I guess she'll need to decide if it is more important to appear to not need a wheelchair than it is to avoid the fatigue and problems from standing in a long line when you have an injury, illness, or are recovering from surgery.

My m-i-l was used to flying out of Burbank, and so insisted that she didn't need a wheelchair. Well, DEN is a whole different animal, and we got about 200 feet down the concourse after she arrived before she gave up. I figure that it is an easy half mile of walking to make it from the far gates to the parking structure.

But, some people are experiential learners.