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Travel Forum / Travel Types / Air Travel / July 2008elderly mom on Southwest
Hi I am new to this group. My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first week in August, via Southwest Airlines. Have there been any new developments we should be prepared for? Has SW began imposing luggage fees or on board beverage fees? She is getting up there in age and hasn't traveled in a while, (nor have I). I know there have been many changes in travel lately and it looks like this is a very informed group of travelers! Any suggestions, recommendations, or 'heads up' are appreciated. ________________________________________________________________________ : the next generation of web-newsreaders : http://www.recgroups.com Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served basis >Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served basis No. It's first-to-check-in, first-served. Check in online, and you don't have to waste your time coming to the airport early. > >Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served basis > > No. It's first-to-check-in, first-served. Check in online, and you > don't have to waste your time coming to the airport early. Exactly. The closer you check in online to 24 hours prior to your flight, the more likely you'll get in the A section (up front). >> >Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served >> >basis [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Exactly. The closer you check in online to 24 hours prior to your > flight, the more likely you'll get in the A section (up front). He mentioned that his mom is elderly. She'll most likely get a preboard pass. > >> >Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served > >> >basis [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > He mentioned that his mom is elderly. She'll most likely get a preboard > pass. It still can't hurt to use that trick of checking in online 24 hours prior to the departure flight. >> >> >Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first >> >> >served [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > It still can't hurt to use that trick of checking in online 24 hours > prior to the departure flight. Do doubt about it. It's best to cover every base. >Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served basis Haven't flown SWA recently, have you? SWA now boards based on the order you check in, with a positions in line reserved for those with SW status. While the seats are still not reserved, your position in line lets you select the best available seat at the time you board the aircraft. > Get to the airport early...SWA seats are on a first come, first served basis Nonsense. You are boarded in order of when you checked in. > Hi I am new to this group. > My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first week in August, via Southwest [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > this is a very informed group of travelers! > Any suggestions, recommendations, or 'heads up' are appreciated. 1) Southwest has their special system of A, B, and C boarding lines and boarding cards -- A cards get boarded first, B second, C last. You get an A card by checking in early, or by checking in online the previous day. Even with an A card this can be a bit intimidating; the lines at a crowded gate can tend to jam into each other. But I've also seen some of their flights have a special pre-boarding for children, disabled passengers, etc. Frankly, if she's a bit frail or uncertain about things, even with an A card I might advise her, or you or her, to go up to the counter as soon as you reach the gate area; look even more "up there in age" than she usually does; and ask if there's a chance she can pre-board. 2) If you (or someone) would like to go the gate with her, you'll also have to ask the airport in advance how to do this. Only passengers with boarding cards are normally allowed through security to the gate area. 3) And if she may want to or need to use the toilets during the flight, choose an aisle seat, even with early boarding. >1) Southwest has their special system of A, B, and C boarding lines and >boarding cards -- A cards get boarded first, B second, C last. You get >an A card by checking in early, or by checking in online the previous >day. Even with an A card this can be a bit intimidating; the lines at a >crowded gate can tend to jam into each other. Southwest has not used boarding cards in years. They do use boarding groups, but those are almost immaterial as you are assigned a place in line when you check in. There are no "jammed, crowded gates" as there is no reason to stand until just before the plane boards. >But I've also seen some of their flights have a special pre-boarding for >children, disabled passengers, etc. Frankly, if she's a bit frail or >uncertain about things, even with an A card I might advise her, or you >or her, to go up to the counter as soon as you reach the gate area; look >even more "up there in age" than she usually does; and ask if there's a >chance she can pre-board. While family boarding is now after the first 60 passenger group, SW does offer assisted "blue card" preboarding under certain circumstances. This can be arranged for ahead of time. >>Hi I am new to this group. >>My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first week in August, via Southwest [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > day. Even with an A card this can be a bit intimidating; the lines at a > crowded gate can tend to jam into each other. Nonsense again. You get a BP with a group letter and a position number. You don't have to get to the gate to