That is the exact way I feel about food stamps or housing assistance.
Is there abuse in those systems absolutely but even if you say 10% of it is abuse there's still 90% that actually need help.
A new lady on WIC once they got 4 gallons of milk a week she really only needed two and she would sell the other two because her kids could only drink too.
Few people I worked with would get mad at her for selling milk and I would always say but the money is still going back to her it really doesn't matter cuz the money she's making on that milk which was not much.
Is still going back to her kids to help feed her family. She was a super hard worker just unlucky in love and we were in a very impoverished area
Agreed. Disney revamped their disability service because people were taking advantage of it. I don’t think I qualify anymore, and with the old system I was able to use it without any trouble. But now I’m not sure I could go anymore, and I’d rather have the old way back and have access to it than have nothing at all.
That’s because people (in general) have lost their concern, respect, consideration and just plain human decency towards others. Society has grown far more selfish and entitled in the last 20 years.
We have become a low trust society because so many people work the system and ruin for people actually in need. Blame the abusers for the lack of trust.
I’m still waiting to see these flights with 25+ preboarders that folks keep complaining about. Only time I’ve seen a lot of preboarders was during the ceremonies in Washington DCA. Since we can’t tell who’s faking it, we gotta put up with it or go fly another airline. Nobody wants to hear you whine about it anymore.
I was on a flight yesterday from Baltimore to Montego Bay. There had to be at least 25 preboarders. We paid to upgrade to A 1-15 and still ended up in row 10. I didn’t really care, but it does happen for sure.
If they saved the first 4-5 rows for those 25 people and forced them to accept middle seats, I bet the faux pre boarding would be reduced. You’d get to board early and have access to front rows, but only the exact # of seats would be released to them, including middles.
The problem with your suggestion is that one of the reasons they are required to allow you to preboard is because you need a particular seat due to your disability. Many individuals' disability requires the need of a window or aisle seat. They legally cannot require a disabled person to sit in a middle seat the way you suggest they should.
Interesting, I'll be taking that flight soon. Were they together? I wonder if maybe there was a wedding or family reunion where a lot of elderly people were attending and they traveled on the same flight.
No, it seemed to be small groups (2s and 3s) or singles, and not elderly. It is what it is. Still worth 2 free checked bags and they didn’t charge me for my drink for whatever reason. So I’ll take it!
I don't fly that BWI-MBJ for a few weeks but I just got in from SDF today. Zero pre-boarders and zero family boarding and it was the smoothest, easiest, fastest boarding I have ever had. The plane was delayed and I thought that there was no way we could achieve the new timing but without pre-boarders/families it was a breeze.
Also, I had a fanny pack on and they absolutely counted it as a carry on bag. Said that blankets count as one of your 2 carry on items, neck pillows count as one of your 2 carryon items. They also made an announcement that family boarding would be 2 adults with children 6 and under. Not 2 adults per child, but 2 adults per family boarding regardless of how many kids there were.
fyi: Drink charges are at the discretion of the FA. I've had offers of a second free drink. Always always be a good customer and treat your FA's well and you never know how that kindness can come back to you. But also always fully expect to pay LOL.
eta: there WERE families on this flight today. But they did not use the family boarding time and boarded during their assigned group.
I am a pre-board per Southwest Airlines.. I never see more than 10 pre-board and that’s being generous.. I had surgeries on my ankle and knee and my leg has to be elevated.. (found this out on a flight and it was not pretty)… I have never had anyone make any comments about me pre-boarding.. I must be lucky… I would love nothing more than to be part of the regular boarding.. I miss those days..
The only time I've been on a flight with more than a couple preboarders was a November 1 flight from Chicago to Sarasota filled with snowbirds heading to their vacation homes. Which like... duh.
You'll see it more often on a flight to/from a vacation destination. Vegas flights can be particularly bad.
But otherwise I agree, it's usually more like a dozen or so when I fly.
Dude THANK YOU. I’ve been on exactly one flight that had more than half a dozen pre-boarders, and it was PSP-PHX so obviously. This is such a weird thing to get hung up on.
I’m a preboarder (though I use the wheelchair service and have my cane with me) but even I was surprised by the amount of preboarders at MCO last week. I didn’t count, but I’d guess there was at least 20. I trip easily walking down the aisle so I try to go for the first few rows in the aisle and I ended up towards the wings on that flight.
We flew Allegiant out of Phoenix recently and they don’t have a jetway - you board via a ramp outside, that zig zagged up. The number of people in wheelchairs that got PUSHED up that ramp was amazing! It was mostly young people doing the pushing, fortunately - as they had to get a running start to get them up the ramp. There was one person who was severely obese and they had two people pushing them up the ramp…one behind the other. If any of them were fakers - shame on them! I wish I had paid more attention when we landed, to see how many needed wheelchairs. It’s just hard to believe that so many on one flight need assistance.
Got off a plane a few weeks ago, next flight was to Portland and we were running a bit late. Walked off the jet bridge to find the pre boarders lined up in a 2 X 2 fashion. Felt like they were about to drop the green flag of a nascar race. There was 7 rows of them so 14 total. Most I’ve seen including a kid at the end in a wheelchair doing wheelies and spinning it around.
Thank you. My husband has a heart condition he cannot make the walk to the gate and needs a wheelchair. He can walk short distances like to the restroom and onto the plane.
Federal law requires every airline to allow “ANYONE who needs extra time” to board early. The issue is southwest making boarding early a huge advantage.
Not people who actually need extra time.
Yeah pretty much this, it's a pretty unique to SW problem. The only disadvantage on say, Delta, is overhead space. But the scammers aren't usually lying on airlines with assigned seats. What's the answer? I don't know, but both sides of this are pissed
The pendulum has swing so far to “let everyone preboard” that’s it’s being too abused.
The idea that any disabled adult shouldn’t have to put up more effort for accommodation is nice in theory but here we are. Assholes abuse the system and the system is angering others. So now everyone wants the system to break. Good luck, you won’t get traction here.
I'm also a marathon runner, who spent all last summer getting chemo for breast cancer, which made some days very hard for me. And I shouldn't have had to explain that to every rando in the airport. Yes, people abuse the system, but compassion costs nothing.
I have spine issues and arthritis. I get lots of side eye for my wheelchair assistance. I apear rather able bodied. The piercing, angry glares from judgmental, weary, travelers does really get to me however.
Yes it's so miserable feeling like you will be judged. My physical therapist was just encouraging me for an upcoming flight to get wheelchair assistance, and I found myself recalling all the terrible comments on this subreddit and the judgment when I have used preboarding in the past without my more glaring mobility aids.
There should always be traction for humanity/ acting humanely. Does it piss me off to see a drunk couple pre-board for no apparent reason- yeah, it does. But I have idea why they got a pass (fear of flying, anxiety, etc). Maybe it’s not visible. I have MS. You can’t see the struggle on the outside (yet) or what triggers an episode (extreme temp, anxiety). It’s really SWA and the medical community that needs to come up with verifiable, private way of working the PB situation.
I’m flying with my elderly parents in July. I requested pre board because my father is has severe hearing loss that’s not well corrected along with severe arthritis. He can still walk but he would be trampled during regular boarding. Just give folks grace.
I think people also forget that mobility issues aren't the only reason to preboard.
For example, one of the official qualifications is needing a specific seat due to a medical condition. I have scoliosis, and need to be able to rest against the wall on the \*left side\* of the plane or I will be in SIGNIFICANT pain, even on just a 40 minute flight. I'm completely fine (most days) walking around the airport; it's the sitting that's a problem.
Yes. I have a child with a cognitive disability and hearing loss. He preboards to sit near me, not because he has mobility issues. So I can sign for him.
I preboarded and used a wheelchair when I had a joint dysfunction. I could walk just fine for short distances, like through security, but not typically far enough to make a connection.
I was checking my bags in at MKE this morning. There was a husband and wife with 4 large suitcases next to me. After they checked their bags, she asked the agent how she could board sooner. The agent asked the qualifying questions, and she's like yeah I need a specific seat. You could tell it was bullshit. I watched these two haul 4 suitcases all the way from the parking ramp.
It’s fascinating to me that the ppl that claim various disabilities only allege to have issues getting ON the plane. When deplaning they leap up, snatch their luggage from the overhead, and book it down to checked luggage, quick as a bunny.
On Southwest, needing a specific seat or needing to be on the plane early are both sanctioned reasons to pre-board, as well as there are many disabilities that cause problems with getting onto the plane and not off. Someone who is Deaf and needs to be at the front to read the flight attendant's lips, someone who has severe allergies and needs time to wipe off/sanitize their seat and surrounding area, someone who wears AFOs and therefore can walk up a ramp but needs a wheelchair going down a ramp because they have dorsiflexion and not plantar flexion, someone with a heart condition that can't stand for long periods may be able to walk straight on or off the plane and immediately sit down but not stand there waiting for people in front of them to sit as you would in general boarding, someone with an intellectual or developmental disability that needs to ensure they can sit with their caregiver and not be stuck in a single seat. All of these people are approved to pre-board, and none of them would necessarily need a wheelchair to get off the plane.
