Southwest –1st Time Traveling with Disabled DH

[Candlelady]

Haven’t flown SW in years and never flown with DH since his stroke. Hoping someone can help me out prior to my purchasing flights. I’m nervous about seating and him being comfortable.

We will be traveling in May on SW and not sure how we board, when we board, or where he can sit or should sit with his disabilities.
He has minimal use of his total left side.
He can walk short distances very slowly.
He is unsteady and trips easily, can’t maneuver through crowds on foot.

Any help would be appreciated in regards to what I need to do when making reservations and what to do at the airports.

 

[Lewisc]

My suggestion, based on your post without any other information, is to add a request for wheelchair assistance when you make your reservation. There is a drop down menu for special assistance. You'll get wheel chair service from the time you arrive at the airport to your gate. Another person will push the wheelchair down the jetway to the plane. Many pax getting wheelchair assistance can walk the short distance from the door of the plane to a seat. You'll be pre-boarding and will be able to sit near the front of the plane. IF THAT IS TOO MUCH you can have your DH wheeled to a seat on the plane. I'm not sure if a regular wheel chair fits or if he'll be transferred to a smaller chair.

They'll be a wheelchair waiting on the jetway when you land. There will be someone to wheel him through the jetway to gate area. MCO has a shortage of wheelchair pushers. You need to decide if you're capable of pushing him trough MCO or if you need to wait. MAKE SURE HE PUTS BOTH WHEELCHAIR BRAKES ON while you're on the APM between the gate area and the main terminal. How are you getting from MCO to your resort?

 

[SueM in MN]

Southwest has a webpage of helpful info for people with disabilities
You can bring a mobility device (wheelchair/scooter/walker) which can be used all the way to the gate. Mobility devices are transported free of charge. If he can walk onto the plane, he can park the device at the gate and walk on. If he can’t, the airline/airport provides a narrow chair called an aisle chair that would be used by staff to push him to his seat. The process is reversed to get off.
This applies to all airports, not just SW.

This thread will be helpful to you about preboarding expériences.
Preboarding on Southwest

 

[Candlelady]

Thank you so much for the info. I'll be sure to 'reserve' a wheelchair when I purchase the tickets. One question about the wheelchair. Do I wheel him through the airport? Does someone else?

Where should we sit? Normally when we fly we choose our seats and always sit in two aisles across from each other.( I need the aisle for my hip to stretch my leg if needed) Front or back does not matter. Will that be a no no? He will be able to stand up slowly to let others in, but I'm afraid he'll not be able to get out easily in a middle or window seat if anyone needs to get out in his row. He's pretty slow and clumsy. I would be able to help him if I'm across the aisle. The only aid he will bring on board would be a large quad cane.

He does not like using a wheelchair, but I'm afraid he'll have no choice at the airports. Too far to walk and too far with the sea of humanity at the airport. He mostly uses a scooter wherever we go.

Lewis C, this trip, unfortunately, is not to Disney, but to visit my daughter and grands who moved away the day after Christmas. We are hoping to follow them to SC. Our trip to Disney will be in October and I haven't figured out how we're getting to and from Disney yet. I suppose an Uber. It's something I will have to look into. Rental cars are just too expensive at this point in time.

Sue M, thank you for the helpful link. This is all new to both of us and I have to admit, I'm a little nervous flying with him.

 

[Lewisc]

Do I wheel him through the airport? Does someone else?

Airports will always have wheelchair "pushers" available BUT it varies by airport. Some airports it's very easy. MCO has a real shortage. You'll be much better off if you can wheel him.

 

[Candlelady]

Thank you!. I'd rather wheel him around.

One more question for SW fliers. Do we have to purchase separate tickets to use their Rapid Rewards program? It's just easier to purchase two at the same time, but want to ensure we both receive points.

 

[Simba's Mom]

No problem with buying both, and each getting credit. DH and I always do it successfully. As far as "pushers" and you wheeling him around, that will work too. Be aware that on the jetway, it's Southwest's policy that their employees push him up and down to and from the plane-probably insurance related. However, once you and DH deplane, and the "pusher" gets into the terminal from the jetway, they'll be happy to let you take over. That's what we always do also. I've flown Southwest many times using wheelchair assistance-they've always been great.

