SWA- Disabled procedures...

[hsmamato2]

I tried search,couldn't find my answer.... I am traveling with my Dad later this year,and I use SWA a lot, but this is our first time with him- he can walk(slowly) but due to double knee replacements, we will likely use an airport wheelchair to help him to the gate area- He has issues with tight quarters for his knees,and while he would say nothing and suffer, I would love to see him able to sit bulkhead, with some room to stretch his knees( he's also tall,6'2") - how does SWA handle this type of thing? I looked on the site, and couldn't find a policy on when someone like him could board (he can board without us)

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Get to the gate early and tell the agent about your concerns with your father. They usually call their club members, families with small children, and people needing special assistance to board first. If you make sure they know about your special needs it should be no problem since it appears that you are not worried about boarding together. SWA is usually very accommodating. Have fun.

 

[nkereina]

Get to the gate early and tell the agent about your concerns with your father. They usually call their club members, families with small children, and people needing special assistance to board first. If you make sure they know about your special needs it should be no problem since it appears that you are not worried about boarding together. SWA is usually very accommodating. Have fun.

In my experience, families with small children board between the A group and the B group during family boarding. And I am assuming club members would be business select, which is done as part of A1-15.

Based on my own experience, you will need to visit the desk at the gate to obtain a pre-boarding stamp or card. When they are ready to start boarding, they'll call anyone with a pre-boarding stamp to proceed to the gate and they will allow that person with one companion to board (they will wheel people on if necessary). Before they start this process, I would let the gate agent (person scanning the boarding passes) know that it would be best if he could be in one of the front rows because I don't believe there's an official order of boarding for the pre-boarding passengers. Sometimes there are only a couple of people pre-boarding but on my last flight, there were about 10 and they usually fill the first few rows. After the people who are denoted for pre-boarding have boarded, they will call business select (A1-15) followed by the rest of the A group, then family boarding which is families with small children, then the B group, etc.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

depending on where plane is coming from there could already be people in those seats. unless you are on the first flight out in morning where plane has overnighted at the gate, most likely those bold head seats will already be taken before you are boarded even if you preboard with card. have been on flight where plane was half full before boarding started and they already had seats when group A started

 

[nkereina]

depending on where plane is coming from there could already be people in those seats. unless you are on the first flight out in morning where plane has overnighted at the gate, most likely those bold head seats will already be taken before you are boarded even if you preboard with card. have been on flight where plane was half full before boarding started and they already had seats when group A started

This is also something to consider. However, if you get the right gate agent, they may be able to block off the front seats (if available) to prevent any carryover passengers from moving up to them. I saw that on a flight this weekend that I took with Southwest. Luck of the draw though.

 

[hsmamato2]

Thanks for the replies- I guess we will speak to the agent when we get there....

 

[nkereina]

Thanks for the replies- I guess we will speak to the agent when we get there....

You'll definitely need to get the pre boarding pass from the desk at the gate first. So do that right when you arrive, and seek out the gate agent after.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

blocking is not always possible as carryover passengers may have a good reason to have those seats and they will not move them. carryover passengers get to move before even starting to board. one flight a family wanted the bulk head but someone already had one seat and they had been told by gate they would get bulk head. on plane there was room for only the one with the need but rest would have had to sit elsewhere. they elected to all sit together. plus with an active toddler, another row mate might need to not be bumped. you will be the one moved in that case, not the other person. plus you will not be able to get to toys easily as all carryons will have to go in the over heads. you will not be able to place under your seats, so you could have to go the flight with no toys or snacks as the seatbelt sign being on for the whole flight and there are no rest area stops toget thing out at

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Get to the gate early and tell the agent about your concerns with your father. They usually call their club members, families with small children, and people needing special assistance to board first. If you make sure they know about your special needs it should be no problem since it appears that you are not worried about boarding together. SWA is usually very accommodating. Have fun.

I think you're confusing Southwest with another airline. Family boarding is between the A and B groups and Southwest has no "club."

OP, just speak with the gate agent if your father needs to preboard. As someone already noted, if the flight originated at another airport, it's almost certain the bulkhead seats will already be occupied. The only other option for extra leg room is an exit row seat, which your father would not be eligible to select.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You'll definitely need to get the pre boarding pass from the desk at the gate first. So do that right when you arrive, and seek out the gate agent after.

The people working the desk at the gate are gate agents.

 

[katallo]

This was 2 years ago, but my friend's mother flew on SW to meet her family. We dropped her at the airport. SW arrived at the front door with a wheelchair and stayed with her to the gate. Same when she landed. They arranged all of this with SW by phone and they said everything went perfectly. I'm sure it's not always the case, but it was nice to hear about it.

 

[nkereina]

The people working the desk at the gate are gate agents.

Sorry for not knowing the correct terminology... but the people at the desk are NOT the same people who scan the boarding passes. At least not in the larger airports. The folks at the desk hand out the pre-boarding cards and the folks at the scanner/ramp entrance get the pre-boarders on the plane.

 

[goofy4tink]

Sorry for not knowing the correct terminology... but the people at the desk are NOT the same people who scan the boarding passes. At least not in the larger airports. The folks at the desk hand out the pre-boarding cards and the folks at the scanner/ramp entrance get the pre-boarders on the plane.

I fly out of TFGreen in Providence, Boston's Logan and MCO a lot. There are usually two gate agents at the gate..they both hand out cards. There is no difference between the two people...they both do both jobs. If you want that boarding card for earlier boarding, then you had best get to the gate well before boarding begins..usually an hour or so prior! If you wait until a gate agent is scanning boarding passes, then it's too late to preboard!

 

[nkereina]

I fly out of TFGreen in Providence, Boston's Logan and MCO a lot. There are usually two gate agents at the gate..they both hand out cards. There is no difference between the two people...they both do both jobs. If you want that boarding card for earlier boarding, then you had best get to the gate well before boarding begins..usually an hour or so prior! If you wait until a gate agent is scanning boarding passes, then it's too late to preboard!

Yes, you may have misread because that's exactly what I was saying. OP needs to approach the employees at the desk well before boarding. NOT the person scanning boarding passes - in my experience, these tasks are assigned to two different employees anyway

 

[hsmamato2]

Thanks for the clarification... that's how I read it too... I plan to ask at the desk as soon as we arrive...I am sure it will be fine.....

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Sorry for not knowing the correct terminology... but the people at the desk are NOT the same people who scan the boarding passes. At least not in the larger airports. The folks at the desk hand out the pre-boarding cards and the folks at the scanner/ramp entrance get the pre-boarders on the plane.

The jobs are interchangable. They are all gate agents.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

asking is a good plan but be prepared for it not to able to be done unless it is an early morning flight as well others at your airport may also need bulk head reasons

 

[jayhawk74]

The jobs are interchangable. They are all gate agents.

At Southwest the people at the gate counter are Customer Service Agents while those taking the boarding passes at the gate are Operation Agents. At Southwest those jobs are different classifications and are not interchangeable.

 

[SilverMickey]

When making your dads reservation you can put the disability on the reservation. You can put that your dad will need a wheelchair. (I think you can go back and alter the reservation or call and add the need for a wheelchair)

AFTER you go through security you will go to the desk for your gate and ask the person working customer service there for a blue pre-boarding sleeve. One person in your party should be able to accompany your dad onto the plane. Others in your party will probably have to go to their spot in the boarding line that is on their boarding pass.

This is from very recent experience. Southwest handles our family members with such great respect. Have a wonderful trip!