Disability Travel - assisting disabled pax when jetway is not used.

I flew on this flight, and when the plane landed it taxied to a (semi)remote area of cdg, where ramps were brought to the plane and pax walked down to waiting buses, and then driven to a terminal where pax walked up to get to the passport check area. This happened on several flights I took in the past, but not in the last year or so.
How do they accommodate handicapped pax, with all the stair climbing (with no escalators)?

I cannot speak to CDG, but in LHR and NRT they have special vehicles (similar to the catering trucks) that lift up to the aircraft door, and then telescope down again before driving off to the terminal -- permitting disabled pax the ability to embark and disembark without difficulty.

Flying out of Cardiff when I was on crutches, I had the choice of being carried by a guy or hobbling up the stairs myself. I boarded first by sitting on my bum and going up the stairs one at a time.

I cannot speak to CDG, but in LHR and NRT they have special vehicles (similar to the catering trucks) that lift up to the aircraft door, and then telescope down again before driving off to the terminal -- permitting disabled pax the ability to embark and disembark without difficulty.

I have been on flights to cdg, where they had "elevated" buses (as described above), but when they got to the terminal, the pax had to walk up steps. On the flight I was on they used regular buses.

In La Serena, Chile (LSC), the airstair has a built-in track to which a wheelchair can be connected, so the wheelchair passenger is carried up the airstair in the chair. Rather neat to watch.

Some places use the trucks mentioned, some carry you up the steps (a scary experience at times!) One time, they used a combination of a truck and a "homemade" ramp to get me into a plane. Most of these experiences were in AAL or CPH in Denmark. I've been carried down the steps at FRA in Germany as well. I, now, always attempt to fly from an airport that has jetways, but even then (as at FRA or CPH) situations can arise that cause the need to be carried.

I have been on flights to cdg, where they had "elevated" buses (as described above), but when they got to the terminal, the pax had to walk up steps. On the flight I was on they used regular buses.


They did this last May flying Air France from CDG to the US. They took my wife through about half the terminal to the special bus, then took her to the back of the aircraft, elevated the bus, and made her walk "upstream" through the aircraft to her Business class seat. (she can walk, but has trouble with stairways)

In both Cyprus and Egypt they used a lift thing that elevated up to the door level of the plane. all disabled exited on this lift, which then went back down to floor level and drove round to the terminal. The wheelchairs provided were lacking in parts and comfort so I now travel with my own w/chair.

At CDG, after much discussion, they managed to get me the skylift (the forklift thingies) to get me off the plane, but then I had to crawl (butt-scoot) onto the bus.

So very uncivilized.

Some places use the trucks mentioned, some carry you up the steps (a scary experience at times!) One time, they used a combination of a truck and a "homemade" ramp to get me into a plane. Most of these experiences were in AAL or CPH in Denmark. I've been carried down the steps at FRA in Germany as well. I, now, always attempt to fly from an airport that has jetways, but even then (as at FRA or CPH) situations can arise that cause the need to be carried.

FRA actually has a couple of skylift. There aren't many -which can be problematic if there is a higher demand- and staff might not 'like' having to put them into use for your flight, but honestly? That's their problem. FRA is an airport that tends to do better as soon as you stand your ground.

No way nobody is carrying me up any stairs, too risky of injury (about 99% in my case :rolleyes: ). Eventually FRA and LH special assistance realised this was no discussion and put stuff into place. Took a couple of calls prior to flying and repeating the same record during one lay-over. They really seem to have a thing with using the lift, so much so they tried to get all of my flights at a gate instead of on the tarmac, succeeded for 3 out of 4. Official story was that there are so little trucks service is unrealible, but if that's the truth?


Katja; when did the incident at CDG happen? I'm like a broken record ;) but want to remind everybody of the EU legislation concearning those flying with a mobility disability again. Went into effect in the summer of 2008. Applies to all flight departing from and arriving within the EU. As such, it applies to CDG. One of the stipulations is that the airport is responsible for supplying what is needed for you to safely deplane/board. In your case; supply a wheelchair at the point of the skylift.

If these kinds of things happens to ANYBODY within the EU; be verbal! Refuse to move as long as the assistance you need and is stipulated within the EU legislation is not put into place. As always be nice but firm. By all means, mention the EU legislation. Sends shivers down many airports and airlines backs, I can tell you. ;) And rightfully so! Stuff didn't go as it supposed to and wasn't solved? File a complaint with the airline. That doesn't get dealt with properly? File with the EU. Won't resolve your personal wrath, but it will be used to 'keep score' and act upon that if need be.

Katja; when did the incident at CDG happen? I'm like a broken record ;) but want to remind everybody of the EU legislation concearning those flying with a mobility disability again. Went into effect in the summer of 2008. Applies to all flight departing from and arriving within the EU. As such, it applies to CDG. One of the stipulations is that the airport is responsible for supplying what is needed for you to safely deplane/board. In your case; supply a wheelchair at the point of the skylift.



Thank you for the excellent reminder about the new EU regulations. My last trip through CDG was in late 2006, prior to the new regs. I very much hope that the protocols for wheelchair users have changed accordingly at CDG - departing was also a pain in the ... as they insisted on taking my chair at check-in, attempted to fold (spindle and mutiliate) my rigid chair to get it into a narrow shipping box, and stranded me in a chair I could not self-propel for several hours before my flight.

Thank you for the excellent reminder about the new EU regulations. My last trip through CDG was in late 2006, prior to the new regs. I very much hope that the protocols for wheelchair users have changed accordingly at CDG - departing was also a pain in the ... as they insisted on taking my chair at check-in, attempted to fold (spindle and mutiliate) my rigid chair to get it into a narrow shipping box, and stranded me in a chair I could not self-propel for several hours before my flight.

Sounds familiar. Have had the same attempts experience at some EU airports and Oz airports.

As said, not all airlines and airports are aware -or want to be :rolleyes: - of the legislation. It sometimes takes some 'reminding them'.

Haven't flown enough since the legislation to talk about the new situation but prior to this there were enough out there that tried to do their utmost to get you along in whatever suited the airline and airport best. I've learned very quickly that while it used to be presented as 'unmovable fact', suitable options always were available after standing my ground.

Experience so far is that it makes a huge chance where airline crew got their training and which party supplies the assistance. If the latter it's done by an organisation with medical knowledge, it tends to be more 'customer' aimed instead of whats easiest for them.

Most of my flights happened prior to the new EU rules. However, my last return trip was just after the new rules went into effect. AAL did not have any other way to get on or off of the plane. At CPH, it's the domestic terminal where I had to be carried, the International terminal has jetways.. Next time I travel to AAL, I'm going to fly into CPH and take thed train from there.

FRA - my flight there was in 2001. No idea what equipment they have now.

FRA - my flight there was in 2001. No idea what equipment they have now.

Haven't been through FRA in years, but they've always seemed pretty keen on 'manual handling' - used to reliably get two beefy-looking blokes who were fond of carrying.

As for the carrying up/down stairs, I'd regard that as pretty dodgy: the forklift option isn't always pretty, but it sounds less dangerous than a carry!

I cannot speak to CDG, but in LHR and NRT they have special vehicles (similar to the catering trucks) that lift up to the aircraft door, and then telescope down again before driving off to the terminal -- permitting disabled pax the ability to embark and disembark without difficulty.

I have been on flights to cdg, where they had "elevated" buses (as described above), but when they got to the terminal, the pax had to walk up steps. On the flight I was on they used regular buses.

I used one of those in BKK when I went there after my surgery. I did not have to use any stairs,