My wife and I took a Southwest flight. The passengers' behavior was appalling. | Opinion

My wife and I witnessed a miracle – of sorts – on a recent Southwest Airlines flight to Florida.

We watched this unfold as we waited to board the flight from Group A (positions 3 and 4), which should have guaranteed us the pick of the best seats. Of course, this would come after the call for preboarding for those who require extra time or assistance.

Just then a group of about 20 loud and boisterous people – including five women in airport courtesy chairs – rolls up to answer the call for early boarding. The women didn't have a filter and could be overheard laughing about how they didn’t really need the courtesy service. As we finally had the chance to get to our seats, we noticed he group occupied the first four rows on each side of the plane. 

Meaning nearly 20 individuals capable of walking took advantage of the system. Brazenly laughing about it as they received angry glares from the passengers who boarded after them recognizing it wasn’t a joke; it was a coordinated effort that allowed them to board before the rest of the passengers and claim most of the premium seats.

This occurred at Chicago Midway International Airport as my wife, Damia, and I were embarking on a trip to celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary. Some could see this as a harmless way to manipulate the system, but I view it as another example of inconsiderate behavior. We have become a society where many prioritize their own interests over those of others.

I know I might sound like a broken record. In March, I vented about America's crappy manners, specifically a neighbor who doesn't pick up after his dog. The way I see it, manners are something you're taught while inconsiderate behavior – or just plain rudeness – is just selfishly tossing all that aside.

We witnessed the true miracle after we landed in Florida

When our flight arrived in Fort Lauderdale, the real magic occurred. The same women who needed a cart and extra time boarding the plane in Chicago stood up to retrieve their own bags from the overhead compartments and walked confidently as they left the plane. One of them even outpaced my able-bodied wife to reach the airport bathroom, no assistance needed.

They must have healed during the flight. Keep in mind that none of these women had a cane or assistive device in sight.

I sarcastically called it a miracle, but the truth is that it's BS, and I’m not alone. Surveys show Americans say rude behavior is on the rise, which certainly plays a role in the anger that seems to permeate our country these days.

Before I continue, I want to clarify that my concerns are not directed at individuals with legitimate mobility issues who board first. I have no problem with people with mobility challenges, families with small children, or members of the military boarding before me. However, I am troubled by those who falsely claim to need courtesy boarding despite being able to walk, as they rudely game the system.

This summer, Southwest Airlines announced that it will be eliminating its first-come, first-served model, which allowed passengers to choose any open seat upon boarding. Instead, it will introduce assigned seating starting on Jan. 27, 2026.

Under the new assigned seating plan, Southwest will transition from a position-based boarding system to a group-based boarding system. There will be up to eight boarding groups for each flight, with passengers assigned to a group based on their ticket purchase and frequent flyer status.

I’m not sure how this will impact those who fake needing assistance to board first, but the bold actions of the group of 20 will likely find another way to exploit the system.

Not shocking: Rude behavior is on the rise

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly half of U.S. adults believe that public behavior has become more rude since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes 20% who feel that behavior in public is now a lot ruder, while 44% of adults say public behavior remains the same and only 9% believe people are acting more politely.

Surprisingly, just 34% of adults report frequently witnessing rude behavior in public.

I feel like I see it all the time, or maybe it's just me getting older and having less patience for foolishness like I used to.

Recently, I've noticed an unsettling increase in rude behaviors that truly get under my skin. One glaring instance is when bystanders whip out their phones to film others during critical moments, like capturing footage of a person lying on the pavement after a horrific accident.

The same people filming or going “live” often have the nerve to tell their viewers to “call an ambulance,” when they could get off their live and do the same.

Another troubling sight is individuals zipping around on motorized carts in grocery stores or other big box stores like Walmart, only to leave them with barely any battery life for those who genuinely need them.

And perhaps one of the most infuriating actions I've witnessed is people misusing disabled parking tags. They casually park in those coveted spots, using someone else's credentials for their own convenience, disregarding the needs of those who truly rely on those designated areas.

Let’s return to the five women and their cohorts who falsely claimed they needed assistance to board the plane early to secure the best seats for their group. People like them only make it more difficult for those who genuinely need help.

When my wife shared our experience on social media, many others quickly responded, noting that they often witness similar behavior:

• “We noticed this same behavior in several airports when we traveled recently. Humans are always scheming and scamming their way around rules and regulations without any shame. The old and young are both being fraudulent passengers.” – Tamott Wolverton
• “My husband is disabled and I get livid when I have to leave him in the car because there are no motorized scooters available in the grocery store, but people are giving their small child joy rides in them, or people are leaving the scooter parked while they run up and down the aisle and two aisles over to grab items. If you can do all that, please leave the scooter for the people who can't do that. Total disrespect for handicapped people.” – Kim Taylor Mallard
• “It’s a total abuse of the system and because of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) you can’t question the need to preboard. A lot of the shenanigans will stop when they realize that it will no longer allow them to sit in the front or save seats for ALL of their family. You don’t know how many times Jetway Jesus has healed on flights. 10 chairs will come on and only 4 will be utilized when we land.” – Tamara Sherie
• “I remember seeing a story a few years ago about people doing this in Vegas as well. Renting handicap scooters and taking advantage of getting to places. People are crazy.” – Jamel Harris

Those who tend to cut corners and put their own interests first should pause before acting in a way that might be rude and ask themselves if it’s worth it. Short answer: It’s not, but if you choose to lie, at least have enough common sense not to brag about it.

James E. Causey is an Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where this column originally appeared. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him on X: @jecausey