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-   -   Ewr for the elderly- immigration/customs line (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-york-city/1986009-ewr-elderly-immigration-customs-line.html)

jacklee Sep 5, 2019 4:20 am

Ewr for the elderly- immigration/customs line
 
so my mother who is close to 80 will be flying out of Newark and returning there a month later. Luckily I’m able to assist her on this round trip, but I’m wondering if she’d have to stand in security lines on departure and likewise coming back in through immigration and customs.

ive asked the airline to provide a wheelchair both ways, whether or not that materializes is another issue I suppose? I have an apec card and global entry, she has neither. Is it likely she’ll be made to wait in long lines? From everything I’ve read, my perks don’t allow me to extend to her. Any help would be appreciated here

RooseveltL Sep 5, 2019 7:18 am

I'm not handicap or elderly. My opinion (no fact check besides an older father years back) - if she is in a wheelchair they will bring her to the front of security line and/or custom/immigration and she will only need to stand/walk through the metal detector. After completion, she will sit back down in chair and be shuttled to the gate awaiting flight take-off.

synthkeys Sep 8, 2019 1:21 pm

What terminal do you expect arrival? At terminal B, I have witnessed wheelchair pax escorted up to the immigration level. There's an elevator there. Sorry, I don't know if they are escorted though immigration and handed off to special lanes. At that point, I'm just trying to get to and through the Global Entry kiosk as fast as I can so I haven't paid attention to what happens.

Often1 Sep 8, 2019 3:30 pm

If she requires assistance, she will be escorted from the aircraft to curbside, whatever that entails. On departure, from curbside to the aircraft. If she is unable to stand on her own at all, she will be assisted to and from her seat as well.

Allow plenty of extra time at every stage, including for wheelchair pushers to materialize (can take repeated requests).

However, the wheelchair pushers (and cart drivers) are just that. They do not provide any care or specialized service.

Brighton Line Sep 9, 2019 6:52 am

Wheelchair pushers are a contracted company, as Often said they just push the chair, they will not assist getting in and out of the chair. Some may place carry on bag under the chair, some might not. Depends who you get and what company. Some are dispatched with tablets, some use radios and some just are dispatched from a central desk. You might even be lucky and get a caring exceptional person, has happened to my Mom. Service is from curb, or from where you meet them to the jetway. If a chair is needed to get to seat on the plane then transferred to one that fits down the plane isle and reverse to the curb.
Have done this with my Mom from many airports just not EWR

flyerCO Sep 10, 2019 12:58 am


Originally Posted by Brighton Line (Post 31506207)
Wheelchair pushers are a contracted company, as Often said they just push the chair, they will not assist getting in and out of the chair. Some may place carry on bag under the chair, some might not. Depends who you get and what company. Some are dispatched with tablets, some use radios and some just are dispatched from a central desk. You might even be lucky and get a caring exceptional person, has happened to my Mom. Service is from curb, or from where you meet them to the jetway. If a chair is needed to get to seat on the plane then transferred to one that fits down the plane isle and reverse to the curb.
Have done this with my Mom from many airports just not EWR

Wheelchair pusher do assist with getting in and out of chair. Also for flights to/from US they're required to assist with bags. (Or get another person to assist them) Also for passengers to/from US the airline must bring you to/pickup from anywhere on the airport plus transfer you other airlines, even on separate tickets. This includes on airport hotel/trains/etc.. Even in the EU the airline is responsible even though the airport is the one that contracts with company.


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