Wheel chair on a plane

[sunflowerfields]

Our son in law will be flying with us to Disney in May. He is in a wheel chair always and is very nervous about flying, (concerned about where is chair will be) we are sure he will have to transfer to a seat, but are wondering if his chair can remain on the plane with him, not be stored elsewhere. I would say the size of his chair is slightly bigger than the scooters I see people on in the parks. Of course we will ask the airlines all the questions we can think of, but would like to hear from others if their chairs could remain close to them. Sincere thanks for any help with my question.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It just depends on the airline. Check with whatever airline you will be flying, or take a look at their web page. For example, here is the information from United's website:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/disabilities/custwheelchair.aspx

 

[sam_gordon]

Our son in law will be flying with us to Disney in May. He is in a wheel chair always and is very nervous about flying, (concerned about where is chair will be) we are sure he will have to transfer to a seat, but are wondering if his chair can remain on the plane with him, not be stored elsewhere. I would say the size of his chair is slightly bigger than the scooters I see people on in the parks. Of course we will ask the airlines all the questions we can think of, but would like to hear from others if their chairs could remain close to them. Sincere thanks for any help with my question.

I don't see any way the wheel chair will be allowed to stay in the cabin (on any airline). The only question would be whether he needs to turn it over to airline personnel at the ticket counter or at the gate.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I don't see any way the wheel chair will be allowed to stay in the cabin (on any airline). The only question would be whether he needs to turn it over to airline personnel at the ticket counter or at the gate.

if you read the information at the link I posted, UA has room in most of their cabins to stow at least one manual wheelchair. I imagine other airlines are the same.

You wouldn't turn in a wheelchair at ticketing; how are you going to get to the gate?

 

[sam_gordon]

if you read the information at the link I posted, UA has room in most of their cabins to stow at least one manual wheelchair. I imagine other airlines are the same.

From the OP...

I would say the size of his chair is slightly bigger than the scooters I see people on in the parks.

A folded manual wheelchair can fit in a fairly small space. Based on the OP's description, I'm picturing something larger that wouldn't fit in the cabin.

You wouldn't turn in a wheelchair at ticketing; how are you going to get to the gate?

From the link you posted...

Your wheelchair can be checked at the ticket counter and/or gate.

Customers' manual wheelchairs can be checked for stowage in the cargo bin at either the ticket counter or gate.

I'm assuming the airline would call for a Skycap (is that what they're called) and have an airport "issued" wheelchair for the person to use.

 

[SteveMouse]

No power wheel chairs are usually stored in the passenger cabin. If you're referring to a manual wheelchair AND its pretty much standard size/foldable AND if the airplane has a closet in the passenger cabin AND there is space in the closet (e.g. you board at the origin city), then it can be stored (and has priority) in the cabin closet.

 

[sunflowerfields]

This is how I have been picturing getting on the plane in my mind: that my daughter would transfer him to the plane seat (before others boarded). Then I was thinking they would be the last ones to get off the plane. I wondered is: would there be a spot at the front of the plane for his chair, like where strollers would be kept? There is no way the chair can fold up. He cannot transfer to the seat by himself, he will have to be lifted and I would think only his wife would do that. So I hope his chair can at least go right to the seat and then if it has to be checked we would go do that. What is the gate? Is that where you actually walk on to the plane? Sorry, we have only flown twice, and my sil only once with his chair and that was 19 yrs. ago. My daughter thought somewhere she heard that the chair can stay in the cabin but we didn't think that could work.....so just trying to figure it all out. Thanks!

 

[minnie mum]

I would suggest that the OP ask this question on the DisAbilities board. There are people there who are accustomed to travelling with their own ECVs or wheelchairs.

From the description given, it sounds like it is a motorized chair. This would not be allowed in the cabin. The DSIL would need to transfer to a cabin transfer chair at the gate and his chair would have to be partially disassembled for storage in the hold. There is a real concern for damage to these very expensive chairs. Many users opt to rent a power chair from home for this reason.

 

[sunflowerfields]

I would suggest that the OP ask this question on the DisAbilities board. There are people there who are accustomed to travelling with their own ECVs or wheelchairs.

From the description given, it sounds like it is a motorized chair. This would not be allowed in the cabin. The DSIL would need to transfer to a cabin transfer chair at the gate and his chair would have to be partially disassembled for storage in the hold. There is a real concern for damage to these very expensive chairs. Many users opt to rent a power chair from home for this reason.[/Q

Thank you, I'm never quite sure where to post. I will check the DISabilities board out.