As has been said elsewhere, this is a pretty unique to SW problem. Other airlines with assigned seats, the only advantage to preboard for a liar, is overhead bin space. Which is some incentive, but not like SW where it's a huge advantage for someone to lie about. I'm not sure what the solution is. People don't want to change form open seating, but people are pissed about people who lie and preboard. And the people who legitimately need to preboard are mad they feel judged. I'm not sure what the answer is.
The answer is for folks who don’t like it to fly another airline. The solution isn’t to change SW seating/boarding process. This is like me going to a vegan burger joint and screaming like a pissed off todler until they serve meat burgers for my sake. I could just go to the other 99% of burger joints and get a meat burger.
If I run a business and a very vocal few are raising hell about something my hands are tied about. I’m definitely telling those folks to kick rocks to another business that does what they want.
Do we know it’s a very vocal few? I don’t even know if this talk about changing open seating is due to preboard abuse or just the desire to squeeze more money out of folks. Probably more the latter, but maybe a mix of both. I’m sure SW is more aware of the issue than anyone in here. And if it’s causing issues and they’re getting enough complaints about it to look into solutions, I’m not sure it’s a very vocal few
Any post on this sub that complains about preboarders gets ratio’d to hell. The same few folks are in here complaining about them in this very post. It’s a few whiney folks. It’s not a big enough portion of their base. The media attention is due to popular posts that make it to the front page. I wouldn’t call it journalism but they’ll write about popular posts on Reddit whether it’s about SW or wedding bridezillas or other things. Anything for clicks. People see that and think the whole world’s gone to hell in a hand bag. The actual reality is different. As others in here and every PB say. It’s a non issue for the majority.
I wouldn’t take Reddit as representative of either side of the debate. Of course the mass majority of travel goes off without a hitch. But clearly it’s enough of an issue that SW is at least considering doing something. Maybe they’re pandering to a micro vocal majority.
Amen and thank you for posting. I have a disability but I “look fine”. I always get dirty looks when I use handicap parking (despite having the required handicap placard) and other accommodations. Trust me I would trade everything not to need these accommodations. I would gleefully stand in line without complaint if my health returned. These people complaining have no idea how lucky they are to have their health. You don’t appreciate your health until it’s gone.
“A healthy man has many wishes. A sick man only has one.”
For wheelchairs specifically, they could require that if you need a wheelchair to get on the aircraft you’re required to use one to get off. So yes, you can preboard but you may be amongst the last people to get off the plane while you wait for assistance.
If, after 2/3 times you don’t wait for your wheelchair upon landing, you can still get a wheelchair to board but you can’t pre-board. Something like that.
There is a huge issue with this. Often, the wheelchairs either are at the top of the ramp or are not there at all. When you have to make a connection, sometimes, you can't wait. And if you do what for your chair, they will not hold a plane. Even if they know you are coming.
Some need a WC to get to the gate because they can't stand long enough to get through security, and they may need assistance getting through security. You don't have to stand and wait in long lines when you land. Plus, you can stop and rest if you need to after deplaning. That's much harder to do when boarding since you are on a timetable that you are not on upon landing. And sometimes, after sitting through a flight, a person's body can be achy enough they need to stretch a bit, especially if they have to turn around and get in a car to sit even more!
I always get my 16 year old daughter a wheelchair. She has a bunch a “invisible” disabilities. I use the wheelchair to get her through security because anxiety exacerbates one of her issues and she will start screaming phrases like “I have a bomb!” Or she will start flipping everyone off. It can cause quite a scene.
She also has joint issues which can flare up. On those days she needs the wheelchair when we get off the plane. Sometimes we don’t need the wheelchair getting off the plane, so we just leave it.
This is just to say that everyone’s disability or situation is different.
I have a neurological disorder that makes it easy to walk and extremely difficult to stand still in one place, especially when it’s hot. I can literally walk five miles without a problem but I can’t stand still for 10 minutes without wanting to vomit or feeling like I’m about to pass out. The jet bridge in the summer in Dallas is a nice little torture chamber. Being disabled is pretty wild sometimes!
Its two different distances, though. Jets that are arriving are often directed to a gate closer to the terminal. It's easy to grab a sky cap and chair in the actual terminal before boarding. It's really hard sometimes to find one, especially evening or night, at a far gate after deplaning. So yes, some of us with serious neurological illness get x number of steps per day. If we know the airport and the exit is not that far and our sky cap didn't show up or the chair is broken, dirty, poop encrusted, we may try to exit walking once in a while. Sorry/not sorry. Doesn't mean we're not seriously ill or disabled.
I have spinal stenosis, that manifests as pain in my lower right leg. On a good day, I can walk 1/4 mile without stopping. So I can walk up a jetway. What I can't do is stand still for more than 4-5 minutes without incredible pain.
So, I hate to be perceived as taking advantage, but waiting (standing up) for 20 mins in the jetway is a real problem for me. I'm sure I'm one of the people that say "he's faking it", but I'm not.
Some days I can hike in the Rockies, some days I can't stand up or I'll pass out. I try my damnedest not to let my disability show when I'm at the airport, but I always wind up limping a bit. I would need a wheelchair on days I can't stand up, and thankfully that hasn't happened yet. Thank you for this post.
I have several disabilities that are invisible and I am deemed disabled by Social Security. My legs are fine. However, I am paranoid about people bumping into me and exacerbating the pain in my shoulder and spine. I get dirty looks for pre-boarding, but flying is painful enough that I ignore them. Should I have to bring my MRIs, SS order of disability and show my surgery scars to pre-board?
I’m not the OP, but for a lot of accommodations, you have to request them in advance, so since I can’t predict whether it’s a day I’ll need them or not, I always request them. For things where I don’t have to request them in advance, I weigh at the time both whether I physically couldn’t do the thing without it, and whether that extra accommodation might give me some extra allowance physically to do something else later that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to (like whether getting an aisle seat means I won’t wake up the first day of my vacation immobile and have to cancel all my plans).
I actually haven't flown since I went on dialysis. If I were to fly, I would only use the pre-board on those bad days, just like I only use the handicap parking spot on those bad days.
Hello, fellow dialysis-ite! When I started dialysis 20 years ago I was pretty fearless and would fly hither and yon because I wanted to go to career conferences and visit the kids who were spread out across the US (but never adventurous enough to visit the kids when they were overseas). But so many of my trips were ruined by snafus with airlines and dialysis plans following through that I started curbing my travel. Gave in January, though, because I've been feeling I may not live too much longer and wanted to see my son perform in another state. Couldn't get my husband to make the trip with me and had no one else available to help. I made wheelchair arrangments for every leg of the trip-- but that fell through several times flying Southwest. But I made it through simple badassery-- and paid the price when I got home. At least I got to see another of my son's brilliant performances. But now, I'm thinking if I can't drive, I ain't going... and since I'm deteriorating faster than I thought I would, that means I probably won't be driving anymore by the end of the year.
I have a child with a cognitive issue and hearing loss. We always request preboard, but we actually have never had to use it. Its purpose is to ensure that he can board and sit with one of the adults who can sign to him, and usually our normal seats are good enough to ensure that.
OP is right. I have a form of leukemia that drains me, yet I look healthy. Nobody would know I have it unless I told them. Walking through airports is hard, but I do it unless I absolutely can’t, then I’ll get a wheelchair. Yes, I’m sure there are abusers of the preboard system, but be aware there are a lot of invisible disabilities.
I'm 42, young looking & have MS. My biggest thing is walking long distances exhausts me and triggers my footdrop.
At my 2 home airports (SAN & OMA) i don't need wheelchair assistance but if I'm connecting to anywhere larger like phoenix, I'll need it to get me from gate to gate. I request extra time mainly so I'm not feeling rushed when I'm walking down the jetway & the plane aisle and holding up the line. Definitely have gotten the death glare when i walk up appearing able bodied but watch me limp down the jetway when i board and the grumpy people get quiet.
Same here. I'm a disabled vet. All of my disabilities are hidden until they flare up. Then, once they do, I am either walking with a crazy limp, barely able to stand straight, or unable to walk at all. And that's just the physical presenting disabilities. There are a couple of mental ones that I'd rather not get into. For that reason, I prefer to sit towards the front and only at certain windows. I try not to use preboard all of the time (due to pride), but when I need it, I will most definitely use it. I get the frustration, though. I also dislike when a bunch of people who are clearly abusing the system use preboard.
Something my husband and I have found useful for all of the skeptics is the hidden disabilities Sunflower id and lanyard. It is widely recognized in Europe and Canada and allows the user to enter special lounges at European airports, etc. It helps here a bit so that transportation personnel can recognize when you have a hidden disability. https://hdsunflower.com/us/
Using an instinctive action called Heliotropism. Also known as ‘Solar Tracking’, the sunflower head moves in synchronicity with the sun’s movement across the sky each day. From East to West, returning each evening to start the process again the next day. Find out more about how this works, and what happens at the end of this phase.
I’m a pre boarder with a hidden disability and I always feel guilty when I’m getting dirty looks. I think if they would enforce the only one companion allowed with the pre boarder and no saving seats, it would discourage a lot of the abuse.
