Flying with Southwest

[foohpah]

My husband is struggling with mobility. He is undergoing testing for neurological issues but does not yet have a diagnosis. Walking has become increasingly difficult for him even over fairly short distances. We have rented a scooter for him for our time at WDW but I am now trying to figure out the airports. He has a cane to help but I know the distances in the airport are just more than he can handle. We are flying southwest and I am wondering how this works. Can they provide us a wheelchair at check in we can push him to the gate in and also can they provide one we can use to get him from the gate to baggage claim and to our transportation? Just trying to understand how this all works since it new for us. Thanks!

 

[serenitynow]

Yes. At check in let them know that you need a wheelchair and someone will come to provide wheelchair assistance.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Good airline.. ur husband can be wheeled to/from boarding area to luggage etc. boarding will also be accommodated so he can get settled in. Safe travels and enjoy ur visit!

 

[Lewisc]

You need to call or bring up your reservation and add your need for wheelchair assistance to your reservation

 

[Evita_W]

As DH learned, if you bring your own mobility devices, make sure you get it back at any layover. Southwest damaged his scooter on the way to Orlando, when he went to file a claim, they said they would have preferred it if he had gotten it back, as they would have known which leg of the trip the damage occurred on. Luckily he was able to get it repaired and back in about 4 hours the next day (feel free to ask if you want details) with a loaner in the meanwhile all at no cost to him.

The main point is, always ask for any mobility device back on all layovers and always inspect for damage before and after. Also, please note that Southwest didn't blink about paying for the damages, they owned up to it right away without any issues. Just someone that wasn't properly trained stacked something on it and they shouldn't have done so.

I know this might not apply to the OPs situation, but someone else may come across this thread that needs to be aware of this.

As for wheelchair service, it can be hit or miss in Orlando as to how quickly they arrive. On our trip before this one, he waited over 45 minutes for someone to show up with a chair and the gate agents were getting really upset with the wheelchair service thst it was taking so long. I wasn't able to push him either. Some other trips they were there and waiting. You just never know. When coming back to Orlando, some trips we never could find anyone.

 

[ttintagel]

Yes, you should absolutely call the airline ahead of time and ask for wheelchair assistance in the airport rather than trying to request it once you get there.

Just FYI for the next time you travel, if you’re making reservations online there’s generally a box to check for wheelchair assistance so it can all be arranged without you having to make a separate call to the airline.

You should make sure to bring cash to tip the skycap. There are usually two of us in our party who need wheelchair assistance, and we generally tip $10 apiece. One time there was a shortage of sky caps and the one we had went above and beyond, pushing both wheelchairs at once with our baggage in our laps. That time we tipped him $20 each.

The skycaps have also always made getting through security go a lot more smoothly.

 

[ttintagel]

NB - I haven’t flown since before the pandemic, so it just occurred to me that there may be information in my previous answer that is out of date. I hope somebody catches and corrects it if that is the case.

 

[Evita_W]

NB - I haven’t flown since before the pandemic, so it just occurred to me that there may be information in my previous answer that is out of date. I hope somebody catches and corrects it if that is the case.

In general it is correct, although on our trip before last, the person pushing DH refused a tip and this happened st two different airports, which we thought was odd. DH isn't light, so he always tips the person well.

 

[SueM in MN]

If you have a connection/flight change in another city, you can get your mobility device delivered to the gate at the layover stop. But, you may not want to, especially if the connection is tight on time.
Mobility devices and strollers are generally brought up fairly late in the unloading process, so you may be waiting a while for it to be brought up. That’s not a problem at the end of your journey, but could make a tight connection even tighter.

 

[Evita_W]

If you have a connection/flight change in another city, you can get your mobility device delivered to the gate at the layover stop. But, you may not want to, especially if the connection is tight on time.
Mobility devices and strollers are generally brought up fairly late in the unloading process, so you may be waiting a while for it to be brought up. That’s not a problem at the end of your journey, but could make a tight connection even tighter.

