A Personal Wheelchair User's Experience Flying Southwest Airlines and Assigned Seats

SMF-AUS-MCI

May 9, 2026

MCI-PHX-SMF

May 15, 2026

 

Kellisa flew four segments last week on Southwest Airlines. This was her first trip since Southwest changed their seating policy to assigned seats. Kellisa has flown Southwest almost exclusively over the past 20 years. The only exceptions were trips to Hawaii and Alaska before Southwest started flying to the 49th and 50th states and one trip to Billings.

We lost count of how many segments flew over those 20 years long ago, and we don't have a guess. As the main beneficiary of my annual Companion Pass, it's safe to say Kellisa has flown more than 400 or 500 times, easily.

The main reason for our loyalty over the years starts with how they treat Kellisa personally and their policies that benefit those with disabilities. It's hard to think of any times where Kellisa wasn't treated like royalty by southwest employees. Yeah, some were indifferent, but none were ever offensive.

Southwest allows Kellisa to board first and are always helpful. The main benefit is being able to sit in the front of the plain so I can always carry Kellisa to her seat which avoids using the restraining torture chair also known as an aisle chair.

We've also witnessed our share of Mile High Miracles. You know, when flyers need a wheelchair to board first and then after the flight, they can walk off first and lost their dependency on a wheelchair.  I could write 10,000 words on people abusing the early wheelchair boarding policy, but this post is about our recent experience flying on Southwest with their new assigned seating policy.

Our first flight was from our home airport in Sacramento (SMF) to Austin (AUS) on May 9, 2026. It was a morning flight and we were surprised to see 9 people boarding early in airport wheelchairs. I thought the new policy was to help combat the need to board early, but it definitely didn't apply to this flight.

The gate agent scanned our tickets and allowed us to board first. I could feel eyes burning the back of my head while I heard a few whispers wondering why Kellisa was allowed to board first.

Because the policy allows those using their own personal wheelchairs to board first. With the old policy, we almost always picked 2nd row seats where we could store a bag with essentials under the seat in front of Kellisa and I am able to carry Kellisa on and off the plane without the use of the dreaded aisle chair.

I was able to use my status with Southwest to purchase tickets in the third row without an additional cost. 

We were the only wheelchair on two of the next three flights and the fourth flight had two airports wheelchairs. Kellisa and I boarded first on all the flights and we had 3rd row seats on all of the segments. The one noticeable difference was how empty the front of all the planes were because of the new higher fares to get a little extra legroom.

It was only four segments, but I am happy to report that we didn't experience any drop-off in service or experience and we can only hope Southwest remains the best in class when it comes to supporting the flying needs of their customers who are fully dependent on wheelchairs. 

If we can't get a seat in the front of the plane, that will change our opinion. 

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