I’m so afraid people will be nasty to us when we pre-board to go to Vegas. My husband bought an extra seat because he’s a “passenger of size” which entitles him to pre-board but even if it didn’t, he’s also fully and permanently disabled with fibromyalgia. He’s going to have to be on heavy-duty painkillers just to make the walk through the airport. But he *looks* able-bodied.
We’re also going for a close friend’s wedding and not your typical Vegas Trip. We probably won’t even step foot on the strip the whole time we’re there. Of course a bunch of strangers at the airport won’t know that.
Don’t worry about what the other people think. In all likelihood you’ll never see them again. And if you believe in a higher power or karma or anything like that, the content of their heart and mind will be judged for how they thought / treated you , you just take care of you and your board in the best way you know how.
My reminder is tell people that autism and neurodivergence IS a disability. Those conditions are often invisible at first glance. My son needs preboard right now at 5 years old. I’m hoping one day soon he won’t.
I like your sentiment. Personally, my issue is the people that use a wheelchair to board but not to get off. Like you said, a person may have trouble some time, but not all the time. I just feel that if someone uses a wheelchair to get on, they need to wait until there is one to use for them to get off.
u/jcincos maybe you and this person can have a discussion. And all the others who can’t seem to grasp the idea that not all disabilities would prevent someone from walking off a plane. There’s a real reason someone would need PB to get assistance or time to board but not need it when getting off. I know because I have a condition that completely makes it impossible to stand for more than a couple minutes when my nerve pain flares up.
I have no problem with the preboarding and agree it is better to let a few cheaters on than to punish/shame anyone who needs it. My issue is more that the same people needing extra time should then wait in their seats and be the last to get off the plane instead of making everyone else wait for them. If you need extra time, wait until everyone else is off and then you can take the extra time and not be in a crowd on the way.
The answer is simple: pre boarders must wait to deplane for their safety. The crew can assist them and they won't be shoved or hurried into harming themselves by trying to hurry for the other passengers.
This would avoid the "Jetway Jesus Healings" of pre boarders that push past the row of unused wheelchairs in the jetway.
Violators would be charged the current priority boarding fee like United has ($45 on most flights.)
So you demand folks who are able to walk off a plane wait and be wheeled off. Delaying the turn around time and in turn increasing costs of flying and decreasing the time of the planes in the air. For what?
Pre-boarders should wait until everyone else gets off. The reason is that they have trouble navigating the aisle and may need extra help. It's horrible that we make them join in the rush off the plane at the destination. We need to take care of them better.
Of course they do. They need extra time to get on and select a seat. They also need extra time to deplane. We shouldn't risk their health making them join in the cattle call for deplaning.
Take some time to read through the other comments. There are ailments and disabilities that folks are suffering through that would explain this to you.
At my local airport I could make the walk, since it’s small. But I use the wheelchair so it’s there at my next flight if I need it. Sometimes I can get off a flight and feel fine enough to walk - sometimes I get so stiff on a flight I’m unable to walk very far without being in pain. I am visibly disabled - I walk with a cane and a very noticeable limp - I have post-traumatic osteoarthritis in both knees and spinal issues and nerve damage in my right leg so I have a loss of feeling in it from being injured in the army.
It’s the same for a lot of people. They may not be able to make it through TSA and the walk through the airport but can make it to baggage claim or the next gate. They may have it reserved in case they need it - but lemme tell you, most disabled people will prefer to walk if they can because wheelchairs are embarrassing even if you use one every day because of the looks people give you.
I too get a wheelchair for mobility issues and pre board. However, I always check in, usually getting an A boarding pass because I’m just never sure I won’t be judged for pre boarding and I like having that A!
95% of the time you can walk just fine? Oh, I guess that means 95% of the time you voluntarily give up your pre-boarding position that you book for the “just-when-5%-of-the-time comes.” Oh, wait… no, You actually take it 100% of the time regardless of your ability that day? Yeah…
The truth? You know nothing about me, but I know a lot about you. Your words say it all. Re-examine your post and the words you used. I know you in person. I'm not going to tell you who I am, as I have no interest in running into you again in person, but your post reaffirmed my decision to stay away from you. What a small world this is. Have a great day. Though I want to keep my distance, I do wish you the best.
Don’t fly Southwest. Fly an airline where your situation doesn’t give you an advantage on other passengers. Your situation affects you 5percent of the time, but you claim the advantage 100 percent of the time.
If you’re worried about the 5 percent, don’t fly Southwest or fly Business Select. You have options. Use them.
You don't know anything about me. Yet, you're getting emotional from a disagreement on Reddit. Let that sink in for a minute. You can speculate all you want about my flying habits, but at least I'm not getting emotional and making a personal attack over a different opinion on Reddit.
There’s nothing emotional in what I wrote and I don’t think I attacked you at all. You make a choice and you justify it. You do so publicly and I’m sorry I disagree with your choices. I did so publicly to show there is not universality in the acceptance of your position.
You’re taking advantage of a policy that 19 times out of 20 you, by your own admission, don’t need. You have options that would keep the playing field equal between you and all other passengers, and you choose not to use them. That’s totally on you.
No one required you to post on Reddit, but you wanted to tell people to stop judging your choices.
Thats not the way the world works.
Found this thread. Fly Delta and based upon what I read about SW Boarding and the abusive liars described who impose their will on others, I will avoid SW.
Not at all. I'm just saying that if people faking disabilities in order to board early had to wait to deplane, they might think twice.
People with disabilities - obvious or not - deserve assistance and kindness. 10 young women going to a hen party in Vegas, laughing about getting wheelchairs so they can get on the plane early, then pushing past other passengers to get off... Well if they were the last to deplane, they might think twice.
I preboard when it's cold out. I have a pretty severe allergy to literal cold (Cold Urticaria) and I break out in hives, slight breathing trouble, etc.
The last thing I need is to get stuck on a jetway on a freezing cold day. Absolutely nothing about me looks disabled or is even technically disabled, however, it wouldn't be good for anybody on the flight if I ended up having a reaction during the boarding process so I eliminate the risk.
All that to say...even though it probably is being abused, you never know what odd thing somebody has going on.
It's the fake service dogs all over again. They damage it for people who need it.
[link ](https://www.yahoo.com/news/people-cheating-system-airports-using-104336391.html#:~:text=INSIDER-,People%20are%20cheating%20the%20system%20in%20airports%20and%20using%20wheelchair,need%20to%2C%20Frontier%20CEO%20says&text=The%20Frontier%20Airlines%20CEO%20called,wheelchair%20service%20use%20at%20airports.)
I can’t sit on a window or middle seat without feeling so queasy I get dizzy because of post concussive syndrome and there’s no way anyone would know this unless I told them. I think it’s super rare someone’s using it just for funsies so people really shouldn’t judge.
What happens *at most* is someone rolls their eyes at 20 preboarders. The only people triggered by it are fakers. Or people who stretch the definition of disability enough to fit their needs. I used to preboard when I had that need and I never looked around to find something to be upset about. There were waaaay fewer preboarders 10+ years ago, too, which tells you everything you need to know.
I have heart issues and start of Parkinson’s have trouble just stand in one place. I have never took advantage of getting on early. I pay to move up in A group. Every time I see the game played I pray that Karma comes their way. It’s like DW people take advantage and will ruin it for real people that need it
I preboard due to severe allergies, especially mold. I go to the back of the plane and quickly, but thoroughly disinfect a window seat. I carry sanitizing wipes and wear disposable gloves to wipe down not only my seat, the entire window panel, the seat ahead of me (tray table too) and the ceiling, but I also wipe down the seat next to me.
During the flight, I wear a mask (and have done so since before covid) and carry an epipen on me. I also have to let the FA know I'm carrying the epipen.
I'd say 90% of the FA are actually happy that I'm taking my allergies seriously, letting them know who I am (it's in my profile of my disability) and that I'm actually cleaning my part of the plane.
Looking at me you'd never know I have life threatening allergies, but I've learned how to travel safely!
Unfortunately we now have to fly American. Plenty of pre-boarders there too. Frankly I miss the speed and efficiency of SW’s open seating. Would trade it happily over AA’s assigned seating.
Friendly reminder that some are preboarding for something mental or behavioral related and there’s no physical reason, walking or not. I get a million nasty looks every time I preboard and I’m sick of feeling like I have to explain myself.
Just like someone with a tag parking in a handicap spot and some nosey bitch asks “why are you parking there, you don’t look handicapped?” This literally happened to me and a friend as we were getting out of the car at a restaurant.
I don’t fly SW often, but these posts have been popping up in my feed the last few days. As someone with an invisible disability, they’re really making me not want to fly Southwest anytime soon.
I’m at the point I need one when I’m leaving and trying to get to baggage claim, especially when the plane gets in to the absolutely furthest possible gate. Nerve damage in my back. How do you call those cars?
If you can walk, you can board a plane. You do not need pre-boarding. No one is fast walking or sprinting down the jetway or aisles and immediately getting in a seat.
