Travel on a smaller airplane

[travelbug]

I'll soon be traveling with my mom who has mobility issues. I'm making the flight arrangements, and we may fly out of a smaller airport. We always use a wheelchair to navigate around any airport, but I'm concerned if we happen to get on a plane that is small and won't attach to a jetway. That would mean a flight of steps to climb outside, and I don't think she could deal with the stairs.

Does anyone know how airlines help people board a plane when there is no jetway and they are unable to climb stairs?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They will have a lift available that she can ride into and the lift will take her to the aircraft entrance.

 

[travelbug]

They will have a lift available that she can ride into and the lift will take her to the aircraft entrance.

Excellent. That's what I was hoping to hear. Does this have to be arranged ahead of time, or can it just be requested at the gate?

 

[MErnst]

I just recently traveled on 2 small regional jets without a jetway..... There were no steps but there was a ramp we walked up to board. I don't believe the ramp was wide enough to allow a wheelchair to pass. Your best bet is to check with the airline.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

I've only done this once in the US, but I've done it in Europe multiple times. There are going to be two ways they might get her into the plane. The first is a manual stair chair which is literally a mechanical way that uses 2 people to operate it (but they are not lifting you at any point). The second is a lift (in the UK called an AmbuLift, not sure what it's called in the US) that will generally go in on the opposite side where they load things like the food for the galley. In the US I'm going to hope it's the second pretty much everywhere, but as I was at JFK (the airplane was way out in the middle of things because they were fixing it just about until I was on and possibly some after I was on), it's hard for me to say for sure about a small airport. I've only ever had the manual stair chair in Amsterdam Schipol, though, so it's really not commonplace. (Still not sure why Schipol is behind on this as I've had really wonderful experiences there in general)

I don't necessarily bother to tell the airline ahead of time that I'm a wheelchair user. I'm under no legal obligation to do so in either the US or Europe and it's never been an issue. It's certainly never been an issue on any of the flights where everyone else walked up stairs to get on the plane.

 

[brat]

I would call ahead of time with small airports just so she knows what to expect. In general if it is just me I do not call.If its my Mom, kids or our whole family I call.
I have used stair chairs(both the power climber and the paramedic carry you type)ramps and the lifts.I have just been picked-up and carried on like a kid by the baggage man(was told if I wanted on this last flight before they closed for a snow storm it was the only way they could get me on the flight).I agreed rather than being stuck there.Same big guy picked up my powerchair and put it on the plane.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

I've only ever had the manual stair chair in Amsterdam Schipol, though, so it's really not commonplace. (Still not sure why Schipol is behind on this as I've had really wonderful experiences there in general

Schiphol isn't "behind", they use the same policy as many other airports do; first come, first serve. There are only so many lift trucks and once they are all being used, they will proceed with the manual lifting position. Common practice on many airports within the EU but also outside of it. While I'm known as a basher of my own home airport of Schiphol when it comes to travelling with a wheelchair, it has one huge benefit with regards to this subject; as long as you stay clear from certain airlines/routes, you KNOW it will be jetways all the way, unless something very very exceptional happens (which would basically be of huge factor, as airlines here pay per service provided and those "buying" a jetway do NOT amore the idea of not getting one. Thus giving Schiphol huge incentives to do as should be).

I don't necessarily bother to tell the airline ahead of time that I'm a wheelchair user. I'm under no legal obligation to do so in either the US or Europe and it's never been an issue. It's certainly never been an issue on any of the flights where everyone else walked up stairs to get on the plane.

While no obligation, it can bite one in the rear if not informing the airline with time to spare. As said, I've seen many airports deal with it in a "first come, first serve"-way and assigning "seniority" based upon needs. It has happened that others would be deplaned by the manual lifting way, as the one last lift truck was being used waiting for my flight to taxi in/me to come down to the tarmac to use it for boarding. All because my situation was known upfront rather then being confronted with a "what is"-situation.

For anybody that requires a certain way of boarding/deplaning -read; for whatever reasons boarding via lift or manual lift is not a possibility-, I can't advice anything else but informing the airline (and reconfirming) long enough before you're scheduled to fly. It works a lot better when giving them time to arrange stuff, rather than throw them a "last-minute" loop. Heck, because of me doing this and explaining why a lift truck is the only way I can be safely boarded in such situations, I've had airlines do their best to actually pull the flight upto a jetway rather than the scheduled tarmac to make it easier on both me, the airline- and airport employees.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I agree with everyone else. Legally there is no requirement that you advise them ahead of time. However, from a practical standpoint this should be on your reservation; it makes everything much easier for everyone, including you.

 

[travelbug]

Thanks for all the information and advice, everyone. I would plan to let the airline know ahead of time, though I'm not sure how I would know if our plane won't have a jetway...