A social media user waiting to board a Southwest flight recently cried foul over an apparent “pre-boarding scam” involving wheelchairs — while the airliner stresses that its policy complies with the law.
Passengers are known to get antsy boarding and exiting planes, but Paul, whose Twitter handle is @trendready, complained about how some fellow flyers are possibly attempting to game the system by requesting wheelchair assistance and be the primary ones on a flight before takeoff.
“Pre-boarding scam at @SouthwestAir,” he claimed in a Saturday tweet with a photograph of a line of individuals lined up in wheelchairs. “20 passengers boarding using a wheelchair and possibly only 3 need one to deplane.”
The airline replied to the grievance but admitted it had little power to stop any possible trickery.
“We’re sorry for any disappointment, Paul,” Southwest tweeted. “We work hard to keep up the integrity of the boarding process while providing appropriate accommodations for all who fly. Since many disabilities aren’t visible, we’re unable to query the validity of preboarding requests.”
Paul vented out on Twitter about Southwest Airline passengers using a pre-board scamming tactic by deceitfully using wheelchairs so that they may be the primary ones on a flight. Twitter/ @trendready
Other social media users chimed in and mentioned similar “scams” they witnessed.
“I sat next to a wheelchair pusher recently,” one user tweeted. “Asked her how many individuals do you think that legitimately need a wheelchair. Answer: lower than half most don’t even pretend that they’ve a disability they simply want the ‘perks’”
“Yep! Looks just like the airport at Las Vegas. My husband at all times calls it the wheelchair parade,” one other social media user wrote.
Other social media users who’ve flown Southwest detailed similar incidents where they witnessed passengers who pretended they needed a wheelchair to pre-board. AP
“I ended flying @SouthwestAir after a person who was running from his automobile to the terminal in front of me, used this to get a terrific seat on a packed flight,” one other user claimed.
A day later, Paul again tweeted his frustrations of individuals using wheelchairs who won’t have needed them, including taking photos of individuals standing and walking around before plopping back within the wheelchair.
He claimed 14 people used wheelchairs to board, but only six needed them to deplane.
“Hey, Paul! Our preboarding policy is in compliance with ACAA requirements and allows us to offer appropriate accommodations for all who fly with us,” Southwest tweeted in response.
“Nevertheless, we regret in case you were dissatisfied together with your experience, and we appreciate you sharing your perspective.”
Customers who need a wheelchair must discover “themselves as needing wheelchair assistance upon arrival to the airport, at any connection points, and upon arrival to their destination,” in accordance with the airline’s policy.
A wheelchair will also be added while booking, Southwest says.
