The Not-So-Divine Story Behind 'Miracle' Flights

Most passengers who request wheelchair assistance at the airport or when boarding a plane have a legitimate reason. That said, the phenomenon of so-called "miracle" flights is a real thing — and it's been a growing problem for more than a decade. A miracle flight, not to be confused with an angel flight or any other altruistic endeavor created to assist people in need, is a tongue-in-cheek reference to flights that seem to grant the miracle of ambulation to passengers who required wheelchair assistance at their departure gate, but not at their destination. In some cases, the number of passengers boarding via wheelchair versus the number who require assistance at their destination is so dramatic that fellow passengers can't help but notice.

A recent social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter) @BocaHudson drew renewed interest in the topic when a passenger traveling on a Southwest Airlines flight counted 30 fellow passengers who required wheelchair assistance to board the flight. Yes, the occurrence was so notable that the person actually counted. And then, he counted again at the end of the flight only to realize all but two of the wheelchair-bound passengers who boarded the flight early at the departure gate had miraculously walked off the plane unassisted upon arrival. That's 28 people who strolled right past the wheelchairs lined up and waiting for them at the arrival gate. Praise be! Sarcastic observations aside, so-called miracle flights are a bonafide annoyance for passengers — including those who have a legitimate reason for requesting wheelchair assistance — waiting their turn to board a flight. The phenomenon is also a problem for airport aides who provide the service, let alone a waste of resources when aides are left standing on the jetway waiting for a passenger who already walked off the plane. Why does it happen? Most likely because it's an easy grift.

The practice is so widespread that frontline airline professionals — including gate crews and flight attendants — witness the faux miracles on a fairly regular basis. Unfortunately, there's almost nothing they can do about it. The Air Carrier Access Act only allows airline personnel to ask about how wheelchair service will help with a passenger's disability. It prohibits asking passengers about their disability directly, and passengers are not required to provide proof of disability. 

The passenger whose social media post triggered the recent outpouring of opinions regarding wheelchair assistance was traveling on Southwest Airlines. The Dallas-based carrier has a longstanding policy of seating passengers on a first-come, first-served basis (that's about to change in 2026), which makes early boarding particularly attractive for passengers seeking to secure overhead space for their carry-on bag (like this Bagsmart airline-approved carry-on bag with TSA lock) or to avoid the dreaded center seat. One commenter (@MgFrobozz) suggested punitive action, "Keep track of the passengers who pre-board as 'disabled.' After the plane reaches its destination, keep track of who de-boards with wheelchairs; charge those who don't (who walk off the plane) a 'pre-boarding' fee."

At least one airline CEO appears to be on the same page. During a May 2024 appearance at the Wings Club, a New York City-based organization dedicated to fostering careers in the aviation industry, Barry Biffle, CEO at low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines, said it costs the airline between $30 and $35 every time a passenger requests wheelchair assistance (via View from the Wing). To offset the expense incurred by imposters intent on using the system for their own gain, Biffle suggested implementing fines similar to the tickets drivers get for parking in designated accessible parking spaces.