Terminator8

Correct ^

lexdevil

I think there is a functional reason that assigned seating eases the problem, and I speak from my experience getting disabled seating while wearing a boot for a broken ankle. It does not eliminate the problem of folks lying to get a better seat, but it makes it more difficult to do so, and it probably discourages some from trying.

When a disabled person (or scammer) pre-boards on Southwest they choose their own seat without any input from airline personnel (other than being instructed that they cannot take exit row seats if their disability prevents them from meeting the requirements for these seats).

When they call an airline with assigned seating 24+ hours prior to the flight to request seating accommodations the airline assigns their seat. There is a discussion about what they need. "I have a boot on my right leg, so I need a C seat near the front, and/or a seat w/ additional leg room." "I am in a wheelchair, so I need a seat with a movable armrest near the front of the cabin." "I am blind and have an aid, so I need a two seats together." "I have a seizure disorder, so I can walk, but will arrive and depart in a wheelchair because I will fall if I seize while walking/standing." This conversation is a lot harder to pull off than just taking any seat you want. Also, if your description of your needs does not require a seat near the front or with extra leg room, you may not be assigned one. If you just "need a bit more time boarding," you may pre-board, but be assigned a middle in row 24.

It's true that folks can still lie about this (certainly those who bring crutches to fake an injury would do this), but far fewer people are willing to lie outright to get a better seat than to simply reap the extra benefit of snagging a better seat when they really only need a bit more time to board.

justhere

Saying "correct" doesn't make it correct. You don't need to show a disability and you won't necessarily be sitting back in row 33 and you can scam a better seat by claiming you need extra time. You don't have to take my word for it, just try it yourself.

I agree with everything you wrote and would just add that on WN you have to speak to the ticket agent or gate agent to get the preboard document. On legacies you can get the seat assigned over the phone. So in some respects it might be harder on WN because you have to lie to the person's face.

Again, not condoning the abusers, just showing that assigned seats isn't a magic bullet either but as you said it probably does limit the issues.

rsteinmetz70112

With assigned seating you might never know how many there were, however the big driver on Southwest is for occasional flyers to get ahead of those with status and snag a better seat.

If you want to check just watch boarding of a few legacy flights and count the number of pre-boarders. Then watch boarding of a few Southwest Flights and see how many more there are on Southwest.

justhere

With assigned seating you probably wouldn't know for sure but you also wouldn't necessarily know who snagged a preferred seat at the front of coach without paying for it because they claimed a disability.

I would fully expect to see more on WN because of the open seating. Really my only issue in this thread is that some people want to not accommodate those that really need it to punish those that abuse it.

Terminator8

It's like a conga line

Gig103

The legacy carriers are already doing this. Aside from their "basic economy" fares that don't come with seat assignments, it's often the case that a LOT of the seats are blocked until OLCI. I was booked on an AS flight last September via a corporate portal and had no seat assignment. Then I put in my AA number (reciprocal with AS) and suddenly the whole damn plane was open to me.

As for the content of the thread, it is my opinion that the folks with children who just need "extra time" are not a protected class (as the ADA protects those who need pre-boarding for medical reasons) and should have to use the back of the aircraft, or be forced to pay for Early Bird (as parents on legacy carriers can't use the "basic economy" to sit with the kiddos).

Kevin AA

Family boarding is after group A, after the big crowd of disabled people. By then, most of the contiguous open seats are in the back anyway. The problem is pre-boarders hogging the front rows unnecessarily.

Tizzette

That is a good point. Roping off a group of desirable seats for those who paid for early boarding removes the motivation to self-classify for pre-boarding when you don't.

gwhitti

Our last flight on SW had over 10 wheelchair boarders who all took front seats. When we landed the FA announced that the wheelchairs would be late at the gate so the people who needed them should remain in their seats until they arrived, while everyone else deplaned right away. When we deplaned we saw that all but one of the front row , previous wheelchair people, had gotten up and walked off the plane without wheelchairs. That is the kind of thing that makes people cynical.

Peter T.

I have no problems with pre-boarders hogging the front rows. That's where they belong because it's difficult for them to move further back.

But — like at other airlines — they ought to be the last to deplane. They ought to remain seated while other passengers get off the plane. Deplaning would overall go a lot quicker that way and WN could turnaround the plane faster.

Peoriaman1

Its the miracle of flight!

I should send my 82-year-old mother on a few flights. Maybe her dementia will cure itself!

beachmouse

Flights between the NYC area and South Florida are supposed to have particularly high miracle flight percentages.

Kevin AA

What I don't understand is... if it takes someone a little more time to board, why would you want them to board first and deplane first? The result is that EVERYONE has to take "a little more time" to board and deplane. The only way around this (other than trampling them) is to have a two-aisle plane. But clearly all of Southwest's planes have a single queue for boarding and deplaning.

mheynrmc

I understand boarding them first. It's difficult to get them to the back of the plane. If they're not first, then it would take forever to get them in. However, they should wait to de-plane. Anyone who doesn't wait should be blacklisted from pre-boarding again. Way too many people gaming the system.