For those who fly with power wheelchairs and scooters

[peemagg]

I found on a site (I believe it was www.sath.org) a paper from Continental Airlines. They have a sheet of paper that you put a picture of your chair or scooter and info as how to put it in freewheel, weight and height of chair, battery type and many other things. I think it is quite useful and can either be laminated or placed in a page protector and placed on your chair so the airline knows how to care for it.

You could probably even find it on Continentals site.

 

[KPeveler]

that is a good idea -

I am getting a new powerchair soon and after the nightmare of renting a powerchair last time in disney (the company later lied to the BBB about the rental and about me, apparently unaware that the BBB sends ME a copy of responses to my complaint), I am going to fly with my own chair from now on (i dont think i am going to be able to sit in a regular powerchair anyway)

I wish there was one website where you can get the dimensions of every plane and whether you need to leave the joystick (as in, can you just put it in freewheel, or do they need to control it), etc... I am hoping that i can just disconnect all power functions to my chair and just send it to them.

Thanks for the info - I am already planning on how to get my wheelchair to WDW safely for my anniversary trip in Oct!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I copies a few pages from my manual, and then cut and pasted to have a two-sided sheet which I put in a plastic protector and attach to the ECV. It basically has three sections with photos:

How to put it in and out of freewheel.

How to lock/unlock the front wheel and lower/raise the tiller.

Where the tiedown points are.

 

[SueM in MN]

Good find.

I googled and found a direct link to it (you were correct that it was from the sath website):
http://www.sath.org/images/Continental Placard.pdf

and a copy from the Continental website.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Not only does CO have the form on the website, they'll point you towards it when calling -for instance to get seatassignment done for those seats that can not be assigned online-.


Cheshire Figment; my experience is that 3 pages is way to much. Those handling the chair tend to scan info put onto an aid, which will decrease the likelyhood of them actually paying attention to 3 pages. One page or a 'fixed frame' like CO has been offering since very recently gets the best shot of drawing the proper attention.


K; depening on the airline, you CAN find the info regarding dimensions. For instance, I know CO has them online. Airlines that don't have them online have been known for giving that info when calling them and asking for it. This can be done BEFORE booking, so you can make decisions based on that info. It isn't just about dimensions, though. It varies per type of aircraft how they'll have to load the chair. Eventhough the loading dimensions might be the same, it can be that in type A they can load the chair in a different container from other luggage and in type B they;ll have to combine suitcases and chair into one container.

While proper loading should avoid this being a major difference, having a chair in the same compartment/container as other luggage is slightly increasing the risk of damage. This is the exact reason CO might decide to change my flights for my sept/oct trip to WDW. I could only book certain flights -some other options CO offers were way to expensive- and did so with full confidence, I might add. Because I had some minor problems on a previous CO flight, a CO concierge at my home airport is working very closely with me to make future trips perfect. She noticed that for one of the flights I'm booked on, the chair would not be loading seperately, thus a slight increase of risk. It's not sure yet this type of aircraft will carry out that flight since it's a recent switch of material and time will tell if they keep with it or chance it back. If they do keep with it, chances are that CO will rebook me onto a different flight, purely because of the chair.


I would always disconnect the power, preferrably to such an extend 'outsiders' can not turn it back on without you being there. It's unforgivable, but you'ld be surprised how many folks will go joyriding if they get the chance. And not all of them are skilled enough to start with. A lot of chairs will come with this feature as a basic.

What I always do is having a 'back up plan'. (Long) before I fly anywhere I think about what could go wrong and how could I deal with that? Having a back up strategy has a couple of nice sides.
1) I don't stress about 'what if's', as I know I'm prepaired
2) If problems do occur, I know what to do.

For the 'back up' I always make sure I know which dealers have knowledge about my type of chair and features around the area I'm flying to. With a new chair or new feature, I talk to my dealer at home to find out what they can do for me if something does happen. What can I do myself? I add insurance for the chairs (flying internationally, they only cover damage according to the Warschau convention which in no way covers even a manual chair, let alone a powerchair) and go on my merry way.


When taking proper precautions, flying tends to be pretty relaxing and goes off without a hitch more often than problems. I'm lucky and unlucky that my chair has a certain feature on it that is very proun to damage. It can not be removed and protective wrapping will only do so much. It's had it's share of damage, for sure. Combine that with a home airport that cares squat about proper wheelchair handling and you've got an interesting combination. And even I don't have a 100% score with things going wrong beyond needing to fix a screw or something.

 

[chaoslobster]

You know, I intended to start a thread so I could ask a question about how aggravating it is to bring an ECV on a plane... but after reading this, I think it's been answered. I'll just rent one in Orlando.

 

[peemagg]

It isn't hard at all to fly with an ECV. I flew with mine with no problem what so ever this past May. If you have your own why pay the expense to rent one you don't know?

 

[peemagg]

People who need powerchairs seem to have the most problems with flying and their chairs. There are lots of functions that those have and are heavier and bigger than most ECV's. That paper is good for scooters too, but not as necessary as it would be for powerchairs.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have not been brave enough to fly with DD’s power wheelchair yet - not sure if we ever will because she would be too fatigued to use it for a full day anyway and she would make me drive her.

