane are such that I can roll my wheelchair right up to and do the transfer. I've never had a problem getting one of these but the plane is usually empty when I board. If for some reason these would be filled ahead of time I'll just transfer to the aisle chair they have and let them roll me down to the closest aisle seat.

Of course you will be the first to board and last to leave. You can't block the aisle with a wheelchair while the crowd is trying to rush off. Even with leaving last I make it to the baggage carousel before the luggage is on it.

So I'd say just show up a little early, get in line early and you can't go wrong.