New Southwest Airlines Security Addition Changes Wheelchair Boarding

Southwest Airlines has long been a favorite airline for many manual wheelchair-users, because they can bypass the aisle chair and use their personal wheelchairs to board the aircraft. This is largely due to the configuration of Southwest Airlines 737 aircraft, as the wide entrance aisle allows many folks to roll right up to the first row of aircraft seats, and skip the aisle chair. Unfortunately, new security additions mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration will change the configuration of the aircraft; and many wheelchair-users who previously used their personal wheelchairs to board Southwest aircraft will now have to use an aisle chair.

New Secondary Cockpit Barriers

So what are these new security additions to Southwest aircraft? Well, after the September 11 attacks, the FAA began to consider implementing higher security measures for US aircraft; however the regulations were not put into place until 2023. These regulations include the installation of secondary cockpit barriers for new aircraft placed into service after that date.

The secondary cockpit barrier is a fold-away door that is attached to the cabin side of the forward galley. This security device is deployed when the cockpit door is opened and closed while in flight. So when someone in the cockpit wishes to exit the cockpit to use the lavatory, the cockpit barrier will be closed by a flight attendant until the crew member returns to the cockpit. Previously, flight attendants used beverage carts to block the aisle, and they stood there until the crew member returned to the cockpit. The new cockpit barrier is a safer and more secure option for the flight crew.

Unfortunately the installation of the secondary cockpit barrier takes a few inches off the already narrow passageway; and as a result many wheelchair-users will no longer be able to access that first row of seats in their own wheelchairs.

Aisle Chair Required

As the new secondary cockpit barriers began to appear on Southwest Airlines 737s in mid-2026, many wheelchair-users reported that their wheelchairs no longer fit past these new security barriers.

It appears that that the addition of the new secondary cockpit barriers have taken off approximately three inches of aisle space. From reports we’ve received, anyone with a wheelchair narrower than 23 inches should still be able to navigate the aisle and transfer into an airplane seat from their own wheelchair. Wheelchair-users with wheelchairs that are wider than 23 inches will now have to use the aisle chair.

Some people ask if this is legal? In a word, yes. The Air Carrier Access Act is the regulation that covers wheelchair-access on commercial airlines in the US. These regulations do not require aircraft aisles to be wide enough to accommodate personal wheelchairs. They do have to be wide enough to accommodate an aisle chair, and this new design allows for that.

So how do you tell if you are going to be on a new 737 with the secondary cockpit barriers installed? Well, unfortunately there’s no 100% way to tell, as equipment changes occur often. Right now only a few of the planes are outfitted with the new devices; however as time passes more and more of the new planes will have them.

Future Flight Preparation

The bottom line is, that if you can’t walk to your seat, you will most likely have to use an aisle chair on Southwest Airlines when the secondary cockpit barriers are installed. And I know that’s a difficult adjustment. Many folks fly Southwest specifically because they don’t have to use an aisle chair to board the aircraft. And that will no longer be an option for many folks in the future.

The good news is that aisle chairs are readily available at the gates, and if you need one, it’s easy to get one. It’s also a good idea to always request one when you book your Southwest flight, even if you could previously roll to your seat. If you happen to find out later that you can roll down the aisle, you can always decline the aisle chair. It’s also wise to be mentally prepared for the possibility that you will need an aisle chair on your future Southwest flights. Be aware of the possibility, so you won’t be disappointed. And don’t let these new secondary cockpit barriers ruin your trip!