Tell me about flying SW with wheelchair

[adventure_woman]

We are flying SW in Jan with my mom (in the manual wheelchair), myself and my 2 daughters (6 and 2). (We are getting her powerchair at the resort). (Going from MDW to MCO and back).

So, my questions are:
1. Do they have the shuttle golf carts that would take her directly to the gate? (I know airlines used to do that). I can walk with the girls, that isn't a problem. Just trying to figure out how with the stroller, carry on and trying to push her at the same time...

2. We did not get EBCI. Does she just just board with us whatever number we get? (Please don't anyone think I am trying to get something for nothing here (I'm not) - she is just really nervous about flying and I want to give her all the info I can!)

Any other advice/hints for flying with SW?

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Shuttles from security to the gate depends on the airport. When you're getting assistance in the airport, it's the responsibility of the airport, not the airline. (I don't know when that officially ends, but I would guess when you enter the door of the plane.) Even if there aren't shuttles, you can request someone just to push her in her wheelchair. MCO, last time I was there, definitely had electric carts that they use to transport multiple people who need assistance at a time when arriving in the airport. I assume that they would also do it from assistance

Because of the wheelchair, Southwest will want to pre-board her because it does take a little time. Usually they only allow one other person to board with the person who needs pre-boarding, but they do make exceptions to that rule and I suspect they would in your case. You can call Southwest and see what they say. I've found them really helpful and they've definitely allowed me to have 2 adults pre-board with me. Once she's boarded, her wheelchair will most likely go in the hold and that means you really should bring anything that comes off the chair onto the plane with you as a medical carryon (doesn't count towards your carryon limit). The only downside is that unless she feels comfortable getting off the plane and waiting for her wheelchair to come up, she'll be one of the last ones off.

There are three things you're going to want to make sure go on her wheelchair before you fly. Sometimes they will try not to do all three, but you can definitely push:

1) A tag with a description of the wheelchair that lists her flights. I think Southwest may use pink with a carbon copy type paper on one side.

2) A the same sort of luggage tag that goes on the luggage you check (the sticky ones, IYKWIM). Also make sure you get the receipt of the tag to put with your receipts for checked luggage.

3) A tag that specifies that the chair was gate checked and therefore needs to be returned to the door of the plane, not put through with baggage. I can't remember if the wording on this, but it's usually something short like "Gate Checked".

It might also be helpful to take photos of her wheelchair either at the house before you leave or in the airport (time/date them if you can on the photo). That way if there is a problem, you'll have the photos of what the wheelchair should look like. You do also have the possibility of checking her wheelchair when you check luggage (remember to take anything that might fall off with you and put it all in a separate bag from your normal luggage) and just having one of the airport wheelchairs with one of their people pushing. Personally, even if I could sit in one of the airport wheelchairs, I would still take my wheelchair to the gate with me. I'd rather have it within my sight as long as possible. Once you check it, it's now only going to be handled by baggage handlers. I'll trust them generally to not mess my chair up if it's only from the door of the plane to the hold. No matter what there's a chance of minor dings and such just because it's in the hold, but it's never been enough for me to notice.

Southwest is the airline I fly most in the US. I really haven't had problems and I've been flying at least two times a year with them since 2005. Things will probably go smoother at the airport than it sounds. If you can, arrive a bit earlier than you normally would just in case, but you really shouldn't have a problem.

 

[Piper]

I am a little confused about your getting a power chair at the resort. Unless she uses a power chair at home, you won't be able to rent one at from an outside vendor (and the resorts themselves don't have them at all.) If you mean a scooter (ECV,) they are also not available at the resorts. Disney does rent some at the parks, but it is a long walk to get one and they run out of them frequently. You also cannot take them from park to park.

You will need to rent an ECV from an outside vendor. Please read the FAQs at the top of this board. It will give you a lot of information that you will need.

 

[adventure_woman]

I am a little confused about your getting a power chair at the resort. Unless she uses a power chair at home, you won't be able to rent one at from an outside vendor (and the resorts themselves don't have them at all.) If you mean a scooter (ECV,) they are also not available at the resorts. Disney does rent some at the parks, but it is a long walk to get one and they run out of them frequently. You also cannot take them from park to park.

