{"id":2241208,"date":"2024-05-09T18:00:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T22:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-comes-under-criticism-for-letting-devious-passengers-exploit-boarding-system\/"},"modified":"2024-05-09T18:04:34","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T22:04:34","slug":"southwest-airlines-comes-under-criticism-for-letting-devious-passengers-exploit-boarding-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/southwest-airlines-comes-under-criticism-for-letting-devious-passengers-exploit-boarding-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Southwest Airlines Faces Backlash Over Allowing &#8216;Devious&#8217; Passengers to Manipulate Boarding Process"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouthwest-airlines-comes-under-criticism-for-letting-devious-passengers-exploit-boarding-system%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2241208&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Summary: Southwest Airlines faces\u200c scrutiny over alleged\u200c exploitation of its \u200dpreboarding \u200csystem, \u200bwith concerns that some passengers are falsely claiming\u200d disabilities to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kayleigh-mcenanys-sister-launches-new-dating-app-for-conservatives-the-right-stuff\/\" title=\"Kayleigh McEnany\u2019s Sister Launches New Dating App For Conservatives: The Right Stuff\">gain early access<\/a>. The\u200c airline&#8217;s \u2064open-seating policy allows for premium selections, leading\u200d to\u200b debates on fairness. Potential\u200b changes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/apple-to-roll-out-covid-19-vaccine-card-slot-in-iphone-wallet\/\" title=\"Apple To Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccine Card Slot In iPhone Wallet\">assigned seating<\/a> are\u200c being considered amid\u2064 revenue\u2062 challenges. Other \u200dindustries, \u200blike Disney,\u200b have also tackled abuse of disability systems.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<header> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/news\/\">  News <\/a>   <span> <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/rmoorhead\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <span>   By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/rmoorhead\/%20\"><span>Richard Moorhead<\/span><\/a> <\/span> <span>   May 9, 2024 at 12:10pm <\/span> <\/span>  <\/header>\n<section>\n<p>Are greedy passengers exploiting Southwest Airlines\u2019 preboarding system?<\/p>\n<p>The large volume of passengers who board before everyone else is spurring concerns of abuse, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/lifestyle\/travel\/southwest-airlines-preboarding-cheaters-c71a88a5?mod=hp_trending_now_article_pos1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Wall Street Journal<\/a> reported Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>Some believe their fellow Southwest customers are falsely claiming disabilities in order to preboard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrequent fliers see it as a devious way to game the open-seating system for good seats and the pick of overhead bins without paying extra,\u201d the Journal said.<\/p>\n<p>Steve Maziarka, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/southwest-airlines-cuts-2000-workers-loses-200m-labor-costs-soar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Southwest<\/a> frequent flier, said he identified no fewer than 30 preboarding passengers on a Thanksgiving weekend flight and almost as many on a February trip.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople are taking advantage of the system,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s just gotten out of control.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In accordance with Department of Transportation regulations, Southwest offers preboarding to anyone who \u201cself-identifies\u201d with a disability, in addition to families with small children.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike its major competitors, Southwest does not assign <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/southwest-airlines-unique-plus-size-passenger-policy-causing-controversy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seats<\/a> \u2014 enabling preboarders to take their choice of window seats and premium locations.<\/p>\n<p>These passengers also have their pickings of overhead storage bins, negating concerns that they\u2019ll have to pay for checked bags that won\u2019t fit into cabin storage.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/faa-investigating-southwest-pilot-given-instructions-nearly-caused-disaster\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">airline\u2019s<\/a> official X account has pushed back on suggestions that it start scrutinizing the disabled status of passengers signed up to preboard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince many disabilities aren\u2019t visible, we\u2019re unable to question the validity of preboarding requests,\u201d it said in an October post.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Since many disabilities aren\u2019t visible, we\u2019re unable to question the validity of preboarding requests. We\u2019re sorry for any frustration caused today. (2\/2) -Anthony<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SouthwestAir\/status\/1713564679749165542?\">October 15, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A possible solution to the preboarding abuse might be right around the corner.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest CEO Bob Jordan indicated that the company was considering changing policy to give customers assigned seats, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/travel\/airline-news\/2024\/04\/25\/southwest-airlines-seating-boarding-changes\/73452778007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USA Today<\/a> reported last month.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Coming up on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KTLA?\">@KTLA<\/a>: Is money-losing Southwest Airlines doing away with open seating so it can charge fees for assigned seats? Maybe, says the carrier\u2019s CEO<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 David Lazarus (@Davidlaz) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Davidlaz\/status\/1783626283269926954?