anyone with experience flying with an ECV?

[glass slipper girl]

My mother and I are taking my sons to WDW for Star Wars Weekend in May. She will be bringing her own ECV with us on this trip. This will be the first time we've flown with it...it's usually in the back of their SUV towed behind the RV so it's never been an issue. We are flying AirTran and they have told me not to worry they'll take care of it. From the sounds of it we will gate check it like we do the stroller? Does anyone know if that was the case? The person I spoke with was not the most helpful! He just told me to ask the gate agent what to do with it (which is why I'm assuming we gate check it). She will not need assistance to or from her seat, she just can't walk all day at WDW and since she owns an ECV there is no need to spend $30/day to rent one.

Anyone ever done this? any problems? any suggestions?

Thanks so much!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Just make sure (check with your dealer) that it has gel batteries so they do not have to be disconnected and specially packed. The other thing is when it is gate checked to remove the key an put it in "freewheel" so it can be easily pushed. If possible, have large pictures showing how to lower and raise the tiller if needed.

 

[clkelley]

We've done it many times on Delta and Southwest. Take it through security just like you would a stroller. Some airports will ask if you can walk through the scanner and take the scooter around for you. Some airports will have you bypass the scanner and wand you down manually.

Then when you get to the gate ask the agent when they need to take the scooter. If it is a small plane that you board without a jetway, they may escort you and the scooter down the elevator to the loading ramp, then escort you to the plane door. If you do have a jetway, then just when you give them the scooter, show them how to take the seat off and lower the tiller. Most of the places we go, they drive it with the key and give us the key back on the plane.

If you have a direct flight, then it's easy. When you arrive at your destination, they will bring you the scooter either planeside or at the closest elevator to your gate. If you have to change planes, it gets a little trickier, especially if you have a tight connection. There may not be time for them to bring it to you, then you drive it to the next gate, then reload it at your next plane. I would schedule a longer connection to accomplish this. We have never had a flight with a connection using the ECV.

I would recommend putting a sticker with your name, phone #, address, cell phone#, flight #s and destination on EACH individual piece of the scooter that can be disassembled. That way, for some unlikely reason, a piece gets separated from your scooter, there will be plenty of information on that piece to return it to you.

However, I wouldn't worry about that too much. We have flown on small 35 seat commuter jets with the ECV and all they had to do was lower the tiller and remove the seat.

FYI the AirTran information on transporting ECVs can be found at:

http://www.airtran.com/special_needs_information.aspx#waom

Unless you have spillable batteries (most nowadays are not), you should be able to take your ECV to the gate.

Carol

 

[glass slipper girl]

Thank you both for the info! Much appreciated.

We are flying AirTran nonstop from Atlanta to Orlando. We'll just make sure we are there plenty early and check with the gate agent. I'll have Mom double check about her batteries. The scooter is only like 5 months old now so I'm guessing it won't be a problem but we'll double check to be sure.

Thanks again!

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

One word of advice, be sure they know what condition the ECV is in when it's boarded (you may want to take a picture of it at the terminal) and make sure it's the same when you get it back. American Airlines scuffed up my husband's power chair pretty bad. He didn't say anything to them because he rationalized that it's not for looks anyway. However, he had to say something to Southwest Airlines. They attempted to take his chair apart to load it and in the process, not only messed up the lifting mechansim but also shorted out some of the wiring where the chair would only barely inch ahead when he was driving it. Then they tried to say it was like that when they took it. Please, he drove that thing all over the airport and right up to the door of the airplane (as witnessed by many Southwest employees). Why would he want to travel with a broken wheelchair? They ended up paying to have it fixed.