You will need to rent an ECV from an outside vendor. Please read the FAQs at the top of this board. It will give you a lot of information that you will need.

Yes, we are getting it from Apple (they are delivering it to the resort). She did have a hoverround but her motor broke so she is renting one from them.

 

[jmartinez1895]

f you need help pushing a chair or stroller you can get a skycap to help ( they do expect a tip). you will love SW. They have always been very kind to us and very helpful. You will be able to preboard, but when you land be prepared to be among the last off the plan.

 

[Justin Jett]

Here is a video about traveling on Southwest with a wheelchair:

http://youtu.be/8bVx6UCYpm4

 

[bedogged]

We are flying SW in Jan with my mom (in the manual wheelchair), myself and my 2 daughters (6 and 2). (We are getting her powerchair at the resort). (Going from MDW to MCO and back).

So, my questions are:
1. Do they have the shuttle golf carts that would take her directly to the gate? (I know airlines used to do that). I can walk with the girls, that isn't a problem. Just trying to figure out how with the stroller, carry on and trying to push her at the same time...

2. We did not get EBCI. Does she just just board with us whatever number we get? (Please don't anyone think I am trying to get something for nothing here (I'm not) - she is just really nervous about flying and I want to give her all the info I can!)

Any other advice/hints for flying with SW?

I fly out of Denver on SW with my ECV. When you make the reservation, there is an area on it that asks about handicapped assistance. I would think that when you check in, SW will call for someone to push your mother. When you check your bags, just ask them for that assistance. When you get to the gate, go to the desk and tell them that you wish to gate check your mother's wheelchair. They will tag the wheelchair and give her a pre-boarding pass that will probably allow all of you to board together. She will be able to use her wheelchair up to the door of the plane. Just like your stroller, her wheelchair will be waiting when you get to your destination.

 

[adventure_woman]

Thank you all for your responses. Knowing what to expect will definitely help her (and ME out!).

 

[stitchlovestink]

f you need help pushing a chair or stroller you can get a skycap to help ( they do expect a tip). you will love SW. They have always been very kind to us and very helpful. You will be able to preboard, but when you land be prepared to be among the last off the plan.

bolding is mine...
if your mom is able to walk okay from her wheelchair down the aisle to the seat...she doesn't necessarily have to be the last off. Now here's the key. If she doesn't want to stand very long, then it probably would be better for her to stay in her seat and let everyone else deplane ahead of you because it will take them a little bit of time to get her wheel chair back up to you. It will be brought up first as they start unloading the luggage. BUT, she doesn't have to be the last one off. I say this because I have severe nerve damage and I cannot stay in a seated position for a long period time without being in excuricating pain. So when we land, I really need to get up A.S.A.P. even though I was preboarded. I can stand (and really 'enjoy' the change of position) while I wait for my ECV. But I just communicate my needs with the flight attendants and they are happy to allow me to deplane at the beginning rather than have me wait until the end.

I fly out of Denver on SW with my ECV. When you make the reservation, there is an area on it that asks about handicapped assistance. I would think that when you check in, SW will call for someone to push your mother. When you check your bags, just ask them for that assistance. When you get to the gate, go to the desk and tell them that you wish to gate check your mother's wheelchair. They will tag the wheelchair and give her a pre-boarding pass that will probably allow all of you to board together. She will be able to use her wheelchair up to the door of the plane. Just like your stroller, her wheelchair will be waiting when you get to your destination.

bolding is mine....
I can't speak for the airports that you are using, but the ones that I use...They REALLY prefer that you do the paperwork when you check your luggage and not at the gate. They will do it at the gate, but they really don't like to...they like it to be done when you check in and check your bags. It really makes better sense to do it then too. Then you can get all of your claim tickets together. And the other issue can be if they are really busy there...I have just found it's much wiser to do the paperwork for your ECV/wheelchair when you check your baggage and check in. it's once and done. And once you've done that, you don't need a blue sleeve (preboarding pass) only people using wheelchairs that they don't own or people with other medical concerns need a 'blue sleeve'. Personally owned EVCs and wheelchairs automatically get boarded first because they need that extra time to prepare and stow those items in the storage compartment of the plane. SW's policy is to allow a medical preboard to take one person with them, but since the children are so young, I can't imagine that they won't allow all of you to board together. In our experience they have gotten pretty strict about adhering to the preboard +1 rule, (even in Orlando) but it wouldn't be reasonable to leave such young children behind so I can't imagine that they wouldn't make an exception to that rule in this situation. SW is reasonable IMO. I have found them to be very pleasant to travel with!! I actually fly with them this coming Wednesday, provided 'Sandy' doesn't mess with our plans too much...