hold a line position. >>>Hi I am new to this group. My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first >>>week in August, via Southwest [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Nonsense again. You get a BP with a group letter and a position number. > You don't have to get to the gate to hold a line position. Which is better than the old system. It eliminates the line of carryon's on the floor by the boarding door. > Hi I am new to this group. > My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first week in August, via Southwest > Airlines. > Have there been any new developments we should be prepared for? Has SW > began imposing luggage fees or on board beverage fees? I don't think so, but feel free to call Southwest or check their web site for an authoritative answer to your question. > She is getting up there in age and hasn't traveled in a while, (nor have > I). I know there have been many changes in travel lately and it looks like > this is a very informed group of travelers! > Any suggestions, recommendations, or 'heads up' are appreciated. Enjoy your trip and have fun! >Hi I am new to this group. >My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first week in August, via Southwest >Airlines. >Have there been any new developments we should be prepared for? Has SW >began imposing luggage fees or on board beverage fees? >She is getting up there in age How old is she? "Getting up in age" means different things to different people. I've seen 55 described as elderly in the newspaper. Does she have medical problems? Southwest is running ads now saying they are the airline that doesn't impose all these extra fees although they do now charge for a third bag. >and hasn't traveled in a while, (nor have >I). I know there have been many changes in travel lately and it looks like >this is a very informed group of travelers! >Any suggestions, recommendations, or 'heads up' are appreciated. Check in online as soon as you can before the flight. Look at Southwest's website for information about it. > Southwest is running ads now saying they are the airline that doesn't > impose all these extra fees although they do now charge for a third > bag. Airlines have charged for more than 2 checked bags for many, many years. The fee was much lower, however. >Airlines have charged for more than 2 checked bags for many, many years. >The fee was much lower, however. Southwest didn't; at least not for a long time. They do now. > My mother is flying from IL to AZ the first week in August, via Southwest > Airlines. If she's wobbly or twice the length of the airport is a pretty good hike for her, I'd strongly suggest asking for wheelchair service. She'll check in her luggage and an attendent will take her through security (most of them know the entire security drill really well and can help her organize herself and her stuff to minimize the hassles). If she uses a cane and has a choice of taking a metal cane or an all wooden one, I'd suggest the wooden cane. Other than that, pay attention to the TSA "what you can carry" list and taking along her best sense of humor (an appreciation for the ridiculous is quite useful) and her patience. And a bunch of small bills. Dressing to minimize security hassles is also a big help... the fewer beeps you make, the better everyone's patience lasts. Kay > If she's wobbly or twice the length of the airport is a pretty good > hike for her, I'd strongly suggest asking for wheelchair service. > She'll check in her luggage and an attendent will take her through Good advice. My wife is a childhood polio survivor; one leg shortened and weakened. Normally she gets around very well, no cane or walker, reasonable walking range. But on one rushed and lengthy interline transfer on a stressful trip we asked in advance for wheelchair service within the terminal; it was well managed at the airport; and was a big help. We have no desire to abuse any of these services; but I think the disability community has enough clout and willingness to raise big fusses that the airlines respond carefully to these requests. >Good advice. My wife is a childhood polio survivor; one leg shortened >and weakened. Normally she gets around very well, no cane or walker, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >disability community has enough clout and willingness to raise big >fusses that the airlines respond carefully to these requests. My mother has trouble walking distances and was in a wheelchair when she went through security. Apparently they didn't ask if she could walk through but the TSA gave her a very thorough patdown. > My mother has trouble walking distances and was in a wheelchair when > she went through security. Apparently they didn't ask if she could > walk through but the TSA gave her a very thorough patdown. Yup, the *last* thing that TSA wants is your mom to overpower the crew with a box cutter. >Yup, the *last* thing that TSA wants is your mom to overpower the crew with >a box cutter. Yes, she's a real threat. One strange thing is that I believe that the TSA agent may well have been from a country known for many terrorists and a large al-Qaeda presence. Not that I thought the agent was but it seemed strange. >>Yup, the *last* thing that TSA wants is your mom to overpower the crew with >>a box cutter. