SWA need to rethink Preboarding

[WDW4KIDS]

We just came back from a great WDW vacation but I need to vent.SWA has a Pre boarding policy as many Carriers do but those carriers also assign seats not "herd" you in to groups as SWA does tend to do.We arrived 2 hours early for our going and returning trips and each time it was a joke what was alowed to go on.I saw people in Wheel chairs and canes pre boarding and then "sprint" off the aircraft as soon as the doors opened.I mean Seniors lifting a 40 lb carry on and stowing it retrieving it and running down the aisle after claiming to need preboarding.Also families of 12 that had a handicapped member were all allowed to Preboard.(My mother is elderly and needs assistance so don't flame me or get all self righteous)All I'm asking is that people show documentation that they're in need of assistance.Also when a large group or family is involved that one companion be allowed to preboard and not the whole clan.It's not fair to people who get to the airport earlier and yet are pushed back because of SWA's boarding policy.

 

[seashoreCM]

Why all this fuss about pre-boarding?

You may be better off boarding (calmly) after all the maniacs have crowded and pushed on by. The plane won't go any sooner just because everybody else is pushing and shoving.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Better to be behind rather than ahead of the herd of elephants or the Running of the Bulls.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by WDW4KIDS
All I'm asking is that people show documentation that they're in need of assistance.

This is actually prohibited by the Federal ADA law.

 

[Rhonda922]

WDW4KIDS:

I can totally understand your point. The whole thing about SW not having assigned seating is one reason that I haven't flown with them.

 

[Snoozan]

My DH does not like Southwest ONLY because of the cattle call they call "pre-boarding". I, too, find it stressful watching at least 1/2 the plane pre-board. I don't think whole familes- the ones with aunts, uncles, grandparents and several older siblings should be allowed to pre-board with 1 four year old. I wish they could tighten up their policy to keep the majority of their customers satisfied about the boarding system.

 

[chicknoodle99]

I also agree with Rhonda922!

This "herding" is why I have never even looked into SWA. I like the idea of assigned seats and book my seats early enough so DH and I can sit together without having to rush like cattle onto an airplane. Some people dont mind flying SWA and I am glad that their low-fares work for so many people, but personally, I would rather fly an airline with a bit more structured procedures.

 

[sheryl0521]

We flew SWA in April, and on our return trip out of Orlando, the stewards were checking the preboard line for the large groups.
I do recall one rather large group of 4 adults and 4 kids (one under 4) were in the preboard line and they were split up with one adult left with the toddler in preboard, and the rest of the group moved out to their boarding lane.

So I do know it happens.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
This is actually prohibited by the Federal ADA law.

Interstate airlines are excluded from title II of the ADA. That said there is no way any airline wants to start questioning PAX on how disabled they are.

SW ee's on flyertalk seem to think pre-boarding is going to become more limited in the next month.

 

[CarolMN]

I know it must bre frustrating (SWA doesn't fly out of MSP), but I don't think it will matter whether 1 person boards with the person needing the pre-boarding, or if the whole party goes along.

The one who pre-boards will just save seats for the rest of the party. Unless you are willing to confront them and possibly make a scene (and then sit next to disgruntled people for your whole flight), you'll still end up in about the same seat.

JMHO. YMMV.

 

[MagEpcDisAni Voyager]

What is actually involved in preboarding and boarding on SWA?

 

[KarenP99]

Originally posted by Snoozan
I don't think whole familes- the ones with aunts, uncles, grandparents and several older siblings should be allowed to pre-board with 1 four year old.

Do they really do this? I am traveling soon with my inlaws and my kids 1 & 3. My husband and I will pre-board with the kids and I got the IL's separate reservations so we could check in online and get them A passes in hopes of sitting near each other.

I can't imagine thinking boarding extended family would be ok???

Maybe it's just me.

Karen

 

[WDW4KIDS]

SWA is the only airline offering non-stop service out of Islip.It's a 50 mile drive to JFK or LGA for us otherwise.I happen to like the SWA concept and friendliness of their employees.My problem lies with SWA's policy and peop[le abusing the Preboarding of the aircraft.

