airport wheelchair assistance (using theirs, not mine)

[Starwind]

I am writing to ask for some advice on using airline/airport-supplied wheelchairs in airports, particularly for connections.

Background:

I will be traveling next week for work (sadly not to Disney, though the many connections may or may not take me to MCO - I will find out when the tickets are issued tomorrow).

I will start in Canada and end in Texas. However, the travel includes at least two connections (mostly in US cities, but also possible one in Canada) at intermediary airports over the course of 12-18 hours of travel.

I learned on my last to WDW/DCL trips, the last one this past December in particular, that navigating airports is a particular challenge for me mobility-wise as I have a medical/mobility issue that is exacerbated by sitting for anything more than about 30 minutes. I can handle the sitting, the problem is when I then try to move again I am very stiff and moving is very painful (it slowly improves, but can take anywhere from 15 min to a few hours to do so). I can handle getting on and off the plane myself (I usually preboard and then am among the last off, so can use seatbacks as a stability aid if needed).

So, having an airport/airline wheelchair to navigate the distances from gate to gate (which can be very very long sometimes) would be very helpful.

I have never asked for a wheelchair before. I do not use one at home (but at Disney I rent an ECV from an external vendor).

I understand that I have to contact the airline to arrange for this. I also understand that there will be an airport employee that will push the chair. Somehow we will navigate the carryon bags (two have wheels, one does not, and any two of the three can be stacked on each other).

QUESTIONS:

Do I tip the "pusher" ? If so, how much is considered normal, assuming good service ?

How does going through airport screening go ? At the very least there will be the Canadian origin airport departing (with CATSA) and the Texas destination airport (with TSA) returning home; there may also be more security screening in intermediary aiports (e.g. if US Customs is cleared in a connecting Canadian airport you get to go through security again). I do have a NEXUS card and plan to use it if I can, which may help -- it makes me eligible for the Nexus lines in Canada and eligible to be chosen for TSA PreCheck in the US. I can walk through the screening device if needed (which I always trip), and have medical liquids which they always have to swab.

Any suggestions for handling the connections ? I know I will need to find food during connections, since the travel day is so long and I cannot eat airplane food due to food allergies.

Thanks very much for your assistance.

SW

 

[SteveMouse]

Where in Texas and what airline? That can make a huge difference- Houston's Intercontinental Airport is HUGE as is DFW). Houston Hobby is a lot smaller. Austin isn't big, and if you're on Southwest the gates are VERY close to security.

 

[Starwind]

Unfortunately I won't get tickets until tomorrow. However:

Start: Ottawa; end: El Paso, TX. Both have only so many cities flights fly to/and from directly, hence the need for multiple connections.

I will most likely be on a combo of either:

WestJet & Delta (connections via Toronto or Detoit, possibly another city, and Atlanta),
WestJet & American (connections likely via Toronto, Calgary, and/or Philadelphia, and 1 or more of Chicago O'Hare, LAX, or DFW), or
Air Canada & United (connectiona likely via Toronto and/or Chicago O'hare, and either Denver or Houston International)
Delta, American, or United alone are also possible, connecting just in the USA via the above airports.

Flying on Southwest is unlikely since it doesn't fly to Canada nor codeshare with a Canadian airline (i.e. "you can't get there from here" on Southwest).

Clearing Customs happens in the last Canadian city and the flight will land in its first US city as the equivalent of a domestic flight (no more customs needed), but possibly at the international arrivals terminal. So if, for example, I fly YOW-YYZ and then on to a US city, in Toronto there is a massive amount of walking to get from one part of the terminal to another and you are going gate > security & US Customs > gate.

I spent several years living in DFW so am familiar with how huge the airport is, especially to make connections, though it is a bit easier with the train system they now have. Likewise I have traveled often through O'Hare and Toronto, and know they are massive as well - well-signed, but LONG LONG distances. My last WDW/DCL trip had a connection in Toronto -- the walk from arrival to US Customs to the US gate was long and difficult and I regretted not having wheelchair assistance less than half-way through the walk. I was actually happy we had to sit and wait outside US Customs for our checked baggage to get transferred For that trip: YOW-YYZ-MCO, I logged well over 12000 steps on my pedometer, almost all of it in the three airports.

