Southwest & Airtran..same amount and same times..which would you pick? Need help ASAP

[Beca]

I don't remember if we ever flew Air Tran with my DD who uses a wheelchair, but there are certain things the airlines are all required to do for passengers with disabilities. One is to allow you to select seating at the time that you make your reservation (that was actually the only mention I could find on Air Tran's website about their services for people with disabilities. They also have to provide an aisle chair (a narrow wheelchair that the person with a disability can transfer to and then actually ride down the aisle into the airplane) and to allow preboarding for people with disabilities (sometimes this is automatic, sometimes you have to ask). And they have to allow you to bring adaptive equipment (like wheelchairs) onto the airplane without any additional charge. If you can safely stow your equipment inside the cabin, you must be allowed to do that.

Sue is right...but, the only caveat I would say is this. You are not ALWAYS allowed to store adaptive equipment on the airplane. In some cases, you must store the adaptive equipment in the belly of the plane (I am thinking specifically batteries from motorized wheelchairs. They are a "no-go" in the cabin. And, in other cases, you simply may not be allowed to travel with some airlines if you need a certain level of assistance, or some devices (specifically, here I am thinking of medical equipment such as I.V.'s, and oxygen tanks and masks). Both of these are "no-go" items on SWA for many reasons...the f/a's are not capable of re-inserting I.V. drip systems (and, if something were to go wrong...would you ABSOLUTELY have to have it?), and the same is essentially true with oxygen. If you absolutely have to have it....what would happen onboard if you ran out?

Both items mentioned above can be placed in the belly of the airplane, but cannot be used during the flight.

Just FYI,



Beca

 

[SueM in MN]

My answer was an "in general" answer.
If your adaptive equipment can fit safely stowed in the cabin of the aircraft, you have to allowed to store it there (even if it means you have taken the First Class storage closet to do it). I know that because we have done (armed with a copy of the law to show the FA if they didn't want us to). MOST equipment won't fit there though -like power wheelchairs are too big and heavy to even try. Also, many planes don't actually have an on board closet (especially if there is no First Class) and they are not required to have more space than needed to store one wheelchair on board the cabin. So, if someone else got their wheelchair in first, you could be out of luck.

Safely stowed is an important phrase too. Things like wheelchair batteries can be designated as needing to be stored in the belly of the plane to be considered "safely stowed". They might also make the decision for their airline that they cannot safely handle a specific thing (like SW with oxygen). But, if someone really wanted ot fight it with a lawsuit, it might be required if the airline doesn't have good justification for why they are saying no.