I've had to use a wheelchair quite a few times in airports. The first few times I hated that I had an invisible 'disabled' sticker on my forehead. But the ground staff were magnificent, pushing me through security, passport control, waiting for me when I bought food or needed to use the loo. Now, if I need it, I don't give a *&$£ about what other people think. And I remember that mostly I don't need it but there are others who are wheelchair bound all the time. People are people whether they're independently mobile or not.
Amen. I was delighted with how I was treated and thrilled to get through so quickly. However, once when I needed a wheelchair to go to a London flight, I was surprised at what it was like on the other side. I was dumped like a UPS package and had no idea when or who was going to get me. And I found that 1/3 of the Tube stations were not fully accessible. None near me, so I had to take cabs everywhere.
Thank you for this! I have an adult son whom I care for, he is in a wheelchair all day every day. We are planning a trip to see family in the fall this year, and he and I will be flying, while the rest of the family will drive. I have had some sleepless nights thinking about the airport process, but you made it sound not so bad and possibly pleasant for me as the chaperone. We are far beyond embarrassment at this point, so I’m not worried about that, but knowing that the airport staff will (hopefully) be helpful is comforting to me.🙏
You're welcome! I was truly delighted that everything was so smooth from security onward. Airport staff were kind and solicitous. I was in one of the airport wheelchairs which I found very comfortable and other more involved trips were the same. I'd never hesitate again to ask for a wheelchair if injured or if my bad knee gets worse (touche du bois).
P.S.: You might want to alert the airline in advance that you will be traveling with a family member in a wheelchair.
I had to use a wheelchair once for a foot injury, and felt so guilty (the Puritan in me, I suppose). But I was definitely grateful for the service, and have had a deeper compassion for anyone who doesn't have full mobility regardless of the cause or limitations. We need to be kinder to everyone no matter the circumstances.
My wife uses a wheelchair. We’ve had good experiences and horrible experiences at airports because of personnel both on and off of planes. Travel itself is the adventure before the destination—and that’s not always a good thing.
I bet it can be hit or miss. I think I mentioned in a comment that my treatment en route to a Virgin Atlantic flight to London was superb from airport arrival to London. In London, however, things were different and they seemed many years behind the US in thinking about working to make the city accessible and disability-friendly. London then had only 1/3 of the Tube stations fully accessible. And I could write a whole essay about how incompetent the folks at Regents College were--like having the Office for Disabilities on their first floor (our second)--and there was no elevator. Nice one! (sarcasm)
Oh yes! Once, while flying from Chicago to Phoenix, American Airlines lost a major bolt on her chair which held a front wheel in place. The pilot started to tell me, as though my wife was incapable of understanding. I cut him off and said "you tell her." He did and when we got to the AA office to report this, they were uncooperative. My internal powder keg, which had building, finally blew. Husband From Hell was in the room. To this day, I'm surprised they didn't call security and have me arrested. We did get the siutation resolved in that they paid for a new bolt (a simple trip to the hardware store, thank goodness). I was offered vouchers but I said we wouldn't need them as this would be the last time we flew AA. Again, I really like your piece. Spot on and gives insight to a part of travel that people don't understand.
I walked onto and off of the planes and had wheelchairs only at the gate, but I think there's nothing worse than a crying baby on a plane--except maybe a belligerent drunk. :-)
I've had to use a wheelchair quite a few times in airports. The first few times I hated that I had an invisible 'disabled' sticker on my forehead. But the ground staff were magnificent, pushing me through security, passport control, waiting for me when I bought food or needed to use the loo. Now, if I need it, I don't give a *&$£ about what other people think. And I remember that mostly I don't need it but there are others who are wheelchair bound all the time. People are people whether they're independently mobile or not.
Amen. I was delighted with how I was treated and thrilled to get through so quickly. However, once when I needed a wheelchair to go to a London flight, I was surprised at what it was like on the other side. I was dumped like a UPS package and had no idea when or who was going to get me. And I found that 1/3 of the Tube stations were not fully accessible. None near me, so I had to take cabs everywhere.
Thank you for this! I have an adult son whom I care for, he is in a wheelchair all day every day. We are planning a trip to see family in the fall this year, and he and I will be flying, while the rest of the family will drive. I have had some sleepless nights thinking about the airport process, but you made it sound not so bad and possibly pleasant for me as the chaperone. We are far beyond embarrassment at this point, so I’m not worried about that, but knowing that the airport staff will (hopefully) be helpful is comforting to me.🙏
You're welcome! I was truly delighted that everything was so smooth from security onward. Airport staff were kind and solicitous. I was in one of the airport wheelchairs which I found very comfortable and other more involved trips were the same. I'd never hesitate again to ask for a wheelchair if injured or if my bad knee gets worse (touche du bois).
P.S.: You might want to alert the airline in advance that you will be traveling with a family member in a wheelchair.
I had to use a wheelchair once for a foot injury, and felt so guilty (the Puritan in me, I suppose). But I was definitely grateful for the service, and have had a deeper compassion for anyone who doesn't have full mobility regardless of the cause or limitations. We need to be kinder to everyone no matter the circumstances.
I've written about a hidden disability here: https://wordgathering.com/vol15/issue4/creative-nonfiction/raphael/
My wife uses a wheelchair. We’ve had good experiences and horrible experiences at airports because of personnel both on and off of planes. Travel itself is the adventure before the destination—and that’s not always a good thing.
I bet it can be hit or miss. I think I mentioned in a comment that my treatment en route to a Virgin Atlantic flight to London was superb from airport arrival to London. In London, however, things were different and they seemed many years behind the US in thinking about working to make the city accessible and disability-friendly. London then had only 1/3 of the Tube stations fully accessible. And I could write a whole essay about how incompetent the folks at Regents College were--like having the Office for Disabilities on their first floor (our second)--and there was no elevator. Nice one! (sarcasm)
Oh yes! Once, while flying from Chicago to Phoenix, American Airlines lost a major bolt on her chair which held a front wheel in place. The pilot started to tell me, as though my wife was incapable of understanding. I cut him off and said "you tell her." He did and when we got to the AA office to report this, they were uncooperative. My internal powder keg, which had building, finally blew. Husband From Hell was in the room. To this day, I'm surprised they didn't call security and have me arrested. We did get the siutation resolved in that they paid for a new bolt (a simple trip to the hardware store, thank goodness). I was offered vouchers but I said we wouldn't need them as this would be the last time we flew AA. Again, I really like your piece. Spot on and gives insight to a part of travel that people don't understand.
I'm a Taurus and would have been incandescent. My eldest disparages American Airlines mightily.
I’m on the cusp—birthday tomorrow! According to family lore, my birth sign was nearly “Hospital: Next Exit.” They barely made it before my arrival.
Thanks Lev unfortunately a wheelchair probably affects passengers like a crying baby. He won't be next to me, will he? : )
I walked onto and off of the planes and had wheelchairs only at the gate, but I think there's nothing worse than a crying baby on a plane--except maybe a belligerent drunk. :-)
Yup. Sounds about right
Absolutely! I've now used them twice at airports and been glad I did!