Powere wheelchairs are much ,more fragile than ECVs. They include a computer controller and joystick to control the controller. Those things can get broken easily.
Also, some power wheelchairs have extra features like being able to recline or raise. Those things also make the power wheelchair easier to break.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

It isn't hard at all to fly with an ECV. I flew with mine with no problem what so ever this past May. If you have your own why pay the expense to rent one you don't know?

Totally agree!

Seriously, flying with an ECV is a piece of cake! ECV's tend to be very sturdy, little damage can be done. Even less to the vital parts. I wouldn't worry one second about flying with an ECV, but happily bring along my own ECV instead of renting.

 

[KPeveler]

We have not been brave enough to fly with DD’s power wheelchair yet - not sure if we ever will because she would be too fatigued to use it for a full day anyway and she would make me drive her.

Powere wheelchairs are much ,more fragile than ECVs. They include a computer controller and joystick to control the controller. Those things can get broken easily.
Also, some power wheelchairs have extra features like being able to recline or raise. Those things also make the power wheelchair easier to break.

My chair is going to have lift and tilt, but when i put in the "down" position, the backrest will actually fold down (yes, on a rehab chair - means i can put it in my family's SUV with the ramps i own), so it will be very small. I would prefer them to fold down the back, so nothing gets broken.

I plan to take off the joystick, armrests, headrest, and disconnect the power. They just need to push it, put the brakes on, and fold down the back, so it should fit anywhere... still nervous though!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

My chair is going to have lift and tilt, but when i put in the "down" position, the backrest will actually fold down (yes, on a rehab chair - means i can put it in my family's SUV with the ramps i own), so it will be very small. I would prefer them to fold down the back, so nothing gets broken.

I plan to take off the joystick, armrests, headrest, and disconnect the power. They just need to push it, put the brakes on, and fold down the back, so it should fit anywhere... still nervous though!

Relax. All you can do is prepare. After that; it's out of you hands. It's a waste to worry all the time, not even knowing IF damage will be done. It's early enough to worry if things do happen. ;-)

Having said that, powerchairs that can be checked in as basically 'one package', with nothing sticking out, removed joystick, size fitting the cargo door so no tilting needs to be done and no fragile parts at the outside of the chair? Flying with them should be a breeze!

Tilt, recline etc. in itself doesn't have to be a problem at all. Risk increasers are;

- stuff sticking out
- fragile parts at the outside
- chairs with larger dimensions as the cargo door. They'll tilt the chair during loading, which increases risk of damage
- keeping joystick on and not being able to block usage of functions. (read; accidental change of position of the chair into more harmfull positions)
- it being unclear for those handling the chair where they can or can not lift the chair and where they can and can not tie down the chair

You get the drill, you need to 'give' them something to 'damage' with.

 

[pugdog]

Good find.

I googled and found a direct link to it (you were correct that it was from the sath website):
http://www.sath.org/images/Continental Placard.pdf

and a copy from the Continental website.

Sath and CO are not the original makers of this. The National center for accessable travel at the University of Oregon did. http://ncat.oregonstate.edu/?p=home

They also have on there somewhere the dimensions of most cargo doors on planes.

 

[peemagg]

I found those dimensions on the site that Pugdog suggested by seaching their site for cargo door dimensions. I tried to copy it and paste it over here, but I couldn't maybe someone more computer savy can get a copy of it for us.

I'm sure it would be something that many would like to know.

 

[chaoslobster]

All right... I'm giving it some thought. How much does it cost to fly with your own ECV? And how do you arrange it? I mean, at what point do you get off the ECV and hand it over to the airline, and then when do you pick it up again after arriving at your destination?

Also... does anybody know if Magical Express can accommodate ECVs?

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

All right... I'm giving it some thought. How much does it cost to fly with your own ECV?

Nothing. Airlines within the US are not allowed to charge you when travelling with your own mobility aid.

And how do you arrange it?

Contact the airline and inform them you will be travelling with the ECV. You can either call or have the info added on your reservation online. They will want to know what type of battery it uses, basically what they are looking for is if it is a liquid one or not.

I mean, at what point do you get off the ECV and hand it over to the airline, and then when do you pick it up again after arriving at your destination?

You deside. If you desire, you can check it in at the check in desk. From there you can either walk to the gate or us an airport wheelchair (with assistance if you need, ask for this prior to traveldate and remind them at check in). You can also decide to gate check the ECV. If you do that, you can take the ECV right upto the gate. You check it in before boarding at the gate.

When arriving at MCO it depends a bit on a couple of factors where you'll see the ECV again. Either at the gate or at luggage claim (I've had both happen). If you find yourself in difficulty when the ECV might not be waiting at the gate; don't get off the flight until it is confirmed the ECV is there or at least they've arranged for an airport wheelchair + pusher there for you.

Also... does anybody know if Magical Express can accommodate ECVs?