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > and a large al-Qaeda presence. Not that I thought the agent was but it > seemed strange. It is possible for little old ladies to assist terrorists. Do you think they and all white people should be exampt from secondary screening? So, the TSA agent might be from a mid-eastern country. Why do you want to do, create a place like Manzanar? Do we really need to make those WW2 era mistakes again? >It is possible for little old ladies to assist terrorists. >Do you think they and all white people should be exampt from secondary >screening? No although there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. And being offensive with someone who isn't causing a problem isn't it the right way. >>It is possible for little old ladies to assist terrorists. >>Do you think they and all white people should be exampt from secondary [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > offensive with someone who isn't causing a problem isn't it the right > way. You were the person who commented on the race of the TSA agent. I didn't see anything that showed a TSA agent was offensive. >You were the person who commented on the race of the TSA agent. >I didn't see anything that showed a TSA agent was offensive. You'll have to take my word for it, or not as you so choose. It's not like it was front page news. And what race did I say she was? >>You were the person who commented on the race of the TSA agent. >>I didn't see anything that showed a TSA agent was offensive. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > And what race did I say she was? Her race doesn't matter. If they are using secondary screening for all races why would they need to exempt an elderly woman in a wheelchair? >Her race doesn't matter. If they are using secondary screening for all >races why would they need to exempt an elderly woman in a wheelchair? You asked about the race of the TSA agent. And I don't think they did as thorough scrutiny of everyone. >>Her race doesn't matter. If they are using secondary screening for all >>races why would they need to exempt an elderly woman in a wheelchair? > > You asked about the race of the TSA agent. And I don't think they did > as thorough scrutiny of everyone. I didn't ask about the race of the TSA agent. The OP posted a comment relating to it, as if the agent had no business screening the woman. Secondary screening, when done, is done with scrutiny for everyone, irregardless of race. > Yup, the *last* thing that TSA wants is your mom to overpower the crew with > a box cutter. Or to be hand one off to someone who could over power the crew. >> Good advice. My wife is a childhood polio survivor; one leg shortened >> and weakened. Normally she gets around very well, no cane or walker, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > she went through security. Apparently they didn't ask if she could > walk through but the TSA gave her a very thorough patdown. My DH has difficulty with ramps due to congestive heart failure and we always get a wheel chair at airports. We seem to get through security faster than others. (They let me go with him as we are traveling together) He also wears an insulin pump and is worried about the x-ray machine so they pat him down.  SignatureJanet Wilder Bad spelling. Bad punctuation Good Friends. Good Life I flew Southwest to Vegas in July with my sister and Mom. We requested wheel chair assistance when we made our reservations. At check in, we were told to get a blue folder at the gate. That gave us priority boarding. My first experience with Southwest. Very satisfied. I would fly with them again. Usually I fly U.S. Air, but that's another tale. :( This page (and this site generally) tell all: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/disability.html and 1-800-IFLYSWA can answer any other questions you may have. The following are anecdotal observations from someone who flies on Southwest a lot and sees plenty of aged and/or handicapped people thereon (seemingly getting to the right place, and being helped as needed, and generally having as pleasant an experience as air travel can be expected to be in these times). In my fairly recent experience, Southwest lets those who need extra time or assistance "preboard" at the very head of the line, and gives them help if needed. I think they still have to check in and obtain a boarding pass in the usual way (online as much as 24 hours in advance or at the airport), and make their case for preboarding to the gate agent. However, the online ticket purchase form also has a blank, toward the end of the process, for specifying whether the passenger will need assistance (I occasionally tab onto it by accident but haven't paid much attention to the details). Preboarding is for people with special needs now. *Family* (as in: kids) boarding used to fall into that category but now is interspersed in regular boarding, usually between the A and B groups. (A and B? And C? Three waves, with numerical order within each one, based on when you checked in.) If you are accompanying someone for assistance purposes, you arrange that at the ticket counter and can go as far as the gate with them. If the passenger is easily confused, the itinerary is complicated (e.g., change of planes), or something special has to be made sure of at the other end, this is a good chance to make sure the gate agent conveys this to the flight attendant. AFAIK they allow two carry-ons and have not imposed any charge for the first two pieces of checked luggage of conforming size and weight. See their website for how they handle wheelchairs, oxygen machines, etc. if applicable. Basic beverages (water, coffee, juice, pop...) and a snack (something of the cookieschips/peanuts persuasion on shorter flights; more and better cookies/peanuts/chips on longer flights) are free. Alcoholic beverages cost extra. Real food is not available onboard, so bring your own sandwich or pick up something at an airport restaurant. Wishing her a good trip, --Joe |
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