Flying with a wheelchair

[Dacky619]

So DW and I are taking DS on a trip next month before our APs expire. He is 2.5 years old and is not mobile due to his condition (osteogenesis imperfecta type 3). He doesn't live in his (manual) wheelchair, but he is getting better and more independent. We are discussing the thought of bringing it with us because we don't really want him to be without it for 10 days. We also think it would be really fun for him to wheel up to some of the characters instead of having him in the stroller the whole time. Any advice or thoughts on if we should bring the chair and the stroller? We are nervous about flying (SW) with the chair as things do get damaged. Any experiences? Is there any way we get the wheelchair to fly in the cabin?

 

[SueM in MN]

We have been traveling with a wheelchair since our daughter was 2.5 years old. We usualy go to WDW twice a year.
In all our trips, we have had very little damage - one bent ant-tip bar. The key is preparing ahead of time. Take anything off that can be removed and carry those things onboard with you.

There as a recent thread on this same subject, along with a post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about air travel. You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.
This is a link to the other thread:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/wheelchair-on-airline.3489437/#post-55292524

To answer the question about whether the wheelchair can fly in the plane, that is a big IF.
IF the plane has a closet and IF the wheelchair fits in the closet, wheelchairs take precedence in the closet over other things. But, most airplanes I've been on recently have not had closets. My guess is that SW might not have closets on their planes. Closets are more expected on planes with First Class or a lot of business travelers who have carry on hanging bags or have suit coats to hang up.

 

[Dacky619]

We have been traveling with a wheelchair since our daughter was 2.5 years old. We usualy go to WDW twice a year.
In all our trips, we have had very little damage - one bent ant-tip bar. Th key is preparing a had of time. Take anything off that can be removed and carry those things onboard with you.

There as a recent thread on this same subject, along with a post in the disABILITIES FAQs thread about air travel. You can find the disABILITIES FAQs thread near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature.
This is a link to the other thread:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/wheelchair-on-airline.3489437/#post-55292524

To answer the question about whether the wheelchair can fly in the plane, that is a big IF.
IF the plane has a closet and IF the wheelchair fits in the closet, wheelchairs take precedence in the closet over other things. But, most airplanes I've been on recently have not had closets. My guess is that SW might not have closets on their planes. Closets are more expected on planes with First Class or a lot of business travelers who have carry on hanging bags or have suit coats to hang up.

Thank you for the response and for bumping that thread from last month. Some useful information there.

 

[SteveMouse]

At least some of the SW planes (I didn't see which variation of the 737- I think it was a 737-800) have appropriate storage (and it seemed to even be LABELED as wheelchair storage). It's in a half-height bar that separates the first row (ABC) from the entrance to the plane.

 

[Nevada Jen]

A good stroller is so much easier to push than a wheelchair. I would highly suggest a stroller. It might even be worth buying a Maclaren Major for future use. That will get him up higher and increase his interaction.

 

[BillSears]

At least some of the SW planes (I didn't see which variation of the 737- I think it was a 737-800) have appropriate storage (and it seemed to even be LABELED as wheelchair storage). It's in a half-height bar that separates the first row (ABC) from the entrance to the plane.

Some of the Southwest planes have this storage, labeled as wheelchair storage, but it's never been used when I fly. Usually the flight crew stores their items there and my chair gets put in the hold. I'd like to have my chair here in the cabin with me but it's really not that big of a deal. Plus this storage area looks a bit small even when you fold my chair.

A good stroller is so much easier to push than a wheelchair. I would highly suggest a stroller. It might even be worth buying a Maclaren Major for future use. That will get him up higher and increase his interaction.

I can see this as an issue for the pusher but as a wheelchair user I think the child should have as much freedom as possible and his own chair is the way to go. I know I really enjoy seeing little kids pushing their own chair, not that I want to see a kid in a chair of course. But seeing them wheeling around having fun really brings a smile to my face. As a full time wheelchair user I can't imagine being told that I couldn't push myself on a 10 day trip because it's easier for others to push me in a stroller. Besides a 2 1/2 year old kid weighs so little the chair should be easy to push.

 

[SueM in MN]

One of the heavy adult size wheelchair with an adult in would probably be harder to push than a stroller.
But, a personal ultra lightweight wheelchair is actually going to be easier to push than a stroller.
Wheelchairs have larger tires, which go farther on one push. And being optimized for a child to propel, the wheelchair is probably no heavier or even lighter than a stroller.

 

[BillSears]

I realize I don't know how mobile your son is or whether he can walk at all. But I've been thinking about this and I'm sure in the future he'd much rather see pictures of himself wheeling up to the characters instead of being pushed in a stroller. Plus you'd probably prefer those memories too.

 

[SteveMouse]

Some of the Southwest planes have this storage, labeled as wheelchair storage, but it's never been used when I fly. Usually the flight crew stores their items there and my chair gets put in the hold. I'd like to have my chair here in the cabin with me but it's really not that big of a deal. Plus this storage area looks a bit small even when you fold my chair.

It's tight. I've had varying success. I usually point out that I would like my device stored in the cabin even before the flight crew gets to the gate, so they've had plenty of notice.

I hate the wait at the other end for it to come up from the hold- I've have some very lengthy delays which have made connections difficult, if not impossible.

 

[Vijoge]

I just want to comment that I have flown SWA many times with my wheelchair and have never had any type of damage whatsoever. I don't know where they stow my chair but it is always ready and waiting at the cabin door when I get off the plane.

 

[stitchlovestink]

I just want to comment that I have flown SWA many times with my wheelchair and have never had any type of damage whatsoever. I don't know where they stow my chair but it is always ready and waiting at the cabin door when I get off the plane.

Gate checking it is important as well as removing any removal pieces and carrying them on the plane with you. They are responsible for making sure they do not damage it. If they do, they have to repair or replace it, so they are pretty careful with them. When they give it back to you at the gate, check it over well for damage before leaving.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is copied from the other thread....
Short answer - secure anything that is removable or bring it onto the plane with you.
If something comes unattached during the flight, they may not find it in the baggage compartment.

Follow the link in my signature to the disABILITIES FAQs thread or look near the top of this board.
There is a post in that thread about air travel.

This is what we do when we travel with our daughter's wheelchair
- before travel, we check and tighten all screws and bolts

- we gate check her wheelchair so that we can use it to the door of the plane.

- just before getting on the plane, we remove everything that is not bolted or screwed on

- the pieces we remove include her seat back (attached with a sliding lever on each side); headrest (attached with 2 stews that can easily loose); the seat cushion (attached with Velcro); arm rests (secured with a lever type fastener); anti-tippers (attached with a push pin)
The anti-tippers are pretty securely attached, but we had one get bent once and at a replacement cost of $100, I choose to remove them and carry them on.
When she had swing away foot rests, we removed those also

- after the pieces are removed, I fold the wheelchair and fasten seatbelt and foot straps - if you don't, they can get caught In the wheels, which is a real pain.

- I put the smaller pieces into a bag and carry the bag, plus the seat back and cushion onto the plane with me. They go into the overhead bin or closet, if the plane has them.

- the wheelchair pieces do not count toward your carry on allowance

- I do a quick damage check and put the wheelchair back together at the door of the plane, then my husband brings our daughter out.
When we get to the resort, we check all bolts and screws again because they sometimes loosen due to the vibrations of the plane during the flight.