Help with how to transport wheelchair

[OurLaughingPlace]

We are bringing a wheelchair on our August trip for my 82 y/o father, mainly due to the heat and amount of walking required at Disney. He does not use a wheelchair in his everyday life. He will not use it all of the time, but we'd like to use it in the airport. We are NOT asking for special boarding (we already have our seats reserved on Jet Blue and he is more than capable of walking on plane/seating himself), but my question is, what do we do with it when we are boarding? Will they take it at the gate (BUF airport for 6:00am flight) and then we can get it when we land in MCO? Or, should I just check it with my checked luggage? Should we be paying a fee for the handling of the chair? Should I be pre-booking it somehow, like a piece of checked luggage? I am just afraid I'd get to the gate and then have no way of getting the chair on the flight.
TIA

 

[NYCgrrl]

We are bringing a wheelchair on our August trip for my 82 y/o father, mainly due to the heat and amount of walking required at Disney. He does not use a wheelchair in his everyday life. He will not use it all of the time, but we'd like to use it in the airport. We are NOT asking for special boarding (we already have our seats reserved on Jet Blue and he is more than capable of walking on plane/seating himself), but my question is, what do we do with it when we are boarding? Will they take it at the gate (BUF airport for 6:00am flight) and then we can get it when we land in MCO? Or, should I just check it with my checked luggage? Should we be paying a fee for the handling of the chair? Should I be pre-booking it somehow, like a piece of checked luggage? I am just afraid I'd get to the gate and then have no way of getting the chair on the flight.
TIA

If you only need the wheelchair at the airport no need to bring it as the airline/ or airport will provide one free of charge both coming and going. They will also provide an attendant to push it so you can concentrate on luggage.

Should you opt to take the chair, there is no charge for transporting it on JetBlue. Just went thru this earlier in the month so this is current info.

Have fun!

PS you can also have a special TSA security check if you call in advance.

 

[SueM in MN]

but my question is, what do we do with it when we are boarding? Will they take it at the gate (BUF airport for 6:00am flight) and then we can get it when we land in MCO?

I would suggest gate checking it. Tell the staff you want to gate check it when you check in for your flight. They will either do the gate check tag for you there or tell you to talk to the gate agent.
Keep it with you and have him use it all the way to the gate. He may not need it to get from the gate onto the plane, but gate checking it will make sure he has it to use to get from check in to the gate.
Gate checked items are returned to the gate when you land.

Or, should I just check it with my checked luggage? Should we be paying a fee for the handling of the chair? Should I be pre-booking it somehow, like a piece of checked luggage? I am just afraid I'd get to the gate and then have no way of getting the chair on the flight.
TIA

Items checked as baggage are delivered to the baggage claim area, so if you check it, he would have to make his way all from the plane to baggage check.
Mobility devices fly for free on ALL airlines - no charge, so you don't need to pay.

Let the airline know when you check in the you have a wheelchair to gate check and they will tell you what to do. The only thing they may ask is the weight of the chair - that's for luggage balancing in the airplane hold

 

[Barbday62]

Also higher chance of losing it if you check with luggage. Gate check and it’s there and it could be used like a walker if he doesn’t want to ride it. Or you can push it with the carry on loaded too

 

[sunburnin]

For consideration, you could rent a wheelchair in advance for Orlando and have it delivered to your hotel. Several companies do this—a quick Google search will give you some options.

The airports can provide wheelchair service in BUF and MCO. Contact the airline, and they arrange it.

 

[Sophie’smom]

Keeping it with you and gate checking is a good option. We do this for our son. It’s nice to have the extra seat in case a gate area is super crowded. One time we checked it at baggage and he had to stand for a long period which was draining for him.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your advice. @SueM in MN, I am going to copy your answers and take to the check in with me so I remember what to ask/say lol! So thorough and you have eased my mind. Just want my dad to be comfortable and enjoy Disney!

 

[Lewisc]

Gate checking a wheelchair works. Technically planes with 100 or more seats are required to accomodate at least one wheelchair in the cabin. Could be a closet or overhead.

 

[SueM in MN]

Gate checking a wheelchair works. Technically planes with 100 or more seats are required to accomodate at least one wheelchair in the cabin. Could be a closet or overhead.

The planes didn't need to be retrofitted to accommodate a wheelchair and many don't have closets. It is required for new planes going forward
The one time, many years ago we tried to put my daughter's wheelchair in the closet on the plane, it didn't fit

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your advice. @SueM in MN, I am going to copy your answers and take to the check in with me so I remember what to ask/say lol! So thorough and you have eased my mind. Just want my dad to be comfortable and enjoy Disney!

I don't know what kind of wheelchair he has, but if he has anything attached to it that could get knocked off or caught, it's best to be removed. That includes things like cup holders.
If he has a removable seat cushion, remove that too - if it comes unattached in the hold, you may not get it back again.
Items you remove can be put into a bag to contain them carried onto the plane. They can be put in the overhead bin at no charge

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

I don't know what kind of wheelchair he has, but if he has anything attached to it that could get knocked off or caught, it's best to be removed. That includes things like cup holders.
If he has a removable seat cushion, remove that too - if it comes unattached in the hold, you may not get it back again.
Items you remove can be put into a bag to contain them carried onto the plane. They can be put in the overhead bin at no charge

Thank you for the suggestions. We just bought him a chair (wheelchair, not transport chair) and are planning to just attach some tags for identification (any suggestions? maybe luggage tags?). It was suggested that we purchase a cushion, so we bought a small one that we will carry on to the plane. I appreciate your follow up with my question.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you for the suggestions. We just bought him a chair (wheelchair, not transport chair) and are planning to just attach some tags for identification (any suggestions? maybe luggage tags?). It was suggested that we purchase a cushion, so we bought a small one that we will carry on to the plane. I appreciate your follow up with my question.

Luggage tags work well.
The airline will attach a regular baggage tag on it and usually also a bright colored 'gate check' tag that shows the baggage workers to deliver it to the gate