 

[Candlelady]

Simba's Mom, Thanks for the info! I know it's 'simple', but I'm an anxious flyer and worry about every little thing from the time I wake until we land.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Simba's Mom, Thanks for the info! I know it's 'simple', but I'm an anxious flyer and worry about every little thing from the time I wake until we land.

No problem! Boy, do I understand! The first time I was in a wheelchair, DH was the same way-I'd just fractured my pelvis the week before we flew, and when the Southwest employee took the wheelchair out of DH's hands to wheel me from the waiting area down to the plane, DH got more than slightly testy. Now we understand. Have a safe trip!

 

[Lisa_lvspplmvr]

When my parents get a wheelchair at the airport the handler must push them . If you find a random wheelchair yourself in the airport you may be able to use it and push him yourself . When you have a wheelchair reserved and the handler , they get you through security faster in a separate line . They also wait with you until your flight boards . They wheel you on the tarmac right up to the plane door. They will also wheel you to the bathroom before your flight if you ask them. Good luck and have a wonderful trip !

 

[RoseGold]

He mostly uses a scooter wherever we go.

I'd consider taking the scooter on the plane, and then Mears bus. They put the scooter with the strollers and you gate check it. You bring the scooter all the way up to the jetbridge. I've traveled with a power chair plenty, and the airplane is no big deal. It's the transportation with the scooter once you land that's hard, and Mears handles that.

I would not want to be reliant on the wheelchair assistance to make a plane. My home airport, which is leagues better than MCO, has had issues staffing this. MCO is not my favorite airport, and this isn't a place I would risk the trip.

Sounds like he will need the scooter when you get there anyway.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'd consider taking the scooter on the plane, and then Mears bus. They put the scooter with the strollers and you gate check it. You bring the scooter all the way up to the jetbridge. I've traveled with a power chair plenty, and the airplane is no big deal. It's the transportation with the scooter once you land that's hard, and Mears handles that.

I would not want to be reliant on the wheelchair assistance to make a plane. My home airport, which is leagues better than MCO, has had issues staffing this. MCO is not my favorite airport, and this isn't a place I would risk the trip.

Sounds like he will need the scooter when you get there anyway.

Can you please talk to my DH and convince him to let me bring my scooter on the airplane? On one trip, the wheelchair person never showed up and I waited almost 1/2 hour (I was flying by myself). Finally, someone brought a Southwest employee from baggage claim to push me and they held my plane I was changing too (unfortunately, where I live, you have to change planes to WDW). I was way past take-off time, so I was sure I'd missed my plane. But Southwest had not only held the plane (yes, I was "that" person that made everyone wait on the plane), they put a "reserved" sign on the front row seat for me. That's why I'd love to bring my personal scooter. But DH is sure they'd damage it.


Candle lady-don't panic about being left without a wheelchair. This was during the pandemic, and they told me that they were having major employment difficulties. I've flown Southwest several times since then without a problem at all.

 

[RoseGold]

That's why I'd love to bring my personal scooter. But DH is sure they'd damage it.

It's a risk, sure. There are stories all over of that happening. Sometimes paid for, sometimes not. I've traveled a dozen round trips with a Whill Ci, including Spirit and Frontier, and had zero problems. Airline staff regularly transport much larger, more expensive, and more complicated mobility equipment.

We bring the banged up one, so I'm not sure we'd even notice if it were banged up.

I'd rather risk a little damage to a banged up Whill than missing our flight or renting mediocre equipment once we get there. And to us, it's not really an option. I mean, they can't walk.

 

[AprilsZoo]

Southwest has a webpage of helpful info for people with disabilities
You can bring a mobility device (wheelchair/scooter/walker) which can be used all the way to the gate. Mobility devices are transported free of charge. If he can walk onto the plane, he can park the device at the gate and walk on. If he can’t, the airline/airport provides a narrow chair called an aisle chair that would be used by staff to push him to his seat. The process is reversed to get off.
This applies to all airports, not just SW.

This thread will be helpful to you about preboarding expériences.
Preboarding on Southwest

Actually ALL medical equipment flies free and won’t be counted against your baggage or carry-on allowance. The caveat is that the supplies must be all that is in whatever suitcase, duffel bag, or what-have-you that you are using.