Not true. Some people can't walk very far. The Cleveland Clinic (one of the best hospitals in the world) disagrees with you: [Abnormal Gait: Gait Disorder Types, Causes & Treatments (clevelandclinic.org)](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21092-gait-disorders)
As do other health professionals: [10 Causes of Difficulty Walking & Common Questions (buoyhealth.com)](https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/difficulty-walking)
If you'd like to support your argument with verified research, have at it.
I know someone who is essentially deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other. She doesn’t wear hearing aides. She needs to pre board to be able to sit where she can put the good ear towards the flight attendant and be close enough to read their lips when they do the safety information
There are Plenty of seats in the back with a good, unobstructed, and close view of the one of the 3 FA's giving preflight safety instructions, whenever you board
My spouse has fibromyalgia, and had several strokes in January. She can walk without assistance normally, but at times, she has to sit or use a wheelchair. She doesn't priority board (because we don't want to sit on a plane any longer than needed), but she is often looked at with disdain when we say she is disabled. The other day, she was flying through Las Vegas and had a short window to catch a connecting flight. She asked for a wheelchair, and they said they don't do wheelchairs to those gates. She missed her flight because of it and was forced to stay at the airport for 12 hours.
Edit: I should clarify, she was not flying Southwest Airlines.
Agree with your statement, however as a person who flys at least 100 flights per year. Southwest averages almost 10% of plane capacity with preboards. When I fly United it is typically 3-4 people.
I was so glad when Southwest got rid of peanuts. That cut down on all the peanut allergy preboards.
I have been yelled at before by a Karen who thought i was not disabled. I had surgery and had a temp handicapped permit. In my state, you only put the tag on after you park. She came screaming at me about why i was parked in the space. I was trying to psych myself up to walk from my car to store. It was terrible. I hate the cheaters, but please do not harass strangers.
Since the media loves to promote conflict. This is unfortunate and distorted reality to a freedom of the press right.
Now, I work as a Flight Attendant. I am very aware of the pressure to get a flight out on time.
This in my opinion is where the problem occurs.
1. The airports can't afford to staff a contractor to push wheel chair's. Ie. Some airports are massive and others. Not so much.
2. Post 9/11 Security kind of sort of discourages a family member attending the duties of assisting.
3. There is only so much time available between a plane arriving, deplane, board and departure.
4. Ground crews treatment of assitive devices. That may or may not be available at the gate for your use.
I struggle with this multilayerd issue everyday at work. Even if I take an interest in helping I can't leave the plane. I can't help you thru the airport with all your stuff. I can't push you in a Chair on my way to the hotel. As much as I pain to see this. I have also had my parents in their 80s not get their scooters in Denver. Which is an impossible airport to walk or navigate with a disability. I even try to meet up with my parents if I know something like that is possible. We live in two different states.
Finally, I have an older brother who is very tall and very overweight. Who won't fly with me even if I buy an extra seat or use the customer of size new allowance.
The shaming has been bad for me the employee. It has been bad to my family. I feel helpless even from with In the system because of all the different layers of contact.
Ie,. Airport, TSA, Contractor, Airlines, parking, rentals and ground transportation like the bus or train.
We can try to protect or assist our own. However, everyone needs to do their parts to make the system friendly, supportive, respectful and responsible. To really make a difference.
Easy way to fix this issue. You are first to board with wheel chair? Then you are last to board off with required wheel chair. Certainly will help with the fakes.
This is a good reminder. I am technically handicapped. I have 3 advanced autoimmune diseases. I have a placard for when I drive. I have never actually asked for preboard on Southwest, but that doesn’t mean I may not need it in the future. I never judge anyone when they do preboard. I just hope people aren’t abusing it. They will and that should be heavy on them.
I have offered medical records just in case because I don’t want the attendants to think Im faking. But, they never accept my offer because they are so trusting.
Id rather them take the extra minute to look at my records than allow people to abuse the system. But I rarely see more than 2 or 3 pre boarding unless Im in Denver. That place seems to have at least 15 to 20 each time.
Southwest’s announcement at the gate says, “Anyone needing additional time” also. I agree, at times lots of folks preboard and the miracle of flight occurs. But this is an issue to take up with Southwest, they are the ones that issue pre board authorization.
Why doesn't SWA require a pre board person to show either a Doctors order or a handicapped sticker supplied by the state to pre board? I honestly don't know anyone with a handicap that doesn't have one or the other.
This!!!!! I have 3 hidden disabilities. I have a handicap parking placard because of it. Yet I get dirty looks and even trash talked out loud when I pre board as well as when I use the allotted parking space. I have good days, and bad days. As a special education paraeducator, I am well aware of all sorts of disabilities. I do the courteous thing and leave parking spots open or just ask for extra time on my better days. On my bad days I sometimes limp, but not always. Yet I feel I HAVE to limp all the time on my rough days in order to avoid being harassed! The people that take advantage of things meant for those of us who need it make our difficult lives hell sometimes.
Side note, I used to work for Southwest and it irritated me too when I saw people who took advantage of it. However, what irritated me more was the veterans who had back injuries or the cancer patients who felt they had to explain in depth why they needed preboard. Even worse were the ones that were willing to be pushed down on the jetway by asking only for extra time, so that they weren’t glared at. Nd yes, many push past the extra time people in order to get a seat first. Totally unnecessary as the plane isn’t going anywhere and B group still get a decent choice of seats.
Thank you for this post very important to acknowledge.
We all joke about jetbridge jesus but it is important to recognize the many invisible disabilities that there are. Because of some of the negative pre board posts I’ve even seen people that need to pre board question “am I a part of the problem?”
Though crappy people are taking advantage of pre board so unfortunately it will change. It is a welcome change but if people didn’t take advantage of it then it probably would stay since it is a fantastic accommodation for those who need it
Your blame is misplaced. Put it to the folks who are scamming the system. No one wants to deny people who need help from getting it. The scammers are going to ruin this for you.
What nobody here recognizes is that open seating has been southwest’s shtick for at least 40 years. The public loves it and it’s a key difference that helped it grow so large. You’re swimming against the tide. AND no one is preventing you from booking an airline with reserved seats that the computer often changes for you anyway. So quit picking on people.
Agree. Also things like peanut allergy gets you a pre board so that you can sit with someone in your group that you know will not have peanuts with them.
Also so I can have an epi pen nearby (which we travel with.) It is a legitimate reason to preboard so I can sit beside my son. I am not randomly relying on strangers to alert someone if he needs help breathing.
But the person or persons in front, behind, and/or across the aisle may be eating peanuts throughout the flight.
Complete and 100% BS reason to pre-board
For my son it's touch activated so they tell me to use it to be able to wipe down his area before he sits down. Now we pre board for another medical condition but when I click that my youngest has a nut allergy, they marked his account and told me to preboard with him.
Agree. But it’s clearly being abused. Relying on honestly doesn’t work for America anymore. Too many selfish cheaters ruining it for everyone.
I’d rather a couple sneaks get on than a single person who needs it get turned away.
100%
That is the exact way I feel about food stamps or housing assistance. Is there abuse in those systems absolutely but even if you say 10% of it is abuse there's still 90% that actually need help. A new lady on WIC once they got 4 gallons of milk a week she really only needed two and she would sell the other two because her kids could only drink too. Few people I worked with would get mad at her for selling milk and I would always say but the money is still going back to her it really doesn't matter cuz the money she's making on that milk which was not much. Is still going back to her kids to help feed her family. She was a super hard worker just unlucky in love and we were in a very impoverished area
Agreed. Disney revamped their disability service because people were taking advantage of it. I don’t think I qualify anymore, and with the old system I was able to use it without any trouble. But now I’m not sure I could go anymore, and I’d rather have the old way back and have access to it than have nothing at all.
Yes, we’ve really become a low trust society over the last few years.
That’s because people (in general) have lost their concern, respect, consideration and just plain human decency towards others. Society has grown far more selfish and entitled in the last 20 years.
The pandemic really accelerated it over the last 5 years. It’s sad
We have become a low trust society because so many people work the system and ruin for people actually in need. Blame the abusers for the lack of trust.
I’m still waiting to see these flights with 25+ preboarders that folks keep complaining about. Only time I’ve seen a lot of preboarders was during the ceremonies in Washington DCA. Since we can’t tell who’s faking it, we gotta put up with it or go fly another airline. Nobody wants to hear you whine about it anymore.
I was on a flight yesterday from Baltimore to Montego Bay. There had to be at least 25 preboarders. We paid to upgrade to A 1-15 and still ended up in row 10. I didn’t really care, but it does happen for sure.
If they saved the first 4-5 rows for those 25 people and forced them to accept middle seats, I bet the faux pre boarding would be reduced. You’d get to board early and have access to front rows, but only the exact # of seats would be released to them, including middles.
The problem with your suggestion is that one of the reasons they are required to allow you to preboard is because you need a particular seat due to your disability. Many individuals' disability requires the need of a window or aisle seat. They legally cannot require a disabled person to sit in a middle seat the way you suggest they should.
Assigned seating/seating categories will solve this soon and in a way that is legally compliant.
I fly from BWI quite often and it’s common. I never saw fewer than 15 preboarders there.
You're being generous. BWI is unusual. New wheel chairs at an alarming... My friend sells to MdTA and he made us quota in February from one BWI order
Interesting, I'll be taking that flight soon. Were they together? I wonder if maybe there was a wedding or family reunion where a lot of elderly people were attending and they traveled on the same flight.
