What do you think of Healthy Passengers Using Wheelchairs To Get Airport Priority Boarding?

Question

People with disabilities in a wheelchair get priority boarding at most airports.

But what about those who use this as a way to get priority boarding when they have no disability?

On a recent Southwest flight, 25 passengers requested wheelchairs when boarding, but only 5 requested a wheelchair at their destination. Airline personnel have started calling these "Jesus flights", referring to the fact that Jesus must have cured them during the flight.

So... what do you think about this?

Here's an article that describes this activity in more detail.

https://viewfromthewing.com/30-passengers-use-wheelchairs-to-get-airport-priority-boarding-on-just-one-flight/

Red_Arrow · Accepted Answer

There are jerks who feign disabilities for special treatment all over. People who run across the parking lot at a store to get to one of the motorized handicapped carts and get in everybody's way with them. People who buy "service dog" sweaters for their dogs (which really mean nothing) so they can take their pet in the store where it goes wild and causes near accidents with the customers.

I have seen some malls use people with police powers, such as retired cops, to check on any suspicious use of handicapped placards. They can use the number from the placard to radio a description of who is authorized to use it and issue tickets if it is being misused.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

I didn't know people did this, but it sounds like what they might do.

When I was young, I knew some people who used wheelchairs for shoplifting. One person sat in the wheel chair with a lap blanket. A second person handed them a stack of steaks which slipped under the blanket.

When I was helping my friend get into med school, I heard stories of people suddenly becoming dyslexic to get an advantage being admitted. It's competitive, so a little advantage for students with lower grades goes a long ways.

SaoirseS · Accepted Answer

They're inconsiderate people, just like fully able people who park in handicap spots because they have handicap plates or placards (like driving the car of a family member who legitimately needs them). I have a remedy for that problem. I agree with what others have suggested for the solution, require a handicap parking permit or other documentation.

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

Simple solution, if they walk off the plane break their legs.

Paul_in_Indy · Answer

I’m sure different places are different, but I have never found that one needs a wheelchair. When they call for people who need assistance or extra time, the older folks and the families with young children board and no one frisks them to look for a wheelchair. I flew when recovering from an injury and I boarded with the “needs assistance” folks so that I wouldn’t slow anyone down. I didn’t have crutches or a wheelchair or, even, a pronounced limp. No one stopped me. The cabin crew assumed I needed extra time.

DARKCLOUD1945X · Answer

My wish is that the people who do that wake up one morning and find out they now need a wheelchair. This is like people bullshitting that their dog is a trained service dog. Their dog barks, attacks people piss and shit all over the place attack real service dogs [ my granddaughters service dog has been attacked 3 times] by these so called service dogs. Anyone can send away for papers saying their dog is a service dog but they should know real service dog or animal that they are registered with a paper trail showing who when and where the dog was trained by and their qualifications they have. Look up Four Paws in Ohio and read. These dogs or whatever animal that fills the need of the handi capped cost thousands of dollars and some times take years to get one. So people who fake having a service dog are the scum of the Earth

CateM · Answer

A healthy person using a wheelchair to get priority boarding is lazy, inconsiderate, and downright selfish. My nana is almost 80, is legally blind, and has issues with her balance. I can only imagine checking in for a flight with her, and we request a wheelchair. Only to find out, to our dismay, they're all out because some lazy people were hogging the wheelchairs and not leaving them available for people like my nana, who actually need them. Smh

JustinTheGreat · Answer

I don’t get why people are in such a rush to get on the plane. Whether you get on first or get on last, the plane is taking off as the same damn time 💀

getting on first just means you’re on the plane longer than the rest of us lmao.

Red-Blaze · Answer

So we going into everyone get proirty so no one gets priorty well done
Honestly I think Sking for there disabilty card (or you dont have one there?) will make it much easier to give it to who needs it

I mean I assume there are for pepole with walking issue, they got it for pepole with inability to talk here at least

ArrowheadSW · Answer

Reminds me of an episode of "Seinfeld" where George faked being in a wheelchair at a new place of employment. Everyone treated him as "the handicapped guy" at work and he thrived on the attention, until he was found out. LOL

Date_a_Snob · Answer

I went to the gym yesterday and noticed that the first eight parking spaces are for handicapped people. who in a wheelchair is going to the gym?

