Southwest passengers allegedly misuse wheelchair assistance to board flight early

Southwest Airlines is under fire after customers allegedly used a vulnerability in the airline's boarding procedure to fraudulently declare the need for wheelchair assistance. The issue was recently brought to light by an event on a trip between Florida and Puerto Rico , which infuriated other passengers and raised concerns about the fairness of the airline’s policies. According to reports from the New York Daily News and Daily Mail, more than two dozen passengers on a recent Southwest flight from Tampa to Puerto Rico boarded early, claiming they required wheelchair assistance. However, upon landing, most of those passengers were seen walking off the plane, leaving their wheelchairs behind. This has led to accusations of passengers "gaming the system" to gain priority boarding and access to better seats without needing genuine assistance. One passenger who was on the flight shared their experience on social media, noting the discrepancy between those who claimed wheelchair assistance and their ability to walk once the plane landed. "I counted 30 pre-boards needing wheelchair assistance. When we get off the plane, 28 of them walk off!"<br/>