That's great about your experience but that's your experience for a reason. It doesn't matter what your status on American Airlines is before the age of 30 .Experience. I had my million-mile status on American before I was 30.
I wasn't saying it was...nowhere in my statement did I say "oh yeah missing your boarding position is the same thing as missing your flight".
I was pointing out that in reality a 40-45 min connection is tight. The other person didn't think a 40-45 min connection was tight.
Experience. I had my million-mile status on American before I was 30.
My entire point was 40-45 mins is actually a tight connection and was in response to the poster calling it tight in quotations..now if your end goal every time you need to make a connection is to just make it onto the plane before it takes off then perhaps it is not considered tight but to most fliers they want to be there prior to boarding. How many times do people get coached on buying the EBCI with SWA in order to increase odds of sitting together, how many people discussed pre-board with children or pre-board in general or the boarding process with other airlines? They don't want to just get to the plane after all that has occurred and for SWA that's 30mins ahead and for Delta that's 40mins (they pre-board the kids there instead of SWA boarding between a and b).Honestly I think that anyone talking about 40 minutes vs 15 isn't arguing with each other, but is just saying that the people with the 45 minute connection, if being held for a 15 minute connection, might very well NOT sit down. Might decide that their connection is about the same.
I'm one of those people who said it was doubtful the request to get off the plane early would be granted and that it would be best to just distract yourself til others have left. It happened in one of the flights in all my lifetime that the majority of people complied with the FAs request but I never expect it to happen. That was the first post I put on this thread so I'm in total agreement with you there.And that's why so many of us are saying that even if it *has* happened you truly cannot guarantee it's going to happen.
OP if you feel your anxiety will be out of control & you don't want to or can't pay for a seat upgrade/consult medical provider/self medicate via a few drinks (doesn't always work)...
Then, I suggest you call the airline's special services department and state your concerns. Perhaps you may be eligible for a medical pre-board You may find help on the disability board here.
Good luck
Checking the DISabilities board is a great idea. I'm curious though, how would medical pre-board help?
In her 2nd paragraph she mentions a trigger of being being stuck behind tall people and not being able to see, with anxiety following.
On SWA she could board and pick a seat near the front with a preboard, if deemed eligible.
I am not a medical provider or counselor, just offering some suggestions that may or may not work for the OP's situation.
Not entirely altruistic here. My last flight on Sunday was close to being diverted for an rowdy passenger. Well, that's what the FAs were telling him and his party to try and settle things down. Turned into a medical issue with call for Doctor on board being summoned when he started to vomit. Just glad to A) not be seated near him & B) get home as it was the last flight of day.
It's Certainly not the same situation but I've witnessed intense panic attacks (not on a plane), would think it could spiral into a major issue all the way around.
Know little about AA, believe assigned seats. perhaps they have some sort of other solution available to work in conjunction with the preboard. Never hurts to ask ahead of time to try and find a reasonable solution instead of getting even more anxious worrying about what will/could happen.