Body filled with shrapnel and fuzed back

As far as preboard is concerned, for me, MYOB is the golden rule.

I have cervical spinal stenosis and will likely be there someday but I hope not soon.

Try to have good flights.

I fully agree with you, OP, except for one thing: No other passenger should ask you why you need to preboard. It’s none of their DAMN business.

Good example of invisible disability (in this case when clothes are on).

I have had breast cancer twice. My chest is carved up & and scared, as well as my armpits from multiple surgeries, and at the end, there is no reconstruction but a painful chest with limited overhead mobility. I'm sometimes in pre boarding & the looks I get make me feel like ripping off my top and showing the haters why I need a little extra time. I feel you, brother. Nobody knows what you have endured. So I send you love and light always!

Yup cheaters don’t care. People who genuinely need it question themselves. I tell my mom to carry her proof with her so if anyone questions she can show it and by all means call the doctor listed on the note.

As a preboarder with an invisible disability, THANK YOU. I already feel like garbage from my disability, being judged because I’m getting on the plane first is ridiculous. I’d much rather be healthy and in line like the good ol days before I became disabled.

If you’re mad about people pre-boarding when you can’t “tell” if they need it, just assume they all do. Then there’s nothing to be angry about. 

My husband should be in a wheelchair cause of his back. Thank sweet baby Jesus, he isn't. But he will sometimes use preboarding a comfortable section or if he needs a little extra time. And like you no one can tell how jacked up his back and nerves are.

It sucks to have an invisible disability. I haven’t preboarded since a southwest agent refused to allow it because I refused to ride in a wheelchair. I can walk but not well, fast or without pain. I will walk as long as I am able because I’m stubborn and I know when I give up I’ll lose the ability. I go to the airport early because I know it’s going to take time. Now the people behind me boarding are going to just have to wait while I wobble down the jet bridge holding on to the hand rail that has a very sharp piece that will cut you at the end of every segment because I’m especially bad on inclines. I don’t care. I never want to be at the front of the plane anyway. The people behind have to wait for me getting off too because it’s also an incline. I’m still not riding in that damn chair.

This right here! I broke my neck 2 1/2 months ago. I have screws and other hardware holding me together. I also had to have a fusion and damaged my vertebral artery. I don’t have full movement of my neck. It’s very difficult to get comfortable in certain positions.

I haven’t flown since the accident and I haven’t flown SW in years so I don’t know much about the pre boarding. However I know that no one would have a clue about my injury and the discomfort. I walk fine, my posture is pretty good after wearing a cervical collar for 6 weeks. I’m a friendly and talkative person. I look and act like there isn’t anything wrong with me. But I still have pain. I’m still only 2 1/2 months out from something that honestly should have killed me. You really never know.

I fully understand people abuse the system. Those people suck and give anyone that doesn’t have a “visible” injury a bad name. Not everyone that is capable of walking and looks fine is fine. 3 months ago my outlook could have been different. I didn’t think much of it. Now I’m afraid if I need to utilize a service that’s needed I’ll be denied or given a hard time because I honestly look good.

I’m sorry this is happening to you.

I preboard with my autistic son and often feel like other people are judging us and wondering why we get to board before them. But, I also don’t want to have a high boarding number and risk us being separated or pay extra because hey, moneys tight.

I get annoyed at the people standing in line at preboard who are not there to preboard. We flew last weekend and had 4 people in wheelchairs at the gate and maybe 8 or so people lined up behind them. I watched the GA load up the wheelchair people and was waiting for the line to move forward when the Ga asked for any more preboard. I had to ask everyone if they were boarding or what and squeeze by them to get to the front. All while trying to keep my neurodivergent son from talking to EVERYONE and make sure that he didn’t drop his charizard stuffie.

I always tell both of my kiddos that you never know what someone’s going through and just to offer kindness.

Thank you. I have a similar story and will gladly give the details to any passenger who needs my information. I would happily trade, in a snap, for their boarding position and their health. While there are fake pre-boarders, and it is a real problem, the ableists ridiculing pre-boarding in this forum are equally a problem. They may defend themselves and say, "I don't include people who are truly disabled", when in reality, their comments and judgment give permission to mock and look down on all pre-boarders who are not obviously wheelchair bound.

Yes. Invisible disabilities exist, and Kevin in the gate area isn’t their doctor.

I’ve been seeing a lot of the posts OP refers to which has helped me develop the take : I’m not a ‘fellow passenger’ I’m a SWA customer and i don’t owe you jack shit.

This isn’t a city bus. we aren’t both pitching in tax dollars for this service.

I fly SWA because they have great accommodation for overweight passengers and because of that I pre board. I couldn’t give a half of a fuck what anybody thinks about it because this is between me, my money, and SWA. If you don’t like how they treat their customers whether that’s you OR someone else, a delta plane is just a few gates down.