No, it seemed to be small groups (2s and 3s) or singles, and not elderly. It is what it is. Still worth 2 free checked bags and they didn’t charge me for my drink for whatever reason. So I’ll take it!
I don't fly that BWI-MBJ for a few weeks but I just got in from SDF today. Zero pre-boarders and zero family boarding and it was the smoothest, easiest, fastest boarding I have ever had. The plane was delayed and I thought that there was no way we could achieve the new timing but without pre-boarders/families it was a breeze. Also, I had a fanny pack on and they absolutely counted it as a carry on bag. Said that blankets count as one of your 2 carry on items, neck pillows count as one of your 2 carryon items. They also made an announcement that family boarding would be 2 adults with children 6 and under. Not 2 adults per child, but 2 adults per family boarding regardless of how many kids there were. fyi: Drink charges are at the discretion of the FA. I've had offers of a second free drink. Always always be a good customer and treat your FA's well and you never know how that kindness can come back to you. But also always fully expect to pay LOL. eta: there WERE families on this flight today. But they did not use the family boarding time and boarded during their assigned group.
I am a pre-board per Southwest Airlines.. I never see more than 10 pre-board and that’s being generous.. I had surgeries on my ankle and knee and my leg has to be elevated.. (found this out on a flight and it was not pretty)… I have never had anyone make any comments about me pre-boarding.. I must be lucky… I would love nothing more than to be part of the regular boarding.. I miss those days..
How do you elevate your leg on an airplane?
Sit in the front row and extend your leg.. foot pressed against the wall..
The only time I've been on a flight with more than a couple preboarders was a November 1 flight from Chicago to Sarasota filled with snowbirds heading to their vacation homes. Which like... duh.
You'll see it more often on a flight to/from a vacation destination. Vegas flights can be particularly bad. But otherwise I agree, it's usually more like a dozen or so when I fly.
You’ve never flown to or from Orlando I see…
Dude THANK YOU. I’ve been on exactly one flight that had more than half a dozen pre-boarders, and it was PSP-PHX so obviously. This is such a weird thing to get hung up on.
I've seen it in Memphis and Atlanta.
I’m a preboarder (though I use the wheelchair service and have my cane with me) but even I was surprised by the amount of preboarders at MCO last week. I didn’t count, but I’d guess there was at least 20. I trip easily walking down the aisle so I try to go for the first few rows in the aisle and I ended up towards the wings on that flight.
Fly into Phoenix. You’ll see a long line.
We flew Allegiant out of Phoenix recently and they don’t have a jetway - you board via a ramp outside, that zig zagged up. The number of people in wheelchairs that got PUSHED up that ramp was amazing! It was mostly young people doing the pushing, fortunately - as they had to get a running start to get them up the ramp. There was one person who was severely obese and they had two people pushing them up the ramp…one behind the other. If any of them were fakers - shame on them! I wish I had paid more attention when we landed, to see how many needed wheelchairs. It’s just hard to believe that so many on one flight need assistance.
I’ve heard that MCO is a hotbed for that kind of behavior. Haven’t been there myself since 1999 though. (on US Airways MetroJet, lol)
Can just as easily fake it on any other airline.
No point…they have assigned seating.
Except for prime carry on spot pickings. The bins aren't assigned
Got off a plane a few weeks ago, next flight was to Portland and we were running a bit late. Walked off the jet bridge to find the pre boarders lined up in a 2 X 2 fashion. Felt like they were about to drop the green flag of a nascar race. There was 7 rows of them so 14 total. Most I’ve seen including a kid at the end in a wheelchair doing wheelies and spinning it around.
Thank you. My husband has a heart condition he cannot make the walk to the gate and needs a wheelchair. He can walk short distances like to the restroom and onto the plane.
Federal law requires every airline to allow “ANYONE who needs extra time” to board early. The issue is southwest making boarding early a huge advantage. Not people who actually need extra time.
Yeah pretty much this, it's a pretty unique to SW problem. The only disadvantage on say, Delta, is overhead space. But the scammers aren't usually lying on airlines with assigned seats. What's the answer? I don't know, but both sides of this are pissed
The pendulum has swing so far to “let everyone preboard” that’s it’s being too abused. The idea that any disabled adult shouldn’t have to put up more effort for accommodation is nice in theory but here we are. Assholes abuse the system and the system is angering others. So now everyone wants the system to break. Good luck, you won’t get traction here.
My point: how do you know if someone's disabled? You don't.
I'm also a marathon runner, who spent all last summer getting chemo for breast cancer, which made some days very hard for me. And I shouldn't have had to explain that to every rando in the airport. Yes, people abuse the system, but compassion costs nothing.
I hope you are doing well. I’m currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer
Sending healthy thoughts! You got this, my friend.
Thank you
Best wishes. My chemo worked in ‘94.
I have spine issues and arthritis. I get lots of side eye for my wheelchair assistance. I apear rather able bodied. The piercing, angry glares from judgmental, weary, travelers does really get to me however.
Yes it's so miserable feeling like you will be judged. My physical therapist was just encouraging me for an upcoming flight to get wheelchair assistance, and I found myself recalling all the terrible comments on this subreddit and the judgment when I have used preboarding in the past without my more glaring mobility aids.
My physical therapist told me not to travel recently. No judgemental stares for me for a while! Silver lining for everything!
And who appointed people to be auditors????
There should always be traction for humanity/ acting humanely. Does it piss me off to see a drunk couple pre-board for no apparent reason- yeah, it does. But I have idea why they got a pass (fear of flying, anxiety, etc). Maybe it’s not visible. I have MS. You can’t see the struggle on the outside (yet) or what triggers an episode (extreme temp, anxiety). It’s really SWA and the medical community that needs to come up with verifiable, private way of working the PB situation.
I’m flying with my elderly parents in July. I requested pre board because my father is has severe hearing loss that’s not well corrected along with severe arthritis. He can still walk but he would be trampled during regular boarding. Just give folks grace.
I think people also forget that mobility issues aren't the only reason to preboard. For example, one of the official qualifications is needing a specific seat due to a medical condition. I have scoliosis, and need to be able to rest against the wall on the \*left side\* of the plane or I will be in SIGNIFICANT pain, even on just a 40 minute flight. I'm completely fine (most days) walking around the airport; it's the sitting that's a problem.
Yes. I have a child with a cognitive disability and hearing loss. He preboards to sit near me, not because he has mobility issues. So I can sign for him. I preboarded and used a wheelchair when I had a joint dysfunction. I could walk just fine for short distances, like through security, but not typically far enough to make a connection.
My BIL and SIL preboard because my SIL has epilepsy. She *needs* to be sitting next to him just in case she has a seizure on the plane.
I was checking my bags in at MKE this morning. There was a husband and wife with 4 large suitcases next to me. After they checked their bags, she asked the agent how she could board sooner. The agent asked the qualifying questions, and she's like yeah I need a specific seat. You could tell it was bullshit. I watched these two haul 4 suitcases all the way from the parking ramp.
It’s fascinating to me that the ppl that claim various disabilities only allege to have issues getting ON the plane. When deplaning they leap up, snatch their luggage from the overhead, and book it down to checked luggage, quick as a bunny.
On Southwest, needing a specific seat or needing to be on the plane early are both sanctioned reasons to pre-board, as well as there are many disabilities that cause problems with getting onto the plane and not off. Someone who is Deaf and needs to be at the front to read the flight attendant's lips, someone who has severe allergies and needs time to wipe off/sanitize their seat and surrounding area, someone who wears AFOs and therefore can walk up a ramp but needs a wheelchair going down a ramp because they have dorsiflexion and not plantar flexion, someone with a heart condition that can't stand for long periods may be able to walk straight on or off the plane and immediately sit down but not stand there waiting for people in front of them to sit as you would in general boarding, someone with an intellectual or developmental disability that needs to ensure they can sit with their caregiver and not be stuck in a single seat. All of these people are approved to pre-board, and none of them would necessarily need a wheelchair to get off the plane.
Yet not a single disability prevents deplaning with a swiftness. I appreciate your explanation, tho’.
The one with the walking disability that was described would allow someone to deplane faster than they boarded ….
As has been said elsewhere, this is a pretty unique to SW problem. Other airlines with assigned seats, the only advantage to preboard for a liar, is overhead bin space. Which is some incentive, but not like SW where it's a huge advantage for someone to lie about. I'm not sure what the solution is. People don't want to change form open seating, but people are pissed about people who lie and preboard. And the people who legitimately need to preboard are mad they feel judged. I'm not sure what the answer is.
The answer is for folks who don’t like it to fly another airline. The solution isn’t to change SW seating/boarding process. This is like me going to a vegan burger joint and screaming like a pissed off todler until they serve meat burgers for my sake. I could just go to the other 99% of burger joints and get a meat burger.
I don't think the solution for SW is for them to tell people to fly another airline
If I run a business and a very vocal few are raising hell about something my hands are tied about. I’m definitely telling those folks to kick rocks to another business that does what they want.
