SW fares have risen dramatically over the last year or so. Often times, other fares were cheaper than Senior Fare, making Senior Fares almost worthless anyways. You could not use senior fares with SW reward points. At some airports the biggest abuse I see is the preboarding crowd, which sort of negates early bird seating, able bodied young folks boarding etc.
Yes, absolutely. We have a friend who is epileptic but looks normal. She needs the wheelchair to keep her eyes closed when going down the jet way. Those joints and various patterns in the walls and lines on the floor messed with her head and caused her to seize one time, and that was all it took for her to realize she has to have a wheelchair to keep her eyes closed. And there are people who have had recent surgeries that you don't know about that are already stressing out about flying. Don't judge others because that could be you someday.I have never looked for a senior fare on SW. Most of the time I use points for our flights anyway. And though some say the pre-boarding is abused, in all honesty I haven't seen that happen. I think you still need to get a special boarding pass (used to be a blue card) in order to pre-board for SW. P.S. Sometimes those "able bodied young people" really aren't. My younger dd broke her hip and had surgery. She wasn't in a cast, looked perfectly healthy, but needed wheelchair and pre-boarding.
I wonder if one reason they are doing away with the Senior fares is that not that many people were booking them.Usually found 'get away' fare cheaper than senior fare. Don't think I ever booked a Sr fare.
Since I never booked one I don't know, but were they refundable? With SW I don't worry about the refundable part since if I have used miles and cancel they go back into my account, and if I've paid the money is there for me to use (for up to a year from purchase).They were not cheaper than the wanna get away fare
I'm not sure you can equate wheelchair assistance with seniors, and senior fares. Both my younger dd and my sil have used wheelchair assist (and I'm sure to look at them you wouldn't think either of them needed it) and they are young. So I personally hesitate to judge anyone who uses a wheelchair to get through the airport. My own mother was able to walk, but walking for distances, and mostly standing in line, were more than she could take.In 2017.. We were flying from Fort Lauderdale to Atlanta. When it was time to board they allowed those in wheelchairs to board 1st. There were 31, yes 31 Elders in wheelchairs boarding and all sat in the first 10 or so rows on the plane. When we landed in Atlanta again they allowed the Elders to go first and unload fist. Everyone else followed , getting off we noticed that it was about 25 wheelchairs and a SW employee just waiting for their passengers to get off, which were the first to get off but must have had miraculously been cured and were able to walk off the plane.
This past year I noticed that all wheelchairs and families with small children were allowed to board AFTER the Earlybirds boarded. So this may be one reason for Senior prices going away.
I'm not sure you can equate wheelchair assistance with seniors, and senior fares. Both my younger dd and my sil have used wheelchair assist (and I'm sure to look at them you wouldn't think either of them needed it) and they are young. So I personally hesitate to judge anyone who uses a wheelchair to get through the airport. My own mother was able to walk, but walking for distances, and mostly standing in line, were more than she could take.
I was under the impression that for SW at least, you needed to get a special preboarding pass to be able to board early. What is required to get one of those, I don't know.
I'm not sure you can equate wheelchair assistance with seniors, and senior fares. Both my younger dd and my sil have used wheelchair assist (and I'm sure to look at them you wouldn't think either of them needed it) and they are young. So I personally hesitate to judge anyone who uses a wheelchair to get through the airport. My own mother was able to walk, but walking for distances, and mostly standing in line, were more than she could take.
I was under the impression that for SW at least, you needed to get a special preboarding pass to be able to board early. What is required to get one of those, I don't know.
Interesting thought. I could see an argument for a surcharge for seniors, as they generally require more services / assistance than other age groups.Does it cost any less to fly seniors then adults. At least kids weigh less and come as a package deal with adults. At buffets seniors eat earlier and less.
Interesting thought. I could see an argument for a surcharge for seniors, as they generally require more services / assistance than other age groups.
Kurt