To OP - No time for jerks! Ride your ride!

Please don’t ask people why they are preboarding.

This preboard problem is exaggerated.

I don’t look like there’s anything wrong with me but I have severe arthritis particularly in my lumbar region. It can be very painful. I simply cannot stand for more than ten minutes at a time.

Waiting and get jostled in the boarding queue can be really difficult. Not to mention the constant inquiry from strangers about the number on my boarding pass, which is not just annoying but anxiety producing when standing there for too long. Walking around is actually easier on my body which I’ve done.

I don’t pre board to get a front seat. In fact once on I will walk all of the way to the back of the plane if FAs allow, which sometimes they don’t. That’s always puzzling but they have their reasons. And after landing I don’t try to get up a nanosecond after pulling up to the gate. I wait till most of the plane is empty. It’s so much easier. 99% of the time I am in no hurry anyway. I’m retired.

Sometimes I think I should carry my latest X-rays with me so people can see what’s going inside my body.

Thank you!

I’m so tired of all the people sitting with their phones ready to catch a ‘jetway Jesus’. I can walk maybe 100 feet on a good day before the pain gets too bad, so I use the wheelchair as a walker to get to the bathroom.

The snickers, secretive pointing and absolute GLEE people exhibit makes me sick.

And the posts here about ‘catching cheaters’ or suspecting cheaters? Use that righteous energy somewhere it can do some good, because you’re mostly hurting people, you sanctimonious sh!ts.

Any time you have a system that depends on people being truthful and honest when self reporting three will be people who exploit that system. The onus is on Southwest to try to modify the system to be more robust. It's clearly not working the way it is, in my opinion. Bad actors lying and taking advantage of a system not meant for them cards doubt for those who don't use it and extra scrutiny for those that do.

I get "invisible" disabilities and want to support those with them. I do think the system needs to be changed to create a better experience for everyone involved.

If I ever see you, I’m going to ask so we can embarrass the f* out of everyone questioning your pre board status! 😈

Naw. All the A- list preferred would rather judge you and complain on Reddit

Most of the people complaining about preboarding exaggerate the hell out of their stories.

10 people board with one person in a wheelchair.

12 preboarders take up the entire front of the plane leaving people who have A1 to sit in a middle seat in the last row.

The whole Jetway Jesus thing is probably a thing, but most of the people complaining are selfish aholes. They are the ones who refuse to let you merge onto the freeway or count the number of jellybeans they get when their coworkers bring them into the office.

Bitter, petty people with nothing more to do than complain.

Live your life and ignore those aholes.

I don't care who pre-boards or whatever unless you board in a wheelchair and magically deplane without one.

I only get agitated when I see a preboarder get on with several other completely healthy family members

I am in a similar boat but have no scars to show. I have had a TBI and am frequently unable to walk up or down ramps. I have also had multiple blood clots. I also carry multiple medical bags due to the large amount of medication I am on (30+ pills/day plus liquid). People look at me all judgy because I don’t “need” all those bags. They can’t all be medical. I also can’t need a wheelchair I look too healthy. Yes I have had an airline employee not believe me before as well.

No one should feel entitled enough to ask you.

Sounds like my neck is only a fraction as jacked up as yours, but I hear you on the invisible nature of spinal damage. I try really hard to stay active and continue enjoying life as much as I can, so I get a lot of judgment on the days, or in the moments, where it’s too painful to be “normal.”

OP, that’s something I’d like to see. Others with a holier than thou attitude looking on in horror as you explain it all to them. That would be awesome.

Unfortunately, there are those who try to game the system. They make it so much worse for the rest of us who need to pre-board.

May I assume that you were in the military when you were wounded? If so, THANK YOU for your service and sacrifice for our country. You are a hero in my eyes.

I’m very sorry for your injuries and that you live your life in pain. As for the complainers, they can go to hell. My Dad would preboard because of terminal lung illness and bad knees. He didn’t always look sick and sometimes he could walk pretty well but other times he required a wheelchair. No one knows what is going on in anyone else’s life so no one should be judging.

I agree and I also don't. OP, this isn't your fault, this is Southwests fault. If they are going to set up a situation where people pay for a certain item, and then give that item out for free with no validation, then the person who paid has a right to feel irritated and taken advantage of. I think you deciding to fly Southwest puts you in the position to defend yourself, I wouldn't want to support a company like that were I in your shoes

Nobody cares that you struggle down the jetway nobody cares about your woes! What is odd though is the OJ dash up the jetway to the next gate or the sprint to baggage claim!!

Way too many people don't understand invisible disabilities or even the need to use a wheelchair sometimes but not always.

