On one Southwest Airlines Tampa flight, 30 passengers boarded early and got better seats for free because they said they needed wheelchair assistance. Then they walked off the plane and all the way out the terminal themselves on arrival. They didn’t all need a wheelchair, but cracked a code. It’s always the Florida and Puerto Rico flights!
Typical @SouthwestAir flight to Florida! I counted 30 pre-boards needing wheelchair assistance. When we get off the plane 28 of them walk off! @FAANews @FlyTPA @FoxNews @cnnbrk @MarkWilsonTV pic.twitter.com/YHprcho55Z
— Brian Hudson (@BocaHudson) December 29, 2024
Southwest lets passengers pick their seats on a first-come, first-served basis. You board earlier if you buy the most expensive tickets, if you’re a frequent traveler, or if you pay for early boarding. Or if you fake the need for a wheelchair.
- That’s why Southwest Airlines has more wheelchair passengers than any other airline.
- It drives up the airline’s costs (they pay for the wheelchair service!) and cheats other customers out of better seats. Those higher costs also mean higher average airfares.
- And it makes a tremendous spectacle: the “Jetbridge Jesus” flight where passengers come on with a wheelchair to get the best seats, and miraculously walk without any assistance when the flight is over.
- This is terrible passengers who really need wheelchairs, with people who don’t need them taking up the scarce service. Those with a real need are forced to wait longer.
Typical @SouthwestAir flight to Florida! I counted 30 pre-boards needing wheelchair assistance. When we get off the plane 28 of them walk off! @FAANews @FlyTPA @FoxNews @cnnbrk @MarkWilsonTV pic.twitter.com/YHprcho55Z
— Brian Hudson (@BocaHudson) December 29, 2024
Of course, this will all change in the first half of 2026, because Southwest is moving to assigned seating. Wheelchair passengers may board earlier but it doesn’t get them better seats.
@SouthwestAir 15+ preboards. These all walked on. Fix this please. TPA 9/17 1650 hours. Check the video. Abuse of privilege. pic.twitter.com/2hkni1Z5T8
— Fred Vollinger (@fred_vollinger) September 17, 2024
That’s also going to be a huge help with misbehaving passengers. Right now when law enforcement comes on board the airline doesn’t know the identity of the problem passenger. If there are more passengers on the plane than there are supposed to be, you don’t know who is supposed to be there and who isn’t. If a passenger in a specific seat is causing problems, you don’t immediately know who it is. If a problem passenger doesn’t identify themselves, you need to take everyone off and reboard them to know who’s still on the plane.
This is also going to mean the end of seat saving. No more claiming 13 seats for your group or using a bag of donuts to claim a whole row of seats, and the ensuing conflict that comes from taking more space than your ticket allows.
With one simple change – assigned seating – Southwest will solve many of the problems that turn boarding a Southwest Airlines flight into an exercise in game theory. While I’m one of the few that actually likes part of how Southwest does seating today (but not lining up at the start of boarding), I don’t see the change as all good.
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
Another flight on @SouthwestAir, and I’m happy to report being witness to more miracles. These poor souls came seeking a flight, and instead were healed. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Always grateful for witnessing the miraculous healing power of flight. pic.twitter.com/7TCYn2T6BB
— Dave Ruminates (@dave_ruminates) April 5, 2023
It’ll help Southwest’s bottom line, and not just on the revenue side selling premium and assigned seats. Wheelchair services are costly. This is going to save Southwest at least $30 per wheelchair passenger. Multiply that out across every flight and it’s the unexpected reason that Elliott Capital turns out to be right in pushing Southwest Airlines to assign seats.
Same story……different day! Same story……..different city!
People should have to pay for wheelchairs.
Those people that abuse the system should be placed on a NO FLY list.
I was an airline captain and saw it happen often, once even had a stretcher
placed across first class seats.
