How to Guide: Air Travel in a Wheelchair
Are you about to say no to a traveling plan because you are afraid of how to travel in a wheelchair? Well, don’t do that! Why ruin a perfectly good plan when you have this guide to help you? Stop with that doubtful face: it is easy to travel with a wheelchair. You just need to learn these tricks and ways.
Traveling is an essential part of our lives. Every once in a while, we all deserve a break to go out of our hometown. In fact, traveling has proven to be quite beneficial for your mental health. The breeze of a strange place, the culture, and the sights – sounds quite enchanting, does it not?
Understandably, the thought of traveling is quite scary for a novice or even a seasoned traveler. The thought becomes scarier for one traveling in a wheelchair. Navigating through an airport, dragging luggage, waiting in queues, and being strapped to one tiny chair for extended hours seems daunting.
We have developed a comprehensive guide to aid your traveling experience in a wheelchair. Subsequently, we hope that your traveling period becomes less daunting!
Remember Before you Book
Before purchasing your airline ticket, you must review their policy. It is important that you do so, as highlighted by John Morris, an experienced disabled traveler on WheelChairTravel. A fundamental fact he learned on AirAsia’s website was that he could not travel with his battery-operated wheelchair. This is because the weight of his wheelchair weighed more than the airline allowed!
Most wheelchair travelers prefer the window seat to avoid getting trampled by the crowd. Though, if you are not able to transfer from your wheelchair to a seat, then you may want an aisle seat. Another seating option is the roomier bulkhead, but you must remember that its arm rests do not raise.
Once you are done booking your flight, you must get in contact with the airline. This must be done to make them aware that you will require special assistance. You should let the airline know at least 48 hours before your departure. For some reason that you cancel your flight, you should notify the airline that you won’t be needing the said assistance.
Another point to remember is that wheelchair passengers exit the airplane at the very last. So, you might want to allow yourself an ample amount of time, approximately 90 minutes.
Booking Your Flight
Many people don’t know that you need to add your wheelchair to your airline reservation when you are booking your flight. Elite Scootershas a great guide for how to add an electric wheelchair to your flight reservation.
It all starts when you make your reservation online. You will want to select “Add Special Assistance” when filling in your passenger details. From there, you will follow the instructions that are appropriate for your specific wheelchair.
Evade Impairment to Your Wheelchair
Many wheelchairs have reported the heartbreaking way that the airport treats their equipment. Most airports do not necessarily treat wheelchairs with care. This then leads to damage to the wheelchair.
One way you can avoid impairment to your wheelchair is by pasting a note on your wheelchair with instructions on how to use it. The note may contain information on how to fold or unfold the chair or whatever you deem necessary. Furthermore, you must remove any removable parts of your wheelchair, such as wheels, cushions, and footrests. Items like these can be carried on the airplane and do not amount to baggage.
Similarly, check for any faults once you receive your luggage from the airline. Make sure you report immediately. In addition, you should take pictures as proof and email them to the airline to file for compensation!
While traveling, you should carry the smallest luggage. It will be easier for you to haul it around. Otherwise, you may invest in an attachable suitcase that you can hook up to your wheelchair. Click here to find many options!
Storing Your Wheelchair
Another great concern that may come to your mind is where you will be able to store your wheelchair. Generally, all aid equipment is stored in the closeted space designated for the wheelchair. However, if you believe that the frame of your wheelchair might not fit, then you can have it stored in airplane cargo.
It is advised that all wheelchair attachments be taken off and kept in the airplane’s cabin before transporting a wheelchair in the luggage container. These elements could consist of seat cushions, side shields, footrests, cup holders, baggage, illumination kits, and other accessories. These things can be kept in the wheelchair-designated area, at your seat, and above the container.
If a carrier has opted not to build the wheelchair storage mandated by the airline, non-electric wheelchairs must be secured in the airplane’s cabin using the seat-strapping technique.
A foldable wheelchair can be secured to a row of airplane seats using the seat-strapping technique. Operators can avoid installing the spacious wheelchair closet thanks to the permissiveness of seat-strapping.
Nevertheless, if a carrier chooses to do so, it must secure a wheelchair to a line of chairs to fit the wheelchair within the cabin. So, if the plane is completely occupied, the airline must comply with this. Delayed boarding reimbursement is due to passengers being forced to change seats because they were being used to hold a wheelchair. Because of these criteria, the majority of airlines do include a wheelchair storage onboard.
After You Reach the Airport
Well, you have arrived at the airport, now what? Immediately call the airline that you require special assistance for the wheelchair. Most airports allow people who cannot stand or walk to be patted down by an administered officer. You may find details about this process on the online website of whatever airport you might be going to.
Upon reaching, you must inform the agent of your disability so that they can allow you to pre-board. The pre-board does not mean you will be seated directly in the aircraft. Instead, you will be directed to the back aisle with security straps. This pre-board system aims to ensure that people with disability have ample time to reach their seats.
Additionally, we recommend that you first in detail get through the main website of your local airport to ensure that it meets all of your requirements. If it fails to do so, then you can call them to confirm it.
Cruising Through Bathroom Issues
One huge problem is the concern over the lack of accessibility to the bathrooms. It appears that national flights are the main problem since they have a single aisle. The narrow, compact space prohibits mobility even where the planes are double-spaced. Thus, these aircraft stop people with disabilities from reaching the lavatory. What you can do is confirm if the plane has a wheelchair. This can be done to avoid any embarrassment. Moreover, the flight attendants do not provide any service related to transferring you to the toilet.
Considerably, it will be better if you use the airport bathrooms. They are far more facilitated as they offer accessible restrooms in most terminals. However, this does not mean that all airports have such accessibility. You can confirm this with the main desk or look at the layout of the terminal on your smartphone or the map. To avoid such issues, many wheelchair users stop eating or drinking. Though, this is highly not recommended as it is an unhealthy activity. Another solution is that many wheelchairs prefer wearing protective undergarments.
Things Gone Wrong
Despite double-checking, cross-confirming, and ticking off your checklist – anything could go terribly wrong at the airport. Avoiding trouble at the airport is impossible anyways. Something is bound to happen (though we hope you do not face any trouble).
Even where things go wrong, do not panic. Certain agencies at the airport are tasked with ensuring that people with disability do not face discrimination. You must get in contact with them to help you. Furthermore, if you encounter a problem that the airline cannot solve, you should get in with the complaint resolving office. Agents of such offices have the authority to solve most problems.
Travel-friendly Wheelchair
The last aspect to cover is whether your wheelchair is travel-friendly. If you have a manual wheelchair, it’s highly possible that it might not be of great use. While a non-electric wheelchair will fold easily and clear all your storage problems, it might not be convenient. This is so because you will have to put in the strength to maneuver yourself around. In an airport where you have thousand other issues to stress over: your wheelchair should not be one! You should invest in an electric wheelchair. Such a wheelchair is battery or motor-operated. This feature will allow you to move around by only pressing over buttons. You can find an electric wheelchair by clicking here.
An electric wheelchair is comparatively hassle-free. A few reasons include:
- No strength required
- Easy to use
- No need to overexert yourself
What Now?
Do you still have that doubtful face? Are you still contemplating whether to hop on a traveling trip? We hope not! Despite all the hurdles that individuals with disability face, the traveling process may become more convenient. You can only do this once you are well-versed in all the facts. As well as you must be aware of different ways you can be helped at the airport.
