CarolAnnC
<font color=blue>Caught Smuggling Jello Shot Syrin
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2000
- Messages
- 12,230
I had the opportunity to take a short flight this weekend to visit a very close friend, so after discussing it with the airlines, my doctor, etc, I decided to go ahead and make the trip.
I am still not allowed to put any weight on this leg, so it made for somewhat tricky traveling. Since I am not used to this at all, only having had a broken leg for a week and a half, I knew it would take some planning and patience on my part.
I arranged for a towncar to take me to the airport. Since my flight was 6 am, that meant arriving there at 4 am. Lo and behold, contrary to what Southwest Air had told me, there were not employees or skycaps there at that hour to wheel me up to the gate. Instead my towncar driver, had to find a State Trooper to get permission to leave his car at the curb in order to wheel me inside.
Once at the counter, I discovered the SWA employees do not arrive there till 4:30 am. So much for asking us to be there at 4 am! No point to that one.. But once I got checked in and settled, a skycap came to take me through security and on to the gate area.
I was wheeled around to a couple of different places before they decided where I should be inspected and patted down. They did so while I was seated in my chair, even feeling all underneath the chair as well. Surprisingly, they did not really check out my space boot style air cast at all. I thought for sure they would have inspected it for bombs!!
SWA gate checked my regular wheelchair and walker, after I had used the walker to get settled in my seat. I was fortunate to be on a plane that had the first two rows facing each other..much like a train car. So I had the seat across from me to put my leg up on during the flight. This was true for the return trip also. They were not full planes, so this was not a problem.
The return trip was much of the same, except since I arrived after 11 pm, they had 3 different employees take turns pushing me in segments before getting me settled at my towncar for my trip home.
All in all, I would say to anyone thinking of traveling with a broken leg or some other type of disability to go for it. As long as your doctor gives the ok, and you feel up to it, there are many policies in place to assist handicapped travelers. I was fortunate enough to meet some very kind people this weekend who assisted me as part of their jobs. I always tipped them and I certainly appreciated the assistance getting me around which allowed me to make this trip. Nothing like a nice weekend getaway visiting a close friend to get cheered up!!
I am still not allowed to put any weight on this leg, so it made for somewhat tricky traveling. Since I am not used to this at all, only having had a broken leg for a week and a half, I knew it would take some planning and patience on my part.
I arranged for a towncar to take me to the airport. Since my flight was 6 am, that meant arriving there at 4 am. Lo and behold, contrary to what Southwest Air had told me, there were not employees or skycaps there at that hour to wheel me up to the gate. Instead my towncar driver, had to find a State Trooper to get permission to leave his car at the curb in order to wheel me inside.
Once at the counter, I discovered the SWA employees do not arrive there till 4:30 am. So much for asking us to be there at 4 am! No point to that one.. But once I got checked in and settled, a skycap came to take me through security and on to the gate area.
I was wheeled around to a couple of different places before they decided where I should be inspected and patted down. They did so while I was seated in my chair, even feeling all underneath the chair as well. Surprisingly, they did not really check out my space boot style air cast at all. I thought for sure they would have inspected it for bombs!!
SWA gate checked my regular wheelchair and walker, after I had used the walker to get settled in my seat. I was fortunate to be on a plane that had the first two rows facing each other..much like a train car. So I had the seat across from me to put my leg up on during the flight. This was true for the return trip also. They were not full planes, so this was not a problem.
The return trip was much of the same, except since I arrived after 11 pm, they had 3 different employees take turns pushing me in segments before getting me settled at my towncar for my trip home.
All in all, I would say to anyone thinking of traveling with a broken leg or some other type of disability to go for it. As long as your doctor gives the ok, and you feel up to it, there are many policies in place to assist handicapped travelers. I was fortunate enough to meet some very kind people this weekend who assisted me as part of their jobs. I always tipped them and I certainly appreciated the assistance getting me around which allowed me to make this trip. Nothing like a nice weekend getaway visiting a close friend to get cheered up!!
