How can you travel in powerchair

If you want to say something that doesent fit anywhere else!
MAIN WEBSITE: http://www.wheelchairdriver.com

How can you travel in powerchair

Postby lafguy » 19 Nov 2021, 21:59

I love in Colorado I was wondering what is the best way and places to travel being 100% stuck in powerchair? I'm talking about going to Vegas Seattle Salt Lake City Florida. I don't have a Van or a Lift. I was curious someone who has travelled might have advice for me. I have trouble even getting to Denver.
Main Chair: 300m Bounder ST4 Motors 100ah Battery Tilt/Recline Dx2
backup Chair: Lite Rider Envy
lafguy
 
Posts: 79
Joined: 07 Mar 2020, 15:50
Location: Boulder Colorado

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby martin007 » 19 Nov 2021, 22:05

The best way to do this is by having a lot of zeros in the bank account.
When you depend on a powerchair it is time to forget about traveling.
User avatar
martin007
 
Posts: 3278
Joined: 03 Jun 2015, 23:55
Location: Spain

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby swalker » 19 Nov 2021, 22:48

I am not sure I know of a best way. I will share with you what I have done.

I have taken two trips out of DIA (the Denver airport). We took a commercial van to DIA each time. They dropped us off at the airport, we checked in and then I wheeled to the security screening.

Security screening was easy both times. We allowed extra time, but they escorted us to the front of the line. I have flown a lot before being disabled, so kind of know the ropes pretty well. I had things organized to make it through screening without any issues.

I then rolled to the gate. We boarded the aircraft early. I was flying Southwest, where I could pick my own seat at boarding time. Since I boarded early, I was able to get an aisle seat in the bulkhead seating row. My wife and the flight attendants took care of stowing all my gear. Then the ramp agents took my wheelchair to be loaded into the aircraft's cargo hold.

I can still walk a few steps, so I was able to walk from the wheelchair to my seat on the airplane. If you can't walk, they will use an aisle wheelchair (designed to be narrow enough to fit down the aisle of an airplane) to take you to your seat.

Things were more interesting when we arrived at our destination. There was no wheelchair accessible transportation at either airport. On the first trip, we booked a hotel within walking distance of the airport. The hotel's shuttle was out of service, so even though it was wheelchair accessible, it did me no good. I wheeled to the hotel and we checked in.

The next day, my wife took an Uber to a facility that rents wheelchair vans. We had a reservation and she picked up the van, drove back to the airport hotel, and we then proceeded with our trip

Getting home was the reverse of the above. She dropped me off at the airport about 4 hours early, then drove the hour to the wheelchair van rental place, took an uber back to the airport, made her way through security, and met me at the gate.

On our second trip, we took the same wheelchair accessible van service to DIA. We made our way to my seat on the airplane just like we did on our first trip.

We had a reservation with a wheelchair accessible van service that was supposed to meet us, at our destination airport, but it did not. My wife scurried and finally found one that would pick us up. They went way out of their way to do this and we really appreciate it. It was late at night and there were no hotels I could get to riding the wheelchair. Our only alternative would have been to spend the night at the airport and figure something out the next day.

Reversing this worked just like it did on our previous trip.

My wheelchair was damaged on 3 out the 4 legs that we flew on those 2 trips. Fortunately, the worst damage was on our flight home and we were able to get it home and park it until the airline could send someone out to repair it. It took 8 months to get the wheelchair repaired. Much of the delay was due to covid, but not all of it. I was glad that I travelled in a backup wheelchair, so it was the one that was out of commission.

In summary, It is pretty straightforward to get to and then fly out of DIA. What is more troublesome is figuring out what you will do at your destination airport. I highly recommend selecting a destination with a hotel you can ride your wheelchair to, just in case local transportation there gets messed up.

If I was not renting a wheelchair van, then I would put a bit of a priority on picking a destination where I could ride my wheelchair to everywhere I wanted to go. Public transportation might be available, but I regard it as highly unreliable. For example, I once tried to take the light rail system in Denver. The station where I was to board had an elevator to the track level, but the elevator was broken. There was no alternative for me. We had to give up.

Many city bus systems allow you to call ahead for a wheelchair accessible van to transport you where you want to go. Many I have researched in the US require that you apply ahead of time to be eligible for this service and some require that you appear in person to get the approval. I have heard from one user that they took advantage of this service in San Antonio, TX. The van was 4 hours late picking them up. Every time they used it. That would not work for the kind of trip I would take.

