Flew Delta with my new Whill Ci.....not good

[Chickenlady]

I broke down and flew to Las Vegas and back over Christmas vacation with my precious Whill Ci. Unfortunately, we had 2 connecting flights each way. On the way out west, flew American and had no problems! Before loading the chair at the door to the plane, we removed both armrest electronic controllers, both seat cushions and the battery. These we put in a canvas bag and carried on the plane, with no problem. American had no problem carrying the now least than 110 lb chair down to the cargo area and back at the end of the flights.
On our return flights (Delta), we had the Delta information sheet taped to the back of the chair back...as we had on the previous flights. We gate checked and removed the same parts on the jet bridge. We noticed on both flights that after all of the passengers had loaded, it took a very long time to finish loading the gate checked baggage and they even made announcements that they were having delays in loading luggage. After our first Delta connection, we noticed that the crew had disconnected the seat from the base of the Whill unit. Not sure why they had done that? but everything was okay. Our problem occurred after my chair was returned to us on the jet bridge on the second flight. We were trying to put the armrest electronic controllers back on the chair and the right controller would not go back on the arm. Granted, we had been without sleep for the entire night, so we thought is it just us, until I noticed that the entire metal bracket that the controller sits in was bent. Evidently, someone dropped the seat on its arm. The side panel cover was off, but that comes off easily. After McGuyvering the control unit to work without being physically attached to the bracket, I went to baggage claim and filed a claim for damage.
I was told that Scootaround would contact me and send someone to view the damage and effect the repairs. Funny thing is that we live 5 hours from the airport....miles from any type of Scootaround service. This might take a long time to fix. They were very nice though about making sure I wasn't stranded at the airport. I was planning on taking my Whill Ci to WDW in March....now I don't know. At least I'm not flying Delta that time....I'm flying Southwest...it might be worst!

 

[bluecruiser]

That's so disappointing to hear, I hope they don't take forever to get it fixed.

 

[Chickenlady]

That's so disappointing to hear, I hope they don't take forever to get it fixed.

Thanks bluecruiser! I'm just hoping I can keep my DH away from it.....he wants to try to bend it back...!!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks bluecruiser! I'm just hoping I can keep my DH away from it.....he wants to try to bend it back...!!!!!

Good luck!
tell him if he tries to bend it, it might snap!
then you’d be in even worse trouble.

 

[Chickenlady]

Good luck!
tell him if he tries to bend it, it might snap!
then you’d be in even worse trouble.

My words exactly Sue!

 

[mamabunny]

Dang, I am *so* sorry to hear about your Whill.

Not that it helps, but somtimes, things shift around during take off and landing if the hold isn't packed well; it could be the damage happened because of something like that.

Regardless, I hope you will keep us posted! Have you reached out to Whill to ask them about the possibility of replacing the damaged part (with Delta picking up the tab)

 

[Chickenlady]

Dang, I am *so* sorry to hear about your Whill.

Not that it helps, but somtimes, things shift around during take off and landing if the hold isn't packed well; it could be the damage happened because of something like that.

Regardless, I hope you will keep us posted! Have you reached out to Whill to ask them about the possibility of replacing the damaged part (with Delta picking up the tab)

Haven't contacted Whill yet. Delta told me that Scootaround was the authorized repair store and that they would call me first thing in the am. I said "I doubt it, tomorrow is New Years Day. I'll bet they won't call until Thurs." Haven't heard anything yet but I will call them soon. Since Scootaround just partnered with Whill to supply Whill Cis to various theme parks and convention centers, this might work out...except for the fact that I'm out in the middle of nowhere. Got my original Ci shipped from Whill to my house in several huge boxes!

 

[nikkislaght]

We are way to scared to take my hubbies PWC on a plane . We use his transfer chair and rent at out destination. His chair is $30,000 and as someone with late stage ALS , and like most wheelchair users there is no way he can go without his chair .

