Wheelchair...How do I prepare it for Travel

[Chrl]

Hello all, it's been awhile since I been here, but now I have some questions about my scooter.

What is the best way to travel with my scooter? Going to Florida and need to know what to do to prepare my scooter. I am able to transfer so I don't an aisle chair, I just worried about losing parts.

Any suggestions

 

[thop529]

First off, what airlines are you flying with?

I always fly with Southwest and in my opinion they are wonderful.

I don't think you will have to many problems with your scooter. You just drive it to the door of the plane and then they will load it under the plane for you. Make sure you take the key, show them how to put it in manual so they can push it. Tell them under no circumstance are they to touch any wires on the scooter. Once your key is out everything is shut down and they don't need to do anything but tie it down.

I usually ask to speak to the supervisor and they call the guys up that will load it. I get their name, so if something is wrong I know who loaded it. There is a great guy at MCO who is the supervisor and he takes great care of me and my wheelchair. I know when he is there and he looks me in the eye and tells me not to worry I don't.

 

[Chrl]

Thank You for the reply. I am flying Delta, I flew with them before but I used my power chair and not my scooter, so I was a little concerned. The last I checked Southwest doesnt stop at my airport in NYC, I wish it did.

Thanks again

 

[peemagg]

Take any extra parts such as arm rests off and place them in another bag and take that on board with you. It will not count against your carry on number because it is medical equipement.

We took pictures of our scooter while in front of the gate, so that if something got broke we had a record of the fact that it wasn't that way when we released it to their care.

We rode the scooter right to the plane then go on the plane. They took the scooter from there and returned it back to me at the gate at the other end. We had no problems at all traveling with it. We were also pre-boarded on both ends because of the scooter. We flew Airtran though.