As we found out, it is better to find a flight with a bit longer layover and get it back on each leg if there is damage to the device. Still wasn't a huge issue, but we have also since been told that damage is less likely to occur if you get it back on each leg. Don't know how true that is or is not, but certainly better to not have damage, even if the airline is really good about fixing it.

 

[SueM in MN]

As we found out, it is better to find a flight with a bit longer layover and get it back on each leg if there is damage to the device. Still wasn't a huge issue, but we have also since been told that damage is less likely to occur if you get it back on each leg. Don't know how true that is or is not, but certainly better to not have damage, even if the airline is really good about fixing it.

It’s more likely they will see which leg of the trip it happened on, but getting it back on each leg should not mean less chance for damage and may mean more handling - each time handled is a chance for damage to occur

 

[serenitynow]

In general it is correct, although on our trip before last, the person pushing DH refused a tip and this happened st two different airports, which we thought was odd. DH isn't light, so he always tips the person well.

This has happened to us twice at the Orlando airport

 

[RoseGold]

MCO has really been struggling lately. Relying on the staff to push you in the wheelchair sounds pretty risky to me. Our party almost missed a flight just because of the security staffing. Heck, my home airport is a dream compared to MCO, and it has had staffing issues as well.

Another option is to rent a powerchair locally and transport it on the plane. Obvious risk here, but I've done it on dozens of flights on every a ton of airlines including Spirit and have had zero issues. To be fair, without a layover. This would also require accessible transportation to and from MCO, which is the hardest part for our situation.

You could do the same thing with your own manual, collapsible chair. It's maybe not a bad thing to have one anyway. It's tough to damage, and it would fit in a normal Uber SUV and then you could leave it in the room when you get the scooter. You push him through the airport and the hotel lobby and all that. Or, you load it up with your junk and he kind of uses it like a walker.

 

[Simba's Mom]

My husband is struggling with mobility. He is undergoing testing for neurological issues but does not yet have a diagnosis. Walking has become increasingly difficult for him even over fairly short distances. We have rented a scooter for him for our time at WDW but I am now trying to figure out the airports. He has a cane to help but I know the distances in the airport are just more than he can handle. We are flying southwest and I am wondering how this works. Can they provide us a wheelchair at check in we can push him to the gate in and also can they provide one we can use to get him from the gate to baggage claim and to our transportation? Just trying to understand how this all works since it new for us. Thanks!

Yes, I always have a wheelchair at the airport, and almost exclusively fly Southwest. You can push him in Southwest's wheelchair, or let the Southwest attendant do it. Just so you know-they'll push him up or down the jetway, there's some Southwest rule about that part. And it's so far from the Southwest gates to where DME used to be (and now Mears is) that I take an Uber instead. They'll pick up right outside the baggage carousel and return you right to the doors of Southwest check-in, and there are wheelchairs and helpers right outside their doors.

 

[foohpah]

Thanks for the info. When we made the reservation initially this was not an issue. He has really lost a lot of functionality pretty quickly. We have direct flights thankfully. He really just needs help getting to the gate and to luggage claim. He would prefer to just use his cane when we get to the gate and won’t necessarily need assistance getting on the plane other than the assistance we could provide. He will hate all of it because he hates needing help at all so I want to minimize the hassle as much as possible so he won’t feel as bad.

 

[jo-jo]

Have you considered getting a rollator to bring along? My DH uses a cane or rollator depending on the distance. For the airport , we are planning on the wheelchair help and once we get to the gate, just switch over to the cane or rollator. No sense keeping the wheelchair and employee waiting around, if DH can walk the last 50 feet with cane and a railing to hold on to. Or if it's a bad knees day, he'll use the rollator.