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

110 lbs is still a lot for two humans to carry up and down those gate stairs and then possibly carry to the luggage loading ramp. I know nothing about how the Whill works or breaks down but is there a way to attach more convienant carrying straps for the crew carrying your chair? I’m not sure the dropping was company-specific vs a statistical probability given the nature of your chair design. Delta also likely has an elevator your chair could use although this might require your chair to be wheeled in neutral or its power supply used. Sometimes it is a gate or two away from your own gate. They can provide a chair at the gate for you once you turn in your chair to be sent down the elevator. You don’t need to use it the entire time like most people do.

I always view traveling as when my mobility device will be damaged or broken, not if...and then try to do everything possible to reduce that risk. I unscrew and remove the mounting plate for the power controller even though I’m not required to. I bought a TSA-friendly screwdriver and hex wrenches off Amazon. I also chat with the flight attendants and even some pilots (I don’t bother them but some have started conversations with me while seeing me methodically take the chair apart at the gate) and have found them to be a wealth of advice for what makes transporting a chair easier on their end.

I have also sat in the plane and watched crews loading the chair many times. Delta crew have always been careful from what I have seen.

You also mentioned taping something on the chair. You might want to consider putting the info in Spanish as well as English if the info is for the ground crew.

Hope your chair is able to be fixed soon and that you have fewer problems on your next trip!

 

[Chickenlady]

110 lbs is still a lot for two humans to carry up and down those gate stairs and then possibly carry to the luggage loading ramp. I know nothing about how the Whill works or breaks down but is there a way to attach more convienant carrying straps for the crew carrying your chair? I’m not sure the dropping was company-specific vs a statistical probability given the nature of your chair design. Delta also likely has an elevator your chair could use although this might require your chair to be wheeled in neutral or its power supply used. Sometimes it is a gate or two away from your own gate. They can provide a chair at the gate for you once you turn in your chair to be sent down the elevator. You don’t need to use it the entire time like most people do.

I always view traveling as when my mobility device will be damaged or broken, not if...and then try to do everything possible to reduce that risk. I unscrew and remove the mounting plate for the power controller even though I’m not required to. I bought a TSA-friendly screwdriver and hex wrenches off Amazon. I also chat with the flight attendants and even some pilots (I don’t bother them but some have started conversations with me while seeing me methodically take the chair apart at the gate) and have found them to be a wealth of advice for what makes transporting a chair easier on their end.

I have also sat in the plane and watched crews loading the chair many times. Delta crew have always been careful from what I have seen.

You also mentioned taping something on the chair. You might want to consider putting the info in Spanish as well as English if the info is for the ground crew.

Hope your chair is able to be fixed soon and that you have fewer problems on your next trip!

I taped the Delta electric wheelchair information sheet to the chair itself....as they requested. Apparently, No one read it as every single boarding resulted in a flight attendant finding me in my seat and asking me how much the chair weighed, when this sheet has all of that on it, was their sheet and was very prominent (white sheet, black seat). The chair breaks down into 3 pieces (heaviest is 35 lbs), so an elevator is not nec. I did see a loader carrying the seat by one arm, almost dragging the arm rest on the ground, knocking the plastic arm covering off in the process...thank goodness we removed the electronics or they would have been toast.
We striped the chair of everything we could at the gate..no screwdrivers nec. and hand carried all of the electronics, seat cushions, battery, etc. I can't think of any way to make it easier to move, other than taking the thing apart into the 3 pieces but American Airlines preferred it together and moved it that way. I guess we can ask each time? But nothing is going to help if they drop the pieces, like they did this time.
I have sent pictures and a short video to the Scootaround rep who is handling the repair. Now, we wait to see if it all gets done before our March WDW trip. That'll be fun because I'm flying alone to meet my son at WDW. I hope I can manage getting me, my luggage and my scooter there in one piece. This trip I had DH to help me disassemble and reassemble each time.

