Handicapped Permit thru security
 

A family member has a medical condition which sometimes makes standing for any lenght of time difficult. She will be travelling alone in a few weeks and doesn't feel comfortable getting wheelchair assistance. I've assured her it's no big deal, but she's hoping she can go to the assistance security lane and show her handicapped parking permit to avoid standing in line. It sounds like a good idea, but has anyone ever done it?

It's a pointless thing to do. It proves nothing as far as the TSA are concerned. For one thing there is no 'assistance' security line.

If she can't do the standing, she needs a wheelchair.

Your best bet is to get a family member or friend to take her to the gate. Absent that, a skycap with a wheelchair will work. I wouldn't count on being able to expedite getting through a line any other way.

I know how it is having a relative that is stubborn about assistance. Just reassure her that there is no shame in taking a first class shuttle all the way to the gate.

At some airports, like BWI, the disabled and elderly are permitted to use the crew line. Some others have lines where disabled pax are screened as well. While it might not be "assistance" per se, some accommodations are made.

Super

i've never seen an airport where perople in wheelchairs are not taken to the front of the line-escorted by skycap or otherwise

To the OP: my situation is similar; I can walk okay for short distances, but long distances or standing is very painful. I was encouraged by the people on the Disability Travel forum to use wheelchair assistance on my last trip. It ALWAYS got me to the front of security and customs (in the regular lines - there were no "assistance lines") and through very quickly. The details are in this thread, including my report at post 26 with a description of both the good and the bad aspects.

I echo the advice of oldpenny16 (who gave me encouragement, too) to get a wheelchair and avoid the stress of standing in line. I don't think showing a handicapped parking permit would work. If there's a long line, you'd have to bypass the other passengers to find someone to show it to, while the wheelchair assistant will take you right to the front. Also, someone controlling access to the screening point might not understand why someone who can walk up to the checkpoint can't just stand in the line for a while. (Last year, I probably wouldn't have understood either. :()

Correct! Skycap is taking own responsibility to needs assistance with disability people to put on the aircraft or beyond at security checkpoint. Airlines will needs assistance for helping with old people to get onboard the plane first. After that F class will allowed it to get onboard the aircraft. Next one is General boarding is beginning any boarding group. Skycap or airlines need escorts someone take out of the aircraft.

That's a comfort. I just learned from my parents they'll be doing a Denali train tour next month. Hopefully my mom won't get a TSO at PHL that thinks a wheelchair is a license to abuse.

I've had 3 major knee surgeries in the last 18 months. Despite my innate stubbornness, I have had to resort to the wheelchair option myself at times. It's actually not that bad.

Get a wheelchair
 

I would suggest just getting the wheelchair if it looks like the security line will be a long wait.

My mother has problems standing for long periods of time and has trouble with long distances at large airports; At SDF she can do just fine if the line is reasonable and get to the gate ok. Trekking between terminals at ORD or LHR is another issue.

I've taken her on some trips lately and I always request wheelchair assistance for her. We may not need it at all points in the journey, but it is documented as being needed so she could take it or leave it depending on the circumstances.

I do like the idea of the handicapped permit - but there are no guarantees it'll work. In the case of my mother, she's not handicapped per se and doesn't need handicapped parking as an example, but her joints just won't handle an extended "wait" while standing in a long queue.

This is one area the TSA really must look address. I know many others have similar issues -- they can't stand in a queue for 45 minutes, yet they're capable of walking (including longer distances - provided it is at their pace). If there is no queue or a minimal queue, she has no need for the wheelchair. She wouldn't mind keeping her place in (long) queue either if she had a place to sit in the queue --- but at times it's the wheelchair because they jump queue and transport her to the gate.

Best of Luck!

A walker or a cane can often get you to the front of the line. It is best to contact airline personel if there is a long line and you need assistance-- don't just walk up to the ID-checking podium waving a disabled parking plackard.

Just find someone from the airline and ask for help [getting to the front of the line] if you are not going to request a wheelchair.

A cane is a very good alternative. I have a folding one that I recently bought due to a motorcycle accident.

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.

ATL does have an assistance lane - it is the same as First Class and Elite so direct your family member to go there if she if flying out of ATL. I believe if she shows her handicapped parking permit with her boarding pass she will have no issue.

Thanks so much !