SWA and wheelchairs

[vacation dreamer]

Question for those with wheelchairs and have flown on SW. We will have 2 wheelchairs......an adult's that can fold up and a child's that does not fold up. Will they have an issue with the child's chair which we will need until we get him on the plane since you cannot fold it?

 

[CarolA]

You need to call SW.

My concern is the non-folding chair. Describe it to them and see what they say. This seems a big risk of the chair being damaged in transit.

 

[Donnask8pro]

We have only used DS folding wc/stroller. But we do find him a seat and wait until the very last minute to put him on the plane. I push him as close to his seat as possible and than they take his chair away. They put it in the luggage area under the plane. Is the chair electric? I agree, calling SW or post on the disabilities forum. Good Luck. We go in Sept again with his wheelchair.

 

[SueM in MN]

If the wheelchair doesn't fold, prepare it as much as you can for being transported.
We have not used Southwest, but have traveled on a large number of different airlines and gate checked DD's wheelchair on all of them. We bring the wheelchair right to the door of the plane. DH usually is the assistant for DD to get her seated. I am the 'wheelchair wrangler and get it ready to go in the baggage compartment.
When we take DD's wheelchair, I remove
- the seat cushion (velcros on and could pull off and be lost),
- the seat back (the connectors could break if something fell on the back),
- the armrests (hers pull right off and could get lost if they get dislodged).

I can't remove the footrests, so I put them up and/or attach them together with the foot straps on them. I also fasten her seatbelt down and pull it tight so the seatbelt doesn't fall into the wheels and get tangled in the axels.
The last thing I do is fold down the back canes (the upright posts that the seatback is attached to). That makes it as compact as possible and removes as much stuff that could be damaged as possible.
I put all the small pieces into a laundry bag and carry them onto the plane. They go into the closet or overhead bin.

 

[BCV23]

Our daughter has a portable powerchair and we've flown on SW with it as well as other airlines. Although it collapses somewhat, the battery must be removed to do so. No airline so far has done that. They just wheel it off from the door of the plane. She drives it all the way down the ramp and my DH helps her to her seat. At the end of the flight, the chair is brought right to the door but on SW they have always done so after everyone else deplanes.

 

[vacation dreamer]

Yes, we have talked to the airline but have yet to find a rep. that can fully understand our questions. They are very helpful in trying. The above info. helps as now I know to remove all removable parts.

Now I need to check the carseat. I was told it should say somewhere on it if it OK for the airplane?

 

[Rpsemont]

As an aside, allow extra time to go through security. I have travelled with my Mother in her wheelchair and it can take much longer for them to do the security check if you can't "walk" through the metal detector. Also the chair has to inspected and tagged. The sky caps have been able to do this for us.

 

[vacation dreamer]

As an aside, allow extra time to go through security. I have travelled with my Mother in her wheelchair and it can take much longer for them to do the security check if you can't "walk" through the metal detector. Also the chair has to inspected and tagged. The sky caps have been able to do this for us.

Thank you and yes we will get there early as we have 2 in wheelchairs and neither can walk on their own.

 

[seashoreCM]

If time permits, proceed to the preboard line, asking permission of anyone applicable along the way, so you can deal with the chair while others are boarding.

They may not interfere with your procedure dismantling the chair; you should silently continue your procedure. Alternatively after being prodded, you might claim on the spot that they are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities act.

Also per the ADA, airlines' responsibility for gate checked wheelchairs is not limited to that cited in the contract of carriage for other kinds of baggage.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm