greenkoala

I need a wheelchair to get around airports as I cannot safely walk the distances required. The last time I flew into LHR (BR J BKK -> LHR), I requested wheelchair service in LHR. Unfortunately, the experience was disastrous and has made me hesitant to rely on LHR ground service again.

I would be happy to pay for F if it meant a guarantee of safe ground service on arrival. Are there any airlines that handle their own ground service at LHR? BA unfortunately does not, from what I can tell. My understanding is that AF does have ground service at all outstations, but La Premiere does not appear to service BKK. Does anyone know of another airline that I could try, or is AF the only option?

Is it possible to purchase a service that takes you from the jetbridge to your car in a wheelchair at LHR, or is the only non-airline option LHR's own ground service?

I apologize if this question has already been answered. I tried searching but could not find relevant results.

Thank you for your help!

Scots_Al

I think assistance is provided (outsourced) by the airport at LHR, rather than the airline (though you book it through the airline):

https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airp...est-assistance

greenkoala

Thanks for your response! Yes, that is why I am hoping to find airlines that provide first class ground service at LHR so that I do not need to deal with LHR's ground service again, given my previous experience with it.

obscure2k

Welcome to Flyertalk greenkoala Please take a look at the following forum:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/disability-travel-224/

greenkoala

Thanks for the welcome and the link! I did some reading there before making this post and was able to find a few threads made by people who had similar experiences to mine with the LHR wheelchair service, but I couldn't see any suggestions on ways to bypass it. Based on what I've read about La Premiere it seems like they provide an arrivals service at LHR which could potentially be an option, if the escort were able to bring a wheelchair with them. I was wondering if there were any other airlines with a first class arrivals service like that, or if there were any other options aside from LHR's own service.

DeafFlyer

There aren’t many alternatives because in Europe the standard practice is to have the airport provide the wheelchair service. In the US, it is usually each airline that provides the service. I use the wheelchair service, but not yet at LHR, so not able to otherwise answer your questions. In FRA, CPH, and KEF, the service was good. I would have thought LHR would be similars, but I don’t really know.

remyontheroad

Quick Google Search found this...
(not an endorsement)

https://www.vipbreak.com/service/mee...reet-heathrow/

greenkoala

Thank you, this looks like it might work! 3,300 GBP one way, but if there's no alternative then I suppose it's worth it. I'll try emailing them to confirm that they can provide wheelchairs/elevators/etc because it looks like standard practice is stairs

edit: I received the following response:

​​​​​​​Depressing

DeafFlyer

The best thing to do, if you can, is to bring your own wheelchair. Would still need an airport pusher, of course. You can avoid that by buying the newer collapsible powerchairs that have recently come out the last few years. I wrote a trip report about one I bought for a European trip this past August. (It’s in the FT Disability forum - see below for link). With one of those you don’t need anyone to push the chair. You can go wherever you want, if it is accessible. Mine weighs a little bit more than my manual backup chair, but it is still light enough to pick it up and put it in a car.

Here’s a link I to my report. If you want to check the whole thread, there is a link on the top right. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34529844-post12.html

greenkoala

Thank you so much for the suggestion and the link, that is a great idea that I didn't even consider! Were you allowed to gate-check the wheelchair and get up/down the jetbridge with it yourself at every airport?