If you want to load the ECV in the bagagehold; always yes. If you want to enter the bus on the ECV avoiding the chairs; depending on the size, yes. Check out the FAQ-sticky, Sue has the dimensions in there. They can accomodate all types of ECV, so unless yours wouldn't fit on a normal disney bus you should be fine. Remember to inform DME about the ECV prior to arrival day. Otherwise it can take quite a while longer before an accessible bus is available.

It's no big deal. First time it'll be like the first time you kissed somebody special. But after you've done it once, you'll see it really isn't something that requires a lot of extra work on your side but is pretty straigth forward.

 

[KPeveler]

All right... I'm giving it some thought. How much does it cost to fly with your own ECV? And how do you arrange it? I mean, at what point do you get off the ECV and hand it over to the airline, and then when do you pick it up again after arriving at your destination?

Also... does anybody know if Magical Express can accommodate ECVs?

Airlines cannot charge you to check an ECV, so it would be free of fees.

You can keep it right up until you reach the gate and then they will give it back to you right at the gate.

Call your airline when you make reservations and tell them you have a personal scooter you will be gate checking...

ME can take ECVs, although I am not certain if they fit on the bus or have to go under it. just tell them when you make the ME reservation you have a personal scooter.

Not hard at all - I fly with my person wheelchair all the time!

 

[chaoslobster]

Wow... I am so thrilled about this. Thanks so much for the info, it's exactly what I needed to know. I had no idea that it would be free to bring my ECV along with me to Orlando! I usually rent one offsite and since my trips are 10 days, it costs a bundle ($250!). It just never occured to me to check into it... I assumed it'd have to be shipped as cargo and would end up costing more than it did to rent one. I guess I thought that because I'm not completely physically dependent on the scooter; at home mine lives out in the shed and I use it for trips to the grocery store or mall or anywhere I'll need to be on my feet longer than 20 minutes or so. I can't drive due to disability so in warmer weather I also use it to get pretty much anywhere I have to be; our local public buses are accessible, so as long as I'm able to dress myself and hobble out to the shed (not always possible, lol), I can then drive the scooter up the road to the bus stop, and from there, the world!

Anyway... I suppose I always assumed that since I'm fully capable of getting to the gate, boarding the plane, and hoofing it downstairs to the Magical Express queue without my scooter -- albeit I do cram myself full of painkillers on travel days -- that the scooter wouldn't count as a necessary medical aid. It's more of a convenience, something that allows me to "feel like an adult" and go wherever I want to go, by myself, without needing to have my family help me out. I'm 28 years old and live with my parents, there are days when I'm not physically capable of combing my hair out without asking mommy. So it's a big deal to me that because of my scooter, I can wake up one morning and decide I'll go to the library, or the mall, or that I'll go out and buy groceries to make dinner. I don't have to wait for someone to get home from work and give me a ride, and I don't have to ask anybody's permission. I just go... like any other normal adult would, but it's a privilege I hadn't had for a very long time until we bought my scooter three years ago.

Despite all that, though, I don't think of the scooter as being the same thing as a wheelchair or power chair. Partially because I'm still in mental rebellion over thinking of myself as needing a chair, but partially because I'm not confined to it, so there's some little voice in my head that's screaming "cheater! fraud!" for bringing my scooter onto the plane for free when I certainly don't REQUIRE it. As I said, I can manage well enough until I get to the Pop where my rental scooter awaits. It's just that bringing my own scooter would be significantly cheaper, and more convenient because I'm used to its controls and turning radius, etc, not to mention allowing me to hoarde medication for long days at the parks instead of needing to waste morphine on travelling. And last but not least, my scooter is decorated, rigged for extra storage capacity (mostly so I can haul groceries home, but useful at Disney) and has a removable sun canopy and a secured PVC pipe that lets me stick an umbrella handle in there so I don't have to drive with one hand. It's tricked out!

I'll shut up my rambling now. Sorry! I'm just so excited that my own scooter can come to Disney with me!

Jenni

 

[pugdog]

I found those dimensions on the site that Pugdog suggested by seaching their site for cargo door dimensions. I tried to copy it and paste it over here, but I couldn't maybe someone more computer savy can get a copy of it for us.

I'm sure it would be something that many would like to know.

Here you go. Here is the dimensions for most bigger passenger jets.http://ncat.oregonstate.edu/projects/StowageFiles/Cargo%20Package%20Data.pdf

And here is the link for regional jets.http://ncat.oregonstate.edu/projects/StowageFiles/Cargo%20Package%20Data.pdf

We have taken a power chair on just about all of these planes so if anyone has questions please ask away.

Also you can always call the airlines for door sizes too

 

[lindabee]

I flew in Dec.with my ECV. We flew AirTran, and the only requirement they had was that I had a paper with the weight of the scooter listed. I was permitted to ride my scooter down to just before the door of the plane before having to disembark and walk. When we arrived, I waited until last to leave the plane. And when I got off the plane, my scooter was there waiting for me. I didn't have to remove anything, and there was no damage done. The airline was notified in advance that I would be "gate-checking" my scooter, and couldn't have been more kind or helpful. Why rent when you have your own?