SW

 

[Starwind]

(I will add that this info will also be helpful for my next WDW/DCL trip, but those connections are easier -- the flights are either direct to MCO or connect via Toronto; but I will be asking for wheelchair assistance for at least the connection for that trip too)

 

[SteveMouse]

Yes, I remember well the hike in Toronto (we had to change terminals, on top of it, and the flight was to Washington, DC sometime just after 9/11, and we were in a VERY isolated gate).

For the US airports (I can't speak to the Canadian regulations, but have always been served well), you can indeed have it noted in your record that you've requested a wheelchair. Usually, passengers using wheelchairs are boarded first and deboarded last. (When you check-in at the ticket counter, you can remind the agent that you've requested a chair).

For screening, the security agent should ask you if you can ambulate through the scanner (I can ambulate and always use the metal detector as my arms don't go above my head).

If you can't they do alternate screening, with a wand and a pat down. If you don't remove your shoes, they will usually do a swab of the shoe.

One issue I've had when traveling solo is monitoring my carryon bags as they go through the scanner and I'm getting cleared. Sometimes it takes longer than I'd like and my possessions are sitting on the belt unattended. When I've asked, the agent has been happy to collect them for me while they are finishing.

As you deplane, someone will (usually) be waiting with a wheelchair (assuming its been noted in your record, as mentioned above). They can push you where you want to go. Sometimes, managing carryons can get a little interesting. Carryons on US flights are usually constrained on one bag (of a certain size) and a personal item, such as a purse or briefcase.

As far as tipping is concerned, I usually tip based on time and/or distance, with a consideration about how busy the airport is, with a usual minimum of $5 if its less than 10 minutes and the staff ends up in a place where there is likely to be a minimal wait for the next customer.

I would not, in usual circumstances, ask the pusher to stop at a food court for me to eat (maybe to pick something up to to take to the gate to eat). If I did, I would tip heavily, being respectful of their time.

 

[minnie mum]

I haven't had to do multiple connecting flights, but I can tell you what my last trip to LA was like. I flew out of Toronto (Pearson) on Air Canada . I had called them in advance and requested wheelchair assistance. There was a podium and small waiting area with seats just past the check in counters. I checked in with them, and when the Porter arrived, was seated in a chair with my carry-on bags. She wheeled me to the US Customs clearance area, waited with me while that was done, then took me through the security lines. This was no different than clearing security on your feet, except that they also checked the chair, and the Porter, as I walked thru the metal detector and then was wanded and patted down (knee replacement).

After security, it was off to the gate. She did ask if I wanted to stop anywhere along the way. So we made a quick stop at the ladies room, and I made a duty free purchase. I could have also requested a stop at Timmie's or anywhere else if I wanted to make a purchase. She dropped me off at the gate, at a vacant seat near the podium. This took about 30 minutes. I tipped her $10. The gate attendant asked if I needed a chair to get to the plane, but I declined. It wasn't that far to walk.

On arrival in San Francisco, there was a porter and chair waiting for me at the door of the plane. She pushed me all the way from one terminal to the next, with a stop so I could get a sandwich and drink to eat later. Again, she dropped me at my gate. I tipped her a similar amount- the walk was much longer here. And finally, when I arrived at SNA, a chair was again waiting, and the Porter took me thru the terminal and out to where my shuttle bus was located. He would have taken me to baggage claim and arranged for a porter to help with Luggage if necessary.

The return trip was the same, in reverse. Going thru security and Customs/Immigration is no big deal in a chair.

HTH.

 

[Dream Finder]

We use a porter (pusher) at each airport. We tip from $5 to $15, depending on several factors - mainly how far they have to push DH. Each porter is slightly different, but what Minnie Mum describes is what we usually experience.

