{"id":2443,"date":"2025-11-25T14:47:31","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T19:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ieagle.com\/flyhigh\/?p=2443"},"modified":"2025-11-25T15:33:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T20:33:14","slug":"southwest-airlines-ends-wheelchair-first-boarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ieagle.com\/flyhigh\/southwest-airlines-ends-wheelchair-first-boarding\/","title":{"rendered":"No More Wheelchair-First Boarding in 2026: Southwest Airlines to Curb Wheelchair Misuse at US Airports"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wheelchair misuse at US airports has now peaked to the point where Southwest Airlines can no longer ignore it.<\/strong> Beginning 26 January 2026, the airline will officially end <\/span>wheelchair-first boarding, a policy that became increasingly vulnerable to abuse as more passengers in the US used it for early access rather than genuine mobility assistance. This change impacts <\/span>Southwest flights across the US and the arriving international passengers of Philippine Airlines, EVA Air, and <\/span>China Airlines who have interline partnership with Southwest Airlines.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year, Southwest began rolling out a series of changes that continue to challenge its long-standing image as \u2018America\u2019s most budget-friendly carrier\u2019. The airline ended its iconic \u2018Bags Fly Free\u2019 policy with new checked bag fees effective from May 2025. It has also announced elimination of its five-decade-old open seating program from January 27, 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Southwest
This AI-generated image is for illustration purpose only.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What is Southwest Airlines\u2019 Wheelchair-First Boarding Service?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Southwest Airlines\u2019 wheelchair-first boarding service allows passengers who requested wheelchair assistance to board the aircraft before all other travellers, providing early access to seats and overhead bins. Designed to help passengers with limited mobility, the policy also became a boarding advantage for many who don’t\u00a0 require wheelchair support at all, leading to operational challenges, delays, and misuse across US airports.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is Southwest Airlines Ending Wheelchair-First Boarding?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Southwest\u2019s internal data of recent years revealed the scale of wheelchair misuse. On one recent flight with only 85 passengers, 28 people requested wheelchairs during boarding. Yet only 2 or 3 needed assistance while deplaning. Some Southwest flights have even reported more than 100 wheelchair requests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Staff reports suggest that over 80 percent of these requests come from passengers who do not require mobility assistance. The incentive is clear. Early boarding means guaranteed overhead bin space, less waiting time in line, and a more comfortable boarding experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rules for International Travelers Connecting to Southwest Flights\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Southwest Airlines acts as a leading interline partner of several international carriers operating flights from the USA to Philippines<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, Taiwan, and other countries. Their international passengers connect on Southwest flights for domestic travel from major entry points in the US. are fully entitled to wheelchair assistance in the United States under DOT guidelines. While wheelchair assistance continues, passengers will no longer receive priority boarding solely due to wheelchair use.<\/span><\/p>\n

How are Other Airlines Addressing Wheelchair Misuse?<\/b><\/p>\n

Several non-US airlines around the world are also experiencing misuse of free wheelchair service. Air India, a major international carrier, has also experienced unusual demand for wheelchair assistance at airports. On some India\u2013US flights, up to 90\u2013120 passengers request wheelchairs, often to bypass long airport queues. Recently, the Government of India allowed airlines to charge able-bodied passengers for wheelchair use. This differs from the United States, where there is yet no such rule.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Southwest Airlines\u2019 decision to end wheelchair-first boarding will close one of the biggest loopholes in US aviation. Though the culture of ‘Airport VIP for free’ in the United States will continue, as most US airlines do not ask for medical certificates or documents to fulfil wheelchair requests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Travelers React to Southwest Ending Wheelchair-First Boarding<\/b><\/p>\n

The news of Southwest Airlines ending wheelchair-first boarding<\/a> has drawn mixed reactions from travellers. Many welcome it as a much-needed step to reduce abuse and make boarding fairer, while others worry that passengers with genuine needs may face longer lines and difficulty securing preferred seats. Several travellers shared personal observations of passengers requesting wheelchairs just to board early and then leaving the plane faster than them, echoing the popular US airport joke about \u201cJetway Jesus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribe to Fly High for significant travel updates, domestic and international. Fly High is a leading air travel news portal by iEagle.com, the most trusted air-ticketing partner of Americans and immigrants in the US. Look no further than iEagle for airlines\u2019 Black Friday flight deals from USA to Manila<\/a><\/span>, Shanghai, Cebu, Beijing, Bangkok, Addis Ababa, Taipei and other South Asian destinations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Will Southwest Airlines continue to provide wheelchair assistance after ending wheelchair-first boarding?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes. Passengers will continue to get wheelchair support from entry to boarding through security, regardless of the fact whether they genuinely need it. The only change is that requesting a wheelchair will no longer give them the privilege of early boarding.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wheelchair misuse at US airports has now peaked to the point where Southwest Airlines can no longer ignore it. Beginning 26 January 2026, the airline will officially end wheelchair-first boarding, a policy that became increasingly vulnerable to abuse as more passengers in the US used it for early access rather than genuine mobility assistance. This […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,26],"tags":[39],"yoast_head":"\nSouthwest Airlines Ends Wheelchair-First Boarding: How It Affects Travelers at US Airports<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ieagle.com\/flyhigh\/southwest-airlines-ends-wheelchair-first-boarding\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Southwest Airlines Ends Wheelchair-First Boarding: How It Affects Travelers at US Airports\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wheelchair misuse at US airports has now peaked to the point where Southwest Airlines can no longer ignore it. 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