When 55 passengers board a single flight using wheelchairs, that’s tough not to notice. But when only 25 need assistance getting off the plane at their destination, it starts to look like 30 people requested assistance just to get priority board, plus maybe assistance through the security line at the airport.
And since this is a Southwest Airlines flights, wheelchair assistance means getting on board in front of those with an “A” boarding group – ahead of people who paid the highest fares and have the highest status. That means having first choice of seats on the aircraft.
A friend shares a not-uncommon sight from Puerto Rico:
55 "handicapped" during pre-boarding, including 25 wheel chairs
On his return flight, 15 used wheelchairs to board, only 1 to deboard pic.twitter.com/gHgIsnzsq7
— Bachman (@ElonBachman) February 19, 2023
Some unscrupulous people request wheelchair assistance at the airport when they don’t need it, using their ‘injury’ for a whole bunch of benefits:
- Early boarding gets them access to overhead bin space before other passengers, and avoids being forced to gate check bags.
- It also gets around basic economy restrictions at United which are enforced by boarding group, netting a free carry on bag.
- On Southwest they’d have their choice of seats on board.
- Plus help skipping security lines.
At the same time, some flights are going to have a lot more wheelchairs than others. Governor Ron DeSantis calls Florida “God’s waiting room” and travel in and out of South Florida at heavy leisure times is likely to see a lot of passenger assistance. The presence of wheelchairs alone doesn’t mean that someone is faking the need for service.
Moreover, more passengers getting assistance onto the aircraft than getting off doesn’t on its own mean that somebody is ‘faking it’. The long waits for assistance, making it difficult to get help, can mean choosing not to wait even when it would be better for someone to do so. Plus you’re going to want to get up and move around after sitting in a coach seat for the full flight.
Nonetheless a 15-to-1 ratio of passengers using wheelchairs to get onto a plane (and getting priority assistance) versus getting off (and having to wait for service) seems… suspicious?
Sometimes passengers even admit it. One man on TikTok shows how he fakes an injury to get priority screening from the TSA and then assistance through the airport.
And here’s a man who filmed himself pretending to have sprained his ankle at the Bodrum Airport. He saw huge lines and was worried he’d miss his flight, and wound up pushed in a wheelchair through the airport and to his seat. He was even given his own row on board so he could stretch out. After the flight – it was a miracle – he could walk!
Remember that wheelchair assistance can be both costly and in short supply, if you ask for wheelchair assistance when you don’t need it you’re taking away that help from someone else or making someone that does need it wait even longer. The head of London Heathrow airport even blamed problems there on passengers asking for wheelchair assistance when they don’t need it given the shortage of workers to help. That’s no ok.
Interesting you should mention this. My husband and I were recently on a flight from PHX to MDW. SWA. I was astonished with the number of people that were wheeled up to the seating area, and I even mentioned it to my husband! I was equally mystified with my ignorance when I noticed a few of the people rise from the wheelchairs to get items out of their carry-on’s, walk to the garbage to throw away their wrappers, and then reseat in the wheelchairs, while waiting for the flight. This is such a disservice to the people that are really in need of early boarding, not to mention the A list and the upgraded fee some are paying to be in the A group. I love SWA, and hope they find a way to weed out the phony’s. Most handicapped people I know would rather be able to walk, but cannot.
I fly principally on American, and rarely on SW since the routes overlap. Just got back from Orlando last night on American, and there were the usual 2-3 pre-board parties on a 787 Dreamliner (though it was showing its age on the interior, sigh). So no problem there.
But that’s why I avoid Southwest like the plague, unless it’s a business-to-business connection, like the shuttle from Houston to DFW, which on most work week afternoons is a party bus, lol.
Or Southwest simply puts families and needs assistance parties after the paid upgrade people. That sounds fair.
I LOVE the suggestion that if you need assistance on, you are required to use it off, and have to wait. As someone else mentioned, that’s what I usually see on other Airlines because the people who really need assistance don’t mind taking more time *after* others get off.
As for the commentor who said that everyone is equal… Sounds like a bot- use your real name, like me and a few others on this thread.
One thing else. Not just the number of wheelchair people but they let Grandma on and her 52 relatives go with her.
Limit it to ONE relative can go with the person
To me, the worst part is the 55 passengers and their +1, +2, +3 taking up all the seats. Sure I understand some people do need assistance but the last legit Southwest flight I saw with that many wheelchairs was an Honor Flight.
Make people check in and what ever boarding number they get(example B36 ) THEM WHEEL THEM TO THE PLANS ENTRANCE I’m sure it would reduce those it’s a miracle flight
I am a wheelchair user every day 24/7, and I hate the fact that I have to be, but I really despise people who will use subterfuge to get what they think is a perk. We really don’t like having to board first and then be last off. It sometimes adds an hour to our sitting time in the aircraft and we rarely get to choose our seat. The staff try and put us where we can be helped in an emergency situation. I have waited at an airport over an hour to be taken to the gate because there was no one to help. Im assuming there were a lot of fakers who needed help. I guess we have a society of disrespectful schemers and that is not ok. While I am not mean spirited, if they ever found themselves in my position, it might just make them see the injustice and disrespect of their actions.