SW should move up their plans for assigned seats to this October. Got to stop those Florida bound snowbirds from miraculously walking on water as they deplane during late 2025.
that the days of this non-sense are numbered.
it’s not too late for WN to prohibit preboarders from taking seats forward of the exit row if their boarding position is less than B30.
In September 2023, I flew on a business select ticket between TPA-SAT, and my boarding position was A1, but at least 30 people boarded ahead of me. This included a group of 10 who bullied the gate agent to allow them to board early because they had “small children” (who were not in strollers and able to board on their own). When I contacted WN, their response was that many handicaps are not visible, and their gate agents are instructed not to question pax who request to board early. My response to them was, “So you’re telling me that I should pretend I have a handicap instead of buying a business select ticket. Got it!”
From that day on, I’ve only flown WN when I needed to get somewhere nonstop.
Christmas miracle!
So typical Florida
It sounds like either a miracle flight or something medicine should study. Maybe a televangelist could announce his or her healing powers.
Seen same problem at IAH and UA. The additional problem is that the wheelchair bound person may have several “family members” who tag along . At least they all have assigned seat BUT delays boarding and same mirical happens on arrival as the mostly walk off!!!
Herb Kelleher cut a deal with the Vatican. Miracles are cheap at SW it’s part of the DNA. Especially Florida. Even more Especially the Villages. If it is a choice between seeing an orthopedist and flying SW SW wins everytime
Easy fix. Wheelchair passengers must all sit in middle seats in last 20 rows.
WN should also utilize the free checked bag policy….if you MUST use a wheelchair to board, you MUST check your bag!
This is typical behavior for ANY flight from ISP to any Florida city. I was a customer service agent for several years at ISP before relocating, and have witnessed this almost every day that I was working the gates.At times passengers flying to West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale or Tampa would “line up” in the gate que before the flight BEFORE theirs boarded and left, in other words, effectively blocking the passengers from lining up for the flight before theirs. Unbelievable rude behavior.
Do these fake wheelchair users know what disgusting, despicable and useless people they are? An ordinary person would be ashamed of themselves. These people have no shame. I would like to see one of these fakers leave a comment here to explain why they engage in such gross behaviour.
Entire families boarded on the Delta MCO DCA-9 wheelchairs and 28 “attended to help the one person”
This also happens on all Emirates/Qatar/Etihad flights from the US to the respective hub cities in the middle east. you’ll see SCORES of people boarding with wheel chairs then nobody using them to get off. Similar demographic age wise, but more people going to / from the subcontinent. IT’s always a miracle! Lol
Do wheelchair users deplane last? Seems only logical.
I’m one of those pre-boarders, only I don’t use a wheelchair. I have one leg and use crutches. Do I always need to pre-board? No. Yes, it does give me some extra time to get down there. But the other reason I do is because I need a place to put my crutches, and you’d be surprised at the lack of space with all the baggage up above. So, I pre-board, grab an aisle seat, and place my crutches up above, but when someone comes along and eyes the area above me, I tell them that I will gladly move my crutches so they can place their bag there. I then place my crutches back in so I can get them if needed. 95% of the SW FAs understand me doing this, and I am careful handling them, ensuring they don’t fall out when the compartment is opened. Only a handful of times have I had an “argument” with a power-hungry FA who has wanted me to put my crutches in the back, behind the luggage, so that they won’t fall out. The problem is, no bags will fit very well, and I can’t get the crutches, which are “my legs” if I need them. So, that’s why I pre-board. Let me add that I’ve been on these crutches for almost 47 years and have been traveling on business for about 30 of those years.
I do agree with most of you, though. Many DO NOT need to be in wheelchairs but take advantage of the rules.