\">April 25, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Jordan disclosed the potential change in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2024\/04\/25\/southwest-weighing-cabin-changes-to-drive-revenue.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CNBC<\/a> interview in light of some of the airline\u2019s revenue struggles.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\">\n<p>Should Southwest change to assigned seats?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest\u2019s system might not be the first case of customers with questionable disabilities getting to the front of the line.<\/p>\n<p>Disney has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/golf-mickelson-other-golf-pros-sue-pga-tour-in-liv-fight\/\" title=\"Golf-Mickelson, other golf pros sue PGA Tour in LIV fight\">threatened lifetime bans<\/a> of guests who exploit its disability system to skip to the front of the line at its theme parks, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/disney-parks-lifetime-ban-disabilities-fraud-scam-2024-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Business Insider<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<div>\n<p><b><i>A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><i><span>I heard a chilling comment the other day: \u201cWe don\u2019t even know if an election will be held in 2024.\u201d <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>That wasn\u2019t said by a conspiracy theorist or a doomsday prophet. No, former U.S. national security advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn said that to the founder of The Western Journal, Floyd Brown.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Gen. Flynn\u2019s warning means that the 2024 election is the most important election for every single living American. If we lose this one to the wealthy elites who hate us, hate God, and hate what America stands for, we can only assume that 248 years of American history and the values we hold dear to our hearts may soon vanish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The end game is here, and as Benjamin Franklin said, \u201cWe must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>All of this means that <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>without you<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>, it\u2019s over. We have the platform, the journalists, and the experience to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-rises-as-he-promises-hes-only-begun-to-fight-put-on-full-armor-of-god-to-fight-the-left\/\" title=\"DeSantis Rises As He Promises He\u2019s \u2018Only Begun To Fight\u2019: \u2018Put On Full Armor Of God\u2019 To Fight The Left\">fight back hard<\/a>, but Big Tech is strangling us through advertising blacklists, shadow bans, and algorithms. Did you know that we\u2019ve been blacklisted by 90% of advertisers? Without direct support from you, our readers, we can\u2019t continue the fight.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Can we count on <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>your support<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>? It may not seem like much, but a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>Western Journal Membership<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  can make all the difference in the world because when you support us directly, you cut Big Tech out of the picture. They lose control. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>A monthly Western Journal Membership costs less than one coffee and breakfast sandwich each month, and it gets you access to ALL of our content \u2014 news, commentary, and premium articles. You\u2019ll experience a radically reduced number of ads, and most importantly you will be vitally supporting the fight for America\u2019s soul in 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>We are literally counting on you because without our members, The Western Journal would cease to exist. Will you <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/subscribe\/?utm_source=site&#038;utm_medium=westernjournalism&#038;utm_campaign=authorpitch\"><i><span>join us<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>  in the fight? <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Sincerely,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Josh Manning<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>Deputy Managing Editor<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Western Journal<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"author-info-45583\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/author\/rmoorhead\/\">  <\/a> <\/p>\n<div>\n<p><label for=\"summary-tab-radio-45583\">Summary<\/label><label for=\"posts-tab-radio-45583\">Recent<span> Posts<\/span><\/label><label for=\"contact-tab-radio-45583\" onclick=\"if( typeof grecaptcha=='undefined' ) { let cap_s=document.createElement( 'script' ); cap_s.src='https:\/\/www.google.com\/recaptcha\/api.js?render=6LeJFcsUAAAAAPsIEqvB1EebWbZfqRUe6ebMpGy7'; document.body.appendChild( cap_s ); }\">Contact<\/label><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Richard Moorhead is a journalist, a graduate of Arizona State University, Army Infantryman, Gold Star grandson, and guitar player.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a report by The Wall Street Journal on May 9, 2024, concerns arise over alleged exploitation of Southwest Airlines&#8217; preboarding system. Greedy passengers reportedly abusing the system by falsely claiming disabilities to board early, sparking debate among frequent fliers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":666,"featured_media":2241209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Southwest-boarding.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[548],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2241208","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-conservative-news-daily"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Southwest-boarding.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241208","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/666"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2241208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2241208\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2241209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2241208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2241208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2241208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}