Originally Posted by
ZellaLamb
Your sister should take him. If she parks in the short term parking garage, she can walk with him to Level 2, door 4 and explain to the skycap what he needs. Or, assuming that his ticket is already printed out, she should pull up to door 4, leave dad in the car for a minute and go in to the wheelchair assistance area and get him the chair and help he needs. I believe that you can talk to a skycap. You should not just send him by car service because the system changes and who knows how it will be when he goes. Asking him to wait in line to get to a customer service agent is silly
Make sure that the airline knows that he will need transport upon arrival. The return trip should be a little easier. Again, make sure he is on the list for wheelchair transport and the pusher will take him where he needs to go.
I use my own chair when traveling but I've watched this process happen with others. Good luck.
This above - PLUS...
Make sure that you have notified the airline that he will need a wheelchair from drop-off/ticketing to airplane door. (Do the same for return, if it is a return trip; ditto if there are continuing connections.)
It will be so much easier if Sister can take a car service with him, and they can both be dropped off as close as possible to outdoor baggage collection or the ticketing counter. Someone at curbside (if there is such) should be told asap that he has a wheelchair reserved.
If there is any difficulty, have him sit down inside, in a place you can see him as easily as possible, while you go in search of wheelchair and pusher.
Make certain that you enunciated clearly, "My
89 year old Father" as often as needed.
More and more frequently, there are airline staff offering assistance prior to the ticket counter (and lines). Look for those in airport type uniforms, or other pushers with an empty wheelchair. MAYBE they could take Father, but at least they might be able to help you find someone.
Also, expect a few snarky types ("That's not MY job!!!"), but many who are eager to help or to find someone who can.
The pusher should (in all but one USA airport we've been to, thus far) be able to take Father from there straight through to the gate, including through Security.
And some airports will allow someone "with" a "special needs" passenger to get an airside pass, and make sure he gets on board okay. Other airports, not so much. (You'll need some special screening, and ID, of course, IF it is allowed.)
Is he still sharp as a tack, so that without you, he'll be able to make his needs/wants known?
(MIL is almost 100, and she is more than "happy" to make HER desires "known"... WAY more than enough happy, ahem, but not everyone ages at the same pace.)
When he he boards the plane, have him remind the crew that he has a wheelchair reserved for the arrival.
MAKE SURE HE STAYS IN HIS SEAT ON THE PLANE until the crew tells him his wheelchair is waiting, right outside the plane door. He'll be among the last off, usually. (This is where problems can occur, if they take him to near the gate desk and just leave him there, saying, 'Oh, someone will be coming along...')
There are more and more special needs people flying, so all of this is becoming fairly common.
Finally, what is yours and his plan B if *your* flight into BOS is seriously delayed?
GC