Simple fix but it will NEVER be done. Charge $100 each way if the person uses the wheelchair upon arrival then the $100 is refunded (in the cases when its used to by pass TSA or get on 1st, no way will they wait till everyone else got off before getting off) otherwise they lose the $100
This will also make sure that those who NEED a WC wont have to wait forever for 1 since all the others are on a jetway waiting for the passengers who walked off on their own and cant leave till everyone has gotten off to make sure their party isnt still on the plane
Lol. I see this all the time coming in from international flights. Passengers act like they need a wheelchair so they can cut to front of lines in US customs. They clear. Then once outside walk from then on. A joke. Need to change procedures so a true medical, Drs note needed for proof. Like a service dog.
Here’s the DOT Reg: (No wheelchair needed: ) Airlines must allow a passenger with a disability who self-identifies at the gate as needing additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated, the opportunity to board before all other passengers.
Except, an airline with an open seating policy has been approved by DOT to accommodate extra-time passengers after an initial group of passengers have boarded, but early in the boarding process.
I have a disabiilty that prevents me from walking well or for distances, and yet when I fly WN I buy business select. I am not “that guy.”
– Sometimes the jet bridge to the aircraft at the source airport is longer than at the destination port. For example, boarding at KLAX or KLAS is a long trundle, and yes I have a wheelie case. However, when I get home to KTUS it’s a short hop off the jetbridge. Someone with less “walk in their step” would likely board with a wheelchair, but be able to exit without assistance.
– Some jet bridges have armrails all the way “up” so if you can steady your gait by holding on there’s no need (for me) for a wheelchair. In contrast some have partial or no rails,, so I can either go slowly and hold people up OR wait for the bulk of the crowd to go forward OR use a wheelchair. If there’s a connecting flight involved with a short timeframe there are not a lot of choices.
– Peopole get frustrated when they are being “held up” by us slowpokes. A wheelchair changes that equation.
– The last time I used a wheelchair was at the Port of Vancouver where they had us snake in zig-zag lines for two hours. After about an hour I could hardly stand, walk, stop, stand, repeat. That’s when an alert young lady asked me if I needed help, and I put all those reasons above (and my ego) away and said yes. Best ride ever.
^^^ “Herb Kelleher cut a deal with the Vatican.”
roflmao
At the very least WN should require people who embark using wheelchairs to disembark the same way.
It doesn’t matter if they are on wheel chairs or not. They will simply pre-board under there “Anyone with disabilities or needing more time to board” group.
It sucks, but no way to stop it without violating ADA law, really. Are they going to challenge people as to how disabled they are and if they really need wheel chairs?
If SW fliers are so upset about this, fly a different airline.
Now let’s talk about Fluffy the “service” animal . . .
We used to see this all the time going to Las Vegas. Wheel chair on, walk off and run around the casinos on foot. Cheaters all.
Here’s an idea: Don’t fly SouthWest and don’t visit Florida. Problem solved.
Make them sit only in the rear and force them to wait to deplane until everyone else gets off first. Simple solution. It’s just a safety measure. Don’t like it, walk on board.
What still amazes me is that Southwest can’t implement assigned seating, and earn the revenue it would provide, until 2026! I hope they survive long enough to implement it.
The person who actually counted and posted is a dbag and so is Gary for using it as an article.
You have no idea what people are going through. I have a friend who does this exact thing. They have Lupus and don’t know when/if they’ll have energy for a full airport walk because of flair ups. If they feel good when they get to the airport, they’ll walk and take wheelchair off plane as they have it already designated on their ticket. Sometimes they’ll do reverse. Again, those judging are typical aholes.
Gary,
Your unrelenting disgust toward the disabled and your unwillingness to understand that, though some may scam this system, that’s not why they “walk on” or “walk off.” For the most part, people who ask for wheelchair service can walk, they are not quadriplegic. Reasons for using a wheelchair to navigate busy, crowded, rough airports are: breathing difficulties, frailty, dementia, heart problems, recent surgeries, etc. I, myself, am visually impaired and, although my white stick helps me in most cases, it’s very dangerous for me in airports because people kick it out from me, let their children run under it, won’t give way along walls, etc. When I ask for assistance, a wheelchair is what they send me. Since I CAN walk, I do walk when I board. I do pre-board because it’s difficult and frightening to be visually impaired in that chaos. When we get to the destination, I walk off and find the wheelchair that is waiting for me. This is normal. Only people who cannot walk the few steps to board actually use a wheelchair to board or deplane. One day you, if you’re lucky, will be an old man. One day, if you’re like everyone else, you will not be everything you are today and will need this kind of help. I hope people show you exactly the same contempt you have shown us in this column.
