the good, the bad, and the ugly of flying with a powerchair

[KPeveler]

ok, so it looks like I am getting a powerchair instead of a manual, and I travel a lot. I have a wedding in Disney in October, and it looks like I will have my chair for that. So...

I figured I would create a thread of advice and experiences of flying with a powerchair. I have heard lots of horror stories, but I am hoping that is the minority, and that overall people do okay when flying with powerchairs.

So, bring on the advice! I know I should remove everything I can. Is there a limit to what I can bring on the plane? I mean, I can remove my cushion, headrest, armrests/joystick (on some models), etc. Hopefully this thread can help others who are just as concerned as I am. thanks!!!

 

[peemagg]

I don't know much about powerchairs, but our last trip I took my scooter on the plane. We didn't check anything and we were allowed an extra bag because it was things like my arm rests, cane holder, charger, tiller cover. No one said a thing about it when they found out that it was parts for the scooter. It was allowed because it was considered as medical equipement. They even put it in the plane with the rest of our luggage.

 

[mom_2a_sept_princess]

My daughter is 5 and has a power chair. We usually take off the headrest and the foot plate. We attach detailed instructions in English and Spanish on how to operate the chair. We also have pictures on it. We include our flight number and our contact information. We also stress that we need her wheels brought to the gate and not the luggage area.

We talk to the person at the gate BEFORE we get on the plane. We talk to the flight attendants when we get on the plane. We also talk to the pilot before take off and he usually talks to the ground crew.

We watch the ground crew load Emma's wheels (from the plane) to make sure they get on the plane.

Before we land we talk to the flight attendants and remind them we are waiting for wheels, we remind the pilot too.

We usually try to watch the ground crew unload Emma's wheels. Emma is small so we carry her up the walkway into the terminal at the end of the flight. I try to figure out where the elevator is and take over driving her wheels as soon as they apprear in the terminal.

We bring a carry on bag that has her wheelchair tools and in the bag we put her headrest and foot rest in it. We carry her battery charger separate.

Have fun on your trip.

Amy

 

[DisneyWheeler]

I've never flown with my power chair in the seven years since I've had it. But, I've heard that it's best to remove the joystick controller from the armrest as well as the armrests themselves. The joystick controller is the most vulnerable part of the power chair to be damaged.

I am hoping to take it when my husband and I go on a cruise to Mexico. We'll be flying to L.A. from Portland, and meeting my father-in-law in L.A. to get on the boat. He'll have his truck with him, so transporting it to and from the boat won't be a problem.

Samantha

 

[KPeveler]

Thanks for the stories - I would not have thought about putting directions in Spanish on it, or pics! thanks!!

I have just heard so many horror stories, I was nervous about ever flying with it. I may rent one in FL, or just use my manual, but if i ever travel for business, I would like to know i can take my chair with me.

Thanks!

 

[KPeveler]

If I am travelling with both a manual and powerchair, how does that work? If I give them the power wheelchair at the baggage check, does it actually make it to the plane? Can I get BOTH chairs as gate-check? I mean on the end of hte flight? I dont want my manual going down the baggage carousel chute! How does the claiming of such things work?

Baggage claim in Orlando could not get my 250 lb chair from the gate to the baggage claim without either riding in it (not possible since i will take off the joystick) or push it... So I assume I can ask that they give me both the manual and the powerchair at the gate?

Thanks!

 

[peemagg]

I think I would call the airline and see what they say about it. Being that both are medical equipement you probably could gate check both chairs.

 

[silvergoldberry]

We completed a 13 day, 3 stop "tour" with Jack in May (4 direct flights 3 different airlines) Jack has a Permobil C300 with Corpus Seating and we also brought along a manual "shower/rehab" chair.

Learning from the advice I got on these boards and a test trip we did to Disney in February I would say the most important thing is communication, both written and verbal. Check the archives here. I know there's at least one thread out there with tons of information that helped me.

Label.
We labeled the manual chair with each flight number departure and arrival airport. (I went through an entire roll of 2" clear tape labeling both chairs on this trip. All my labels were pre-made on the computer with large fonts) We checked it at the desk with our bags and it never was sent down a ramp on any of the 4 flights.

We checked the power chair at the gate. Jack would be transferred into an aisle chair and I would disassemble the chair while he was being taken into the plane and transferred into his seat. I would take the chair apart as much as possible, removing the seat back, cushion and lowering the arms and removing parts of the back. Keeping in mind that the shorter it is the easier it is for the baggage folks to get it on the plane. I kept a bag of tools for this with me as a carry on, in addition to the charger (This stuff was medically necessary for the chair so it wasn't subject to carry on limits)
The label on the power chair included instruction for how to put the chair in "manual" or "push" mode. Because of the Corpus seating, we were unable to take off the controller, I wish I could have, but it is wired directly to the motors.

I would wait with the chair until the baggage handlers came for it and I would show them how to put it in "push" mode. (In addition to the label I taped on)
The Labels also instructed the handlers (3x in very large bold and RED printing not to power on the chair, but to push it in manual mode because it is disassembled.)

Then when we arrived I would take the parts back with me and wait in the jetway for the chair. Jack would be the last person off. Each airline sent help to transfer him into the aisle chair. When the chair arrived I would reassemble, transfer Jack into it and we would be on our way.

