A passenger on a plane shared a photo on social media of a passenger in a wheelchair during pre-boarding, sparking controversy among travelers.
User X captioned the post, “Typical @SouthwestAir flight to Florida!”
“I counted 30 people before boarding who needed wheelchair assistance. Once they got off the plane, 28 of them walked off the plane,” the post continued.
X users posted their thoughts in the comments section about some flyers that only use wheelchairs to board and do not disembark.
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“It’s not like they don’t need assistance getting on and off the plane, and it’s not like they can walk the distance from the terminal to the gate,” said one commenter.
A Southwest passenger posted a photo (not pictured) to Only two flyers were said to have been taken off the plane. (St. Petersburg)
An They may need some help (to ask for help).” If they can walk. ”
“It’s one thing to get off the plane, it’s another thing to walk through the entire airport. Most people are fine with a few yards, but not hundreds of yards,” added another.
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A user commented, “Sitting for a long time means it’s okay to walk a little longer than it takes to get there.”
X’s social media users reacted to the post, with one saying: “Most people mistakenly think wheelchair users can’t stand up.” (St. Petersburg)
“Some wheelchair users are able to walk short distances. They are called ambulatory wheelchair users. I myself end up using a walking aid. Just being stubborn,” one person commented.
Another said: “Most people mistakenly think that wheelchair users cannot stand up.”
Southwest Airlines apologized in response to the user’s post.
“We’re sorry to disappoint you… We appreciate your feedback and hope to create even more fond memories next time,” Southwest said in a statement.
Fox News Digital has reached out to X User and Southwest Airlines for comment.
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According to a report from FOX Business, there was a similar incident in Fort Lauderdale in 2023, where an X user claimed to have witnessed 20 passengers requesting wheelchair assistance.
“Pre-boarding fraud on @SouthwestAir. 20 passengers boarded in wheelchairs, but probably only 3 need one to deplane,” the user wrote in the post, noting that passengers sitting in wheelchairs I also attached a photo.
Another user posted a similar incident at a Florida airport in 2023, claiming that “20 passengers boarded in wheelchairs and only 3 probably needed one to deplane.” (St. Petersburg)
The post also featured images of several people sitting in wheelchairs.
According to the user’s feed, the flight was canceled and the user also had the same experience.
The user claimed that 14 people requested wheelchairs on the rebooked flight, but only six people used their wheelchairs to disembark.
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Gary Leff, a Texas-based travel industry expert and author of the blog View From the Wing, told FOX News Digital that Southwest Airlines has more passengers requesting wheelchairs than any other airline. He said there are many.
“Not coincidentally, there is a greater benefit to doing so on Southwest Airlines, where seats are first-come, first-served. Boarding early gives you access to better seats on the plane,” Leff said. .
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He added: “There are only a limited number of contract workers at each airport providing wheelchair assistance, so frivolous requests hurt those who really need them. Those passengers face longer waits to disembark. or wait on the jet bridge for a wheelchair to appear.”