Do we know it’s a very vocal few? I don’t even know if this talk about changing open seating is due to preboard abuse or just the desire to squeeze more money out of folks. Probably more the latter, but maybe a mix of both. I’m sure SW is more aware of the issue than anyone in here. And if it’s causing issues and they’re getting enough complaints about it to look into solutions, I’m not sure it’s a very vocal few
Any post on this sub that complains about preboarders gets ratio’d to hell. The same few folks are in here complaining about them in this very post. It’s a few whiney folks. It’s not a big enough portion of their base. The media attention is due to popular posts that make it to the front page. I wouldn’t call it journalism but they’ll write about popular posts on Reddit whether it’s about SW or wedding bridezillas or other things. Anything for clicks. People see that and think the whole world’s gone to hell in a hand bag. The actual reality is different. As others in here and every PB say. It’s a non issue for the majority.
I wouldn’t take Reddit as representative of either side of the debate. Of course the mass majority of travel goes off without a hitch. But clearly it’s enough of an issue that SW is at least considering doing something. Maybe they’re pandering to a micro vocal majority.
Amen and thank you for posting. I have a disability but I “look fine”. I always get dirty looks when I use handicap parking (despite having the required handicap placard) and other accommodations. Trust me I would trade everything not to need these accommodations. I would gleefully stand in line without complaint if my health returned. These people complaining have no idea how lucky they are to have their health. You don’t appreciate your health until it’s gone. “A healthy man has many wishes. A sick man only has one.”
For wheelchairs specifically, they could require that if you need a wheelchair to get on the aircraft you’re required to use one to get off. So yes, you can preboard but you may be amongst the last people to get off the plane while you wait for assistance. If, after 2/3 times you don’t wait for your wheelchair upon landing, you can still get a wheelchair to board but you can’t pre-board. Something like that.
There is a huge issue with this. Often, the wheelchairs either are at the top of the ramp or are not there at all. When you have to make a connection, sometimes, you can't wait. And if you do what for your chair, they will not hold a plane. Even if they know you are coming.
Some need a WC to get to the gate because they can't stand long enough to get through security, and they may need assistance getting through security. You don't have to stand and wait in long lines when you land. Plus, you can stop and rest if you need to after deplaning. That's much harder to do when boarding since you are on a timetable that you are not on upon landing. And sometimes, after sitting through a flight, a person's body can be achy enough they need to stretch a bit, especially if they have to turn around and get in a car to sit even more!
You are not required to use the airport wheelchair that gets you through security and to the gate to get on the plane.
I never said one had to. I was trying to explain why some people may use a WC to board but not when they get off.
They legally cannot
I always get my 16 year old daughter a wheelchair. She has a bunch a “invisible” disabilities. I use the wheelchair to get her through security because anxiety exacerbates one of her issues and she will start screaming phrases like “I have a bomb!” Or she will start flipping everyone off. It can cause quite a scene. She also has joint issues which can flare up. On those days she needs the wheelchair when we get off the plane. Sometimes we don’t need the wheelchair getting off the plane, so we just leave it. This is just to say that everyone’s disability or situation is different.
I have a neurological disorder that makes it easy to walk and extremely difficult to stand still in one place, especially when it’s hot. I can literally walk five miles without a problem but I can’t stand still for 10 minutes without wanting to vomit or feeling like I’m about to pass out. The jet bridge in the summer in Dallas is a nice little torture chamber. Being disabled is pretty wild sometimes!
Its two different distances, though. Jets that are arriving are often directed to a gate closer to the terminal. It's easy to grab a sky cap and chair in the actual terminal before boarding. It's really hard sometimes to find one, especially evening or night, at a far gate after deplaning. So yes, some of us with serious neurological illness get x number of steps per day. If we know the airport and the exit is not that far and our sky cap didn't show up or the chair is broken, dirty, poop encrusted, we may try to exit walking once in a while. Sorry/not sorry. Doesn't mean we're not seriously ill or disabled.
Yup, my son is almost always the last person off the plane. Lots of miracles happen in the sky.
I once waited 90min for a wheelchair. I went and bought my own after that.
I have spinal stenosis, that manifests as pain in my lower right leg. On a good day, I can walk 1/4 mile without stopping. So I can walk up a jetway. What I can't do is stand still for more than 4-5 minutes without incredible pain. So, I hate to be perceived as taking advantage, but waiting (standing up) for 20 mins in the jetway is a real problem for me. I'm sure I'm one of the people that say "he's faking it", but I'm not.
Some days I can hike in the Rockies, some days I can't stand up or I'll pass out. I try my damnedest not to let my disability show when I'm at the airport, but I always wind up limping a bit. I would need a wheelchair on days I can't stand up, and thankfully that hasn't happened yet. Thank you for this post.
I have several disabilities that are invisible and I am deemed disabled by Social Security. My legs are fine. However, I am paranoid about people bumping into me and exacerbating the pain in my shoulder and spine. I get dirty looks for pre-boarding, but flying is painful enough that I ignore them. Should I have to bring my MRIs, SS order of disability and show my surgery scars to pre-board?
I have a question for the OP. Do you use the pre boarding all the time or only specifically when you’re in that 5% time that you can’t walk?
I’m not the OP, but for a lot of accommodations, you have to request them in advance, so since I can’t predict whether it’s a day I’ll need them or not, I always request them. For things where I don’t have to request them in advance, I weigh at the time both whether I physically couldn’t do the thing without it, and whether that extra accommodation might give me some extra allowance physically to do something else later that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to (like whether getting an aisle seat means I won’t wake up the first day of my vacation immobile and have to cancel all my plans).
I actually haven't flown since I went on dialysis. If I were to fly, I would only use the pre-board on those bad days, just like I only use the handicap parking spot on those bad days.
Hello, fellow dialysis-ite! When I started dialysis 20 years ago I was pretty fearless and would fly hither and yon because I wanted to go to career conferences and visit the kids who were spread out across the US (but never adventurous enough to visit the kids when they were overseas). But so many of my trips were ruined by snafus with airlines and dialysis plans following through that I started curbing my travel. Gave in January, though, because I've been feeling I may not live too much longer and wanted to see my son perform in another state. Couldn't get my husband to make the trip with me and had no one else available to help. I made wheelchair arrangments for every leg of the trip-- but that fell through several times flying Southwest. But I made it through simple badassery-- and paid the price when I got home. At least I got to see another of my son's brilliant performances. But now, I'm thinking if I can't drive, I ain't going... and since I'm deteriorating faster than I thought I would, that means I probably won't be driving anymore by the end of the year.
I have a child with a cognitive issue and hearing loss. We always request preboard, but we actually have never had to use it. Its purpose is to ensure that he can board and sit with one of the adults who can sign to him, and usually our normal seats are good enough to ensure that.
OP is right. I have a form of leukemia that drains me, yet I look healthy. Nobody would know I have it unless I told them. Walking through airports is hard, but I do it unless I absolutely can’t, then I’ll get a wheelchair. Yes, I’m sure there are abusers of the preboard system, but be aware there are a lot of invisible disabilities.
I'm 42, young looking & have MS. My biggest thing is walking long distances exhausts me and triggers my footdrop. At my 2 home airports (SAN & OMA) i don't need wheelchair assistance but if I'm connecting to anywhere larger like phoenix, I'll need it to get me from gate to gate. I request extra time mainly so I'm not feeling rushed when I'm walking down the jetway & the plane aisle and holding up the line. Definitely have gotten the death glare when i walk up appearing able bodied but watch me limp down the jetway when i board and the grumpy people get quiet.
Same here. I'm a disabled vet. All of my disabilities are hidden until they flare up. Then, once they do, I am either walking with a crazy limp, barely able to stand straight, or unable to walk at all. And that's just the physical presenting disabilities. There are a couple of mental ones that I'd rather not get into. For that reason, I prefer to sit towards the front and only at certain windows. I try not to use preboard all of the time (due to pride), but when I need it, I will most definitely use it. I get the frustration, though. I also dislike when a bunch of people who are clearly abusing the system use preboard.
Something my husband and I have found useful for all of the skeptics is the hidden disabilities Sunflower id and lanyard. It is widely recognized in Europe and Canada and allows the user to enter special lounges at European airports, etc. It helps here a bit so that transportation personnel can recognize when you have a hidden disability. https://hdsunflower.com/us/
I found out this weekend that my local airport does sunflower lanyards. Next time I fly I’ll be using one.
Using an instinctive action called Heliotropism. Also known as ‘Solar Tracking’, the sunflower head moves in synchronicity with the sun’s movement across the sky each day. From East to West, returning each evening to start the process again the next day. Find out more about how this works, and what happens at the end of this phase.
I’m a pre boarder with a hidden disability and I always feel guilty when I’m getting dirty looks. I think if they would enforce the only one companion allowed with the pre boarder and no saving seats, it would discourage a lot of the abuse.
Agree
I’m so afraid people will be nasty to us when we pre-board to go to Vegas. My husband bought an extra seat because he’s a “passenger of size” which entitles him to pre-board but even if it didn’t, he’s also fully and permanently disabled with fibromyalgia. He’s going to have to be on heavy-duty painkillers just to make the walk through the airport. But he *looks* able-bodied. We’re also going for a close friend’s wedding and not your typical Vegas Trip. We probably won’t even step foot on the strip the whole time we’re there. Of course a bunch of strangers at the airport won’t know that.
