(Had posted in Lounge ... then realized it should be here.)

Do they still NOT assign seats? This would be a straight 90 min. flight (appeal is it's one of the few non-stops available this route.) One person has a knee/mobility problem at times. Do they pre-board seniors, children, etc.? Thanks, all!

There has been a some change in procedure.

Now, preboarding is for those with disabilities/needing special assistance, and unaccompanied children between 5 and 11. You'll need a blue preboarding card, but it sounds like your person with the knee/mobility problem would qualify.

Next comes anybody with an "A" boarding pass - you board in numerical order as listed on your boarding pass.

After A, they will board an adult with children under 4 -- they've cracked down on the huge family groups here, and don't let more than mom & dad or guardian board with the kids.

Next comes "B" boarding, in numerical order, and then "C" boarding in numerical order.

Hope that answers your question.

When you buy tickets online, it asks if you need assistance. It is easy to make the request online and then at the airport, it is very easy too.

Have them request a wheelchair and get a blue boarding card at airport, bring a doctors note to be on safe side. {though I did not need one}

They will preboard before any other passenger and will be able to get aisle seat.

It is very easy to do.

The whole travel party gets to preboard, but I guess if you had 8 that might not happen.

I had to do this on a flight home after having major surgery. DH and I were able to board first and get bulkhead seats. I needed a wheelchair and Southwest was very accomodating.

Depending on the flight, there could be others needing assistance, so getting into the preboard area a little early helps.

http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/disability.html

Deb

Thank you, everyone, for your helpful replies.

Deb, did you check in/print boarding pass at home, and then get in line at the airport to request the Blue Card and wheelchair, or did you do it all at airport? Thanks ...

I think one would need further definition of "knee/mobility problem at times". With due respect to those with disabilities, almost everyone above a certain age could claim knee problems. Just age would not qualify someone - and it is usually possible to find an MD to write almost anything - which is why airlines are skeptical of such letters.

However, if mobility issue was of such severity as to require a wheelchair, that is different.

Gail, this is a DEFINITE mobility problem (my description wasn't good!) Two unsuccessful knee replacements, with a cane needed much of the time.

I bought the tickets online and at the time of purchase, I indicated that I would need a wheelchair.

I checked in online but did not print out passes as we didn't have a printer. I always check in 24 hours in advance to get a lower # in A section boarding EVEN IF I can't print as you can {re}print your pass at airport and still get your original assignment.

When we got to airport, a skycap brought a wheelchair, we checked our bags curbside. I believe that the skycap was able to get the blue card for us [I can't quite remember that part - you would go to counter otherwise and check bag and get blue card]. Then we went through security and to the gate where we sat in the preboard section, DH took over the wheeling at that point to get me on plane. There were a couple of other wheelchairs also on flight; they went on ahead of me, but did not take bulkhead seats. I really needed to be sure to get those bulkhead so the seat infront of me didn't recline into me. We did get those seats.

IMHO I think Southwest is better than an airline with preassigned seats, because you can get those bulkheads on SW and on other airlines all you will get is your assigned seat which you can sit in ahead of everyone else. No other benefits.

Deb

OP - I was not questioning the severity of the disability, although rereading my post I can see how I may have left that impression. I am a rehab nurse and you would not believe the number of people who claim "disability" as way of gaining preferential treatment of some kind - and too often that disability is merely age or routine minor pain. My point was that just stating one is older or has a disability is unlikely to gain special treatment.

Elsiemoo, it doesn't matter if you print the boarding pass at home or at the airport, you get the blue passport "upstairs" at the gate, after you've passed security.

I recently sent my father on a flight with Southwest out of Reno and they let me get a pass to go through security with him and stay until he boarded, as he has Parkinson's and I wasn't flying this time. My sister sent him back from Boise and they were just as accomodating.

I too find Southwest most accommodating, and we fly them all the time by preference. It's too bad that so many people took advantage of their laxity - especially out of Florida. Of all the abuses we've witnessed, one that I'll always remember was an individual who was brought to the head of the boarding in a wheelchair. At our destination, he was the first out of the plane and practically sprinted to the car rental counter. I was amazed. Of course, he beat everyone, and had a much more rigorous walk at the destination than where we boarded. He was just wanting to get ahead of everybody.

elsiemoo, I certainly don't mean to imply anything similar for your travelers. I only wished to comment on the way those who scam the system have made it more difficult for those who really need that extra assistance. Contact Southwest and they will assist you with putting all in order for your traveler who needs that assistance.

Just one more nice thing to say about Southwest for folks with special circumstances. My 30 year old nephew had to fly out to UCLA for extensive tests related to seizure disorders and since they weren't sure when they could let him fly back to Kansas City, we called Southwest and with verification from a doctor they let him "float" his return date without any additional charges or change fee-which was amazing because all of this was taking place during the Thanksgiving holiday week. Not only that, but they were able to get him on a flight back home to KC on the Wednesday evening just before the holiday. Also, he had to keep his leg as straight as possible for the flight (as a followup to one of the brain tests) and that is no mean trick for him-he is 6 foot 5 inches tall ! Southwest helped him with the wheelchair and put him in the very first row where he could keep that leg straight during a 4 hour flight! We were very impressed. My nephew works in customer support for an investment firm and he wrote Southwest a glowing letter thanking them for all their help!

jpie, and everyone ... it is great to hear all this good stuff about Southwest. Thanks a bunch!`

elsiemoo - just to further exemplify what others have said. When I flew after my back surgery (had brace and walker) I checked in as usual, went through security and went straight to the gate. When I approached the gate, didn't even have to say anything - disability was pretty obvious. Agent wrote out blue pass and I (and wife) waited in pre-board area. Got on with the small kids, etc

I didn't ask for wheelchair at check in or otherwise (since walking was part of rehab) but by all means ask for one if your friend needs it.

SW employees VERY accommodating the whole trip.

Think you'll do fine.