 

[mamabunny]

Thanks for the info. When we made the reservation initially this was not an issue. He has really lost a lot of functionality pretty quickly. We have direct flights thankfully. He really just needs help getting to the gate and to luggage claim. He would prefer to just use his cane when we get to the gate and won’t necessarily need assistance getting on the plane other than the assistance we could provide. He will hate all of it because he hates needing help at all so I want to minimize the hassle as much as possible so he won’t feel as bad.

Please tell your hubby that I understand hating using any kind of "help". I am stubborn and independent, and much to my horror, I am now largely confined to a personal mobility device ( <--- See how I don't call it a "wheelchair"?) full time.

I don't use a cane, or a wheelchair or a Rollator. I have TOOLS that I use to augment my mobility. Sounds stupid to some people, but I have to view these items as TOOLS - just like I would use a hammer to pound the nail to hang a picture, I use the proper tools for my mobility. I would never try to pound that nail with a water glass - and I would never try to walk Disney World without some assistance.

I don't have to like it. I don't have to celebrate it. But, I do use those tools on a regular, daily basis because I want to remain as independent and functional as I can, for as long as I can.

There is no shame in using the proper tool for the job. And at Disney World, there are a LOT of people who use mobility devices of differing kinds that never need one at home at all. That's because most of us don't walk an average of 3 to 10 miles *per day* at home. So, people use an ECV, or a cane, or a walker/Rollator at Disney World because they don't want to have to have a vacation from their vacation when they get home again, know what I mean?

Seriously, I understand his hesitation, but I hope you will let him know the following:
- Him, using any kind of mobility device or tool at WDW is a total non-event, unless he attaches streamers, balloons and neon lighting all over it.

and
​

- Using the proper tool for the job makes him *smart*, keeps him independent and helps you too - because you won't have to worry about him, you will have a better vacation as well!

 

[jo-jo]

Seriously, I understand his hesitation, but I hope you will let him know the following:
- Him, using any kind of mobility device or tool at WDW is a total non-event, unless he attaches streamers, balloons and neon lighting all over it.

Before I read this , I was thinking how to be able to spot DH scooter quickly. I thought getting some bike streamers or something like that. LOL

Remember when he used wheelchair, we did add lights to the wheels, so it looked like spinners.

To the OP, My DH was EXACTLY like your DH. He would rather stay home then have to use something else to get around. I told him to use the rollator/wheelchair/ scooter whatever for me. Knowing he is in less pain, lets me enjoy the trip better.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Have you considered getting a rollator to bring along? My DH uses a cane or rollator depending on the distance. For the airport , we are planning on the wheelchair help and once we get to the gate, just switch over to the cane or rollator. No sense keeping the wheelchair and employee waiting around, if DH can walk the last 50 feet with cane and a railing to hold on to. Or if it's a bad knees day, he'll use the rollator.

How difficult is it for your DH to transport his rollator from gate to gate while he's in a wheelchair? We've always sent my rollator through as baggage, rather than as "gate checked" luggage. Wondered how easy or difficult it would be to have it with me.

 

[jo-jo]

How difficult is it for your DH to transport his rollator from gate to gate while he's in a wheelchair? We've always sent my rollator through as baggage, rather than as "gate checked" luggage. Wondered how easy or difficult it would be to have it with me.

Up to now, he has used the rollator to get to TSA. TSA gives him a cane for the 20 ft if needed. Rollator goes through the xray machine. From TSA to the plane , he uses rollator, at that point I fold it up (use velcro strip to hold it close) and gate check it. To get off plane, he used a folding cane that was packed in carryon. And makes his way up the ramp to the gate and sits,waits for me. I wait down the ramp to get the rollator with the 27 strollers people.

For this next trip, we are getting him wheelchair help through the airport, but I will push rollator myself. We don't plan to hold up the wheelchair person waiting to push him onto the plane. He will use the rollator.

Edit to add, I'm used to folding, carrying, lifting the rollator. It weighs 14 pounds. When we go out, I'm the one to put it in the car, carry up steps. It made out of aluminum, vs steel. The weight difference is 6 pounds.