elderly mom on Southwest

Brian wrote:
On Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:12:05 -0700, mrtravel wrote:



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.

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