So, for example, we brought an “extra” carry-on sized suitcase into which we put dh’s CPap machine/masks/tubing/parts, my meds, his meds, my heating pad,& my nighttime carpal tunnel braces. There wasn’t anything in there that was normal carry-on stuff. That meant that it was permitted in the cabin with us in addition to our other carry-ons.

So if you have anything medical, know that it can come with you above & beyond your regular allowances… as long as it is consolidated into a bag of its own. You have to decide for yourself if you think it’s worth any risk to check it vs carry-on [realizing that virtually all “lost” luggage eventually finds its way to its owner… just not always as quickly as you’d like]. DH can’t go without his CPap, so we don’t risk checking that.

 

[SueM in MN]

Actually ALL medical equipment flies free and won’t be counted against your baggage or carry-on allowance. The caveat is that the supplies must be all that is in whatever suitcase, duffel bag, or what-have-you that you are using.

So, for example, we brought an “extra” carry-on sized suitcase into which we put dh’s CPap machine/masks/tubing/parts, my meds, his meds, my heating pad,& my nighttime carpal tunnel braces. There wasn’t anything in there that was normal carry-on stuff. That meant that it was permitted in the cabin with us in addition to our other carry-ons.

So if you have anything medical, know that it can come with you above & beyond your regular allowances… as long as it is consolidated into a bag of its own. You have to decide for yourself if you think it’s worth any risk to check it vs carry-on [realizing that virtually all “lost” luggage eventually finds its way to its owner… just not always as quickly as you’d like]. DH can’t go without his CPap, so we don’t risk checking that.

True
I mentioned only mobility devices because that was what was being discussed.
We always travel with an extra medical suitcase that we check free of charge. It has a medical equipment tag and contains things our DD needs (urinary catheters, flush solution, flush kits, first aid supplies, over the counter medications, etc). That bag can contain ONLY medical related items; the airline has the right to inspect it if they choose and if it’s found to have non medical items, they can charge for it.
The things in that bag are things she needs, but we could obtain (maybe not totally easily). There are either too many or they are too bulky to fit in a carry on. Everything in the checked medical bag is something we could do without for at least 24 hours if it was delayed. We also pack a small number of important items into each of our other suitcases so we would always have some.

All prescription medications, her communication device and enough catheters and other supplies for 24 - 48 hours go with us in a carry on bag. We don’t indicate that one as medical since it’s our only overhead bag and does contain some items that are non medical (cell phone chargers, some food we know DD will eat).

 

[AprilsZoo]

I figured that was probably why you worded it that way… but since OP said her dh had a stroke, I thought it was at least possible they’d have other medical items that she might end up struggling to make room for.

I still remember the Delta Agent who clued me in to the “secret” to traveling with a multitude of medical items. I always tell myself that there’s really nothing that is impossible to replace at our destination. But the reality is that some things would be pretty tough to get— at least quickly.

For me, I take a couple meds that always have to be special-ordered… I even have to bring them with me if I’m admitted to the hospital, because they never have them. So I am ultra-protective of those. I keep several days worth in a Fanny pack when I fly, because I know in an emergency evacuation I won’t be able to retrieve my carry-on.
For DH, it’s his CPap… While it’s possible to find a DME supplier and arrange for a replacement, it wouldn’t be cheap, and who knows what hoops we’d have to jump thru. Obviously, dh can’t put that in a fanny pack, so I make him bring his current rx for it when we travel and I know we’d do what we had to. That’s what credit cards are for, right?

How I long for the days when half of the stuff we travel with wasn’t medical crap. (Ok, not quite half… but it sure feels like it sometimes. ) But unless my dreams really do come true the next time I wish upon a star , I’m traveling with an extra carry-on for the foreseeable future.

 

[Lilsia]

SWA is great with accommodating medical issues. You will get to pre-board and wheelchair users go first. I recommend getting to the gate earlier and getting in the pre-board area first so that you can get on the plane first. Then you will have your pick of seats. If you want the first row for more leg room, you can get that. If you feel more comfortable in the second, standard row, you can sit there. The only thing about the first row is that all bags need to be put up in the bins for takeoff and landing.