Booking an airline wheelchair? Keep these eight tips in mind
Rudy de Kort / 26 June 2022
Many airlines allow you to book a wheelchair on their website
When you call an airline and ask for a wheelchair, they will put in a so called “Special service request”. That’s no big deal: airlines transport thousands of wheelchair users each day, so be prepared to answer a few questions, and you should be fine. Keep a few things in mind, for your own convenience:
1. Plan ahead and ask early for a wheelchair when traveling
A wheelchair can be requested last-minute at check-in, but calling the special assistance desk of the airline or booking the wheelchair online is safer, especially during busy times. Expect the airline staff to ask you a few questions on why you need to travel in a wheelchair, as there are many health conditions that will require a fit to fly certificate from a doctor and it’s always best to find out well in advance, while you still have time to get a medical letter. Examples are recent surgery, or injuries that can cause problems at a high altitude. This is not something you want to find out about when you are already at the airport.
2. Be clear about your wheelchair assistance needs
Airlines around the world use standardized codes in their booking systems to define what a passenger needs. That way any employee who pulls up your record knows if they need to arrange for a wheelchair attendant only up to the doors of the airplane, or also an onboard aisle chair, or even a special patient lift to get you into your seat. It doesn’t matter if you switch airlines between connecting flights. All airlines use the same IATA-codes. IATA stands for International Air Transport Association and it is the organization that regulates airline passenger services worldwide.
3. Jet bridge, boarding ramp or muscle power
If you are unable to climb any steps, it’s not a bad idea to check what type of aircraft is used on your flight. Smaller aircraft that commonly service domestic routes like the Dash 8 or ATR-72 don’t always use jet bridges, but most of the smaller regional airports where they fly into have ramps that can be used to avoid the steep steps. There are limits though. If your flight is operated by a float plane or a private jet, getting on board will take some old fashioned muscle power. It’s good to know what to expect, as being carried up and down the stairs in a wheelchair can be a scary experience. If you need to be carried, keep your hands on your lap and don’t hold onto the railings, to avoid injury.
4. Everyday mobility devices cannot be used onboard
Personal wheelchairs, walker frames and rollators need to be checked as luggage and will be labeled and packed in a plastic bag for protection. Smaller, but off-shaped items like crutches and canes can be taken into the cabin, as well as collapsible wheelchairs. There are conditions though! If your cane is equipped with an ice pick it can be used as a weapon, so it will have to be checked. Also: smaller planes don’t have a storage space in the cabin where your wheelchair can be stored. In any case: you won’t be able to use any of your aids onboard, as the aisles are too narrow. That’s why larger aircraft are equipped with “onboard aisle chairs” that can be operated by the flight attendants.
5. Wheelchair attendants are not caregivers
When you request wheelchair assistance, a member of the airline ground staff or a subcontracted wheelchair attendant will bring you from the check-in desk to the gate, or all the way to your seat on the plane. The transfer can include a ride with an electric golf cart or a wheelchair accessible bus, if your plane is parked in a remote position. Expect someone to pick you up at the plane when you arrive, to assist you with deplaning. It doesn’t matter if you reached your destination or if you are connecting to another flight. However, their job is to help you move around, not to help you in the toilet, or provide personal care. If that is what you need, consider hiring a trained travel companion.
6. Prepare for a manual security pad down
Most airport security checkpoints, have a priority lane to fast-track passengers in a wheelchair. Expect a rigorous screening though. All carry-on items go through x-ray, and so do jackets, shoes and belts. A same sex officer will do a pat down of your body and collect swabs from different parts of the wheelchair to test for residue of explosives. You’ll be asked to stand up, and if you can’t, your attendant will be asked to lift you up, just enough for the officer to inspect if nothing is hidden underneath your body.
7. How to access the lavatory if you can’t walk
Large, widebody aircraft like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or the Triple 7 have “wheelchair accessible” toilets onboard, or at least two adjacent lavatories with a collapsible internal wall and a customized door. Smaller planes don’t have this option.
If you are unable to stand and pivot at all, you’d need someone to assist you in a very cramped space. Flight attendants are generally not allowed to assist you in the lavatory. If you can’t help yourself, consider traveling with someone who can assist you. Also consider that post-COVID, many airlines are planning now flying long-haul routes with smaller, narrow body planes like the Airbus 321 or Boeing 737MAX. Try to avoid those flights when you are booking!
8. What’s a good seat?
Sitting in the aisle makes sense if you can get up to let your neighbor in the window seat pass by for a toilet break. If not, than maybe the window seat will be your best option. If you are travelling with a professional companion, make sure that you are both sitting together in the same cabin, and on the same aisle. In Economy Class, you can opt for a bulk head seat for the extra space in front of you, and for the short distance between your seat and the lavatory. Mind you, that on widebody planes many passengers use this row to shift from one aisle to the other, and that can be extremely unsettling. Besides, the arm rests are not removable because of the built-in tray tables and IFE-screens. You won’t have the seat in front of you to grab onto for support either, and because it is the only spot where on-board cribs can be installed, you can expect families with babies to get those seats.
Rudy de Kort is the founder of Jet Companion and a medical travel companion operating worldwide out of Canada.
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