airplane questions for electric wheelchair

[Samantha Becker]

How do guests with elctric wheelchairs go about getting seat for the plane? Call directly to the airline carrier? My brother who has muscular Dystrophy and he is basically like a 200 pound rock in his chair so we do not plan on trying to transfer him. Where would they put him on the plane? I cannot even picture how he would get on since the aisles are so narrow and the base of his wheelchair is so big. Anyone with experience?

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

I suggest using the new, specially designed for those in wheelchairs flying service iflymat.org You can fly in your wheelchair.

On a traditional airline he will have to transfer to a special wheelchair to load on the plane. the electric wheelchair will be loaded into the cargo hold. All the wires will be disconnected.

He will have to transfer from the loading wheelchair to a regular seat and fly there.

 

[madenon]

Hi Samantha,

each airline has wat they call "aisle chairs". These are 'wheelchairs' that fit in between the aisles! This chair needs to be pushed by a FA, which is no problem for getting in and off/going to the bathroom etc. For some of the smaller planes you might have to request this before hand. I make it my practice to allways request it, never mind if that specific airline has them on each plane, I don't run any risks. Also there are special wheelchairs at the airport they can use for entering the plane, as this isn't done with a powerchair.

As far as seating goes; the american airlines are great when it comes to having enough seats with armrest that can be removed/pushe out of the way during transferring from a wc to the seat. They're allover the plane. If there are other medical reasons he might need a specific seat, you'll have to tell the airline. What do you do? Go to the site of the airline you'll be flying and look up the section most likely called 'flying with a disability' or 'special assistance'. That'll give you a lot of info right then and there. Than contact the airline. Some got special departments dealing with this kind of stuff, some don't. Explain what your brothers needs are (like; removable armrest) and talk about how the airline can meet them.

Transferring might be a bit tricky. While there is specialized personal at the airport that can do this when getting on and off the flight, during the flight the person has to be either able to transfer themselves, or have somebody there to help them with transferring when needed. The FA's are not allowed to help.

In my experience most airlines are helpfull in getting you what you need when it comes to seating assignment. However! You'll need to arrange it asap as of course everything is on a 'first come, first serve' base. For instance; I can only fly in very limited amount of seats in economy (depending on the planes configuration it might be up to 6 or 8 seats, wow.....) This is no problem at all, untill there were enough people before me with reasonable medical reason to request the same chair and all of the chairs are gone.

I think this is his/your first time flying since he's in the powerchair? Have you got any questions about how to deal with the chair itself or anything else? Are you taking a nonstop flight or not?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I looked at the www.iflymat.org site which EternalDisneyFan mentioned. It looks like a very reasonable alternative to the normal commercial airlines. One thing that seems very good is you do not have to select a commercial airport if you are not near one. The prices appear to be competitive to the major airlines but no discounted fares.

 

[mechurchlady]

I looked at the www.iflymat.org site which EternalDisneyFan mentioned. It looks like a very reasonable alternative to the normal commercial airlines. One thing that seems very good is you do not have to select a commercial airport if you are not near one. The prices appear to be competitive to the major airlines but no discounted fares.

From El Monte to Executive Airport in Orlando is only about $220 each way. I like the idea that service animals do not have to stay in a kennel. At least now I have a way to get my mother to WDW if I ever get rich. Thanks to the person who linked this. I would if I could pay double that amount just to avoid trains which are pains and the airport hassles.

 

[dclfun]

I didn't think iflymat was up and running yet. Is it now operational? Otherwise as was mentioned someone in your party would have to transfer your brother to the aisle chair and then into the plane seat. You probably want to request a bulkhead seat. The airlines do not allow disabled guests to be in an "exit row". ---Kathy

 

[Samantha Becker]

We can't transfer him, it would break our backs, well I guess we could it would take a couple people. So there is no way that an electric wheelchair can go on an airplane? That is really too bad, I will need to look into that website, I just don't know how my mom or husband would feel about such a small plane they are scaredy cats the way it is.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Correct, there is no place for a wheelchair on a commercial flight - no space, and NO way to safely secure it or the passenger.

Does your brother have a personal care attendant, or does your family have a strong member or friend you could 'treat' to the trip in exchange for (probably) him to get your brother in and out of the plane?

 

[eternaldisneyfan]

iflymat was starting at a limited basis by Thanksgiving and fully operational by summer 2008. By summer 2009 they will also be able to fly to Hawaii and Europe.

If we ever get to go again, this is what we'll do.


Christamae

 

[SueM in MN]

I am in Belgium right now, so I do not have access to all my favorites stored on my computer. I am also typing on my foreign exchange student s computer with a keyboard set up for French so there are keys in different places, so pleqse ignore the mistakes. Q is where I usually find A; that is where I really hve to watch.
If the special airline that was linked here is able to go to Orlando at this time, that would be the best option as far as transporting him. I read their website the first ti,e it was posted and it looks like a wonderful option for so,e people.

Eech airline in the US is required to have a specific department that deals with passengers with spcial needs. This comes from the Air Carrier Trqvel Act - I dont remember the exact name of it - and also from a lawsuit where a woman who needed a transfer wheelchair was left on an airplane. It may not be easy to find the special needs department on the individual airline website, but you can usually find the place to contact by doing a search for wheelchair. If you need specific seats because of the nature of the disability, you cqn usually get them assigned at the ti,e of the reservation, even if this is not available for guests without disabilities to arrange seating yet. They often save the bulkheqd seqts until boarding, but we have occassinally had them assigned ahead of time.
A trip on a regular airline would probably require 3 transfers to get in and 3 to get out; transfer from power wheelchqir to an airport manual wheelchair. This would be like a WDW rental wheelchqir with a low sling back and a sling seat - like a director chair. He may have to be in that for a ahile, depending on the airline and the facilities at the airport for getting power wheelchairs loaded. That chair should have removeable armrests, but may not.
The second transfer would be from that to an aisle chair. My DD has used the airline transfer chair - called an aisle chair - many times. It is very narrow - the seat is about 14 inches wide or maybe even less. There is a high back that can support the head and there are a variety of straps/belts to keep the person and their arms and legs in place. MY DD is small - only 5 feet tqll and 90 pounds, but Christopher Reeve was a spokesperson for a company that makes aisle chairs and I know he used one frequently, so size and weight dont reeally matter. Some airlines require their staff to make that transfer and rhe ones we have had have been excellent at it.
The next transfer is from the aisle chair to the seat. for comfort, it may work out best to fly First Clqss since their is more room; I would plan that once he is in the plane seat he is not coming out until the plane lands. As I mentioned, our DD is small and if we hold her up, she is able to walk some. We find it too difficult to get her up while the plane is in motion though.
Once the airplane lqnds, you have another 3 transfers out agqin. I would recommend a non-stop flight rather than qny transfers. Non-stop cuts down the number of transfers qnd also the chance of an airport not being reqdy for you.

Another option might be to drive, depending on how far your drive would be. If he has his own adapted van, you would have it available also at your destination. If his van is set up for him only to drive it, you might want to look into renting a wheelchair lift van from somewhere near his home. I have the number of a company at home that we used when our van needed repair. That might look expensive at first sight, but when you factor in all the other costs -like air tickets for all those coming with him - it may look more reasonable. Plus, you would have a van he cqn use qt his destination.