Airport Logistics

[mrspopeye]

We will be taking my mom to Disney for the first time, and we plan to rent an ECV once we arrive. My mom, along with my 16 and 12 year old daughters will be flying Delta from Nashville to Atlanta (switch planes) then Atlanta to Orlando, while my husband and I drive our vehicle with the luggage down a day ahead of time and pick them up at the airport. My father will drop them off at the airport and pick them up while we drive back home.

The plan is to have the 16yr old push grandma in one of the airport wheelchairs all the way to the gates and to the door of the plane. She can then transfer on her own and walk on/off the plane. My mom has 2 rods that hold her spine in place and 2 total knee replacements. She can walk and stand independantly for short distances and short amounts of time. I want to make this as easy as possible for my daughter to maneuver.



Questions:

1) How can we set them up to pre-board?

2) Once they get to Atlanta, then Orlando, will there be another airport WC at the arrival gates, or do you have to request this?

3) I can see from the Orlando Airport maps that Delta flights will arrive gates 60-99 on the Terminal B side. Once they ride of the monorail in to the main terminal, does anyone specifically know where the elevators are? Are they close to the escalator? Looks like they will have to go down a floor to meet us at baggage claim/arrivals.


This site has been full of great information. Thank you so much!

 

[jdb in AZ]

When your mom and DD get to the departure gate, they need to ask the gate attendant about arranging for a wheelchair in Atlanta, and in Orlando. Their computer will notify the other computers. The gate attendant will also answer any specific questions about preboarding, and he/she will make an announcement when it's time.

 

[MedicGoofy]

If I'm correct, when your flight is close to boarding, they do preboarding. At that time, they ask people who have small children or disability/wheelchair to start preboarding.

Usually there is someone behind a counter close to your gate before your boarding time....to be able to ask questions. They would be the person to talk to.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

In Orlando Delta uses Baggage Claim "B". After you exit the secure area, there will be large signs to the escalators to baggage claim. Just walk past the escalators, and in about another 50-75 feet will be a set of elevators. Take them down to Level 2.

 

[mrspopeye]

Great! Thank you so much!

 

[momto2js]

Generally speaking, the airport wheelchairs come with employees that push them. That way the service company has control of where the chairs are. I know there are exceptions to this rule but I'd make sure that the party have a few dollars for the help, while not necessary, really appriciated!!!

 

[HowdyHeidi]

My mom always arranges to have someone push her and sometimes to have someone push my dad too, around the airports. She does not have a wheelchair, but she cannot walk far at all. I think I remember her saying she arranged it before she got to the airport (maybe during ticketing)?

So I'm sure that they will accommodate you, but I would call the airline ahead or look at the airport website for information.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I posted this in the other thread you asked your question in, but am copying it here in case anybody searches for this info. in the future.

The plan is to have the 16yr old push grandma in one of the airport wheelchairs all the way to the gates and to the door of the plane. She can then transfer on her own and walk on/off the plane. My mom has 2 rods that hold her spine in place and 2 total knee replacements. She can walk and stand independantly for short distances and short amounts of time. I want to make this as easy as possible for my daughter to maneuver.

The wheelchair comes with a wheelchair-pusher; nobody in your party will have to do the pushing. There is no fee for this service, but tips are appreciated.

I do recommend that you check out the TSA site for how best to take her through security with all the metal in her (she'll set off the metal detector). Do let her know ahead of time about how the TSA will pat her down everywhere, including private areas, so she is prepared.

Questions:

How can we set them up to pre-board?

There's no list of pre-boarders. The gate agents will usually call pre-boarding just before they start boarding first class passengers, but you may want to quickly check in with them to let them know your mother needs more time to get on the plane.

Once they get to Atlanta, then Orlando, will there be another airport WC at the arrival gates, or do you have to request this?

When you log into your Delta acc't online, you will see on your itinerary where you can request wheelchair service for each airport for your mother. It is on the bottom of the trip's page where it lists all the passengers. Click on the part that says something like "Request Special Services". Alternatively, you can call Delta and request the wheelchair service. If you don't request this, there won't be a wheelchair waiting at the gate in Atlanta - and she will definitely need one there, as it is a huge airport and you often have to take a train from one part of the terminal to another!

Have a great trip!!

 

[KPeveler]

I always call 48 hrs before hand just to re-confirm everything. There have been times that notes have gotten lost in the system, so I just make sure everything is set.

I also tell every airport I am in what I need, so that things are in place that day.

 

[cmesq61]

Generally speaking, the airport wheelchairs come with employees that push them. That way the service company has control of where the chairs are. I know there are exceptions to this rule but I'd make sure that the party have a few dollars for the help, while not necessary, really appriciated!!!

FYI to the OP==It is not always easy to have your family push you. Atlanta is one of the more agressive airports for the WC pushers. They can really hold you hostage. It is so difficult. I had a real issue once where the pusher would not leave me at the next gate in my WC as he could not seem to grasp that w/o the WC I could not use the bathroom or get on the plane. And in Orlando once a WC pusher actually shoved my son out of the way to start pushing me. Just prepare your daughters. May be easier to use the pushers and save your girls the hassle. I would happily tip them to just go away, but that does not work in some airports.