Disability Travel - Flying with crutches / special asst.

Hi, just a little background - I needed some thoughts about my planned travel a few days before Xmas.

Damaged my knee joint recently, not in a cast etc but at the moment am on crutches. There is a possibility that it will be reduced to one crutch / cane / no crutches by the time I fly but I will not know until about 2 days before travel.
Flying with US air on a a330 from LGW, sitting in 31a (no leg room I know). Then a 1hr 50 min layover in CLT before flying to CHS.

I called LGW who said I can get my cab to drop me by the main entrance and take me just inside with baggage - I can call for asst. on a special phone. This sounds ideal as it will stop me having to stand in long queues etc.

Haven't called the airline yet but from what I can understand they can reseat me to a bulkhead row, which isn't essential. Would that row be nearer the exit door?
Will wheelchair assistance take longer in terms of getting to immigration / security? With a short layover time is of the essence - would a faster track through security etc. mean that any delay exiting the plane would be made up? Will the same person stay with me or will I get dumped to wait for another after each point? Or should I just hobble along and hope for the best?

Should I wait to book assistance until I know what's going on?

Book assistance immediately. You can always decline it later on.

It is customery to tip your helpers along the way, most especially in US airports where they are paid a tiny wage.

In many situations having the assistant will speed up your progress through the airport.

Based on my own fairly recent experience, a bulkhead seat may not be better than what you already have. It depends on the airplane and the location of the toilets.

Take along one or 2 inflatable pillows so you can try to get more comfortable and don't forget to move around to keep your circulation going.

Good luck.

Wheelchair assistance is almost always better/faster/more direct than trying to make it on your own. The connecting gate agent will be aware of it, and they'll be more likely to hold the flight for you if you are late.

If your knee is swollen/painful, take an empty gallon ziplock bag with you and ask the FA on the flight to fill it with ice - instant ice pack!

I hope you recover uneventfully and quickly.

Thank you both for your advice - I've booked a chair through the internet and will call to confirm 2/3 days before travel.:D

Hi, just a little background - I needed some thoughts about my planned travel a few days before Xmas.

Damaged my knee joint recently, not in a cast etc but at the moment am on crutches. There is a possibility that it will be reduced to one crutch / cane / no crutches by the time I fly but I will not know until about 2 days before travel.
Flying with US air on a a330 from LGW, sitting in 31a (no leg room I know). Then a 1hr 50 min layover in CLT before flying to CHS.

I called LGW who said I can get my cab to drop me by the main entrance and take me just inside with baggage - I can call for asst. on a special phone. This sounds ideal as it will stop me having to stand in long queues etc.

Haven't called the airline yet but from what I can understand they can reseat me to a bulkhead row, which isn't essential. Would that row be nearer the exit door?
Will wheelchair assistance take longer in terms of getting to immigration / security? With a short layover time is of the essence - would a faster track through security etc. mean that any delay exiting the plane would be made up? Will the same person stay with me or will I get dumped to wait for another after each point? Or should I just hobble along and hope for the best?

Should I wait to book assistance until I know what's going on?

Since your mobility will be impaired, even if your knee improves to the point of using only one crutch, you will find that a wheel chair would be helpful, even if it might not be faster, although, chances are that it will be faster.

FILO applies for passengers who need wheel chair. So Wheel chair pax disembark after all other passengers. If you feel, that you can walk to the aircraft exit, and if a wheel chair is already just outside the door, you could exit the aircraft with other passengers and use wheel chair to speed up the rest of the process. You will bypass lines at immigration, customs and security.