 

[sam_gordon]

This is how I have been picturing getting on the plane in my mind: that my daughter would transfer him to the plane seat (before others boarded). Then I was thinking they would be the last ones to get off the plane. I wondered is: would there be a spot at the front of the plane for his chair, like where strollers would be kept? There is no way the chair can fold up. He cannot transfer to the seat by himself, he will have to be lifted and I would think only his wife would do that. So I hope his chair can at least go right to the seat and then if it has to be checked we would go do that. What is the gate? Is that where you actually walk on to the plane? Sorry, we have only flown twice, and my sil only once with his chair and that was 19 yrs. ago. My daughter thought somewhere she heard that the chair can stay in the cabin but we didn't think that could work.....so just trying to figure it all out. Thanks!

Would his chair:
A) Fit through the cabin door?
B) Fit down the aisle between seats?
C) Be able to maneuver on the plane?

I'm guessing your SIL will need to be transferred to a manual wheelchair in order to get on the plane. You can do that either at the ticket counter or at the gate (the gate is where you actually board your aircraft). The best thing for you (or your SIL) to do is contact your airline and ask what needs to be done.

 

[DebbieB]

This is how I have been picturing getting on the plane in my mind: that my daughter would transfer him to the plane seat (before others boarded). Then I was thinking they would be the last ones to get off the plane. I wondered is: would there be a spot at the front of the plane for his chair, like where strollers would be kept? There is no way the chair can fold up. He cannot transfer to the seat by himself, he will have to be lifted and I would think only his wife would do that. So I hope his chair can at least go right to the seat and then if it has to be checked we would go do that. What is the gate? Is that where you actually walk on to the plane? Sorry, we have only flown twice, and my sil only once with his chair and that was 19 yrs. ago. My daughter thought somewhere she heard that the chair can stay in the cabin but we didn't think that could work.....so just trying to figure it all out. Thanks!

Strollers are not kept in the cabin. They are left at the end of the jetway and then taken by baggage handlers to put under the plane. If the chair can't be folded, there's no way it could be kept in the cabin, it will have to go underneath. They would transfer him to a narrow wheelchair that would fit in the plane aisle and take him to his seat.

 

[sunflowerfields]

Thanks for responses. We don't know what airline yet, so I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if that could be done. Sounds like probably not.

 

[DebbieB]

I've seen scooters in the airport, they take it on an elevator down to ground level and load it on the plane from there. The passenger is put in an airport wheelchair at the gate before they take it.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

My son works at an area airport, and previously worked for Delta. Weflew with dh with disabilities. He left his scooter at the door to the plane, he is transferred to a airline chair that fits down the isle to his seat. The chair/scooter is taken to transport under the plane.
He will travel all the way in his chair to the end of the boarding ramp. It will be ready when he is ready to leave the plane. Usually, first on, last off.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.....


I'm assuming the airline would call for a Skycap (is that what they're called) and have an airport "issued" wheelchair for the person to use.

If you have your own wheelchair, you check it at the gate. I cannot imagine checking a wheelchair at the check-in counter. It works as described in the previous post #14, if the user cannot walk to his or her seat. A regular manual wheelchair won't fit down the aisle of a plane. Some wheel chairs can stay in the cabin; OP has not said if it is a motorized wheelchair.

 

[sunflowerfields]

If you have your own wheelchair, you check it at the gate. I cannot imagine checking a wheelchair at the check-in counter. It works as described in the previous post #14, if the user cannot walk to his or her seat. A regular manual wheelchair won't fit down the aisle of a plane. Some wheel chairs can stay in the cabin; OP has not said if it is a motorized wheelchair.

 

[sunflowerfields]

Sorry, yes it is a motorized chair. post # 14 explains it all very well. Thanks to each poster for the replies. This will help us plan and prepare.

 

[Plaid Princess]

if you read the information at the link I posted, UA has room in most of their cabins to stow at least one manual wheelchair. I imagine other airlines are the same.

Correct. Depending on the cabin configuration, most airlines can accommodate one folding, manual wheelchair of standard size. Any oversized, electric, or non-collapsible chairs would be stored in a designated area of the cargo hold.

 

[sam_gordon]

I cannot imagine checking a wheelchair at the check-in counter.

It really doesn't matter whether you can imagine it or not. It is doable according to the link you provided. I never said one HAD to turn over the wheel chair at the ticket county, but that they could. Your link backed that up.

 

[kandb]

OP, we fly JetBlue and love it. I know they are very accommodating. If you advise them of his disability, they will usually put you in one of the first rows at no extra charge. Just to keep in mind, it will be easier for him to get in and out. Good luck.