OP, Good Luck and Enjoy your trip!

 

[SueM in MN]

bolding is mine...
if your mom is able to walk okay from her wheelchair down the aisle to the seat...she doesn't necessarily have to be the last off. Now here's the key. If she doesn't want to stand very long, then it probably would be better for her to stay in her seat and let everyone else deplane ahead of you because it will take them a little bit of time to get her wheel chair back up to you. It will be brought up first as they start unloading the luggage. BUT, she doesn't have to be the last one off. I say this because I have severe nerve damage and I cannot stay in a seated position for a long period time without being in excuricating pain. So when we land, I really need to get up A.S.A.P. even though I was preboarded. I can stand (and really 'enjoy' the change of position) while I wait for my ECV. But I just communicate my needs with the flight attendants and they are happy to allow me to deplane at the beginning rather than have me wait until the end.

We have not traveled SW, but have traveled multiple other airlines.

We wait until everyone else is off to try to get off - our issue is different. DD can't walk and needs to be carried.

But, I get off before that to get her wheelchair ready for her. I have to put some pieces back on to get it ready for her. The issue I have found, especially when going to Orlando, is the number of strollers that are being delivered to the gate sometimes makes it difficult to even get to DD's wheelchair. Often, I know it was the first thing off - mostly because it is buried in strollers.
On our last trip, there were 4 other guests who needed wheelchair assistance at the arrival gate. That meant all those wheelchairs, and people to push them, were also waiting at the arrival gate when I came out to put DD's wheelchair together.

If you have an able bodied member of your family, that person could check with the flight attendant for you - they usually will keep an eye on how busy it is in the gate area and let you know when the wheelchair has arrived at the gate (it can be well after people have started getting off).

bolding is mine....
I can't speak for the airports that you are using, but the ones that I use...They REALLY prefer that you do the paperwork when you check your luggage and not at the gate. They will do it at the gate, but they really don't like to...they like it to be done when you check in and check your bags. It really makes better sense to do it then too. Then you can get all of your claim tickets together. And the other issue can be if they are really busy there...I have just found it's much wiser to do the paperwork for your ECV/wheelchair when you check your baggage and check in. it's once and done. And once you've done that, you don't need a blue sleeve (preboarding pass) only people using wheelchairs that they don't own or people with other medical concerns need a 'blue sleeve'. Personally owned EVCs and wheelchairs automatically get boarded first because they need that extra time to prepare and stow those items in the storage compartment of the plane. SW's policy is to allow a medical preboard to take one person with them, but since the children are so young, I can't imagine that they won't allow all of you to board together. In our experience they have gotten pretty strict about adhering to the preboard +1 rule, (even in Orlando) but it wouldn't be reasonable to leave such young children behind so I can't imagine that they wouldn't make an exception to that rule in this situation. SW is reasonable IMO. I have found them to be very pleasant to travel with!! I actually fly with them this coming Wednesday, provided 'Sandy' doesn't mess with our plans too much...

OP, Good Luck and Enjoy your trip!

I would agree that where they want the gate check done does depend on the airport and airline.
In the past, they always wanted to do the gate check for DD's wheelchair at the same time as we checked in our other luggage.
But, in the past few years (actually about the past 5) , we have always been told to do it at the gate instead.

The biggest issue in doing it at the gate is to do it early and not wait until they start boarding. I have seen people do it as the boarding is going on - that is when there is more chance for error.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stitchlovestink

bolding is mine...
if your mom is able to walk okay from her wheelchair down the aisle to the seat...she doesn't necessarily have to be the last off. Now here's the key. If she doesn't want to stand very long, then it probably would be better for her to stay in her seat and let everyone else deplane ahead of you because it will take them a little bit of time to get her wheel chair back up to you. It will be brought up first as they start unloading the luggage. BUT, she doesn't have to be the last one off. I say this because I have severe nerve damage and I cannot stay in a seated position for a long period time without being in excuricating pain. So when we land, I really need to get up A.S.A.P. even though I was preboarded. I can stand (and really 'enjoy' the change of position) while I wait for my ECV. But I just communicate my needs with the flight attendants and they are happy to allow me to deplane at the beginning rather than have me wait until the end.