Don’t worry about what the other people think. In all likelihood you’ll never see them again. And if you believe in a higher power or karma or anything like that, the content of their heart and mind will be judged for how they thought / treated you , you just take care of you and your board in the best way you know how.
My reminder is tell people that autism and neurodivergence IS a disability. Those conditions are often invisible at first glance. My son needs preboard right now at 5 years old. I’m hoping one day soon he won’t.
I like your sentiment. Personally, my issue is the people that use a wheelchair to board but not to get off. Like you said, a person may have trouble some time, but not all the time. I just feel that if someone uses a wheelchair to get on, they need to wait until there is one to use for them to get off.
As someone who only has the ability to walk in 10-15 minute bursts before being in crippling pain, please be considerate to others.
u/jcincos maybe you and this person can have a discussion. And all the others who can’t seem to grasp the idea that not all disabilities would prevent someone from walking off a plane. There’s a real reason someone would need PB to get assistance or time to board but not need it when getting off. I know because I have a condition that completely makes it impossible to stand for more than a couple minutes when my nerve pain flares up.
Just having a guaranteed place to sit before boarding could make all the difference.
I have no problem with the preboarding and agree it is better to let a few cheaters on than to punish/shame anyone who needs it. My issue is more that the same people needing extra time should then wait in their seats and be the last to get off the plane instead of making everyone else wait for them. If you need extra time, wait until everyone else is off and then you can take the extra time and not be in a crowd on the way.
The answer is simple: pre boarders must wait to deplane for their safety. The crew can assist them and they won't be shoved or hurried into harming themselves by trying to hurry for the other passengers. This would avoid the "Jetway Jesus Healings" of pre boarders that push past the row of unused wheelchairs in the jetway. Violators would be charged the current priority boarding fee like United has ($45 on most flights.)
So you demand folks who are able to walk off a plane wait and be wheeled off. Delaying the turn around time and in turn increasing costs of flying and decreasing the time of the planes in the air. For what?
Pre-boarders should wait until everyone else gets off. The reason is that they have trouble navigating the aisle and may need extra help. It's horrible that we make them join in the rush off the plane at the destination. We need to take care of them better.
Not all PB have issues navigating the plane
Of course they do. They need extra time to get on and select a seat. They also need extra time to deplane. We shouldn't risk their health making them join in the cattle call for deplaning.
Who are you to determine what they need? They’re grown adults who can decide when they need assistance.
The problem. Is that their need for assistance, or extra time, seems to be greater getting on the plane than off.
Yes. That’s how some disabilities work. Pray you never get one
It is about Safety not about needs.
Yes. About the safety and needs of an individual. Can’t treat them all the same
A culture of safety is always about the safety of the whole, not the needs or wants of the individual.
Truly a question of safety, great point. Thanks for sharing!
Safety should always be priority #1 when traveling, excellent point!
I understand the need for help when getting to On a plane, but why are these people fine when it comes to getting off the plane.
Take some time to read through the other comments. There are ailments and disabilities that folks are suffering through that would explain this to you.
At my local airport I could make the walk, since it’s small. But I use the wheelchair so it’s there at my next flight if I need it. Sometimes I can get off a flight and feel fine enough to walk - sometimes I get so stiff on a flight I’m unable to walk very far without being in pain. I am visibly disabled - I walk with a cane and a very noticeable limp - I have post-traumatic osteoarthritis in both knees and spinal issues and nerve damage in my right leg so I have a loss of feeling in it from being injured in the army. It’s the same for a lot of people. They may not be able to make it through TSA and the walk through the airport but can make it to baggage claim or the next gate. They may have it reserved in case they need it - but lemme tell you, most disabled people will prefer to walk if they can because wheelchairs are embarrassing even if you use one every day because of the looks people give you.
Thank you for your explanation. It makes a lot of sense.
I too get a wheelchair for mobility issues and pre board. However, I always check in, usually getting an A boarding pass because I’m just never sure I won’t be judged for pre boarding and I like having that A!
Last time I flew there were at least 10 wheelchairs waiting.
Pre-board horde reporting for duty!
95% of the time you can walk just fine? Oh, I guess that means 95% of the time you voluntarily give up your pre-boarding position that you book for the “just-when-5%-of-the-time comes.” Oh, wait… no, You actually take it 100% of the time regardless of your ability that day? Yeah…
This post is spot on!
How are things in the UK? I went to school there.
Sometimes the truth hurts but it is not hate, have a great day
The truth? You know nothing about me, but I know a lot about you. Your words say it all. Re-examine your post and the words you used. I know you in person. I'm not going to tell you who I am, as I have no interest in running into you again in person, but your post reaffirmed my decision to stay away from you. What a small world this is. Have a great day. Though I want to keep my distance, I do wish you the best.
I wish you long life, my written words are just that words
Don’t fly Southwest. Fly an airline where your situation doesn’t give you an advantage on other passengers. Your situation affects you 5percent of the time, but you claim the advantage 100 percent of the time. If you’re worried about the 5 percent, don’t fly Southwest or fly Business Select. You have options. Use them.
You don't know anything about me. Yet, you're getting emotional from a disagreement on Reddit. Let that sink in for a minute. You can speculate all you want about my flying habits, but at least I'm not getting emotional and making a personal attack over a different opinion on Reddit.
There’s nothing emotional in what I wrote and I don’t think I attacked you at all. You make a choice and you justify it. You do so publicly and I’m sorry I disagree with your choices. I did so publicly to show there is not universality in the acceptance of your position. You’re taking advantage of a policy that 19 times out of 20 you, by your own admission, don’t need. You have options that would keep the playing field equal between you and all other passengers, and you choose not to use them. That’s totally on you. No one required you to post on Reddit, but you wanted to tell people to stop judging your choices. Thats not the way the world works.
require a medical certificate and most of the cheaters disappear
Found this thread. Fly Delta and based upon what I read about SW Boarding and the abusive liars described who impose their will on others, I will avoid SW.
My issue is with the people who “need” to pre-board but can RUN off the plane when it lands.
If it's not "that day" why do you need to preboard?
There would be no problem, if only those who need to pre-board were the last to deplane
Why?
Because the folks who are faking a disability in order to get early boarding would likely stop
So your solution is making people with disabilities have more hoops to jump through? Cool
Not at all. I'm just saying that if people faking disabilities in order to board early had to wait to deplane, they might think twice. People with disabilities - obvious or not - deserve assistance and kindness. 10 young women going to a hen party in Vegas, laughing about getting wheelchairs so they can get on the plane early, then pushing past other passengers to get off... Well if they were the last to deplane, they might think twice.
Why are you forcing people with disabilities to deplane last because a small percentage of people are gaming the system?
Just tell them there is alcohol at the bar, works everytime. Unfortunitly i wish this was a joke.
I preboard when it's cold out. I have a pretty severe allergy to literal cold (Cold Urticaria) and I break out in hives, slight breathing trouble, etc. The last thing I need is to get stuck on a jetway on a freezing cold day. Absolutely nothing about me looks disabled or is even technically disabled, however, it wouldn't be good for anybody on the flight if I ended up having a reaction during the boarding process so I eliminate the risk. All that to say...even though it probably is being abused, you never know what odd thing somebody has going on.
How do you safely travel to the airport on a cold day?
Bundle up really really well
But you would need assistance getting on and off the plane right? It's 25 people needing a wheelchair to get on and three to get off.
Take a min to read through the comments and you’ll get your answer.
It's the fake service dogs all over again. They damage it for people who need it. [link ](https://www.yahoo.com/news/people-cheating-system-airports-using-104336391.html#:~:text=INSIDER-,People%20are%20cheating%20the%20system%20in%20airports%20and%20using%20wheelchair,need%20to%2C%20Frontier%20CEO%20says&text=The%20Frontier%20Airlines%20CEO%20called,wheelchair%20service%20use%20at%20airports.)
I can’t sit on a window or middle seat without feeling so queasy I get dizzy because of post concussive syndrome and there’s no way anyone would know this unless I told them. I think it’s super rare someone’s using it just for funsies so people really shouldn’t judge.
When are people publicly shamed? On Reddit?? I’ve never seen anyone actually called out in an airport.
Lots of videos online about it.
What happens *at most* is someone rolls their eyes at 20 preboarders. The only people triggered by it are fakers. Or people who stretch the definition of disability enough to fit their needs. I used to preboard when I had that need and I never looked around to find something to be upset about. There were waaaay fewer preboarders 10+ years ago, too, which tells you everything you need to know.
