General Travel Advice group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Wheelchair Travelling!!

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nedkelly Premium account Joined: Apr 04 Points: 5264 Posts: 81 Posted: 2004-09-05 23:12:00    Any one got advice on travelling with wheelchairs? Its looking like I may be in this thing for a while so I need to get to a mates wedding in Washington in January I was wondering about the hassles of airports and security and all that. Anyone in a similar situation to myself or who knows where I can get good info from...well Ill personally deliver a beer/wine too ya...Promise. Take it easy and smile lots. Later Matt --- Do Not tip-toe through life to arrive safely at deaths door!! To surf or not to surf , flat? is the queastion. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact nedkelly   britman Premium account Joined: Apr 04 Points: 17984 Posts: 83 Posted: 2004-09-08 13:49:00    Hi Matt, Have you tried telephoning the airlines? Try BA and United and AA (that's American Airlines - NOT - Alcoholics Anonymous) and ask them what their policy is. I am sure that you will be the envy of all the other passengers being whisked along at high speed by some "Trolley Dolly" to your flight. Seriously, a Google search on the names British Airways Wheelchairs Disabled throws up:- www.britishairways.com/travel/specialneeds/public/en_gb - 41k - 6 Sep 2004 - take a look it answers all your questions --- Cheers! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact britman   rangutan Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 34752 Posts: 1044 Posted: 2004-10-13 14:07:00    My mom is going on 80 and has regularily travelled between her 4 children, sometimes dispersed on four continents! She is not confined to a wheelcair but because of her weak legs uses the chair services at airports, museums and amusement-parks etc. Also, wheelchairers are not expected to wait in a line, simply go to the front whereever the que. Mom has ALWAYS got top service from the airlines (best pre-request when reserving the flight). Once there wasnt a tunnel between the aircraft and terminal - she was "uploaded" by a forklift into the plane! Info: most european cities have excellent accomodation for the disabled. In Munich it is statuetory for ALL public places (even buses and underground) to be accessable to wheelchairs. --- Rudolf "Rangutan" Graspointner Reply    Reply with quote    Contact rangutan   nine_echo Joined: Nov 04 Points: 12 Posts: 3 Posted: 2004-11-28 05:24:00    Hi, ask your travel agent (or phone the airline) to inform the airline that you will need assistance boarding and disembarking the aircraft. The will give you all the help you need including by passing immigration and security lines. --- Nina Reply    Reply with quote    Contact nine_echo   jjjenny Joined: Sep 04 Points: 8 Posts: 2 Posted: 2005-01-02 17:14:00    You shouldn't have any problems with a wheelchair. If you are bringing your own, you may have to let them check it for you. Some wheelchairs are too big to fit down the aisles of the planes. Just let your travel agent or the airline know that you need assistance, and whether or not you can walk to your seat or upstairs. Have a great time! --- Jeanne Reply    Reply with quote    Contact jjjenny   nedkelly Premium account Joined: Apr 04 Points: 5264 Posts: 81 Posted: 2005-01-02 22:57:00    Just thought I ought to enlighten those who dont know!!!! Im eeerm actually not in the wheelchair anymore. I just got rid of the crutches too and Im flying to America on the 17th of Jan but the thing Im concerned with now is all the metal in my legs...Will it sett off the metal detectors when I go through security?? --- Do Not tip-toe through life to arrive safely at deaths door!! To surf or not to surf , flat? is the queastion. Reply    Reply with quote    Contact nedkelly   rangutan Premium account Joined: Aug 04 Points: 34752 Posts: 1044 Posted: 2005-01-03 00:48:00    Thats great news! About the metal - thats sure to be a problem if not cleared in advance. Ask your airline for a clearance certificate. The may only want a letter from your doctor but perhaps ask you to take xray-sheets with you... --- Rudolf "Rangutan" Graspointner Reply    Reply with quote    Contact rangutan   mortimer Premium account Joined: Jun 04 Points: 15075 Posts: 528 Posted: 2005-01-03 08:19:00    Hi Matt I don't think the metall in your legs should be a problem. It's just a matter of how much you've got inside you..... Perhaps with big keys and a lot of coins in your wallet it might add up to set them off. I too have some screws inside my legs with no problems so far, when walking thourgh the security checks. martin --- Today is the first day of the rest of your life, enjoy it! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact mortimer