On a Southwest flight to PHX we saw about 30 wheelchairs waiting for early boarding. Another passenger that had taken that route before refered to it as a miracle flight. Sure enough, most of those passengers walked off of the plane to the luggage carousel.
I have a legitimate handicap with a parking placard that is registered to my license. I’ve pre-registered with every airline I fly with and submitted a copy of the paperwork.
Make them show medical proof just like docs for service animals.
There are always going to be people who will sharpshoot the system, and Southworst’s boarding system makes that work for them.
I have a great solution to end this fraud. These bloody people don’t realise that the only ones it hurts are the people who really need wheel chair assistance. This is so typical American though I must say. No one gives a toss about anyone else anymore.
My solution: The airline reserves the last 4-6 rows of he aircraft, way down the back, near the dunnies and the rear galley. It is compulsory the seats MUST be used by wheelchair people ( except for paid Business Class people ).
And all the “family” hangers-on can join them. Way down the back. Sure they can go on first, off you go, way down the back. Have a nice trip! By getting on first way down the back, they don’t block the aisles for the fair-dinkum people getting on the plane.
Then on landing, they have to sit there and wait for assistance before they are allowed off the aircraft. They come off the aircraft last once all other able-bodied, fair-dinkum people have disembarked.
Then we can see how many wheelchair people there really are. That’ll sort these frauds and their hangers-on in 5 minutes flat.
I hope you all realize there are people like me who are disabled, however I am not in a wheelchair. I know people look at me when I preboard but I’m not interested in being first on/first off. But I do need to be specifically seated. If you’ve never had to live with diarrhea running down your legs in public-be grateful. When it happens-it’s pretty unpleasant.
It’s amazing how many people miraculously get healed and can walk the moment the plane has the door open – in Las Vegas.
In my experience, I’d say 70-80% of the wheelchair folks are frauds.
The commentor “robbo” is onto something.. I’d second that plan.
I have noticed this going on for quite a while. Finally, someone has the gumption to say something about it. But will the airlines listen? We were on a flight to ORD>IAH, 25 wheelchairs. On that flight all those wheelchair people were up and going to the lavatories. Just another scam! Welcome to my country, land of the grifters!
I look healthy but I have a bladder disease and chronic pelvic pain. I do use a wheelchair because I can’t stand in long lines. I pay for the last row aisle seat so I can go to the bathroom. After I get to the gate I do walk to the bathroom and walk on the plane
Don’t judge everyone when you don’t know what we go through. I do have a medical emergency card I carry.
Displaying a physicians note or a legit, state issued handicapped placard is one way to weed out the phony, fake, frauds.
Well, what do you expect from SW flyers.
People flying LCC like SW have a special mindset: entitlement, disrespect, recklessness, …
That is the reason why I never have for 15 years and will never fly SW or any LCCs ever again.
If SW were providing seat assignments like any “normal” airline, then this would not be happening.
Unfortunately, modern society is rewarding entitled, reckless, liars, instead of punishing them.
We harvest the consequence of what society seeds by not punishing those people.
It’s only allowed to be termed “Miracle Flight” if they don’t need the wheelchairs at the plane’s destination.
I use wheelchair to board as I can’t walk uphill on ramps or long distance . When landing its almost mostly down hill which i@c easier. I have heart problems w&ich doesn’t show. So be kind you never know what a person is going thru
It’s very simple. As soon as the problem starts cutting into the airlines bottom line ie: affecting timely departures etc they will implement a similar policy as to what they did with support animals. Remember that fiasco. You will need a certified letter from a physician similar to what you are required to bring to the DMV when you apply for a handicap plate.
It’s irrelevant to this story that Ron DeSantis uses a clichéd phrase to describe citizens in the state of Florida. Alternative phrasing could be as simple as “Florida has been called ‘God’s waiting room’ for decades.” That phrase was going around before he was born. How does he relate to the story?
@CMorgan,
Due to the ACAA the AIRLINES LEGALLY CANT REFUSE, they can’t even ask what is the nature of their disability let alone question it. What you are suggesting is illegal!
The ablism in these comments (and somewhat in this post) are toxic.
My partner has wide hips and depending upon the gate area, if there no seats without armrests she might not be able to sit down. The last time this happened was in LAX terminal 5 and when I emailed the airports disability office they literally told us the next time we fly from that terminal to request a wheelchair, so she could have a place to sit in the gate area without bruising her hips.
