fracas

I had back surgery a few weeks ago which was a great success and the doctor cleared me for flying. I have a trip from LAX-LHR week after next and I'm wondering if Delta offers any travel assistance. I can walk fine, but prolonged standing becomes painful and I'm concerned about clearing security and customs both ways.

I can stand for a couple minutes, but anything past that starts becoming painful. Can Delta assist with bypassing the TSA and Immigration lines without needing me to be in a wheelchair?

MR_MAMA

Take the wheelchair.

fracas

Actually walking is part of healing. The more the better, it helps keep scar tissue from developing.

dd1612

Call DL and ask for Wheel Chair Assistance or you can request this online on your reservation under 'Special Services'.
You will receive this Wheel Chair service from the time you check in till the Gate.
Please tell them you can walk from the gate to your seat. They will board you first.

Then on arrival .... you will receive this service from the time you get off the plane till you exit immigration/ customs/ and baggage claim.

BobH

be sure to get up and move around on the plane and pay attention to any restrictions your doctor has given you on things like lifting, bending and repetitive motion.

Bob H

fracas

So it's ride in a chair or I'm on my own?

eturowski

Think of the potential for abuse if all it took to bypass the TSA line was to walk up to a screener and say, "I can't stand in line that long."

(Not that there isn't potential for abuse with the wheelchair system, but that's another discussion altogether.)

fracas

I figured the screeners wouldn't be any help and I would need airline assistance. I'm just not sure if they offer anything other than wheelchair assistance. My doctor offered to write a note if i need it.

MR_MAMA

What kind of assistance do you want? For them to take you to the front of the line of Customs at a major airport? Take the wheelchair, that's how you an et to the front of the line!

tkey75

What exactly would you like them to do?

fracas

Wheelchair assistance without the wheelchair. Just seems weird that a wheelchair would be the litmus test for the injured or infirmed.

tkey75

I'm not quite sure what that is. Expedited security? So you just want them to be on hand in case you need to sit. DL may go for that, then again, it's probably easier to just take the chair ride if your worry is pain from having to stand too long. Maybe assess the line at security before you ask for the chair. You may find the line is short and you don't need it.
If you think about how many pax with special issues they handle on a day to day basis, this is a case where a broad brush is a fair policy. You need the chair or you don't. It's that simple.

ashill

It sounds like what you really want is a wheelchair when you'd be standing still (in line) but to walk when moving. Do I understand you correctly?

I've always thought that the main reason passengers with wheelchair assist get credited security is because it would be a waste of the airline's money to pay the contractor to stand in line more than because the airline thinks wheelchair passengers deserve expedited security.

Maybe if you request wheelchair assistance, you could ask the agent who escorts you in the wheelchair to walk from the gate to the lines then sit in the chair. However, I'd hope you can walk as quickly as the agent could push you in that case, and this would seem an awful lot like you're gaming the system.

MichaelKade

I agree, take the wheelchair. Understanding walking is part of the healing, we're talking about maybe 2 hours total here (on both ends).

nystateofmind

Take the wheelchair when you are past security they may let you walk to the bathroom or something. Especially if no Delta rep is around