Finally an article on the Southwest pre board scam.
Jun 28, 23, 7:50 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Long Island
Programs: Southwest Airlines, Marriot
Posts: 226
Finally an article on the Southwest pre board scam.
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Jun 28, 23, 7:58 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,640
Hardy new or news. And only 20 wheelchairs? I once counted 35 DEN-SEA once. Surprised WN would ever bother to "comment".
Jun 28, 23, 8:06 am
#3
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: 10,954
The only way this can be fixed is a change in federal policy - not the airline. They are not allowed to question the needs of a passenger.
Jun 28, 23, 8:30 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,681
Even if they could, I highly doubt they would. Who wants to be the one to tell someone that they don't really need a wheelchair.
Jun 28, 23, 10:03 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,428
AA's rate of mishandled wheelchairs - at least this year - is worse.
Southwest enplaned around 39K wheelchairs in 1Q 2023. How disproportionate that is is debatable.
Jun 28, 23, 12:06 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Long Island
Programs: Southwest Airlines, Marriot
Posts: 226
Put them all in one section and make them exit last
Jun 28, 23, 12:10 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: SW Florida
Programs: HHDiamond, IHG Plat Regular Joe Everywhere Else
Posts: 310
Karma is coming for all of these able-bodied scumbags gaming the system. The worst part of this is they are taking a wheelchair away from a person who really needs it.
Jun 28, 23, 12:58 pm
#8
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DCA, lived MCI, SEA/PDX,BUF (born/raised)
Programs: Marriott (Silver/Gold), IHG, Carlson, Best Western, Choice( Gold), AS (MVP), WN, UA
Posts: 8,164
The miracle flight to cure people of their disabilities on how to check in…
Jun 28, 23, 2:01 pm
#9
formerly Sleepy_Sentry
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 595
Is there a rule that people in wheelchairs must board first? Of course people who need wheelchairs should be first, but it would be interesting to see what happened if the boarding order were reversed.
Jun 28, 23, 2:03 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,640
That's what my aged MIL who could use one, says of herself. Different generation. But there doesn't seem to a shortage. But wait for an sassy person of size with a twitter account to miss her flight due to a wheelchair wait/delay and watch the fireworks. You know that's a coming...
Jun 28, 23, 2:24 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: Alaska 75K, Delta Silver, UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 9,523
This is hardly WN only; have seen it in other airlines as well. Also, an entourage of 10+ people accompanying one person needing additional time to board has been common place.
Jun 28, 23, 3:19 pm
#12
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: IND
Posts: 300
The difference is that preboarders on other airlines aren't taking the best seats on the plane for free. WN needs to make all preboarders sit in the last 10 rows.
Jun 28, 23, 4:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: FB, Starwood
Posts: 66
There should be cost to have a wheel chair assistance. The luggage cart is not free, why is a body cart free??? Even a small charge would very quickly cure 90% of "disabled", and give better service to people who actually need help.
Jun 28, 23, 4:33 pm
#14
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: 10,954
I like the idea... but guess how long boarding would take when some of the REAL disabled people take 15 minutes to reach the back of the plane.
Jun 28, 23, 4:40 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: IND
Posts: 300
Good point. Maybe prevent them from sitting in the just the first 10 rows. That way anyone paying for early boarding can still get their choice of window/aisle.
