First may I clarify, I don’t mean having a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang type of wheelchair which I know will undoubtedly disappoint some of you, but I mean flying with a wheelchair.
I have now been a full-time wheelchair user for just under a year, prior to that for a few years I needed to use a pavement scooter as my ability to walk had diminished dramatically, now I cannot walk at all.
So for about four years I have had to travel with a scooter and now with a wheelchair. I have flown from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead and have flown with Ryanair, EasyJet, Middle Eastern Airlines and British Airways.
The airport assistance you receive is actually from the airport and not the airline.
When you book your flight you must advise the airline that you require assistance. Also you will not pay a seat selection fee or they will refund it to you once they know you are disabled. A good thing is to register for their Executive Club or whatever they call it, its free and you can input your preferences.
The first thing the airline needs to know is the size of the wheelchair or scooter.
British Airways can accommodate the following maximum dimensions for wheelchairs and mobility aids:
Length 140cm (55.1in) Width 85cm (33.5in) Height 152cm (59.8in)
Your wheelchair or mobility aids must fit within the maximum dimensions for BA to be able to accept it for travel.
If your wheelchair exceeds the maximum dimensions due to the height of the headrest this must be removed from the device, if possible to do so, and can be taken into the aircraft cabin.
If your wheelchair exceeds the maximum height due to a headrest, then as long as it can be removed and taken into the aircraft cabin separately, the device can still be accepted.
The airline will also require details of what you are bringing, in particular the name of your scooter or chair, its weight, height, width and length. And also most importantly what batteries it has and their power. Some airlines are very strict on Lithium Ion batteries.
British Airways say ‘If the lithium battery(ies) are securely attached to the wheelchair, scooter or mobility aid, they must remain in the device. The power must be disconnected/isolated so that it cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
British Airways and other airlines categorise the assistance they provide as:-
During the flight the cabin crew are unable to assist you onto the onboard aisle chair. If you do not possess enough upper body strength to move between your seat and the chair, then you will need to travel with someone who can help, they call that person a safety assistant.
So what happens in practice?
When you arrive at the airport you go to check in, often there is a dedicated check in desk for people needing assistance. Notwithstanding you will have orally provided the details to the airline when or soon after booking you will be asked to do so again. I have attached below, hopefully, a document I take and also fix to my chair in a laminated version.
You tell the check in staff that you need your wheelchair in the airport and you will go the the boarding gate 30/40 minutes before departure. The alternative is you check in your wheelchair and then rely on the airport team to help you. I have seen people who have done that and then been taken to the boarding gate two hours before departure and just sit there stuck. You do not want that. Having your own chair and scooter allows you independence at the airport
Even if your wheelchair folds tell them they it doesn’t. I have heard of people who have had their wheelchair folded and put in a case. It then gets thrown around like ordinary luggage and damaged. Whereas if you say it doesn’t fold they will carry it and push it as it is.
When you are using a scooter or wheelchair you have fast access through all the security channels.
When you arrive at the boarding gate you will often be the first to board and you take your chair to the door of the aircraft or half way down the gangway. You will then transfer into the onboard wheelchair which is very narrow. The ground staff will get you onto the plane. You will perhaps have to put your right hand on your left shoulder and lefy hand on your right shoulder or hands on knees as the aisle in an aircraft is very narrow. You will be taken to your seat and then you have to transfer into your seat and do the reverse at your destination.
The very hard part is using the loo, or not, if you cannot walk. I dramatically reduce my fluids for 5 or six hours before the light and have a pee before boarding the plane. I have survived a five hour flight an drank like a fish on arrival. Next year I am planning to return to Kenya where I run a charity but that about 10 hours from boarding to departure. Anyone have any cable ties?
Hopefully this is of assistance to those of you who are thinking of flying. Don’t be put off, we all love our holidays and you only really have to manage the flight.
One last thing, if you like mildly spicy food always order a Special Meal called Asian Vegetarian, you will be served before everyone else and its always very enjoyable.
RICHARD
I have now been a full-time wheelchair user for just under a year, prior to that for a few years I needed to use a pavement scooter as my ability to walk had diminished dramatically, now I cannot walk at all.
So for about four years I have had to travel with a scooter and now with a wheelchair. I have flown from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton and Stanstead and have flown with Ryanair, EasyJet, Middle Eastern Airlines and British Airways.
The airport assistance you receive is actually from the airport and not the airline.
