Traveling with Elderly and SWA

[Cmbar]

Hi all, I have never traveled on an airplane with Elderly people. We are taking DH grandparents (90 and 93) to WDW Thanksgiving week!

We are leaving from Baltimore and I know that some of the SWA gates are really far (and almost always the Orlando flights). So how do I get them a wheelchair and get them through security. If they are in a wheelchair does that mean they get the priority boarding or do I have to have that somewhere on their boarding passes?

I would love some advice or direction as to where I get the information. Should I call the airport or SWA? Thanks!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Contact Southwest, if you've already booked the tickets. If you haven't, when you book the tickets, you'll note that a wheelchair is needed when you give the information about the passengers. That being said, it's been my observation that most of the ticket counter agents just use common sense and ask if a wheelchair is needed if they see someone with a cane, or a clearly elderly person. But contact Southwest to get it noted, since it will also be necessary when landing, and the airline needs to know that ahead of time.
The wheelchair will entitle them to preboard. If they don't stick with the wheelchair it may disappear (my grandmother got out of hers at Midway, since she can walk with a cane, to get lunch across from the gate; the wheelchair was gone when she returned to the gate). In that case, the gate agents will give them a blue sleeve to preboard.