Completely agree!! However…be prepared to be fully judged if you bring 10+ people with you to pre board ;)

This is the problem, people who just can’t mind their business. I don’t care when I board, I don’t care when you board. As long as my flight is not delayed or cancelled I’m good to go. You don’t a middle seat in the back? Well move out the way I will gladly take it. Mind your own situations, be nice to everyone, enjoy the flight.

As long as I get a seat I don't care. I only take SW for flights under 2 hours. Any longer I got with a different airline and pick my seat.

Well you can ask for extra boarding time actually. I think you would qualify for that. Those people usually go first

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

For stenosis see a really good orthopedic doctor. Mine redid my bad L4-5

What NOSEY people need to realize is not all disabilities are physical. AND most people who have these unseen disabilities don’t want them. Continue to do what’s best for you and stop explaining yourself to the onlookers😒.

Sounds painful, what specific seat do you need? And if preboarder ahead of you sits there, do you just get off the plane and try the next flight?

As someone who has used Pre-board for his late wife who was in a wheelchair 24/7 and now myself due to multiple surgeries, it's fun because of the looks you get from people. They all know my body and think I should not be pre-board, but if they were aware that I spent 2 months in the hospital after transplant surgery and literally lost all my muscle and fat mass, they might understand. But everyone is a Dr and they know everything. Show me your Medical School diploma and your state license, then you can criticize me. Otherwise, keep your opinions to yourself.

I'll get off my soap box now.....

You’re entitled to it. You should follow the example of the sociopaths and not care either.

I have trouble noticing when they call my boarding group, much less who was pre boarding.

I feel like they should do pre boarding then board the rest, back of the plane to front, so we don't end up behind someone carefully checking the overhead bin before selecting a place for their carryon. First class last. That way I won't accidentally whack someone with my carryon. First class gets to be comfortable on the flight. They can wait till us peons have gotten in.

Nobody should be asking you why you need to pre-board. I think everyone on here agrees that there are invisible disabilities/illnesses that necessitate preboarding. It’s also nobody’s business why you need to pre-board. I’m sorry you are in so much pain. I’ve not experienced chronic pain, but I do appreciate how incredibly debilitating it is in the day in and day out.

Next time you’re at the airport, ask at the information desk for a “Sunflower Lanyard” - This is a hidden disabilities indicator for airport staff. Won’t fix the Karens and Kevin’s of the world, but the GA should be nicer when you go to preboard.

Thank you for your service

6’ tall native with sleeve tattoos you say? 😍

I have a friend who's an amputee (half of a foot, no prosthetic) and has the complexion of someone who's been randomly selected for additional screening. We were cutting it close one time because of a luggage mix-up (thanks United) and it took him fully a half hour longer to get through security than it took me and we missed our flight.

Now we get him a wheelchair + employee to push him and he gets to look like that a-hole that can miraculously walk when it's time to board but at least he looks like an a-hole who made his flight and didn't fall down.

You know, I keep going back to ted Lasso - Roy Kent's presser after Isaac MacAdoo takes after a fan in the stands for using the f-word (the other f-word).

"None of us know what is going on in each other's lives.

It's not anyone's place to judge because none of us have any clue what's going on with a person.

For my part, brother or sister - I'm sorry that you're dealing with what you have, but I'm grateful you made it home again. Fuck the haters.

Same. 24 screws and 2 rods in my spine. I don’t usually pre-board, but have to constantly change positions to not hurt.

Thanks for sharing. i hope this post is sufficient enough to shut the ableists up even if it's for a few days

Do you have an entourage of 5 people that wheel you onboard with a wheelchair, then you just mosey back off without the chair? If no, then you're fine.

Folks love to bitch about those of us who stand up quick after the “ding”.

Well see my knees bent like that for an hour or two hurt like fsck so yea imma go ahead and stand up as soon as I can.

Folks generally need to STFU and MYOB.

Paging u/SeattleParkPlace

This is the perfect example for why it's absolutely none of your business to be asking people about their disabilities/accusing ANYONE of cheating the system.

I’m a young healthy dude that works really hard on his fitness and health. I have a physical condition. I carry a card in my wallet which has saved me in instances outside airports where I may have certain needs but someone doesn’t believe me.

Sometimes I feel self conscious when I get attitude from thr SW agent at the gate giving me preboard.

Then I remind myself I’m using it for a legit reason, I’m doing nothing wrong, and it’s so funny how we shame ourselves over insignificant shit.

And then I carry on with my life and stop caring so much about it

I’m sure there are some people who abuse preboarding, but I don’t understand why some people on here think it is their job to police everyone’s reasons for preboarding. Most of the people angrily commenting don’t even know Southwest’s actual preboarding policy lol

I’m

I don't think too many people are questioning individual pre-boarders, but rather sometimes upset at the system itself when it just so happens that their flight, that they paid $60 extra for better boarding, has 22 pre boarders.

