Virgin Atlantic in a wheelchair

[baronjudd]

Hi there,

My wife and I are flying out to MCO with Virgin and taking our parents along with us. My mum has MS and is basically (bar a few steps) wheelchair bound. I've spoken with Virgin special assistance people and they tell me that they can arrange for her wheelchair to be put in the hold and then a replacement temporary wheelchair to be used when the flight has landed. I'm still EXTREMELY skeptical that things will work out OK. I can't see that they will have a wheelchair waiting at the plane doors (which she would need). With everyone piling out of the planes, they are not going to have a wheelchair bloking the gangway are they?

Would love to hear from someone who's faced this situation before to pu tmy mind at rest!!
Thanks in advance,
Mark

 

[magicgirl]

Not had any personal experience of a wheelchair but Virgin always ask those that need help getting off the plane to wait in their seats until eveyone else has left the plane.

 

[jools]

Although I have not had to use a wheelchair myself, I have noticed when getting off the plane a queue of airport staff directly outside the aircraft with wheelchairs. I presume these are for the people who need assistance I'm sure you will not have a problem.

jools

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Would love to hear from someone who's faced this situation before to pu tmy mind at rest!!
Thanks in advance,
Mark

I always travel to Disney in Florida with Virgin.

I ride my own power wheelchair to the gate,where it is taken away and put in the hold. I am not certain how they deal with manual chairs.

Magicgirl is correct in saying that wheelchair users are last off the plane. You will be told to stay in your seat whilst the crowd clears. it is only then that wheelchairs are brought to the doors of the plane. A redcap will push you through immigration control often through a special 'disabled' lane so you will not have to wait on line with everyone else. By the time you get to the luggage carrosels you wil mostly have caught up with everyone else.

Virgin Special Assistance is very, very good.

Andrew

 

[gailc]

Hi there,

I travelled with my Mum (who also has MS) several times (though not with Virgin). She is taken to the aircraft doors in her own wheelchair (usually pre-boarded). Then as she cannot walk at all is transferred to an aisle chair which is used to take her to her seat. Upon landing you usually have to wait until all other passengers have disembarked then when you leave your wheelchair is waiting for you. Hope this helps. If you require the aisle chair to transfer to the aircraft seat you usually have to request this at check-in. Only once when travelling United at Chicago airport have we had problems.

 

[gilld]

Hi there,

I'm still EXTREMELY skeptical that things will work out OK. I can't see that they will have a wheelchair waiting at the plane doors (which she would need). With everyone piling out of the planes, they are not going to have a wheelchair bloking the gangway are they?

That is exactly what they do! We took my mother who is wheelchair bound. We used her chair to the door of the aircraft then she transferred to the on-board chair. On arrival at Orlando, her chair was waiting for her at the aircraft door along with a special assistance assistant with an airport wheelchair for her.

It will be no problem at all, they are VERY used to disabled passengers. You simply wait and are last off the aircraft and first to board..

 

[baronjudd]

Thankyou all very much. Your replies have been very helpful to me!

Mark