On Southwest we board first (without a wheelchair) using their customer of size policy that gives her a free (we get a refund afterwards) second seat.
For airports it also could be the size of the airport terminal. If someone is flying into a smaller regional airport they might be able to make the walk on their own from curb to gate but at a larger hub airport that could be too far for their limited mobility, if standings hard for them a short walk from off the plane to the curb could be in their abilities but they might not be able to stand in a long security line.
I don’t see how this is even a debate… clearly it’s Southwest policy that is to blame. The boarding thing is just idiotic and therefore attracts idiotic boarding practices, such as this….
OMG, so much hostility here. My husband and I have both had injuries and have had to use WCs from time to time. He had a cracked pelvis, occurred during the trip and was on crutches. Just because you can stand up long enough to go to the restroom or get something out of your bag, doesn’t mean you can walk through the whole airport to your gate or go through the long line in security. Lighten up folks.
I TOTALLY understand these upset people seeing this practice being abused. I’m a rule follower and am appalled when folks try to game the system. However, about a year ago, I had a horrible flair up with sciatica pain. Nearly crumbled to the floor if I had to walk very far. I would have chosen/needed to use a wheelchair at the airport to get to the gate if I had flown during that time. However, if I had needed to use the restroom during the flight, hobbling down the aisle wouldn’t have meant that using a wheelchair at the airport was unnecessary. So, just because someone saw me miraculously hobbling to the planes toilet doesn’t necessarily mean that I didn’t need the wheelchair aid at the sprawling terminal. It just meant that wetting my pants was less appealing than having everyone else thinking I was gaming the system. Everything isn’t always as it seems.
Maybe showing a disabled car hang tag should be required as a start.
The idea of using the back does is terrible. We flew when one of my kids had a broken leg, with a cast above the knee. She needed the extra legroom of the front row for her leg. I know others need the extra legroom the front row affords as well. Also, because she used crutches to get on the plane, it was much easier to get into the front row. It would have been very hard to get down the narrow aisles to the back.
Jetway Jesus works miracles upon arrival at your destination.
Just because someone can walk a short distance (to the lavatory, or stand and get something out of luggage, or the trash can, etc.) doesn’t mean they aren’t disabled or don’t need a wheelchair! There are a lot of people on here making judgements they are not qualified to make, and all of them have their own different faults. None of us are perfect.
I’m sure there are some that are gaming the system, but you can not determine that by looks alone.
I can stand for a short few minutes, or walk from the planes door to my seat, but no way can I walk from the airport’s entrance to the gate, or stand in line from the gate down to the plane. I have congestive heart failure ( CHF) and a bad back. After walking 30-40 feet, or standing for 5 minutes, I am in severe pain and very short of breath. My wife and I both use assisted wheelchairs at the airport. Waiting at the gate, I will sometimes push her wheelchair the short distance to the restroom or store. That doesn’t mean that I don’t need help for longer distances or avoiding standing!
I have a son who uses a wheelchair. I wish so much he didn’t need it. Now I hear able bodied people are pretending to be wheelchair bound. What a shame and disgrace. If you’re late for your flight trying leaving early and giving yourselves extra time like we do.
This was quite common on Philippine Airlines flights out of LAX before the pandemic. Have also seen this in Toronto for Philippine Airlines. The majority are probably legitimate since most are seniors.
I have been seeing this years.
The ONLY fair thing is that if a wheelchair is needed to get onto a flight a wheelchair NEEDS to be used for deboarding..
NOTHING MORE…..
NOTHING LESS…………
It disheartens me to see so much judgement of handicapped people. My husband can walk very short distances. He has COPD and breathing becomes an issue. Not every handicap is visible. Hope you all never have to experience this.
I have extremely poor mobility roblems and avoid wheelchairs at the airport unless the distance is greater than I am able to walk however I do request priority boarding because I need to balance myself holding on to seats on both sides if the unfortunately many passengers are rude causing it very difficult by boarding ahead I actually make it easier for others and speed up the process.
@ Gary — I’ve given this a bit more thought, and while the wheelchair-fakers are being dishonest, the root cause is greed by the airline. The airline figured out how to make a kiling by selling A-whatever (aka, hot air), so people naturally seek a way out of paying, while getting the same or better benefit. It’s similar to the nauseating greed of Disney and the resulting parade of wheelchair-fakers. Greed is the root of the vast majority of our social ills.
I think in a lot of cases of senior citizen aged folks – there might be some legitimacy to it. While I’m sure there are widespread abuses, I know my mom has a very difficult time walking and standing and has stopped traveling as a result. She will often tough it out though, so I could see a situation here where someone was trying to be strategic about what they can endure in a day. Also I’m guessing a wheelchair at destination isn’t as much a guarantee as picking one up at Departures?
