Newbie Wheelchair Assistance Question
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 35
Newbie Wheelchair Assistance Question
If you use online check-in, where are you meant to find the wheelchair? For that matter, can you use online check-in having requested a wheelchair?
My mom and grandad are visiting and my mom's realised she has no idea of the logistics when departing from MSP. They came from BTV, which is small enough that my grandad could walk to the farthest gate with no trouble, but the far flung reaches of MSP are much further. They had a wheelchair when they changed at ORD, so turning one down at BTV presumably didn't destroy the request, but MSP claimed there was no request when my mother tried to track down a wheelchair.
My mom and grandad are visiting and my mom's realised she has no idea of the logistics when departing from MSP. They came from BTV, which is small enough that my grandad could walk to the farthest gate with no trouble, but the far flung reaches of MSP are much further. They had a wheelchair when they changed at ORD, so turning one down at BTV presumably didn't destroy the request, but MSP claimed there was no request when my mother tried to track down a wheelchair.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Programs: Delta frequent flyer Gold Medallion Status
Posts: 876
I always request a wheelchair when I make my original reservation and seat selection online. There is a space where you can request wheelchair assistance for which ever flights you think you will need them.
Most of the time when I check-in at the airport I do curbside check-in. They take my checked luggage and call someone to come with a wheelchair. On only one occasion did I request a wheelchair only to discover that the airline had no record of it. I just had to wait a few more minutes, but they provided a wheelchair.
You can check your reservation online at any time, and you can make a wheelchair request at any time on your online reservation, just as you can change seats. It is possible that if your flight has one or two connections, and you do not use a wheelchair for one of those connections they will cancel the remaining reservations for wheelchairs. I have never failed to use the wheelchair I requested, but my husband has done that a couple of times, and when he needed it on the next flight it was not there.
When requesting a wheelchair you need to allow plenty of time. It takes a little longer to get through the TSA process; although often there is a separate line for disabled people so you do not have to get stuck in regular long lines.
When you get to the gate the gate agent will generally ask you to stay inside your wheelchair and wait near the gate. They will board your mother and grandfather before they start to board the rest of the passengers.
When you land you have to remain on the plane until all the passengers have left the plane. After the plane is empty the wheelchairs pushers bring the wheelchairs to the door of the plane and then take you to your connecting flight or the baggage claim if you are at your destination. I always plan for a minimum of 30 minutes from when the door of the plane opens until I reach the luggage carousel.
Most of the time when I check-in at the airport I do curbside check-in. They take my checked luggage and call someone to come with a wheelchair. On only one occasion did I request a wheelchair only to discover that the airline had no record of it. I just had to wait a few more minutes, but they provided a wheelchair.
You can check your reservation online at any time, and you can make a wheelchair request at any time on your online reservation, just as you can change seats. It is possible that if your flight has one or two connections, and you do not use a wheelchair for one of those connections they will cancel the remaining reservations for wheelchairs. I have never failed to use the wheelchair I requested, but my husband has done that a couple of times, and when he needed it on the next flight it was not there.
When requesting a wheelchair you need to allow plenty of time. It takes a little longer to get through the TSA process; although often there is a separate line for disabled people so you do not have to get stuck in regular long lines.
When you get to the gate the gate agent will generally ask you to stay inside your wheelchair and wait near the gate. They will board your mother and grandfather before they start to board the rest of the passengers.
When you land you have to remain on the plane until all the passengers have left the plane. After the plane is empty the wheelchairs pushers bring the wheelchairs to the door of the plane and then take you to your connecting flight or the baggage claim if you are at your destination. I always plan for a minimum of 30 minutes from when the door of the plane opens until I reach the luggage carousel.