I recently got my best position through Earlybird at A7 and A8. Pretty much the first available set of two seats were close to the exit rows. Pre Board seems to have turned into a potential nightmare that Family Boarding can be leaving Orlando.

I’ve mentioned this before, my husband gets looks when wearing long pants, they can’t see his below knee amputation. I’m sick of people being so full of themselves that a position in line makes them lose their mind. He’d gladly trade your place in line to have his leg back.

A roommate of mine years back had a pretty severe heart condition that made walking exhausting for her. She "looked" healthy and the amount of BS people gave her, assuming she was driving the car of someone with a "real" disability so she could park closer, ugh. I'm sorry. People can really suck.

I was in a bad car accident five years ago. Had to use a cane and back brace. I’m 95% better but still pre-board. I have a picture of my totalled car to show anyone who says something. But I’m also a MYOB guy.

I would rather ten people who take advantage of preboarding have a seat in front of me than one person who needs it be denied. 

I am sorry that happened to you, but just so I know, which seats are different and justify an early board? Every seat on that plane is exactly the same.

This is weird and stupid for me to say, but i feel like if i had preboarding for this reason i would limp while boarding just to minimize harassment.

My wife has similar issues - looks fine on the outside but is messed up on the inside. After she collapsed walking down a very long, overheated sky bridge to the plane, the lovely personnel at the plane door told her to please, please, pre-board in the future. But she can't stand all the haters giving her the malocchio sometimes.

When we went to Albuquerque in February we ended up next to a fellow pre-boarder. When we arrived she turned down the wheelchair and left. We ended up next to her in the "waiting for a wheelchair pusher" area; she was in a wheelchair, too, and looked absolutely wiped. I suspect, since she walked down the jetway, that she can't handle being pushed in the jetway.

But you know what? None of my business why she needed a wheelchair.

You and everyone else that ‘looks’ normal is why I will never question anyone in preboard. Not my job to be integrity police plus I am disabled w an ‘invisible’ condition. You preboard w pride and thank you for your service sir

I love traveling. I even love flying. And for the life of me, I can’t figure out why healthy young people are so goddamn obsessed with getting on a tight, cramped airplane before they have to. My family and I sit and finish eating or texting, reading, whatever. We’ll gladly wait until 5 minutes before door close to board. And same way getting off. We’ll sit and let everyone else push and shove. Finish our book chapter and when rows are empty behind us, then grab our stuff and leave quickly, because no one is holding up the line anymore. Obv different if you’re catching a connecting flight or delayed and waiting for transportation. But travel is so much more enjoyable if you just are patient and not a dick to people. And obviously life is better for you if you myob about why people are pre-boarding and need assistance in any way.

Big r/iamverybadass energy in this post.

Bulging discs, spinal stenosis, nerve damage, arthritis…… need I continue? Five spinal surgeries and two fusions to date! Most recent fusion done earlier this year. Doctors said to prepare myself mentally as there will be more in the future! That’s just the spine, left shoulder needs replacing (YAY ARTHRITIS)!

If anyone wants to glare at me for early boarding they can just ask for an explanation. I will gladly give them all the gory details along with pictures of some of the procedures!

The whole friggen plane lands at the same time!

Serious question: I just started flying on southwest, done it once. How are we supposed to know where we are supposed to be in line if we don’t ask a person who is in line so we know if our number is before or after them? Are we not supposed to care, number wise? Is that petty? Thanks for any guidance, I don’t want to be the asshole.

As far as I'm concerned, other passengers should feel free to look on and judge, so long as they keep all that judgment tucked inside themselves. My family looks healthy, and you're probably going to be annoyed to see us. But not as annoyed as you would be sitting next to my husband with vertigo and vomiting or my kid with autistic meltdowns!

Suggestion: if you don't already have one, get a cane and obviously lean on it. I've found that since I got my cane I don't get side-eye for pre-boarding and people give me a lot more space. (I used to use a hiking pole, but that didn't have the same effect even though my condition was the same.)

(I also get a lot more room from idiots riding electric scooters on sidewalks, although I suspect that's less from consideration and more the recognition that if they run into my cane it will hurt them a lot more than it will hurt me, while without the cane the reverse is true.)

This is not the same, but…this is how I feel when people act all high and mighty about returning/not returning shopping carts to the store. I was once nearly attacked in a parking lot so I always leave my cart and lock myself in my car immediately. Looking down on people for leaving a cart in the parking lot is for people who haven’t done much good with their life and need someone, ANYONE they can feel is inferior to them.

The problem is that any scammer can claim a disability. Should be like the DMV placards, at least you should have a letter from your doctor.

half of us population is obese and has two or more chronic diseases.