 

[ZJ5/9D47]

I taped the Delta electric wheelchair information sheet to the chair itself....as they requested. Apparently, No one read it as every single boarding resulted in a flight attendant finding me in my seat and asking me how much the chair weighed, when this sheet has all of that on it, was their sheet and was very prominent (white sheet, black seat). The chair breaks down into 3 pieces (heaviest is 35 lbs), so an elevator is not nec. I did see a loader carrying the seat by one arm, almost dragging the arm rest on the ground, knocking the plastic arm covering off in the process...thank goodness we removed the electronics or they would have been toast.
We striped the chair of everything we could at the gate..no screwdrivers nec. and hand carried all of the electronics, seat cushions, battery, etc. I can't think of any way to make it easier to move, other than taking the thing apart into the 3 pieces but American Airlines preferred it together and moved it that way. I guess we can ask each time? But nothing is going to help if they drop the pieces, like they did this time.
I have sent pictures and a short video to the Scootaround rep who is handling the repair. Now, we wait to see if it all gets done before our March WDW trip. That'll be fun because I'm flying alone to meet my son at WDW. I hope I can manage getting me, my luggage and my scooter there in one piece. This trip I had DH to help me disassemble and reassemble each time.

I don’t know if this is true at all airports but I recall reading something about being able to obtain a gate pass for maybe kids and disabled passengers able to fly alone. Your husband might be able to take you to your gate and disassemble your mobility device and then your son meet you at your arrival gate and do the same on that end. I don’t think the passes were guaranteed but it might be worth a shot.

I arrive super early and politely pester the gate agent to scan their provided wheelchair tag and enter the chair weight and battery type into their system. Delta normally takes the chair away around an hour before take-off and this helps them not be rushed when one elevator is broken or it takes awhile to get the key.

Maybe making your chair as light as possible is actually worse than forcing them to roll it in neutral and then do one lift up onto the belt. I only have experience with one ~230 pound when stripped electric chair though. One of my best friends from high school works ground crew and while I adore him immensely, he jumped of the balcony at school our senior year because he could and it was there, and shattered many bones in his body upon landing...point being that the guys handling your chair might be as strong as oxen but common sense in the best way to carry your expensive and necessary medical device might be a bit lacking.

I wonder if reaching out to Whill for suggestions might be helpful because I doubt you are the first to experience damage this way and perhaps in the future they might make design changes to make their chairs more airplane-friendly.

 

[cobright]

I noticed that the entire metal bracket that the controller sits in was bent. Evidently, someone dropped the seat on its arm.

This part?

I can see this getting bent enough to cause problems, even just from shifting in flight.

If you have someone local with a 3D printer, I can probably design a small bumper that clicks on instead of the controls. I don't think it would need extend more than 3/8" past the metal bracket and wouldn't add more than a few ounces to its traveling weight.

tell him if he tries to bend it, it might snap!

Without seeing how far it's bent, this is a real concern. It's a stamped steel part and very tough, but if bent too far, bending it back without some heat will harden it to brittle and it can break. Even if it doesn't break when you bend it back, it will be a weak point. If it's just tweaked a few degrees off true, the repair tech will probably just bend it back and send you on your way.

 

[Chickenlady]

This part?
View attachment 463132
I can see this getting bent enough to cause problems, even just from shifting in flight.

If you have someone local with a 3D printer, I can probably design a small bumper that clicks on instead of the controls. I don't think it would need extend more than 3/8" past the metal bracket and wouldn't add more than a few ounces to its traveling weight.


Without seeing how far it's bent, this is a real concern. It's a stamped steel part and very tough, but if bent too far, bending it back without some heat will harden it to brittle and it can break. Even if it doesn't break when you bend it back, it will be a weak point. If it's just tweaked a few degrees off true, the repair tech will probably just bend it back and send you on your way.

Cobright, Thanks for your expert advice and offer of assistance! I'm going to try to attach a picture of the bent area. While a bumper might help with some shifting damage and minor boo boos, it looks like this one was a direct drop on the end of the arm bracket. The metal appears the be strong, so it must have really taken a good hit.

 

[cobright]

The metal appears the be strong, so it must have really taken a good hit.

Wow. I just assumed it would be the little mushroom shaped tab that got tweaked. Putting blocks on unsupported tabs like that is common when shipping a machine but you're right, whatever banjaxed your bracket hit it pretty hard. I hope they get you settled soon. It's such a slick machine and far sturdier than I was expecting for its size, but even the mighty Achilles had his heel.