Assistance getting bags off carousel?

[aussietravellers]

I'm not from the USA and have never been in this situation so have never really paid attention.

Due to a tear in an artery in my neck, if I am allowed to travel in a few months, I will not be able to lift anything too heavy (suitcases).

I have just had a thought, if I am cleared to travel (which at this stage it looks like I will be, the Dr said I should be right to travel by September) I still will not be able to lift anything heavy, which means no lifting my suitcases! I will just be travelling on the flights with my child so I won't have anybody else with me to get the suitcases off the baggage claim carousel and they will be too big and heavy for my son.

We will be flying into LAX (Tom Bradley terminal, international, so inside customs area) then arriving at JFK (off an AA domestic flight). (Orlando will be OK because we will use ME)

I feel ridiculous as I look perfectly healthy, feel perfectly healthy, just have a 2 to 3 inch tear (which hopefully will be smaller and have healed a lot) in my neck artery and blood clots around it, so really can't risk tearing it further and suffering a stroke. It is going to be a pain in the neck (parden the pun) not being able to lift the luggage. I am so not used to being non self sufficent as I do travel on planes with my son and without my DH all the time but have never been in a situation where I simply can't lift anything (and I don't travel light, a month vacation in the USA requires luggage)

I am wondering if there are people around to assist in getting luggage off the carousel at either of these airports? I know outside there are skycaps (is that the name) but don't know about inside the baggage claim area and inside the international customs area?

Thanks

 

[SnowWhite2]

In Orlando, there are skycaps in the baggage area with carts. They will stack an wheel your luggage where ever you are going (car rental, bus, etc) I don't remember seeing them remove luggage from the belt, but I bet if you ask and give them a good tip they would be willng to get it off of the baggage carousel.

I can't help with LA, sorry.

 

[dioxide45]

Unlike my experiences in Europe and Asia, there are not people eager to jump in and help with luggage for tips. They are there but you will have to seek them out.

 

[DebbieB]

Any airport I've been in has skycaps hanging around baggage claim.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Any airport I've been in has skycaps hanging around baggage claim.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have never seen skycaps inside of customs (but I have never looked either), but I would certainly be willing to help a passenger who explained what you just did and asked me to.
Can you contact the airline ahead of time (with a doctor's note) and let them know you would need this kind of assistance. I have seen passengers traveling alone coming off in airline wheelchairs an in those instances the employee wheeling the passenger has pulled that passenger's luggage.

 

[aussietravellers]

Thanks everyone for their replies.

Hopefully I will find somebody around to help get the bags off inside customs. At JFK hopefully I will be able to find a skycap or somebody to get them off the carousel. I'll be right once they are on a trolley.

I could tell the airline, I too have seen people in the wheelchairs with assistance, my grandmother used to have that assistance when she would travel alone overseas in her 80's and 90's and they would get her bags off for her.

I appreciate all of your replies

 

[FoodLover]

There will be no skycaps at LAX inside the secure area before Customs and Immigration. You would be wise to request a wheelchair, because that way someone from the airline will be sent to the plane to help you and to help wrangle your luggage. (That person should be tipped, BTW.)

 

[mapmakerj]

Just a thought, but how are you going to lift them up in your room to unpack or repack? Even if you are using ME, you might still have to haul your own luggage to the ME check in desk by yourself. The baggage carousel may only be a part of your baggage handling issues. You may need to do some further research on all the possible scenerios so you don't get into an unforseen situation where you might seriously hurt yourself.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just a thought, but how are you going to lift them up in your room to unpack or repack? Even if you are using ME, you might still have to haul your own luggage to the ME check in desk by yourself. The baggage carousel may only be a part of your baggage handling issues. You may need to do some further research on all the possible scenerios so you don't get into an unforseen situation where you might seriously hurt yourself.

Bell services will provide assistance upon request. They will deliver it to your room and place it wherever it needs to be, then pick it up the same way.

 

[aussietravellers]

Just wanted to thank everybody so much for replying to this thread and give an update.

I have contacted our TA to ask her opinion on what would be the best thing to do about the lifting of the luggage and she said she would contact the airline to see what they recommended. And it was all very easy. I have a meet and assist note added to all of my flights with a special note that I am unable to lift anything due to a medical condition

I will just get bell services help at the hotel so it should all be very easy, well that's the plan

So thank you all again for your help and suggestions