 

[MagEpcDisAni Voyager]

How is the boarding out of Islip.

 

[maraakl]

WDW4KIDS
ITA!!!

 

[sheryl0521]

honestly - right now I only fly SWA because of Preboarding with my 3yr old. If they get rid of it, I wouldn't fly with them.

 

[Suzanne74]

I must be in the minor here because I love Southwest. The reason the flights are cheap is because they don't have to do computrized seating charts which takes up time - hence money. They have a number of seats when you book and it is first come first serve. I don't mind people preboarding and why shouldn't a large family all be able to sit together? Would you want your family split up? Like someone above said, they will only save seats anyway which would in turn cause more of a delay.

I used to travel a lot - 10x or more a year and I found that overall, the check in and boarding system for Southwest is faster than any other airline. It may seem longer because you may feel like you don't have a seat yet but I think it has always been quick and easy.

Also, the flight attendants are more my speed (not stuffy), the tickets are inexpensive, they allow you to get a boarding pass online which saves you time at the airport and most of all, the return/change policy is the best. I don't plan on changing carriers and since they are one of the only economic growing airlines these days, I would say most people aren't either.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Suzanne74
I must be in the minor here because I love Southwest. The reason the flights are cheap is because they don't have to do computrized seating charts which takes up time - hence money. They have a number of seats when you book and it is first come first serve. I don't mind people preboarding and why shouldn't a large family all be able to sit together? Would you want your family split up? Like someone above said, they will only save seats anyway which would in turn cause more of a delay.

I like SW BUT I think pre-boarding is getting out of hand. I think famlies that want to sit together should checkin and get to the gate early enough to get an A BP. When the pre-board group is larger than any of the letter boarding groups something is wrong.

I understand FA won't let people save more than one seat. If you let a child and one parent pre-board there is no reason to let them save more than the third seat in their row.

Parents paying for an infant seat that need time to position a car seat should be allowed to pre-board.

 

[mousey]

We flew out of Orlando in April and I was frustrated by the amount of people in the pre board line. I think between 80-100 people pre boarded that plane. I saw families with 1 baby and 7 adult family members following, 6 men in business suits, etc... We decided to go for a last minute trip in August and due to recent surgery I was in a wheelchair. I was told when I made my reservations that 1 person could accompany me on the aircraft to preboard. Needless to say, only about 12 people preboarded our full flight to Baltimore. The rest of my family had no problem finding seats even though they were C's. I'm glad they cracked down on all the abusers of this system. Southwest is a great airline and their lax pre board system was giving bad raps.

 

[mobetsy]

I agree. Immediate families with young kids, not the entire clan. People who need extra time because of infirmity/disability (and I am quite willing to believe that those taking it need it, even if I can't see the disability...until I see that same person doing all the lifting and carrying for the family). Unaccompanied minors. I have no problem with any of those, and I don't mind the "category" boarding process instead of assigned seats. But a week ago I watched 25% of the flight pre-board, including several very extended family groups, and that really irritated me.

 

[Pinnie]

I have flown SWA A LOT over the years and especially this past summer. I have seen gate agents suspend pre boarding of families with young children because the plane was FULL of them. I have seen gate agents ask the child their age and if the youngest one said five or above, to the back of the correct letter line the family went. I have also seen gate agents deny preboarding to ONLY one parent and small child and send the rest of the clan to the correct corral.

What SWA needs is CONSISTANCY! I for one am sick and tired of the Preboarding Clan that preboards after getting to the airport minutes before take off. While I understand in the past that you couldn't get your connecting boarding pass until you got to your connecting destination, this is no longer true. You now get ALL your boarding passes either online or at the point of origin.

I will continue to fly SWA because once they post a schedule they STICK to it and don't change it if it is not a full plane. Only weather or mechanical problems will cause a changed flight. I agree that they board MUCH faster than assigned seats. I was on SPIRIT this summer from DTW to DEN and it took 40 minutes to board an MD 80. I flew SWA 8 times this summer and it never took more than 20 mintues to board a plane with them! That makes for ONTIME departures and arrivals.

Give me SWA anytime!

pinnie