How Do I Add Special Assistance To Southwest?

When you travel with your family and are accompanied by senior citizens, pregnant women, or someone who is physically or visually impaired, then you will require special assistance to go through the journey comfortably. However, there is no doubt that Southwest Airlines prioritizes the comfort and safety of travel for all passengers, including those who require special assistance. Their special assistance policy will make it easier for you to plan a journey. We will discuss the rules and regulations, as well as how to book wheelchair assistance when traveling with Southwest Airlines. 

Terms and Conditions Of Southwest Special Assistance Services

When you are traveling with someone who needs assistance, being informed about all the different terms and conditions the airline asks you to follow for the Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Assistance is mandatory, and all these rules are given below: 

• Southwest offers onboard aisle chairs to passenger who needs to use the lavatory or who are not able to walk.
• Southwest charges wheelchairs and mobility devices manually or battery-powered. They impose weight and size limits, e.g., if the device is more than 500 pounds, then it is not accepted.
• Disabling mobility aids and wheelchairs, which a customer with a disability uses, are not subject to regular checked baggage charges.
• Customers with disabilities can access preboarding in the case of requiring a particular seat to accommodate a disability, boarding the plane, or checking an assistive device.
• Security screening is the duty of the TSA. Should one require assistance, he or she should make this known to TSA officers. 
• You can anytime connect with Southwest Airlines' special assistance phone number and seek help or guidance. 
• Wheelchairs and mobility aids will be displayed by X-rays or hand check. The TSA Cares offers more support to disabled travelers.
• When they use self-booking to make their reservation, they can inform Southwest about it up to 24 hours ahead of time via online booking or a call. It is also advised to get to the airport early and visit a Southwest representative.
• Southwest Airlines cannot offer custodial care. In case constant personal assistance is required throughout the flight, it is possible to travel with a ticketed caregiver or personal care attendant.

Types of Special Assistance Provided By Southwest Airlines

The airline offers various kinds of Southwest Airlines Wheelchair Assistance, allowing you to select the one that best matches your needs and requirements. All this assistance has been explained further for your convenience: 

• Navigation: Southwest takes the passenger to the gate as well as to the curb at the airport. They should declare themselves to a Southwest Employee when they have landed.
• Onboard Assistance: Flight attendants can assist with displaying necessary safety briefings, providing Southwest Airlines special assistance with lifting and retrieving carry-on items, placing mobility devices, and finding and opening food packages in the event of a disability-related need. They may also assist passengers wherever they need to travel within the cabin and to/from the lavatory, but do not assist with services within the lavatory or custody care.
• Communication: Southwest can also ensure that deaf or hard-of-hearing passengers do not miss any information that their fellow passengers get, such as boarding, baggage claim, information about flight disruptions, and safety briefings, by establishing alternative forms of communication in the airport and during the flight.
• Safety Assistants: In some cases, Southwest might require a passenger to travel with a safety assistant. This is the case when the passenger has a developmental disability or severe impairment, which renders them unable to understand or respond to safety measures. If they have an extreme loss of hearing as well as eyesight and are unable to maintain appropriate communication with Southwest staff to conduct any safety briefs or have impaired mobility due to a severe impairment, such that they cannot physically help themselves to evacuate the premises in the case of an emergency.

How Do I Get Wheelchair Assistance At Southwest Airlines?

The Southwest Airlines wheelchair request can easily be made online. The Manage Booking will let you access the journey, and you can make any changes to it whenever you want. The process you must follow to book the wheelchair is discussed below: 

• Visit the official website of Southwest Airlines. 
• Click on the Manage Trip in the middle of the page. 
• Add the confirmation number and first and last name to search the journey. 
• Navigate the Menu and pick Special Assistance from the given options. 
• A form will be given, and you will be presented with several options. 
• Fill out the form with accurate information and attach the required documents. 
• Complete the process and pay the charges by following the instructions on the screen. 
• Once it is done, a confirmation will be sent via email. 

On the Phone

It will be the quickest method to book wheelchair assistance. You just have to dial 1-800-I-FLY-SWA (1-800-435-9792)/ 1 (800) 778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY), the Southwest Airlines special assistance phone number, to reach the executives. Once you are connected with the executives, make sure you provide accurate details of the journey along with the details of the passenger for whom you require assistance. Apart from this, you can enquire about other things as well. 

Conclusion

Go through all the given details and enlighten yourself about how you can submit a Southwest Airlines wheelchair request, access wheelchair assistance, and make the journey comfortable for passengers. If you have more concerns, navigate the official website of Southwest Airlines or talk to Southwest Airlines live executives at the customer service helpdesk.

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