The best way for SWA to solve this is to force the preboarders to sit in designated sections and then have them deplane last so that assistance may be given. Being forced to get off past will limit 99% of the phony’s.
In mid December, we returned from a cruise that ended in San Juan PR. As we walked through the airport to fly home, each gate had 15+ wheel chairs waiting to board! Not one or two gates, everyone! Guess a lot of elderly were visiting their kids in the states.
My husband has Parkinson’s. He does not need a wc unless the distance in the terminal is too far. He HATES looking disabled so often refuses assistance. But, he is very slow and often gets confused in large groups (ie boarding lines). We do request pre-boarding bc he needs extra time to walk, get seated, and get his stuff put up. Prior to requesting pre-board people in line behind us would get “disgusted” and irate over the time he needed. He has to live with this disability EVERY DAY.
Yes it’s a shame to pay for early bird boarding and the have to give up priority boarding to wheelchair passenger. One person suggested that all wheelchair passengers be seated at the rear of the plane . maybe you should have them sit in middle seats ONLY.
I like the “wide hips” comment. If you’ve ever been on a Carnival Cruise, a Midwestern Wal-Mart or the Las Vegas strip there are plenty of “wide hips disabilities”. They’re usually driving those rental scooters and smashing in to everything in sight.
So far the conversation seems centered around wheel chairs. Not all disabilities are evident or subject to the amateur second medical opinions of airline staff or bystanders. My husband is very fit and athletic. He detached his bicep muscle playing sports and the recovery from surgery will take up to 6 months. In the meantime, he can’t lift anything more than 5 pounds in the first three months and nothing above his head at all for six. That means I have to lift his rollaboard into the overhead bin. So far we have been booking seats (not on SWA) that get us group 1 boarding. So it hasn’t been a problem for us—yet. But if we get a flight where we’re in economy you can bet we are going to preboard so that I can find overhead space to get both bags near our seat because I will have to take them down again.
The disability is invisible to everyone else. We would simply look like two very fit people trying to game the system.
We typically fly UA, Delta, Alaska, and AA and see very few medical preboards. Maybe SWA is the truly miraculous airline and people seeking miracles tend to choose it. Perhaps SWA should install a bowl of holy water at the bottom of the ramp near the entrance to the plane.
@ All
LOOK UP THE AIR CARRIER ACCESS ACT to inform your commentary on here. This has nothing to do with the airlines beyond THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRING THEM TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO WHOMEVER CLAIMS THEY NEED IT. It’s a disservice to people who genuinely are disabled and to rule following able bodied passengers. This is all the result of poorly written legislation that had good intentions which didn’t account for the extent people would abuse it (like almost all legislation)!
@inLA
Desiring to have your bags stowed near your seat is NOT a disability. You’re one of the scammers.
@CHRIS: If you read my comment, I’m not a scammer. We are intetioinally buying the group 1 (Biz or 1st) seats just so we go on early and store our bags without trying to maneuver up or downstream of the other passengers in the aisle. But if we are ever in econ then we will preboard because I have to put up and take down both bags, regardless of where there is an opening, without having to pass other passengers who are also in the aisle. It’s for everyone’s convenience and not just ours.
I ask for assistance if there’s a long walk to a gate because I have asthma & severe arthritis in my back & hips & knees. Yes I can walk but long distances are tricky. I prefer not to board before anyone else I just need assistance getting to the gate. No I’m not hooked up to oxygen but my knees give out & hips lock up.
This only happens on airlines that won’t assign you a seat. It’s one of the many reasons I’d never ever fly Southwest. If they won’t let me purchase a reserved seat, I’m not interested. The wheelchair weenies don’t exist on Delta. And, I get treated right.
This is an old tricks indians have been using for a very long time. When older parents or grandparents are traveling between India and USA by themselves, they are old by their children, young professionals, to USE the wheelchair facility. This way they don’t have to worry about finding the gates, immigration, baggage, etc etc. Everything is done for free.
Just a loop hole being used
Perhaps wheel chair could be a paid service?
Or
Just let it be. People are people and are going to be selfish and self-centered.
Amusement parks had a problem with this. They changed their policy and it worked great. You had to bring a doctors note saying you need the assistance. A wheelchair rental was no longer a guarantee. Yes, you could still rent them, but it wasn’t the automatic shortcut of the line anymore. You then got to bring 3 additional family members. The rest had to wait in the regular line.
If you are referring to WDW, a doctors note is not required….they ask basic questions and a diagnosis is not neccessary (hippa violation). I see a lot of misplaced judgement. Is IS possible that everyone of those wheelchair passengers needed priority seating….COPD, OBD, crones, artificial limbs that need more legroom….etc….you would need a wheelchair in the terminal….they also get off 1st because they need staff members to transport them in the terminal, and that takes time. You all should be counting your blessings instead of judging. Walk a mile in their shoes instead of assuming they are playing the system.