01-31-2006
Since man started walking upright being mobile and independent became one of those inherent, inalienable rights we all fuss about in free societies. Being limited in mobility by say, an ocean, was not an option so we built boats. Once Magellan made his trek around the world we saw travel to be unlimited so we then worked hard on getting from point A to B in a fast way. We laid track for the train to transport the masses and the automobile was a giant leap in personal transportation. The Wright brothers who recently celebrated 100 years of flight invented the airplane to cover more ground quicker than any vehicle in history. While all these accomplishments are indeed remarkable and instrumental when traveling, none have been as liberating and meaningful to an individual as the wheelchair.
The concept of putting wheels on a chair is not a new one. It dates back to the 6th century. There is a 6th century image etched in stone on a Chinese sarcophagus proving that being mobile was and continues to be as natural as the five senses. Wheelchairs have advanced significantly from the time of that etched imagine. Currently, one can get a power wheelchair with multiple power functions and have a traveling distance of up to 30 miles on a battery charge. While this personal travel is the most advanced ever, do not let this illusion fool you. The wheelchair is great for traveling, but traveling with a wheelchair needs much improvement. This article will focus on traveling with a disability and the airlines.
This is my expertise. I am a C 5-6 spinal cord injury and in a Permobil power chair. I traveled 105 nights last year on business and pleasure. Seventy-five percent of my travel was with friendly skies or in some cases the tolerable skies. For a quick reference for those who want to know more of the legalese the airports are covered under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the airlines are covered under the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA). So below are my tips and advice on how to make it from airport to airport with your health and wheelchair intact.
1. Parking – I hate to say this but short term parking, while expensive, may be your best choice. The best approach is checking with your airport to inquire if the shuttle to and from long term parking is accessible with a wheelchair lift. It can also depend on where long term parking is set up as a few are in walking distance. Not all short term parking charges a fee, however. My home airport (Nashville) allows for free accessible parking with a disability placard or tag. This makes it nice when traveling with the many pieces of luggage I haul around with so I can park near the terminal.
2. The Ticket Counter – Between the ticket counter and security is the reason why we all hear the valuable advice “get to the airport early”. Have your ID ready to show. Know what type of batteries you have in your power chair. You will get this question, “Are your batteries dry, gel, or acid?” While most power chair made these days are dry or gel cell there are still a few out there that are acid based and need to be removed from the wheelchair and stored separately once in the belly of the plane. American Airlines will actually want to see your batteries at the ticket counter. Allow time for this. The ticket counter may also ask if you will be checking your chair there or at the gate. Check your extra wheelchair (if carrying one) at the ticket counter and check your primary chair at the gate. The chair will then be tagged and checked for damage and then you’re off to the gates.
3. Security – 9/11 changed the way security in airports operates and this is the most serious point in the process. Parties accompanying you not flying will have to say their goodbyes at this site. Make sure you have your boarding pass and ID ready once more. Depending on the airport and time of day you are traveling the lines can be extremely long. Ready for good news? Every airport I have traveled in has either a separate line for wheelchair passengers or an escort through security. Travel mates are allowed to skip line as well. It can still take time in busy airports especially if the alert levels are high. Be prepared to have your shoes taken off and a thorough inspection of your wheelchair.
4. Gates – Once at the gate let the attendant know that you will need to pre-board and whether or not you need assistance with an aisle chair. Those who pre-board typically do so 20-30 minutes before departure time. If in a power chair you will be asked to wheel down the jet way to the entrance of the plane. Once there, the individual who will be actually doing the loading of the chair will be there and at this time is when to instruct him or her on how to handle the chair. Ask what type of aircraft you will be flying. It usually will be an Airbus, Boeing, or McDonald Douglas. Power chairs fit nicely into the Airbus and Boeing. The McDonald Douglas cargo holds are much smaller and may require some disassembling. Note that a power chair will not fit in any aircraft with 44 passengers or less. The aisle chair barely fits. Last, stress the price of your chair and that stowing it on its side is not acceptable. They will listen.
5. Landing – When boarding you were the first one on the plane, however; when landing you will be the last one to exit the aircraft. This part of the process can get frustrating. Each individual airport does not communicate with the other, other than that there is a power chair in the belly of the plane. While you were able to communicate with the individual loading your chair on how to disassemble and power down your chair you do not have the same luxury explaining how to reassemble and power everything back up. It took United 45 minutes on one trip to get me off the plane and then wanted to transfer me back to my chair at the gate in front of 200 people waiting to fly the next leg. I refused as it gets into huge dignity issues. It wasn’t my fault they couldn’t get the chair going, or that the elevator was not working. I stayed on the plane.
6. Transportation – Getting away from the airport and on with your trip is very important. Those with manual chair can rent a vehicle with hand controls but renting an accessible vehicle on a whim for a power chair is not as easy. Call ahead to your hotel and ask if the airport shuttle has an accessible lift. By law, if a shuttle holds 12 or more there should be a lift for wheelchair or some other form of accommodation. Cities that I know of with accessible taxi cabs include: Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Cleveland, Albuquerque, Houston, Baltimore, San Jose, Long Beach, Denver, Colorado Springs, Kansas City, Clearwater, Indianapolis, and Austin. Last, and what I do the most, is rent an accessible vehicle typically a minivan from a local provider. Wheelchair Getaways is the largest franchise in the United States covering nearly the entire country (800-536-5518) but there often alternatives around each city as well.
Anytime from booking to leaving the airport grounds there is a Toll Free Hotline for air travelers with disabilities. The Hotline has been in operation since August 2002 and is available for callers from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, seven days a week. It is currently not being fully utilized. The Hotline serves two main purposes: (1) education and (2) assistance in resolving disability-related air travel problems. For example, issues involving service animals, seating accommodations, enplaning, deplaning, and connection assistance, the stowage of personal equipment, or other accommodations.
Hotline operators are well versed in the ACAA and can provide callers with on the spot general information about the rights of air travelers with disabilities. The Hotline can also assist air travelers with disabilities in resolving real time or upcoming issues with air carriers. Air travelers who want information about the rights of persons with disabilities in air travel or who experience disability-related air travel service problems may call the Hotline to obtain assistance at:
1-800-778-4838 (voice) or; 1-800-455-9880 (TTY).
There you have it. Feel free now to take to the skies. People with disabilities are traveling now more than ever and attitudes are changing but they won’t unless we get out there and help folks understand. See you at the airport!