Tralveing with and ECV or Electric from home

[Tony NY]

Hey Diser!!! I have a question for you guys have any of you traveled with a and ECV or Eclectic wheelchair from home.. If so did you have any problems taking it with you on the airplane ... I’m a little because it I just got a PowerChair and it coast so much money ... I was hopeing that you could give some good tips on how to travel with it...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have traveled with my ECV on about eight roundtrips, using Delta and United at various destinations. Some of my flights were non-stop and others involved a change of aircraft. I have never had any problem, and have never had any damage to the ECV.

 

[brat]

Just a quick post while DH is finishing his check list before getting back on the road.

I stay in my power chair as long as I can then transfer to the airline chair.From there I walk the attendant through prepping my chair for travel.
I put all of the parts that come off my power chair in a carry on type bag so they are not damaged or lost.(foot rests, head rest and such)I have a cover I made that protects my joystick and another that covers my chair.I have bright colored duct tape marking tiedown spots for transport and flower duct tape where things come apart(I put numbers on each of these spots) so I can tell folks to look for the flowered tape that has the number 4 on it.My cushions go with me to the airline seat.

When you got your power chair did your supplier go over how to pack your chair for travel?Why I ask is some come apart more than others.Mine you can take the joystick off but I do not want that because I like it in the exact same place.(I really hurt if it is not in the right place)I know their are alot of us power chair users or their parents on this board if you tell us what brand of power chair someone might have one simular and can give you more details.

 

[bedogged]

Hey Diser!!! I have a question for you guys have any of you traveled with a and ECV or Eclectic wheelchair from home.. If so did you have any problems taking it with you on the airplane ... I’m a little because it I just got a PowerChair and it coast so much money ... I was hopeing that you could give some good tips on how to travel with it...

Congratulations on your new powerchair!

I have traveled with my ECV several times. I would recommend a nonstop flight if possible and be sure to let the airline know when booking that you will be traveling with your chair. Just drive it to the gate and speak to the agent at the gate. Just tell them that you will be "gate checking" your chair. They will put a tag on it. You will be able to drive it up to the door of the airplane. They will assist you inside if you need help. They will take your chair and load it into the plane and then at your destination they will bring your chair back to you at the door of the airplane. I have never had a problem!

Also, if you are using Magical Express, I never had a problem with that either.

 

[Tony NY]

Congratulations on your new powerchair!

I have traveled with my ECV several times. I would recommend a nonstop flight if possible and be sure to let the airline know when booking that you will be traveling with your chair. Just drive it to the gate and speak to the agent at the gate. Just tell them that you will be "gate checking" your chair. They will put a tag on it. You will be able to drive it up to the door of the airplane. They will assist you inside if you need help. They will take your chair and load it into the plane and then at your destination they will bring your chair back to you at the door of the airplane. I have never had a problem!

Also, if you are using Magical Express, I never had a problem with that either.

tks Im so happy I wont have to rent a ECV any more It is nice not to have spend over a $200 each and every trip ... It was a funny store how I got my power cahir I saw the scooter store commercal and I called to see what they were all about ... the told me I did not qullf for an ECV but I did for A PowerCahir my doctor gave me a for finaly brkeing down to ask for one off subject

I'm flying non stop with jetblue they said to check it at check inn but Im now going to to ask for a "gate cheek" tks for the as far as ME I have used the left so may times they are supper nice about it for me...

 

[Tony NY]

Just a quick post while DH is finishing his check list before getting back on the road.

I stay in my power chair as long as I can then transfer to the airline chair.From there I walk the attendant through prepping my chair for travel.
I put all of the parts that come off my power chair in a carry on type bag so they are not damaged or lost.(foot rests, head rest and such)I have a cover I made that protects my joystick and another that covers my chair.I have bright colored duct tape marking tiedown spots for transport and flower duct tape where things come apart(I put numbers on each of these spots) so I can tell folks to look for the flowered tape that has the number 4 on it.My cushions go with me to the airline seat.

When you got your power chair did your supplier go over how to pack your chair for travel?Why I ask is some come apart more than others.Mine you can take the joystick off but I do not want that because I like it in the exact same place.(I really hurt if it is not in the right place)I know their are alot of us power chair users or their parents on this board if you tell us what brand of power chair someone might have one simular and can give you more details.

WOW that a lot of work to do... my chair is TSS 300 and is a pain you have to use a socket wrench and take off the bolt to remove the chair. My uncle did it once to take a bus trip never again the chair is around 42 lbs and the rest weights about 118lbs ... so I might take of the joy stick but I have never done it. so I see that im going to need carry it on me with my socketwrench , open wrench with Alan key for the joy stick but I will use that tape ideal this way they dont brake it

Thank You Brat for you insight on how to travel with my Power cahir...

