Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Southwest Airlines | Rapid Rewards
Reload this Page >

Disabled man forced to pre-board WN, wife not allowed to accompany

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Disabled man forced to pre-board WN, wife not allowed to accompany

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 31, 2018, 10:37 am
  #1  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,192
Disabled man forced to pre-board WN, wife not allowed to accompany

Something sounds off to me here..

Disabled man forced to pre-board Reagan Southwest flight alone, separated from wife battling cancer - Story | WTTG
toomanybooks is online now  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 11:09 am
  #2  
ryw
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: ATL
Programs: DL GM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,241
Obviously something happened here, and my heart goes out to the couple who experienced this.
Complete speculation on my part, but do folks know what the procedure is if someone tries to pre-board without having the pre-board authorization on their boarding pass? I wonder if the couple didn't know that they had to ask for it, and when trying to pre-board, the man with the more easily seeable disability was allowed to pre-board, but they didn't allow someone to accompany him? (That still doesn't make much sense to me though).
ryw is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 11:20 am
  #3  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
It's a media report. Nothing the OP or any reliable third-party witnesses.

So, unless someone has some facts, this will just spin into an FT speculation thread.
windscar, ryw, PlaneJane1 and 1 others like this.
Often1 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 12:45 pm
  #4  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
i would agree. There is more to this story.

And, in the end, they both left on the same flight and got to meet their granddaughter.

I find it a bit shameful that the media opted to make this a story as if someone was denied boarding, or a flight, or unable to meet family. Then they used TSA scanning while talking about boarding pass scanning.

Yes, I feel for the folks getting dealt a bad hand here - if that is what truly happened.

Damned media.
NoStressHere is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 1:12 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 5,813
I suspect the facts are somehow mangled. I can't imagine any OA telling anyone it was "illegal" for someone to board with a per-board.
rsteinmetz70112 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 1:21 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
Originally Posted by NoStressHere
i would agree. There is more to this story.

And, in the end, they both left on the same flight and got to meet their granddaughter.
They were heading home back to Omaha. The piece made that clear.

Not unusual for a station to have no B-roll of WN gate scanners. Permission to enter the concourse is mazy and using another airline's gate as a generic would be malicious.
LegalTender is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 1:21 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Originally Posted by ryw
Obviously something happened here, and my heart goes out to the couple who experienced this.
Complete speculation on my part, but do folks know what the procedure is if someone tries to pre-board without having the pre-board authorization on their boarding pass? I wonder if the couple didn't know that they had to ask for it, and when trying to pre-board, the man with the more easily seeable disability was allowed to pre-board, but they didn't allow someone to accompany him? (That still doesn't make much sense to me though).
I don't know you have to have it on your boarding pass.
LegalTender and windscar like this.
Annalisa12 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 1:59 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: YVR
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by Annalisa12
I don't know you have to have it on your boarding pass.
Me too, maybe its a Southwest thing as a result of the way they do seat selection?
windscar is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 3:02 pm
  #9  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Originally Posted by LegalTender
They were heading home back to Omaha. The piece made that clear......
I missed that. Make the story even more of a NON-STORY. They made such a deal of visiting family and it appears that part is already DONE and they were going home.
PlaneJane1 likes this.
NoStressHere is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 4:03 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Manhattan NV
Programs: Hilton LTD, Hyatt Glob, Marriott LTTE, AA LTP, Avis PC, National EE, Seabourn DE
Posts: 3,030
Originally Posted by windscar
Me too, maybe its a Southwest thing as a result of the way they do seat selection?
I avoid WN. In part, because I watched too many people scamming the disabled pre boarding. Entire groups let on because someone stubbed their toe.
Traveller2 and Proudelitist like this.
hedoman is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 4:37 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Originally Posted by hedoman
I avoid WN. In part, because I watched too many people scamming the disabled pre boarding. Entire groups let on because someone stubbed their toe.
I agree with that totally. Way too many go for "disabled boarding".

Similar to pets that are not medically necessary - mentioned with fear that will start another long debate - LOL!

Of course, none of those people can sit in exit rows. SW makes them sit up front. They can not just go picking seats.

The family thing is a bit crazy as well meaning all those folks basically get B1 boarding, without paying extra for it.

Still - no reason for us to avoid SW. I still like flying with them.
NoStressHere is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 4:49 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold / Marriott Bonvoy(age) Titanium Elite, IHG Platinum, WN A+/CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 337
I think Southwest Airlines should be canonized by the Pope....they perform thousands of miracles everyday on their flights. I see entire plane loads of pre-board wheelchair pax suddenly jump up and walk off the aircraft upon arrival. Its amazing how well WN FAs can make people walk perfectly fine after each flight! They should be called St. Southwest!
isaac.chambers is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 5:27 pm
  #13  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Originally Posted by isaac.chambers
I think Southwest Airlines should be canonized by the Pope....they perform thousands of miracles everyday on their flights. I see entire plane loads of pre-board wheelchair pax suddenly jump up and walk off the aircraft upon arrival. Its amazing how well WN FAs can make people walk perfectly fine after each flight! They should be called St. Southwest!
Thank you. I like this.

It is very, very true.
joshua362 likes this.
NoStressHere is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 5:58 pm
  #14  
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 94
I always wonder how these things get to the news. It sounds like there was a misunderstanding somewhere, maybe human error but my goodness, there was no trauma or suffering until the parties involved overreact and make it bigger than it was. Do they call the news and say “southwest wouldn’t let us board together!’l and the news actually runs with it?? Mind boggling.
PlaneJane1 is offline  
Old Dec 31, 2018, 6:34 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
It's not "mind boggling" that a station would do a feature on a medically-challenged couple running up against an autocrat.

"Our people are well versed in our published preboarding policies, and they work hard to enforce the integrity of those procedures specifically designed to ensure care and attention to unique travel needs of customers with disabilities. We’ve reached back to this customer to learn more about his concerns and experience. If there were any missed opportunities, we’d have those conversations internally."
USAToday
LegalTender is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.