Different Wheelchair Question at Airport

[PirateFairy8]

I posted a while ago about flying with a wheelchair. I was not sure if I wanted to try to bring my wheelchair across the country for the first time and I was also concerned about how my walking ability would play out by this point. Now, we are 2 weeks and 1 day away from Disneyland!

My boyfriend and I finally decided that since I can walk better at this point than I was, we will have Deckert's surgical deliver a wheelchair to our hotel for our trip. I will use the airport wheelchairs in the airport, and bring my forearm crutches to help me. However, I have a question.

I have a wheelchair "pillow" that I use as a cushion. We would like to bring the pillow along, because we have no other place to pick up a pillow in Anaheim. Could I just bring this onto the plane with me, particularly if I use it while using the airport wheelchairs? I could sit on it on the plane,but would this count as one of my carry ons? I will also have my crutches as medical equipment, and my carry on bag and my purse. My boyfriend will have his carry on bag.

If this didn't make sense, I apologize! I'm a bit under the weather today as I forgot to take my nausea pills first thing!

 

[peemagg]

You shouldn't have any problems with it. It is a piece of medical equipment and medical equipment flys for free and does not count against your carry on allowance. Even if they tried to give you a hard time about it with what you are saying you are still allowed to one carry on and one personal item each. So if you have your purse and carryon, and your Bf only has a carryon, you are still allowed another personal item if you wanted it. Your crutches definetly can not be counted as part of the carry on items.

 

[Debbie-TN]

Since you will be in a wheelchair, you should be able to preboard. At least that's what Southwest does. That way you can get settled in with the extra stuff.

 

[PirateFairy8]

Thank you both - it seems like I have nothing to worry about and everything will be fine!

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with the others that you won't have any problems.
We gate check DD's wheelchair, but I take pieces off and carry them onto the plane. So, I get on with her wheelchair seat cushion, the 2 armrests, the seatback and the headrest.
I also carry on her computer communication device and my own carry on and DD's backpack. No one has ever questioned this - most of it is obviously medical equipment.

One thing I do - mostly to make it easier to carry the smallest number of pieces on - is to have a carry on that my purse fits in. That way, I have the option of carrying them separately or put all together.

 

[peemagg]

That was something that I was going to suggest to Sue either that or get a small travel wallet on a string that goes around your neck to keep things close to you. That isn't considered a carryon item or personal item that way.

What I usually have when traveling is a small rolling suitcase as my carryon. A backpack with my personal items in it (like my purse and other small things) that goes under the seat in front of me, and another duffle bag that has the parts for my scooter in it and any other medical equipment that I need with me. This also goes with me into the cabin in the overhead bin or I might gate check it to be delivered back to me at the gate (I have had problems with this one though, so I don't do it very often. I have had baggage people take the gate check tag off of the bag and send it with the rest of the luggage even though they were told not to. That is frustrating!)

 

[PirateFairy8]

Thank you Sue and Magg for the additional tips on how to handle all of the extra stuff! I wouldn't have thought of putting my purse in my carry on, it's definitely small enough to do that! Well...as long as I clean it out first *grins* It kind of looks like my mom's purse right now!

I will definitely carry my wheelchair cushion onto the plane and just sit on it. I will also make sure not to put my crutches in the overhead compartment until everyone else has put their stuff in there, is that right? That way I can get to them if I need to use the ladies room and not be stuck?

Sorry, I know I still have a lot of questions! We are 2 weeks out from today, and it's suddenly become much more real!