fallinasleep

Here’s the process at DFW:

they will be met at the gate on landing. Sometimes the wheelchairs are not there yet when you get off the plane, they shouldn’t get off the plane unless they see the wheelchair there. They will need to show the wheelchair attendant their boarding pass so tell them to have it ready.

Attendant will help them through immigration, bag retrieval, luggage drop off, and then security. I would recommend a $10 tip for this person. After security, it will depend on where their gate is. The same person may push them straight to the gate. OR they may be handed off to a series of carts or other wheelchair attendants to get to their gate.

Of note, assistance at DFW is handled by Prospect Services and they are horrible. You may want to be reachable by cell phone to help them if they have any issues.

At LGA, the attendant will meet them at the gate, take them to baggage claim, help with retrieval of bags, and then take them curbside for transportation like a taxi. Again I would tip this person $10.

Some things you can do to make it easier for them:

make sure they know not to leave the aircraft unless the wheelchair is waiting for them, otherwise they will be left standing on the jet bridge. You (or someone they know) might prepare an index card that reads “is the wheelchair ready on the jet bridge” that they can show the flight attendant. If it’s not there, they should sit and wait on the plane.

similarly within the airport itself, if they have issues, they should ask a gate agent or customer service agent for assistance. Again, an index card saying “I need help, only speak Chinese” can be helpful.

if they don’t have a cellphone that works in the US make sure they at least have your number written down, or someone else that can reliably help. Again an index card saying “please call 111-222-3456 in order to help me” or something similar.