I also heard (at least where I live) its possible to get a handicap sticker for your car if your clinically depressed

Dinklex3 · Answer

I didn’t realize priority boarding was THAT important. Lol.

It’s nice, but I don’t see why it’s so important to lie about being disabled.. It’s not like the plane is going to leave without you. You’ll still leave with everyone else.

My thoughts? It’s weird and I don’t get it.

Guy13 · Answer

I have a problem with misleading Government or Business that one is disabled for the sake of convenience and/or money. I will conceded that unable to speak and read English well enough to get around airport is closer to Disability in this Wheelchair usage scenario. I know people who flew their elders and nephews into California for private schools, who were all quite healthy, via this service contending language as the reason for service.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

First of all, fuck Southwest. They should all be in prison.
Second, if this is an issue, requiring people to register for wheelchair access should clear it right up. Like placards for preferential parking, if you don’t qualify, figure it out or don’t fly.
Honestly, i suspect most people are just mad they didn’t think of it first. Unless the life hack squad is taking something away from actually handicapped passengers, who gives a shit? Some people bitch just because they have nothing better to run their mouth about and they never shut up.

Jackblue · Answer

If people are actually doing that, the other passengers should be alllowed to beat them up as far as I am concerned. Discomfort aboard an airplane flight maybe a first world problem, but it is one of the worst first world problems in my opinion. That someone would fake a disability for special treatment is disgusting.

msc545 · Answer

You don't need to use a wheelchair to do this. I see people doing it bye simply using canes and several friends of mine do it this way all the time. This is what happens when an airline doesn't provide reserve seating like for instance Southwest Airlines in the US and many others. They don't provide reserved seating because they don't want the expense of having to administer that. It's very cheap and stupid of them.

Leopard23 · Answer

Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to air travel. There's always an entitled Karen, liquefa, deshawn or Chad that refuse to follow any instructions from the flight crew and start shit with fellow passengers that make flying very stressful and results in delays.

Sixgunsound · Answer

I think it's about the same as wealthy people renting disabled kids from their families to go to the head of the line at Disney parks. Yes, that is a thing here. Welcome to America.

Cubus · Answer

The same I think about Americans using these carts in Walmart.

TrueConfection · Answer

It's shameful, but I'm not the moral police. Let them go. I'm glad they don't actually need the chairs.

ShiftingMonke · Answer

Oh I love it. The line between "disability" and "dick" gets more blurred by the day.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I agree with @I agree with @chazmatazz269 269. Just require a handicap parking permit to be shown

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Embarrassing if you're faking it, however it is possible at least some people needed it at one point in the flight but not the other.

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

Genius. I need to get a wheelchair.  Random picture time.

Fuentes · Answer

Same way I feel about parking in handicap spots

Sparkie460 · Answer

I think it's a disgrace. If they're not handicapped and faking it I can see to it that next time they won't be faking it

Fromdusktilldawn · Answer

Such people should get banned from the airline

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I don't see what the point of getting on the plane early is. You're all going to leave at the same time anyway. And the seats are assigned.

RobT312 · Answer

No. Its wrong and disturbing. There are people out there that actually need the help

mgall · Answer

I think those people and worse than smokers, maybe even worse than Hitler.

Fireguy17 · Answer

what difference does it make. The plane won't leave until all the people are loaded.

DarkLegacy · Answer

That is a terrible thing to do, they should be banned from the flight and fined.

Anonymous · Answer

What? Do people actually do this? That’s disgusting.

lightbulb27 · Answer

I'd send them to Ukraine front lines.

Wise4myage · Answer

That’s really pathetic.

gorydetails · Answer

lmao... Jesus flights.

exitseven · Answer

I only wish i thought of this first.

DizzyDesii · Answer

Thats smart. Fcked up but smart

MeiAndYou · Answer

I think it is very sweet

the-mad-german · Answer

thats a thing? oO

What do you think of Healthy Passengers Using Wheelchairs To Get Airport Priority Boarding?

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