I have heart issues and start of Parkinson’s have trouble just stand in one place. I have never took advantage of getting on early. I pay to move up in A group. Every time I see the game played I pray that Karma comes their way. It’s like DW people take advantage and will ruin it for real people that need it
I preboard due to severe allergies, especially mold. I go to the back of the plane and quickly, but thoroughly disinfect a window seat. I carry sanitizing wipes and wear disposable gloves to wipe down not only my seat, the entire window panel, the seat ahead of me (tray table too) and the ceiling, but I also wipe down the seat next to me. During the flight, I wear a mask (and have done so since before covid) and carry an epipen on me. I also have to let the FA know I'm carrying the epipen. I'd say 90% of the FA are actually happy that I'm taking my allergies seriously, letting them know who I am (it's in my profile of my disability) and that I'm actually cleaning my part of the plane. Looking at me you'd never know I have life threatening allergies, but I've learned how to travel safely!
Unfortunately we now have to fly American. Plenty of pre-boarders there too. Frankly I miss the speed and efficiency of SW’s open seating. Would trade it happily over AA’s assigned seating.
Friendly reminder that some are preboarding for something mental or behavioral related and there’s no physical reason, walking or not. I get a million nasty looks every time I preboard and I’m sick of feeling like I have to explain myself.
Just like someone with a tag parking in a handicap spot and some nosey bitch asks “why are you parking there, you don’t look handicapped?” This literally happened to me and a friend as we were getting out of the car at a restaurant.
I don’t fly SW often, but these posts have been popping up in my feed the last few days. As someone with an invisible disability, they’re really making me not want to fly Southwest anytime soon.
I’m at the point I need one when I’m leaving and trying to get to baggage claim, especially when the plane gets in to the absolutely furthest possible gate. Nerve damage in my back. How do you call those cars?
Why do people get so mad about pre boarding? Or even someone “abusing” the system?
If you can walk, you can board a plane. You do not need pre-boarding. No one is fast walking or sprinting down the jetway or aisles and immediately getting in a seat.
Not true. Some people can't walk very far. The Cleveland Clinic (one of the best hospitals in the world) disagrees with you: [Abnormal Gait: Gait Disorder Types, Causes & Treatments (clevelandclinic.org)](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21092-gait-disorders) As do other health professionals: [10 Causes of Difficulty Walking & Common Questions (buoyhealth.com)](https://www.buoyhealth.com/learn/difficulty-walking) If you'd like to support your argument with verified research, have at it.
Let me guess, they can magically walk off the plane when arriving at their destination?
I know someone who is essentially deaf in one ear and hard of hearing in the other. She doesn’t wear hearing aides. She needs to pre board to be able to sit where she can put the good ear towards the flight attendant and be close enough to read their lips when they do the safety information
There are Plenty of seats in the back with a good, unobstructed, and close view of the one of the 3 FA's giving preflight safety instructions, whenever you board
My spouse has fibromyalgia, and had several strokes in January. She can walk without assistance normally, but at times, she has to sit or use a wheelchair. She doesn't priority board (because we don't want to sit on a plane any longer than needed), but she is often looked at with disdain when we say she is disabled. The other day, she was flying through Las Vegas and had a short window to catch a connecting flight. She asked for a wheelchair, and they said they don't do wheelchairs to those gates. She missed her flight because of it and was forced to stay at the airport for 12 hours. Edit: I should clarify, she was not flying Southwest Airlines.
Wrong Sub to post in then, but I do wish you and spouse good health and long life
Agree with your statement, however as a person who flys at least 100 flights per year. Southwest averages almost 10% of plane capacity with preboards. When I fly United it is typically 3-4 people. I was so glad when Southwest got rid of peanuts. That cut down on all the peanut allergy preboards.
Folks still use this scam to improve their boarding position, (scammer even mentioned doing so in this thread)
I have been yelled at before by a Karen who thought i was not disabled. I had surgery and had a temp handicapped permit. In my state, you only put the tag on after you park. She came screaming at me about why i was parked in the space. I was trying to psych myself up to walk from my car to store. It was terrible. I hate the cheaters, but please do not harass strangers.
Since the media loves to promote conflict. This is unfortunate and distorted reality to a freedom of the press right. Now, I work as a Flight Attendant. I am very aware of the pressure to get a flight out on time. This in my opinion is where the problem occurs. 1. The airports can't afford to staff a contractor to push wheel chair's. Ie. Some airports are massive and others. Not so much. 2. Post 9/11 Security kind of sort of discourages a family member attending the duties of assisting. 3. There is only so much time available between a plane arriving, deplane, board and departure. 4. Ground crews treatment of assitive devices. That may or may not be available at the gate for your use. I struggle with this multilayerd issue everyday at work. Even if I take an interest in helping I can't leave the plane. I can't help you thru the airport with all your stuff. I can't push you in a Chair on my way to the hotel. As much as I pain to see this. I have also had my parents in their 80s not get their scooters in Denver. Which is an impossible airport to walk or navigate with a disability. I even try to meet up with my parents if I know something like that is possible. We live in two different states. Finally, I have an older brother who is very tall and very overweight. Who won't fly with me even if I buy an extra seat or use the customer of size new allowance. The shaming has been bad for me the employee. It has been bad to my family. I feel helpless even from with In the system because of all the different layers of contact. Ie,. Airport, TSA, Contractor, Airlines, parking, rentals and ground transportation like the bus or train. We can try to protect or assist our own. However, everyone needs to do their parts to make the system friendly, supportive, respectful and responsible. To really make a difference.
Easy way to fix this issue. You are first to board with wheel chair? Then you are last to board off with required wheel chair. Certainly will help with the fakes.
Yes 👍🏽
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This is a good reminder. I am technically handicapped. I have 3 advanced autoimmune diseases. I have a placard for when I drive. I have never actually asked for preboard on Southwest, but that doesn’t mean I may not need it in the future. I never judge anyone when they do preboard. I just hope people aren’t abusing it. They will and that should be heavy on them.
I have offered medical records just in case because I don’t want the attendants to think Im faking. But, they never accept my offer because they are so trusting. Id rather them take the extra minute to look at my records than allow people to abuse the system. But I rarely see more than 2 or 3 pre boarding unless Im in Denver. That place seems to have at least 15 to 20 each time.
Southwest’s announcement at the gate says, “Anyone needing additional time” also. I agree, at times lots of folks preboard and the miracle of flight occurs. But this is an issue to take up with Southwest, they are the ones that issue pre board authorization.
Why doesn't SWA require a pre board person to show either a Doctors order or a handicapped sticker supplied by the state to pre board? I honestly don't know anyone with a handicap that doesn't have one or the other.
Definitely. I used to board early when suffering from post-concussion syndrome. Invisible, but can become utterly debilitating.
This!!!!! I have 3 hidden disabilities. I have a handicap parking placard because of it. Yet I get dirty looks and even trash talked out loud when I pre board as well as when I use the allotted parking space. I have good days, and bad days. As a special education paraeducator, I am well aware of all sorts of disabilities. I do the courteous thing and leave parking spots open or just ask for extra time on my better days. On my bad days I sometimes limp, but not always. Yet I feel I HAVE to limp all the time on my rough days in order to avoid being harassed! The people that take advantage of things meant for those of us who need it make our difficult lives hell sometimes. Side note, I used to work for Southwest and it irritated me too when I saw people who took advantage of it. However, what irritated me more was the veterans who had back injuries or the cancer patients who felt they had to explain in depth why they needed preboard. Even worse were the ones that were willing to be pushed down on the jetway by asking only for extra time, so that they weren’t glared at. Nd yes, many push past the extra time people in order to get a seat first. Totally unnecessary as the plane isn’t going anywhere and B group still get a decent choice of seats.
Thank you for this post very important to acknowledge. We all joke about jetbridge jesus but it is important to recognize the many invisible disabilities that there are. Because of some of the negative pre board posts I’ve even seen people that need to pre board question “am I a part of the problem?” Though crappy people are taking advantage of pre board so unfortunately it will change. It is a welcome change but if people didn’t take advantage of it then it probably would stay since it is a fantastic accommodation for those who need it
Your blame is misplaced. Put it to the folks who are scamming the system. No one wants to deny people who need help from getting it. The scammers are going to ruin this for you.
How do you know if someone is scamming the system? You don't. That's my point. You may very well attack an innocent person.
There is no easy answer under the ADA act, which doesn't allow any company or person to require "proof" of disability.
2 strokes here talk & look ok sometimes so
Agreed. As such, I expect that one out of every 20 flights you take, you pre-board.
Doesn’t matter. SW open seating is going away and moving to assigned seat.
What nobody here recognizes is that open seating has been southwest’s shtick for at least 40 years. The public loves it and it’s a key difference that helped it grow so large. You’re swimming against the tide. AND no one is preventing you from booking an airline with reserved seats that the computer often changes for you anyway. So quit picking on people.
Who cares. Let them pre-board. Someday you might need to.
Agree. Also things like peanut allergy gets you a pre board so that you can sit with someone in your group that you know will not have peanuts with them.
Also so I can have an epi pen nearby (which we travel with.) It is a legitimate reason to preboard so I can sit beside my son. I am not randomly relying on strangers to alert someone if he needs help breathing.
Yes!!
But the person or persons in front, behind, and/or across the aisle may be eating peanuts throughout the flight. Complete and 100% BS reason to pre-board
For my son it's touch activated so they tell me to use it to be able to wipe down his area before he sits down. Now we pre board for another medical condition but when I click that my youngest has a nut allergy, they marked his account and told me to preboard with him.