SWA boarding and people with disabilities

[Tiiiigergirl]

Does southwest allow people with disabilities additional time to board the plane?

We flew them several years ago and I sustained an injury while on vacation. The girl took me in the wheelchair and then just dumped me. We were treated rudely because I suspect they thought I was faking it to get preferential boarding.

It was the last time we have ever flown SWA.

People have spoken quite highly about them on the board and I'm considering them for our flight in January/February 2004. I need to decide in the next little while as we are almost to that boarding window.

Flash forward to the present. I now have a chronic medical condition that severely limits my mobility. In fact what I thought was overdoing it several years ago and an injury was in fact probably the beginning of the peripherial neuropathy. Now when I travel I always take George, my purple wheelchair and I use a quad cane the rest of the time.

Is it because they incorrectly thought I was faking or are they just unkind to disabled passengers? Do they allow additional time? I can walk down the gangway but usually my husband wheels me and then I slowly make my way into the plane. The additional time isn't just nice, it becomes necessary. Because of the nerve problems, bulkhead seating is needed. I also may have a companion dog. Help!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Tiiiigergirl
Does southwest allow people with disabilities additional time to board the plane?

We flew them several years ago and I sustained an injury while on vacation. The girl took me in the wheelchair and then just dumped me. We were treated rudely because I suspect they thought I was faking it to get preferential boarding.

It was the last time we have ever flown SWA.

People have spoken quite highly about them on the board and I'm considering them for our flight in January/February 2004. I need to decide in the next little while as we are almost to that boarding window.

Flash forward to the present. I now have a chronic medical condition that severely limits my mobility. In fact what I thought was overdoing it several years ago and an injury was in fact probably the beginning of the peripherial neuropathy. Now when I travel I always take George, my purple wheelchair and I use a quad cane the rest of the time.

Is it because they incorrectly thought I was faking or are they just unkind to disabled passengers? Do they allow additional time? I can walk down the gangway but usually my husband wheels me and then I slowly make my way into the plane. The additional time isn't just nice, it becomes necessary. Because of the nerve problems, bulkhead seating is needed. I also may have a companion dog. Help!

I have never felt them to be in the least judgmental towards folks with special needs. I had to board early once because of my knee, they were wonderful!!!!

At any rate, here is the information about companion dogs and preboarding. You can find out more information from this link.

http://www.southwestair.com/travel_center/checkin.html
Southwest Airlines Carriage of Animals Policy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Southwest Airlines does not accept live animals other than animals trained to assist persons with disabilities. Southwest Airlines does not accept pets for transportation in the cabin of our aircraft or in the cargo hold. Please make other arrangements for the transportation of your pets.

Boarding Procedure
Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C (in that order) based on when the Customer checked in at the Skycap Counter, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or RAPID CHECK-IN Kiosk (where available).


Prior to general boarding, Customers with disabilities, unaccompanied children, and families with small children will preboard. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C."


Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers who choose a seat in an emergency exit row must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines.