Disability Travel - Help in deciding which airline to use to travel

Hi!

I know this is way in advance, but I like to be able to plan in advance. This November my husband and I will be flying from Helsinki, Finland to Washington, DC and back. While I am a points slut, points are not the most important issue for me. Because of a major physical problem I am looking for help in finding a route which has the following things (if possible).

1. Jetways/Airbridges the entire time. I can walk a bit, though not much, but I can't cliimb stairs easily. I never knew this could be a problem until coming back from Washington, DC to Helsinki last year and having to use a catering truck to get into the plane when I switched planes in Amsterdam. It was incredibly traumatic and I can't remember the last time I was so scared. Short version - the catering truck floor was *way* above ground level. To get into the truck I had to ride on a platform in my wheelchair where there was a side that was open to the air. I kept thinking my wheelchair would unbrake and roll off the platform! Then, to get from the truck into the plane I had to walk across a two part front platform where the two parts didn't quite meet into an emergency door of the plane. I do *not* want to have to do that again, and I will *not* allow people to carry me up the stairs of the airplane - I do *not* believe it is safe. So, I want a flight where there will be an airbridge/jetway when we change flights and arrive/depart the plane. The only exception is returning to Finland - I am aware that arriving in Helsinki it is a die roll, and I am willing to cope with going *down* one flight of stairs *once,* with help, if I have to.

2. Lie flat seats. My legs retain *massive* amounts of fluid and if I can lie down for most of the flight I will be *a lot* happier! This while important, is not as important as the first requirement. However, if there are several airplanes that have lie flat seats I can always contact them and find out about the connection issues.

I am aware that there are no non-stops between Helsinki and Washington, DC. I would prefer to do it with one change, but if everything else was fine I would deal with two changes.

I can come into any of the DC airports - while I prefer Dulles, they all can be worked with.

Thank you in advance for your help,

Jaelle

I'm surprised that you had to use a catering truck at Amsterdam. I thought most gates there had jetways. :confused: Which airline did you use, and why didn't they use a jetway? I've been carried on and of planes at FRA and CPH before. FRA, because there were no open gates. (Maybe that's what happened for you?) CPH, because domestic flights do not have jetways. Your question is tough to answer because most of the time, a flight to a major airport like AMS would use jetways. If you took KLM, for example, HEL to AMS to IAD then most times you would get a jetway.

I'm surprised that you had to use a catering truck at Amsterdam. I thought most gates there had jetways. :confused: Which airline did you use, and why didn't they use a jetway? I've been carried on and of planes at FRA and CPH before. FRA, because there were no open gates. (Maybe that's what happened for you?) CPH, because domestic flights do not have jetways. Your question is tough to answer because most of the time, a flight to a major airport like AMS would use jetways. If you took KLM, for example, HEL to AMS to IAD then most times you would get a jetway.

AMS is a bit of a different story on this, or better said; in the way they assign gates. AMS uses jetway for almost all flights, only a handfull of the gates don't have them. These gates are used for operating EU-flights, usually the flights operated by smaller (low cost) carriers that have little business at AMS and thus rank lower on the 'of importance to Schiphol'-list. These airlines tend to have conciously! decided to use this option. A couple of years ago, demand for flights to and from AMS was high. Schiphol didn't 'just' want to allow anybody beyond the point of having enough jetways, facilities etc. Adding more jetways would've consumed a lot of time. Also, multiple airlines wanted AMS to reduce the costs of operating AMS flights (ain't cheap here). And thus came the usage of some gates without jetway.

Because of this, this is a non-issue for intercontinental flights, for instance. Eventhough only a very small part of the inter-EU flights will deal with this, it can be a factor for the HEL-AMS and AMS-HEL flights, depending on operating airline etc. Big factor in this is that many of the major airlines have partnered up which increases the chance of the inter-EU flight being carried out by a smaller partner airline. So basically always be on the look out for who's operating the flight, not who's flightnumber you happen to book. Flights operated by KLM don't tend to run into this, including the small flights operated by Fokkers but it isn't a 100% certainty depending on situations. KLM does get preferential treatment though as one of the biggest airlines at AMS. Combine that with them using a lot of slots, that makes it easier for them to get a jetway for a certain flight if need be.

