Managing a Rollator when flying

[Doingitagain]

My mom and dad will be flying with me for the first time. They are both 92 and use canes. My mother also uses a Rollator, the kind of walker that has a seat. They will not be going to the parks. My concern is about flights...how do you handle the Rollator when flying? I am nervous about gate checking it and having it damaged. Their is no guarantee there will be room on the flight to bring it onboard. Do you use a special bag or case when gate checking?

 

[NannyBeBe]

I traveled with my rollator last year when I visited DLR. I gate checked it and had no issues. It was waiting for me when I got off the plane and was not damaged in any way.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just traveled with my rollator on Southwest 2 days ago. I chose to check it in just like my luggage, and got it at my destination. Be aware that at some airports, rollators can have a separate place for pick up. There's often an "oversized" place for your mobility devices, golf clubs etc., just a separate door from where your luggage is, a few feet away. Or you can choose to "gate check" it. The people where you check in your luggage will have you tell the gate agent that you're gate checking your rollator. DH used to put it in a box (the box my rollator had originally come in), but that didn't work-they made us take it out of the box so they could examine it, then the baggage handlers messed up the box. Now DH just puts a couple bungee cords around the lower part of the wheels so that the rollator stays folded. It takes about a minute. If you gate check the rollator, you'll have to wait at the doorway (at the end of the jetway just before the airplane) for them to return it to you. I think the airlines have a separate little area for the gate checked items-strollers, car seats, etc. So far, 11 flights with my rollator and it hasn't been damaged. It got lost once-for some reason they thought it was gate checked so it sat at the airplane. Meanwhile, I was waiting for it at baggage claim, since I'd checked it like luggage. No one was getting/giving info and I had a scooter pick up at WDW. So they sent me on my way, and delivered it that evening to my hotel. Just once! Hope you understand everything now. Let me know if you (or they) have any more questions.