I always say Southwest flights are miracle planes.People get on handicap but yet can run off the jet way after it lands
It is insane to even post this sort of no sense. I would prefer to never need assistance. Some airports are very, very large and the amount of walking is too much for my body. I have tried and been sick for days. Other airports are smaller and manageable for me.
Why is this post here with this derogatory viewpoint in the first place. Are you simply not bright?
Can you imagine the confusion on these miracle flights once the assigned seating starts. All the people with front row and emergency row seat assignments having to potentially deal with the early boarders and their families. Wouldn’t want to be a flight attendant on Southwest for the first few weeks/months. Hopefully Southwest will make announcements at the gates letting passengers know this but, most people aren’t paying attention and honestly, there are many times that you can’t hear them or understand them due to many factors.
Let the fun begin!
As I’ve said before:
It should be a crime to fake a disability. Jetway Jesus deserves a one-way ticket to a correctional facility.
Airlines should be allowed to require proof when there’s suspicion or likelihood of fraud.
In the immortal words of Lizzo, “About D*mn Time.”
In a civilized society, Southwest’s old boarding scheme might work. But the US circa 2024 is not that society.
They have to reconfigure over 800 airplanes for the assigned seating, that doesn’t happen overnight.
magas from the Villages
That’s why they call the Southwest Florida trips “Miracle Flights”.
It’s a MIRACLE
All of the “handicapped” senior citizens flying to Florida on Southwest are cured once the flight arrives, and seemingly walk as fast as they can to make it to the next car key swap night at The Villages…
The distances people walk to get to gates, after being in long lines for check in, makes it impossible for elderly unsteady people to walk that far. The ramps going on to planes is now longer, and the crowd pushing to get on usually causes a stumble. Getting off, the same thing happens, sometimes worse to get to baggage claim. You never know the pain or trouble someone is experiencing. To ask for help is humbling. Having an assigned seat helps, but walking is slow for me, I usually get pushed there too trying to get in my seat.
We are a diverse population, I think if more respect and courtesy was shown to the struggling person things might be different.
People realize there will be no consequences for many immoral or illegal acts they perform. Others will see they can get away with it without punishment, and act the same. Society is circling the drain…
Vote with your $$. Simple solution is to never, ever fly SWA. I certainly don’t. It’s like going to eat in the ghetto. Why would you do that?
I would simply apply the rule both ways. If you board with a WC and get on first, you will have to wait to get off the plane and get on a WC to exit. Let everyone else go and then bring the WCs for those remaining. I realize there are legit needs for the community but this seems to be more than one bad apple. When50%+ do it, it is a problem for everyone.
I flew Southwest once. No assigned seating is a complete no go for me. Flying is bad enough as it is.
I see this ALL THE TIME flying Southwest out of Midway in Chicago. It’s the more convenient of the two airports for me but I’ve been migrating over to ORD a lot more lately for this very reason. Why am I shelling out an extra $100-plus for Business Class when the cheaters cut the line with their fake disability? In fact, a March trip coming up in a couple of months is the last Southwest ticket for me until the seating policy change takes place. I’m tired of being aggravated by these people!
I am kind of old (67) , I carry a cane when I travel by air because my back hurts if I stand a long time. It is very nice to board early, but I always have an assigned seat. It is cheating a little, for my convenience. I don’t think I have flown SWA. My goal is to get off my feet and get an overhead bin before they are all full.