 

[Tony NY]

Thanks guys for the tips and your insight on how to take my PC with me to the happiest place on earth you guys ROCK

 

[brat]

Arrived at our campground.

I always keep repair tools with me. Okay DH has taken his chair without doing anything to prep it twice(one time he had his footrest damaged but it was a minor fix after he was home.It was still drivable).He has less accessories on his chair.Look at your chair, what sticks out that can be broken off? DHs friend has a chair like yours and flys twice a month without issue, his chair has gotten a few scuffs but nothing broken.He does not remove anthing.(I would look at your manual mine says to remove everything I remove, DHs says remove nothing and my kids chairs are mostly the same as mine or inbetween.

So are you having fun with the new freedom?
My youngest got her first power chair recently and watch her joy at the freedom was just so much fun.

 

[Tony NY]

Arrived at our campground.

I always keep repair tools with me. Okay DH has taken his chair without doing anything to prep it twice(one time he had his footrest damaged but it was a minor fix after he was home.It was still drivable).He has less accessories on his chair.Look at your chair, what sticks out that can be broken off? DHs friend has a chair like yours and flys twice a month without issue, his chair has gotten a few scuffs but nothing broken.He does not remove anthing.(I would look at your manual mine says to remove everything I remove, DHs says remove nothing and my kids chairs are mostly the same as mine or inbetween.

So are you having fun with the new freedom?
My youngest got her first power chair recently and watch her joy at the freedom was just so much fun.

first let me say congads on your and her Power Chair you must be so happy to see her having a new found freedom without the aid of others to help be mobile I know you must be over joy’ed with happiness for her .... You just made my week better hearing this... thank you so much for sharing this with me and everyone who read this....

I’m not worried about the scuffs it the joystick and chair and someone playing with my chair and thinking it's a toy!!! I'm sure most ppl can relate

OH YES let me say it is so reinsuring not to have to worried about falling out on the flood and scarring a bunch of stranger and have to tell ppl I’m fine & this is normal for me ....

 

[brat]

Hey Tony

When is your trip to Disney? We are on our way to Fort should arrive Friday afternoon.

Youngest is all giggles as soon as she is in her PC.Yep, it is our equivilent to first steps.

I have never had any of our chairs played with at the airports by anyone but my own kids.Now have had that happen at public restrooms when we had to leave a chair outside the restroom.

The chair is much better than flopping on the floor like a fish out of water, hope it did not hurt as much as it sounds like it would.

 

[Tony NY]

hay Bart im going in Auguest..

I have seen A crew memebr play with a ECV once at jfk doing dounts around the ariplane...

I hope you & your family have a awesome tip @ the Fort and say hi to mickey for me lolz

the fish with out water does not hurt as bad as it sounds it looks more like a a grand mal seizure it only hurts when I try to get back up too quick and then it hurts other than that it all good it could be worese ...

"There is someone always someone else in worse condition than me" "so I keep smiling and tell myself and other that & im gratful for breathing" I say this now becasue I almost died in sepetember 2010 & by Grace of god im alive....

 

[pbrim]

I have seen A crew memebr play with a ECV once at jfk doing dounts around the ariplane...

Which is why you take your key with you. They can put it in free-wheel mode and push it, but they can't drive it around.

 

[brat]

Tony, glad it is not as bad as it sounds. Sorry it hurts

Thanks pbrim, I forgot to say my keys are with me.

My MIL has asked crew to drive her ECV/ scooter around to prove they put it back together right.She traveled alone her first time and everthing went fine on the way down to her friends and on the way back they did not put it back together right.She uses an oversized scooter that is not in the ADA size limits so airlines can ask that it is broken down for travel(which is also better for her scooter).

I think the funniest airport power chair moment for me was how my 1st chair was treated at the airport in Japan(many years ago). More than twenty people were taking pictures of it when I came off the plane.

 

[Tony NY]

Tony, glad it is not as bad as it sounds. Sorry it hurts

Thanks pbrim, I forgot to say my keys are with me.

My MIL has asked crew to drive her ECV/ scooter around to prove they put it back together right.She traveled alone her first time and everthing went fine on the way down to her friends and on the way back they did not put it back together right.She uses an oversized scooter that is not in the ADA size limits so airlines can ask that it is broken down for travel(which is also better for her scooter).

I think the funniest airport power chair moment for me was how my 1st chair was treated at the airport in Japan(many years ago). More than twenty people were taking pictures of it when I came off the plane.

wow I bet you wish you had a camoder .

 

[brat]

I wish I had a camcorder back then it was to funny.

Now I watched a cute vid on utube of another little girl a little older than my youngest with the same little kid power chair. If you look its a whizzy bug power chair.

I have not figured out how to do a link or I would.