When you book your flight you must advise the airline that you require assistance. Also you will not pay a seat selection fee or they will refund it to you once they know you are disabled. A good thing is to register for their Executive Club or whatever they call it, its free and you can input your preferences.
The first thing the airline needs to know is the size of the wheelchair or scooter.
British Airways can accommodate the following maximum dimensions for wheelchairs and mobility aids:
Length 140cm (55.1in) Width 85cm (33.5in) Height 152cm (59.8in)
Your wheelchair or mobility aids must fit within the maximum dimensions for BA to be able to accept it for travel.
If your wheelchair exceeds the maximum dimensions due to the height of the headrest this must be removed from the device, if possible to do so, and can be taken into the aircraft cabin.
If your wheelchair exceeds the maximum height due to a headrest, then as long as it can be removed and taken into the aircraft cabin separately, the device can still be accepted.
The airline will also require details of what you are bringing, in particular the name of your scooter or chair, its weight, height, width and length. And also most importantly what batteries it has and their power. Some airlines are very strict on Lithium Ion batteries.
British Airways say ‘If the lithium battery(ies) are securely attached to the wheelchair, scooter or mobility aid, they must remain in the device. The power must be disconnected/isolated so that it cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
- There is no maximum Watt-hour limit if the lithium battery(ies) remains in the device.
- The battery must be removed following the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner.
- The removed batteries must be protected from short circuit (e.g. by covering or taping over exposed terminals).
- In order to protect them from damage, place batteries individually in a protective pouch and take them with you as carry-on ‘cabin’ baggage.
- The maximum battery size is 300Wh, or for devices fitted with two batteries, 160Wh each.
British Airways and other airlines categorise the assistance they provide as:-
- Service 1 - Assistance to and from the aircraft and getting around the airport for all or part of your journey, this will be either by electric buggy or airport wheelchair.
- Service 2 - Assistance to and from the aircraft and getting around the airport for all or part of your journey, this will be either by electric buggy or airport wheelchair. Assistance to ascend or descend stairs to the aircraft door if parked away from the terminal building. Please note: You may be required to ascend or descend stairs in low level light or inclement weather.
- Service 3 - Full level service to and from the aircraft. Use of a specialist aisle chair and transfer to your seat during boarding and disembarkation along with the use of an onboard aisle chair during the flight to move around the cabin.
During the flight the cabin crew are unable to assist you onto the onboard aisle chair. If you do not possess enough upper body strength to move between your seat and the chair, then you will need to travel with someone who can help, they call that person a safety assistant.
So what happens in practice?
When you arrive at the airport you go to check in, often there is a dedicated check in desk for people needing assistance. Notwithstanding you will have orally provided the details to the airline when or soon after booking you will be asked to do so again. I have attached below, hopefully, a document I take and also fix to my chair in a laminated version.
You tell the check in staff that you need your wheelchair in the airport and you will go the the boarding gate 30/40 minutes before departure. The alternative is you check in your wheelchair and then rely on the airport team to help you. I have seen people who have done that and then been taken to the boarding gate two hours before departure and just sit there stuck. You do not want that. Having your own chair and scooter allows you independence at the airport
Even if your wheelchair folds tell them they it doesn’t. I have heard of people who have had their wheelchair folded and put in a case. It then gets thrown around like ordinary luggage and damaged. Whereas if you say it doesn’t fold they will carry it and push it as it is.
When you are using a scooter or wheelchair you have fast access through all the security channels.
When you arrive at the boarding gate you will often be the first to board and you take your chair to the door of the aircraft or half way down the gangway. You will then transfer into the onboard wheelchair which is very narrow. The ground staff will get you onto the plane. You will perhaps have to put your right hand on your left shoulder and lefy hand on your right shoulder or hands on knees as the aisle in an aircraft is very narrow. You will be taken to your seat and then you have to transfer into your seat and do the reverse at your destination.
The very hard part is using the loo, or not, if you cannot walk. I dramatically reduce my fluids for 5 or six hours before the light and have a pee before boarding the plane. I have survived a five hour flight an drank like a fish on arrival. Next year I am planning to return to Kenya where I run a charity but that about 10 hours from boarding to departure. Anyone have any cable ties?
Hopefully this is of assistance to those of you who are thinking of flying. Don’t be put off, we all love our holidays and you only really have to manage the flight.
One last thing, if you like mildly spicy food always order a Special Meal called Asian Vegetarian, you will be served before everyone else and its always very enjoyable.
RICHARD
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