On the other hand, the van service works great where I live (Vail). They have always been on time and are great. I think they are the exception, though.

Finally, be prepared for a power wheelchair to be damaged by the airlines. Don't do what I did, which was to take my broken wheelchair with me. Once I was gone, there was no urgency on their part to get my wheelchair repaired. I have read the better approach is to sit at the airline's baggage claim office until they either fix the wheelchair or provide an acceptable loaner for your trip. It is their obligation to do this (in the US). That means, don't arrive on the last flight of the day into an airport. Arrive earlier in the day so they have time to resolve any potential issues.

To give you an idea of what can happen to a wheelchair, after my four flights, they wound up replacing both motors, the shroud on the base of the wheelchair, the Roho seat cushion, the foam back cushion, the backrest shell, and the left armrest.

Steve
Permobil F5 Corpus 3G
Permobil C500s VS
Permobil C500 Corpus 3G
Permobil C350 Corpus 3G
Magic Mobility X4 with 176 Ah LiFePO4
swalker
 
Posts: 547
Joined: 23 Jul 2018, 22:57
Location: Vail, Colorado, USA

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby lafguy » 20 Nov 2021, 02:18

TY Steve

I think to be safe I'd have to use a manual Wheelchair if I flew anywhere. If they damaged it I'd have to rent new one.
Main Chair: 300m Bounder ST4 Motors 100ah Battery Tilt/Recline Dx2
backup Chair: Lite Rider Envy
lafguy
 
Posts: 79
Joined: 07 Mar 2020, 15:50
Location: Boulder Colorado

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby Burgerman » 20 Nov 2021, 02:48

Use a van. See more anyway.
User avatar
Burgerman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 65050
Joined: 27 May 2008, 21:24
Location: United Kingdom

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby snaker » 20 Nov 2021, 03:37

martin007 wrote:The best way to do this is by having a lot of zeros in the bank account.
When you depend on a powerchair it is time to forget about traveling.

It is not about money. It depends on how big your desire of freedom is.

I think with a van and some enthusiastic companions (relatives or family members), all would be fine. The biggest problem now is maybe the covid :fencing
User avatar
snaker
 
Posts: 1193
Joined: 23 May 2015, 10:45
Location: Vietnam

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby expresso » 20 Nov 2021, 04:47

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/d ... ar-AAQst50

i know a few who travel and do OK - but many times they have damaged the chair - power chair - you have to file a compliant and stay there till its resolved -

in my friends case - they decided to replace the whole chair - - she got a new power chair - same as the damaged one - took time but it got done

its rare if nothing is damaged - there are many cases like the link above - not all died from it - but very uncomfortable if your chair is wrecked and now what - your at your destination and no working chair - :thumbdown:
Quickie 636 - 230ah LifePo4
expresso
 
Posts: 11916
Joined: 10 May 2010, 03:17

Re: How can you travel in powerchair

Postby swalker » 20 Nov 2021, 05:25

I have travelled extensively in my wheelchair van. We have put over 120,000 miles on it since we bought it almost 7 years ago.

We have taken it to San Antonio, Tx (1015 miles each way) 5 times. We have taken it to Yellowstone National Park (606 miles each way) 11 times. We have taken it to Grand Canyon National Park (585 miles each way) 9 times. We have also done several other trips, including countless trips to Denver.

When travelling in the van, we usually take two wheelchairs, 3 wheelchair chargers, lots of medical equipment, etc.

The only times we have flown with the wheelchair were the two trips while our van was out of commission after it was stolen, totalled, and then recovered. It took a 7 months to get the van repaired and back on the road (mostly due to covid-induced delays).

For trips less than 600 or 700 miles, I prefer the van. For longer trips, it is less wear and tear on my body to take a plane. Fortunately, airlines in the US are required to take all my necessary medical equipment at no extra charge. So, when I fly, I take the wheelchair, oxygen concentrator, ventilator, etc. etc. It is quite a production!

Steve
Permobil F5 Corpus 3G
Permobil C500s VS
Permobil C500 Corpus 3G
Permobil C350 Corpus 3G
Magic Mobility X4 with 176 Ah LiFePO4
swalker
 
Posts: 547
Joined: 23 Jul 2018, 22:57
Location: Vail, Colorado, USA


Return to Anything

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests

 

  eXTReMe Tracker