Airport question - wheelchairs?

[vellamint]

I am traveling with my elderly mother-in-law in a few weeks and she has some mobility/stamina issues that I am addressing at the resort via a wheelchair rental.

My concern is at the point we are dropped off at the airport until we get to OKW. We need the airport wheelchair....she will have a really difficult time walking through either airport.

Do we just ask curbside check-in for one? Is it brought to us or do we go to it? How do we ensure they have one for us when we arrive in Orlando? The air attendant? Once we get to the rental car agency - who do we give the wheelchair back to?

Thanks so much in advance and in case you need to know we are departing from Islip Long Island.

 

[SteveMouse]

I am traveling with my elderly mother-in-law in a few weeks and she has some mobility/stamina issues that I am addressing at the resort via a wheelchair rental.

My concern is at the point we are dropped off at the airport until we get to OKW. We need the airport wheelchair....she will have a really difficult time walking through either airport.

Do we just ask curbside check-in for one? Is it brought to us or do we go to it? How do we ensure they have one for us when we arrive in Orlando? The air attendant? Once we get to the rental car agency - who do we give the wheelchair back to?

Thanks so much in advance and in case you need to know we are departing from Islip Long Island.

My guess is you are flying Southwest. Call the airline and have them note the need in your flight reservation. You can also make the request online in your reservation, specifying the needed assistance. If you curb check @ Islip, ask the person taking your bags- they will call for a chair and someone to push it. When you plane arrives at MCO (or short thereafter) a wheelchair and attendant will be there to assist you to the rental car counter, the rental car (if onsite), or to ME.

Please be prepared to tip accordingly.

Have a great time!

 

[LisaFB]

I've used a wheelchair and so has my dad (not for Disney, for Cabo) and it was easy. Once we got to the airport, we asked the first employee we saw for one and they took us right up to the gate. We asked at the gate about making sure there'd be one when we arrived and there was each time. The took us all the way through baggage claim. I agree, make sure to tip well.

 

[vellamint]

What is considered "tipping well"? $5...$10? (each airport)

Sorry but I tend to overtip and my husband is the opposite....I need a frame of reference.

 

[LisaFB]

DH just told me he tipped $10 at each airport since they take you from the door of the airport all the way through security and to your gate.

 

[SteveMouse]

What is considered "tipping well"? $5...$10? (each airport)

Sorry but I tend to overtip and my husband is the opposite....I need a frame of reference.

If the assistant is spending 10-15 minutes with you, $5 may be about right. All the way from a gate at MCO to a rental car or ME, which could take 20 to 30 minutes, including time in line, maybe $10. Think about it a little like a cab- the further out of the way, the longer it may take to get to the next customer.

 

[aubriee]

When we book airline tickets, we always check the box for needing wheelchair for my mom. We may have to ask for one when we arrive at our home airport, but when we get off the plane they always have one waiting for her and they always take her all the way out to the rental car company. My question is how do you get a wheelchair to use on the return trip from the rental car area to the gate? The employees there at the rental car return never seem to know how to get one and she has a very hard time walking from the rental car area, across the street, and into the airport where we finally find one.

 

[KPeveler]

Just agreeing - definitely call the airline to let them know. This will ensure that they have a wheelchair waiting when you get off the plane.

Just so you know, when you use a wheelchair getting off the plane, you will be the last ones off - the attendant will help you.

When you get to an airport, you can just ask someone, but it will make things much easier if the airline knew to have a wheelchair waiting at the other end.