It was a lot of work, but this was the trip he had been dreaming of since his stroke over 5 years ago to see Mount Rushmore.

 

[KPeveler]

thanks so much!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

My step dad may be in one by the time we go to Disney in Sept. I called this morning to talk to the people at Disney about using Magical Express from the airport to the resort. They said I have to request a special ME bus, and that they can accommodate wheel chairs that are no bigger than 35in wide & 53in long. She said that they cannot accommodate Amigo scooters, they bust be bigger. Hope this helps someone.

 

[Laz]

I just got back from Anaheim and I traveled with a young lady who uses a chair.

One suggestion I have is that if you are making connections, have the chair shipped through-esp. if your time between connection is short. Have them meet you with one of their chairs and push you to your connecting gate. I also like the idea of instructions on the chair, because they had problems putting it together. In one case, they thought they had lost some pins that connect the chair to the base, but they just hung on chains in a funny position. Also allow time for reassembly. At the end of our trip, we found the disassembled chair in the baggage claim area. If you do not have some one to assemble it for you, you will have to wait for someone.

 

[Puget Peach]

We have made several trips with my SO's Hoveround. We always try to get direct flights to avoid extra handling (and possible damage). If we cannot get a direct flight, we allow a minimum 2 hours between flights and ALWAYS gate check the chair, then get it to the next flight ourselves. We disconnect the batteries and put it in free wheel with the back folded down and the control arm velcroed to the base. We experienced damage to the foot deck (it sticks out quite away) when the airline put it on a lift to get it from baggage to the jetway. We have since replaced that chair with a newer model where the foot deck folds up (also allows climbing of steeper ramps). ME was no problem arriving or departing. At MCO they will bring the chair up in a elevator that could be some distance from the gate, so just be patient!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

If I am travelling with both a manual and powerchair, how does that work? If I give them the power wheelchair at the baggage check, does it actually make it to the plane? Can I get BOTH chairs as gate-check? I mean on the end of hte flight? I dont want my manual going down the baggage carousel chute! How does the claiming of such things work?

Baggage claim in Orlando could not get my 250 lb chair from the gate to the baggage claim without either riding in it (not possible since i will take off the joystick) or push it... So I assume I can ask that they give me both the manual and the powerchair at the gate?

Thanks!

Each powerchair has a freewheel option. With that set in place they can push the powerchair pretty easily. At MCO, when flying with 2 chairs they deliver the manual chair right at the gate and the powerchair at bagage claim.

You could gate check both chairs, but if you ask me? Pain in the butt and for what? It's not as if you can sit in both at the same time.

I always check my powerchair at check in. Can't do it any other way at my home airport anyway so it's not like I'm not used to it. I prepare the chair by removing all parts that can be removed (which will be carry on luggage), extra packing of more 'sensitive' parts that can not be removed, disconnect the battery, put it in freewheel. Than, I take pictures of the state I'm having it checked in with the date in sight. A "just in case" thing. I always have instructions on the chair (in sight!) with pictures and words as to how to handle and not handle the chair.

Flying with a powerchair is pretty laid back. It isn't that much different from flying with a manual chair. And just like flying with a manual chair, most of the times it'll go of without a hitch or maybe with some small damage or scratch. If you want zero risk; act accordingly and rent. And whatever you do, never copy my last experience.

 

[KPeveler]

I will be flying southwest, and will be flying non-stop... I will probably check my powerchair first, and take my manual through security (no sense in the hassle of powechair in security).

Here is another question - has anyone had to claim a second chair and still used DME? Generally you can just wait for the next bus, but they say i have to arrange special for an accessible bus... is there enough time, since obviously disney cant claim my wc for me!

i really wish i could rent there, but i now need special seating, so i am stuck with all that! but tilt sure will be handy watching fireworks!

thanks for all the advice

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

No need to worry about DME. Seriously! First of all; claiming the second chair is a piece of cake! They will bring the chair to you at baggage claim, I had my powerchair before I had my luggage (which was also very quickly there, by the way).

If things do take longer than expected, they will work with you at DME. To give you an idea; my last trip was a flight with Hellish Airways. Unfortunately, I didn't know that until it was to late. Damaged powerchair (such an extend it died on me the last day of the trip), and a 'misplaced' manual chair that would take 3 days delay. So, I had to file some stuff after getting into MCO.

In talking to their reps, Hellish Airways didn't make things very 'quickly'. So, it took me about 75 minutes to file a simple damaged report and missing report and trying to get an answer (and failing) as to WHEN my manual chair would arrive. So of course, the bus DME had scheduled for me was probably sent on it's way.

We got to the DME desk, checked in and no questions asked (of course they could see the flight had landed almost 2 hours earlier). I started talking to a CM while waiting for the bus, so they learned the story that way. No problem, the will make arrangements as long as you signed up before and informed them about needing a wheelchair lift. In our case it was dealt with by calling in another company as there were no DME busses with lifts available at the moment. It took about 20 minutes for the van to arrive. We got a private ride to our resort (which was nice at that time of night) and had a great driver who told us a lot about the local history etc.

Of course I wouldn't recommand purpously lingering around on the airport when DME has a bus with a lift scheduled for you, but if things do happen to delay things it is not the end of the world where DME is concerned. They take care of all of their guests.