Military deserves to board with F though.

I have no problem with them doing this, but checked bags need to come out faster.

Although it really only works on regional jets, that is why I appreciate one GA at DCA who I have had on a couple of recent flights. Nice guy who is extremely proactive about pink tagging bags in the concourse before boarding begins as it really does prevent the mad rush at preboarding. Also helps that he does appear to have a good idea about what size bag the overhead bins can really accommodate that there has not been an issue on any of those flights with full overhead bins or delaying boarding because bags got through that should have been pink tagged

Should I preboard? I have severe sleep apnea and travel with a CPAP machine. I also travel with a computer, which is my personal item, and a carry-on duffle bag. Each bag will fit under a seat individually, but together they do not. Since the CPAP is a medical device, it does not count against my carry-on limit. I always but my computer bag under the seat.

Before I got the CPAP, I've be on flights were I'm in the last boarding group and barely found a spot for my bag. Now that I have the CPAP, I'm concerned about having enough space to put my stuff. I've read on some CPAP forums that I could pre-board, but I feel funny doing it because I'm able bodied and I'd prob be the topic of discussion on here.

Assuming that the CPAP machine will not be used in-flight due to lack of power; and assuming that your motivation for pre-boarding is to avoid paying baggage fees; then I say you are not entitled to pre-board. I realize the device is valuable to you and you wish to keep it in your possession at all times. In that case, you should put the stuff you don't care about in your "duffle bag" and check that bag.

If he doesn't want to pay, I understand.
Why would you want this person to pay more?

Where do you draw the line? We are not talking about medical needs, we are talking about saving $50 in round-trip baggage fees. I say that if you are worried about losing something valuable to you; then take it on board; but check your other stuff.

There are many conditions which do not impact mobility but make someone unable to stand for long periods of time The difference between being able to quickly get to one's seat versus having to stand for fifteen minutes in a slow moving line can be significant. Edema would be an example. So would Grinch Syndrome, which is mainly found in otherwise healthy looking young women. Most heart ailments, for that matter, would be undetectable to the naked eye, but many would make it difficult for someone to stand for a long time.

These are the people who ride the electric carts to the gate in ATL. They don't need wheelchair service, but they benefit from preboarding.

Yes, it seems many people who do not need to preboard are suddenly preboarding. Yes, the miracle cure of flight makes most of these conditions no longer matter once the plane lands. Nonetheless, we need to be careful about thinking we can eyeball people and know the difference between those that really have an issue and those who are trying to game the system. Making those who preboard stay on the plane after landing until everyone else has deplaned would likely make many of those who game the system think twice.

My dad was a doctor. People would call him or run into him somewhere and start asking for his medical opinion. He would always say he couldn't tell anything without examining a patient properly. If a medical doctor didn't think you could look at someone and tell what was wrong, then certainly some guy waiting for a plane can't do it, either.

I gotta agree on this one... It's not the medical condition that's requiring the pre-board, it's the baggage situation. One of three bags cannot be checked, which means the other two can. With that said, the medical device fits in the closet, so there really is no danger of it not being on the plane, even if the passenger was the last one on a full flight. DL does not charge for gate-checked bags, so there is no extra cost. The medical condition is not agitated by one of the other two bags being gate-checked.

Someone who cannot stand for a long period may become ill standing in the line. Someone with a CPAP will be in no better or worse condition if one of the non-medical devices has to be gate-checked. While the rules may allow the third bag, there is no guarantee that all three bags will be on the flight any more than there is a guarantee for any other passenger with a bag not containing a medical device.

If not with F, then with the pre-boards before F...

I feel like it's gotten so much worse since January or so of this year. I fly to and from the FLA airports a lot - I thought I was used to the strollers, the wheelchairs, etc. but it's all over the place now. ATL, AUS, MSP. The flight I took last week from MSP - ANC was a colossal nightmare. And on the return, ANC to SLC on an RJ... just heinous. I'm not a medallion member... I just have the AMEX and always board with my zone. I'm not sure if people aren't hearing the GA's or what? They hover, they crowd, they rush, and push. So pathetic.

Summer vacation travelers always throw the system into mild chaos.

All the discussion about people with medical conditions that aren't readily apparent is valid, but it can't possibly account for all of the "non-apparent problem" pre-boards--even taking into account the woeful overall shape of Americans.

Having said that--and started this thread--on our return from SFO yesterday morning, the pre-baords were all legit types--a few families with strollers, etc.:)

Maybe if I am stuck in Y I can bring an empty stroller and preboard? :)

Maybe you could try one of those cardboard cutouts in the stroller, like people use in the pax seat to try and scam HOV lanes.:p