 

[Starwind]

One issue I've had when traveling solo is monitoring my carryon bags as they go through the scanner and I'm getting cleared. Sometimes it takes longer than I'd like and my possessions are sitting on the belt unattended. When I've asked, the agent has been happy to collect them for me while they are finishing.

As you deplane, someone will (usually) be waiting with a wheelchair (assuming its been noted in your record, as mentioned above). They can push you where you want to go. Sometimes, managing carryons can get a little interesting. Carryons on US flights are usually constrained on one bag (of a certain size) and a personal item, such as a purse or briefcase.

I travel with a carry-on, a personal item and a third carry-on which is size between the two and only contains medical items. In that third bag I have medical liquids that exceed the 3-1-1 rule and a medical electronic device. Needless to say, getting through security is always a lengthy process and at the least involves swabbing the liquids bag and/or containers. And, I almost always set off the walk through metal detector.


So while my bags are on the belt or being inspected... I am getting wanded and/or patted down. I find it very frustrating, because one is forced to be separated from your bags. And sometimes you can't even see them. :-(

SW

 

[Starwind]

Thank you to all of you for sharing your advice, information, and experiences. All are very much appreciated and have been very helpful.

I now know I will be flying WestJet and Delta, connecting in Toronto and Atlanta. I have called and spoken with both airlines and the wheelchair assistance notation is on my file (and on Delta's site I can actually see it noted). The customer service people at both were great !

This will be a good "test run" for our next Disney trip, as that will be with WestJet and probably changing planes in Toronto, too.

SW

 

[DisneyOma]

I travel with a carry-on, a personal item and a third carry-on which is size between the two and only contains medical items. In that third bag I have medical liquids that exceed the 3-1-1 rule and a medical electronic device. Needless to say, getting through security is always a lengthy process and at the least involves swabbing the liquids bag and/or containers. And, I almost always set off the walk through metal detector.


So while my bags are on the belt or being inspected... I am getting wanded and/or patted down. I find it very frustrating, because one is forced to be separated from your bags. And sometimes you can't even see them. :-(

SW

On the 4 flights I was on this last week, people were only allowed one carryon, and it had to be pretty small since all the over head bins were full. People had to gate check larger suitcase style ones, etc. I'd make sure you have all the important stuff you need on the plane in one bag, and be prepared to gate check stuff if the plane is full.

 

[Starwind]

On the 4 flights I was on this last week, people were only allowed one carryon, and it had to be pretty small since all the over head bins were full. People had to gate check larger suitcase style ones, etc. I'd make sure you have all the important stuff you need on the plane in one bag, and be prepared to gate check stuff if the plane is full.

I pack my carryons so that if i have to i can gate check the one normal small carry-on bag. The personal item fits under the seat (which is where I always put it) so that is not a problem. The medical bag cannot be checked and per law/regulation the airline has to accommodate it on board the plane; it is clearly marked as medical and other than the first trip I used it with when it was not clearly marked, I have never faced an issue about it. This trip one gate agent nicely asked the contents, I explained, and he said "not a problem, thank you".

When I traveled this week most of the flights were full, but I was able to bring all three bags onto the plane without a problem.

SW

 

[Starwind]

I wanted to followup and let you know how my trip went. EXCELLENT !

Each airport did things a little differently, and some of that was probably because two of the connections involved clearing customs and reclearing security, including leaving and then reentering the secure side of the airport. At one airport that meant a different pusher for each "step" - 5 or 6 different people !

Most of the time, I was handed off from one "pusher" to another, often very quickly. None expected tips and most left so quickly after a handoff there wasn't even the chance to ! I did tip two of the pushers -- they were with me for a quite long distance through their respective airport and helped with checked baggage.

Wheelchair assistance made a tremendous difference in my travel experience. Much easier and less painful than such a trip would normally have been.

Thank you again for all your comments and advice !

SW

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the report - glad it went well.