Flying with a power wheelchair

[skylarjoehill.h]

Does anyone have tips on flying in the US with a power wheelchair?

[Burgerman]

And lots of it seems best.

[woodygb]

Avoid these designs...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMhdksPFhCM

[Burgerman]

Some of those appear to have a few design issues.

[skylarjoehill.h]

I meant on an airplane.

[Burgerman]

We know. Just having a little fun. But people here are from many countries only some this forum live in the US and so we couldnt help so far.

[LROBBINS]

Although we have traveled by air for many years with some regularity both within the U.S. and between the U.S. and Europe, it is hard to advise you. Much depends on the particular airline and the particular personnel you encounter - we have had some horrid experiences, and others that have been pleasant (and things are generally much better now than they were 30 years ago). Chances are all will go smoothly, but there can be problems. The problems are so varied, however, that it's actually hard to prepare for them.

Do read the "AIr Carrier Access Act" and carry a copy with you. You probably won't need it, but if you do have a problem, just pulling it out is a non-verbal way to show you're not a pushover.

Do contact the airlines in advance and tell them your needs, but don't expect that information to actually get to the airport personnel - all they'll get is a code that says "wheelchair user" and little else. Get to the airport well ahead of time, and ask to speak with the ramp supervisor. If they will call him or her (sometimes they will, sometimes they won't), that will pretty well assure that your chair is properly handled, rather than tipped on its side and dragged across the tarmac. Although they are supposed to use a vertical-lift platform to load a chair, most often they'll have only an inclined conveyor - which can make it hard or impossible to get a chair through the cargo hold door on some aircraft. Size of the plane is not very relevant for this; it depends on the size of the cargo door and whether it is on the side of the fuselage or on the curve between side and bottom. Some commuter planes do have very small cargo doors, some others have doors larger than on a 737. If the back of your chair can fold, do fold it down. If there are particular places to hand lift (or NOT to lift), mark them clearly "LIFT HERE" or "NO LIFT". If there are specific handling instructions needed, a large, laminated placard with illustrations might be a good idea - IF anyone actually looks at it. Delta actually asks you to provide this, but I've never met a Delta or airport employee who actually looked at it even when it's pointed out to them.

Sealed non-spillable batteries (AGM or gel, but often called "dry" by airport personnel) do not need to be removed nor do you have to disconnect them at the battery terminals. You do have to make sure the chair can not be turned on - leaving it in freewheel may be enough, using a lock function if there is one or unplugging a joystick cable may be a good idea too. However, you know how to do this, not the baggage handlers, so do it yourself if possible - Lufthansa once ripped, and broke, all of the cables from the joystick on a friends chair, leaving him completely stranded in a foreign city.

If you can transfer to an airport wheelchair, it is probably best to check your chair at the check-in counter. Rachi can not use an airport chair (nor an aisle chair - we have to carry her to her seat), so her chair is gate checked. If you do gate check, on arrival DO NOT LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT until your chair is at the door. Once off the plane, the flight and cabin crews have no further responsibility for you. Before we learned this, we were left stranded at a JFK International Terminal jetway, a stairway and no elevator outside customs with all the doors having alarms. (That was years ago, and probably wouldn't happen now, but things do go faster when the crewmembers can't leave until you have your chair.)

If you do have a problem, certainly follow any of the on-site procedures for resolving it. If necessary, ask for the CRO (Conflict Resolution Officer). They are required to have one, but he/she may or may not be called. Calm and polite is usually best, but sometimes hot under the collar can be needed. If things are not handled to your satisfaction, don't hesitate to contact the VP for Customer Relations or someone else way up in the HQ hierarchy (use the airline's web site to find names and titles, sometimes even e-mail addresses or phone numbers). Not long ago Rachi's chair was damaged by mishandling - bounced down a stairway gate-checking after we'd boarded, broken caster bearing that I replaced after arrival - in Amsterdam outbound to the U.S. on Delta so we wrote to a VP before the flight back - we got truly VIP treatment on the return flights, and every other time we've passed through Schiphol. If you get in a real bind, get in touch with RollPositive, a participant on the forum. He is truly expert in finding the right people at HQ for fixing things. (I hope he doesn't mind my passing this on. He's helped us, and he's helped others.)

Mostly, plan on having a travel experience no different from that of any other passenger (good or bad as that might be).

Ciao,
Lenny

[ex-Gooserider]

Good advice... I'd add that both groups like United Spinal, and also various gov't agencies, have lots of detailed advice on how best to prepare both yourself and your chair, worth doing some search engine time...

I'd add that it is likely to be difficult if not impossible to on the plane, so if you intermittent cath, figure on hitting the restroom just before boarding... You will be first on and last off, so be sure to watch fluid intake - don't over

ex-Gooserider