AMS is one of the airports within this region with a very small chance of jetway, but still not a 0%. One thing to do is have a look at the flights and see where they tend to be arriving and departing at Schiphol. The website easily shows the gates and with that info it would be pretty easy to find out if it's a flight that is 'known' for a jetway or not.

AMS has 2 outstanding points;
- baggage handlers are crap. Same amount of respect for medical stuff and aids as for luggage. Have found the airline can make some difference, but not all alas
- the company supplying the boarding assistance is ^ . Each team has at least one fully trained medical, second person also a lot of time or in training with medical background. As such, they have a "customer decides, we follow"-additude. Most tend to ask which way is best for you to board and deplane before you can even tell them. I've never had a problem working with them on my needs, which says a lot when one realises even most docs would need me telling them how things work instead of the other way around. :D


If AMS returns as an option; arrange for airport assistance from gate to gate. This tends to be done by different folks as those doing the boarding/deplaning. At AMS you will need the assistance, especially for EU flights connecting to international and vice versa. It is a huge hike. Heck, even just having to cover the EU concourse from the higher numbered gates to the main area is like a 10/15 minute hike. It's a never ending story. Just like the rides to some of our runways.

Other options are through CDG (Air France) or LHR (BA). Neither of which have a 100% jetway either.

I'm surprised that you had to use a catering truck at Amsterdam. I thought most gates there had jetways. :confused: Which airline did you use, and why didn't they use a jetway? I've been carried on and of planes at FRA and CPH before. FRA, because there were no open gates. (Maybe that's what happened for you?) CPH, because domestic flights do not have jetways. Your question is tough to answer because most of the time, a flight to a major airport like AMS would use jetways. If you took KLM, for example, HEL to AMS to IAD then most times you would get a jetway.

We were on KLM. We had been flying KLM changing in AMS at least 20 times before this, and this was the first time it had ever happened to us. It was, however, a much smaller plane than I was used to for flying the AMS/HEL or HEL/AMS route. It was a lot smaller than the plane that we took to get from HEL to AMS.

The assistance people said that the catering truck lift to the plane was their standard method of getting people in wheelchairs into planes when there was no jetway.

I will say that I have used assistance in AMS many times and the people there with one exception, early in my use, have been kind, helpful, fun and a delight to interact with.

In fact, if there were some changes to the truck used to take wheelchair passengers to the plane, I would have no hesitation in using the catering truck again. But that would entail adding a wall on the open side of the rear platform and making the front platform one piece instead of two. I still wouldn't like it, but I could deal without too much trouble.

I will wait to see what other people (if any) say, but it looks as if going back to KLM might be my best option after all, and see if there is a flight going back any time during the day that uses a larger plane, so it will be more likely to use a jetway.

Thanks to everyone for their help so far.

Jaelle

I think the other post hit the nail on the head. (I don't know for sure). It's usually possible to know which aircraft you will be on when searching for tickets. What may have happened though was that you may have purchased the tickets from KLM, but were they the ones operating the flight? Was it a code share, or a partner airline or something like KLM Cityhopper or whatever it is called? It sounds like that from your description. That could explain it. _It may not, though, since when it happened to me at FRA, I was flying on Lufthansa, which should normally have a jetway. You don't have to limit yourself to KLM. You would usually get a jetway at most major airports in the EU.

Does Finnair have partners in the US? You could change planes there I would think that you would get a jetway on arrival to the US, and if you are on a 737 or larger aircraft from there to Washington, it's close to 100% that you would get a gate with a jetway in the US at major airports.

Just offering some ideas.

*snap*or something like KLM Cityhopper or whatever it is called? *snap*

You're right on the money, KLM Cityhopper is one of the small daughters of KLM.

It may not, though, since when it happened to me at FRA, I was flying on Lufthansa, which should normally have a jetway.

Who told you that? At FRA LH does regularely operate flights from gates without a jetway, normal practice. They even do it for intercontinental flights if it suits the likings of the 'power that be'. These flights can be scheduled to have no jetway at 5 days out already. (the things you learn when being persistant on getting the assistance you need and then failing :rolleyes: ).

You don't have to limit yourself to KLM. You would usually get a jetway at most major airports in the EU.

True. Although if this is a major issue, I personally prefer airports like AMS where it's a bit more obvious at the moment of booking which airlines/flights will be operated from which types of gates. If not for the customer, at least for the airline. Unfortunately, still not a 100% guarantee though.

