I’m Tabassum – I’ve flown everywhere in the world, and it simply so occurs that I journey in a wheelchair. Air journey may be uncomfortable for many individuals—with or with out a wheelchair, however perhaps my suggestions can assist!
On this weblog, I present suggestions and tips to really feel comfy and assured whereas travelling in a wheelchair by air. Learn on!
1. Have an air journey routine
I wish to arrive on the airport 3 hours earlier than a world departure. I desire to test in with an agent as a substitute utilizing self-check-in, as a result of I would miss one thing. This fashion, I can let the airline know my boarding wants, have them test my wheelchair, put together an aisle chair, and make preparations to have a wheelchair at my switch gate or vacation spot.
Utilizing the aisle chair
The aisle in an airplane is simply too slim on your regular-sized wheelchair, so that you’ll need to test it as particular baggage. So, you’ll have use an aisle chair offered by the air service to board the aircraft and use the lavatory. Be sure you ask for help when transferring out of your in-flight seat to the aisle chair. Moreover, when you’re travelling with a pal or member of the family with a incapacity, familiarize your self with the aisle chair’s location through the flight.
2. Baggage checking your wheelchair
Air carriers ought to guarantee your personal wheelchair is ready for you on the gate upon arrival. Please don’t make the identical mistake I did; ensure you’ve correctly checked in your wheelchair and acquired a particular merchandise baggage tag. You don’t wish to arrive at your vacation spot to search out your chair isn’t ready for you! It occurred to me once I flew to Pakistan; I arrived in Karachi, however my wheelchair was in Montreal! Fortunately, the Crimson Cross rented me a wheelchair, and my very own chair arrived the subsequent day.
3. Navigating Lengthy haul flights
Once I flew from Vancouver to Pakistan, it’s over 15 hours within the air, not together with the layovers in London or Hong Kong. For long-haul flights, this well-known tip applies to passengers in wheelchairs too: drink numerous water and keep away from alcohol! Extra particularly although, ask for a bulkhead seat: it’s the row of seats immediately after the partition. The bulkhead presents extra “leg room” or, in my case, more room to maneuver the aisle chair. It’s not potential for folks with disabilities to sit down within the emergency exits. Be sure you hold this in thoughts when you’re reserving on behalf of a travelling companion in a wheelchair.
4. Know your Rights
Each traveller ought to know their rights, however particularly folks with disabilities. Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation and the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Invoice of Rights are each glorious assets for all passengers. The Canadian Air Passenger RIghts web site can also be useful.
Typically, listed here are the foundations that airways ought to comply with to serve passengers with lowered mobility:
- Help in interline journeys and airport transfers
- Talk passengers’ particular wants and providers offered on the bottom and in flight between air carriers
- Present particular tools when obligatory
- Supply precedence boarding and particular person briefings on security procedures, plane layouts and specialised tools
Relying on the place you’re travelling, you might also wish to evaluate your passenger rights in Canada versus the USA or Europe, for instance.
Typically, my rule of thumb for accessible air journey is:
- Ask for help
- Know your rights
- Be agency, be variety
In case you are in search of some extra recommendations on accessible journey, try this weblog the place I offer you tricks to planning the wheelchair accessible journeys with ease.
Take care, and hold travelling!
Secure travels,
Tabassum
Editor’s Word: This submit was initially revealed in August 2013 and has been up to date for freshness and/or accuracy.