We have not traveled SW, but have traveled multiple other airlines.

We wait until everyone else is off to try to get off - our issue is different. DD can't walk and needs to be carried.

But, I get off before that to get her wheelchair ready for her. I have to put some pieces back on to get it ready for her. The issue I have found, especially when going to Orlando, is the number of strollers that are being delivered to the gate sometimes makes it difficult to even get to DD's wheelchair. Often, I know it was the first thing off - mostly because it is buried in strollers.
On our last trip, there were 4 other guests who needed wheelchair assistance at the arrival gate. That meant all those wheelchairs, and people to push them, were also waiting at the arrival gate when I came out to put DD's wheelchair together.

If you have an able bodied member of your family, that person could check with the flight attendant for you - they usually will keep an eye on how busy it is in the gate area and let you know when the wheelchair has arrived at the gate (it can be well after people have started getting off).

Quote:

bolding is mine....
I can't speak for the airports that you are using, but the ones that I use...They REALLY prefer that you do the paperwork when you check your luggage and not at the gate. They will do it at the gate, but they really don't like to...they like it to be done when you check in and check your bags. It really makes better sense to do it then too. Then you can get all of your claim tickets together. And the other issue can be if they are really busy there...I have just found it's much wiser to do the paperwork for your ECV/wheelchair when you check your baggage and check in. it's once and done. And once you've done that, you don't need a blue sleeve (preboarding pass) only people using wheelchairs that they don't own or people with other medical concerns need a 'blue sleeve'. Personally owned EVCs and wheelchairs automatically get boarded first because they need that extra time to prepare and stow those items in the storage compartment of the plane. SW's policy is to allow a medical preboard to take one person with them, but since the children are so young, I can't imagine that they won't allow all of you to board together. In our experience they have gotten pretty strict about adhering to the preboard +1 rule, (even in Orlando) but it wouldn't be reasonable to leave such young children behind so I can't imagine that they wouldn't make an exception to that rule in this situation. SW is reasonable IMO. I have found them to be very pleasant to travel with!! I actually fly with them this coming Wednesday, provided 'Sandy' doesn't mess with our plans too much...

OP, Good Luck and Enjoy your trip!

I would agree that where they want the gate check done does depend on the airport and airline.
In the past, they always wanted to do the gate check for DD's wheelchair at the same time as we checked in our other luggage.
But, in the past few years (actually about the past 5) , we have always been told to do it at the gate instead.

The biggest issue in doing it at the gate is to do it early and not wait until they start boarding. I have seen people do it as the boarding is going on - that is when there is more chance for error.

Good Point Sue! What I would do then if I was the OP is ask when I was checking my luggage when/where would they like me to do the paperwork for the wheelchair. And I very much agree about if you check it at the gate, it should be done early! And allow extra time for a line there as sometimes they are busy with people trying to get on the flight as a standby and deal with other various questions/issues. They will want you at the gate to ready to board promptly before they start calling for the regular boarding. So I find it is better to wait over closer to the jetway (I think that's what it's called). The bluesleeves wll be taken in the order they lined up. So if someone starts a line for bluesleeves, that's usually the order they will file on the plane Except they will put personally owned ECV/wheelchairs at the front for the reasons I stated before. I know it annoys the person who starts the line because they feel they should be first and often no matter how hard the gate agent tries to explain to them the issue of needing time to prepare/stow the item, they don't want to hear it. I wouldn't mind seeing SW require a HC tag or Dr's note for preboard. I think they could since they are giving you better access (not equal). It annoys me when people that are given the courtesy of preboarding give the staff a difficult time. I have flown SW MANY times. They are very pleasant, easy and proficient with their procedures if people listen and follow the directions given.


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[lunaemica]

We had great experiences with sw and wheelchairs. The bummer is that you're last to deboard so connecting flights can be an issue.