Does Finnair have partners in the US? You could change planes there I would think that you would get a jetway on arrival to the US, and if you are on a 737 or larger aircraft from there to Washington, it's close to 100% that you would get a gate with a jetway in the US at major airports.

Just offering some ideas.

I did a quick search because of this topic. I'm the first to state it was very quick and small, so must have missed options! However, the only options some of the regular search engines I used gave me where all flights connecting within the EU. Connecting in the US was the first thing I was thinking of, but that flew out of the window after doing a quick check and realising that apparently isn't an (mostly offered?) option out of Helsinki.

We could take things to a totally different level of course, depending on how strict this avoidance of these types of airports is. What about a departure from Oslo (connecting at NewArk with CO) or Copenhagen (also connecting at EWR with CO)? It would require some travelling on land also, but that would avoid AMS, FRA, CDG, LHR etc.

Who told you that? At FRA LH does regularely operate flights from gates without a jetway, normal practice. They even do it for intercontinental flights if it suits the likings of the 'power that be'. These flights can be scheduled to have no jetway at 5 days out already. (the things you learn when being persistant on getting the assistance you need and then failing :rolleyes: ).



No one told me anything, it was just an assumption. Thanks for setting me straight.


I did a quick search because of this topic. I'm the first to state it was very quick and small, so must have missed options! However, the only options some of the regular search engines I used gave me where all flights connecting within the EU. Connecting in the US was the first thing I was thinking of, but that flew out of the window after doing a quick check and realising that apparently isn't an (mostly offered?) option out of Helsinki.

We could take things to a totally different level of course, depending on how strict this avoidance of these types of airports is. What about a departure from Oslo (connecting at NewArk with CO) or Copenhagen (also connecting at EWR with CO)? It would require some travelling on land also, but that would avoid AMS, FRA, CDG, LHR etc.

SAS has, or had (not sure now), a nonstop flight from Copenhagen to Washington Dulles. I have not heard of it being eliminated. I have taken the flight twice over the past few years.. (Most recently 2008). They definitely use a jetway for that flight. That could be a good option. I'm pretty sure flights from HEL to CPH also use a jetway. (At CPH it is the domestic terminal where there are no jetways.)

Finnair partners with AA so you could AY HEL-JFK and AA JFK-DCA or JFK-IAD just for example.

Unfortunately, my general experience (not involving your specific ports, but many others) is that there is no guarantee of either of your desired outcomes.

You can book an airline with lie-flat seats (this should all be stated on their website) but on many airlines there is a small risk of aircraft substitution to older seats - perhaps check the booking conditions for what happens then.

The jetway seems to vary wildly according to how busy the airport is when you arrive, what the airline has planned for the plane next, the relationship between the airline and the airport at any given moment (do they lease gates with guaranteed access, or just get assigned them; did their managers have lunch last week and who paid? etc).

That bit of pessimism aside, hopefully you will have a smooth and enjoyable trip - bon voyage!

I want to start by thanking everyone for their help with this. I have learned a lot.

At this point we have decided to either take KLM again, changing in Amsterdam, or Finnair, switching in JFK. both have their good and bad points, and neither currently has lie flat seats, but those appear to be our best bets.

The longer the trip the harder it will be on me, and the more my legs will swell, so I think I would rather have a flight with only one change of plane which limits us to the two above when you consider the other issues and concerns we have. For instance, we want to be able to gate check my wheel chair which I believe we can't always do in all places.

Before we book any tickets, and we won't until June at the earliest I will find out more about specific flights and what the airline or airport says now about jetways versus bus gate. I know it won't be written in stone, but at least I can get a good idea about what will happen. Also, if I know that I could get a bus gate I can start to prepare myself for it and come up with alternative plans, if possible.

I am somewhat learning towards KLM, at least for the return trip because there is a hotel in the airport where I can rent a room for 4 hours and lie down, which will be *great* for my legs. Furthermore, if I get stuck with a bus gate in Helsinki on the way back, my legs will be *a lot* less swollen, which means that I might be able to go down via the stairs. It will be difficult mind you, but hopefully possible.

Again, thank you everyone for your help! Words cannot express how helpful and kind everyone has been.

Jaelle