I have been reading this board for awhile and my family is planning to fly to Mexico soon. We have a child who is disabled so we are a little afraid of this first trip out of the country. The plan is to fly AA, at least for now, if we can get FF seats.

I read all of the stories on these boards with interest, and note the real "class system" that appears to come from having status. We have none. (I had some like 15 years ago on Northwest, but probably before it really mattered.) This scares me. It seems like those of you with high status can do almost anything you need to do and get almost any problem solved by calling a special number or visiting a special desk in the airport. How are the rest of us treated?

I just read a thread on the AA board about a person whose friend missed her flight because she fell asleep, and then was told there were no more flights for her. In tears, she called her friend (the poster) who has exp status, and this friend made a call to the exp desk on her behalf. After that, they bent over backwards to help her. What would have happened to her if she hadn't had that friend to call?

Maybe those of you with status feel that's as it should be. Maybe it's all "who you know" as in the above paragraph. But for me personally, it makes me nervous that, if a plane is oversold or something, no one is going to pay any attention to my family before they make sure all the platinum, gold, silver, bronze, tanzonite...or whatever the heck flyers are happy.

Anyone out there a serf like me who has actually experienced this? Maybe I'm worried for nothing....

Thanks....Tess

I believe the key is to have a positive, friendly attitude and accept that sometimes, things are out of the airline agent before you's hands (weather, mechanical, etc.). Tearing their head off doesn't make them feel any better, even if it makes you feel better, and often makes them make you feel worse by giving them little incentive to help you.

Having high status, and then using it like a club to bludgeon people to your will, more often gets you disserve then service. Of course, "ths squeaky wheel gets the grease" applies, as well, and throwing a fit sometimes gets you taken care of just to get you the heck out of their face.

That said, it is true that having status always helps. The airline, like any good business, will try and take care of their "better" customers first, but like any good business, will not kick their other customers to the curb, since they too some day can become "better" customers if treated with respect and courtesy.

When things don't go right, I accept it, work with the agent, and both of us are always satisfied with the outcome.

I think that you are on the right road. You're making an ongoing effort to educate yourself as to potential issues - this type of pre-anticipation is IMHO 80 percent of the battle.

The fact that you will be using award tickets may limit your ticketing options, but in planning your secudule, try to avoid "traps" such as last-flights-out and really tight connections. Research alternatives and "Plan B" scenarios.

Next, be sure to become very familiar with your airline's policies and procedures as to disabled travellers. The great majority of airline staff members will bend over backwards to help out. And don't forget the power of a smile and a sense of humor

The most important thing is to give your the child the opportunity to travel and see other parts of the world. I usually hate cliches, but the one concerning the power of travel to broaden the mind is, to me, the one cliche that happens to be true.

Really, traveling without status is NOT like going through hell like some FTers make it to be. The majority (98%, I bet) of air travelers do not have status. In fact, those with status on an airline (like me) often fly coach on another airline (I do!).
Tips:
Check-in online is nice and quick
Nothing bad should really happen- and it's not like the airline will try to strand you somewhere if you don't have status.

Do not take it the wrong way, but in actual fact travelling with a handicapped kid on a US carrier is like defacto elite status, no airline really wants the bad publicity of not dealing with cases like this properly. Otherwise, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong whatsoever with elites getting better status. They fly more, they pay more, and they are worth more to the airline, plain and simple. Reminds me of people saying things like, its not fair that there is a higher ratio of toilets for F passengers, or that its unfair that F seating is better or the food is better. You pay more, you get better service thats capitalism.

I could not agree more, with one caveat. When the rest of the world is losing its cool, the guy that keeps his profits. Never, ever under estimate the power of a smile, and "God, I'll bet your having a bad day". Empathy and sympathy goes farther than you realize.

As to taking your child to other places, I agree that experiencing other cultures is one of the best things you can do for your child, disabled or not. I have taken my kids to Japan, England, Mexico and they have a understanding of how lucky they are being where they are. GOOD ON YA!! ^

This is pretty much true. I am a wheelchair user and I have no status (partly because I never seem to fly the same airline twice), and I've sometimes considered going on extra trips to get status, but considering that I get pre-boarding, and usually am seated in the front of coach (or the first row, thank you Frontier Airlines), I'm not sure it's worth the trouble.

I would only add that the "irregularities" are usually (unless one is flying ASA) quite rare and you are unlikely to experience any difficulties.

If you fly a LOT, though, the law of averages is going to bite you...again and again, so you learn how to deal with it and use your status / knowledge of the system for all it's worth.

I've had a lot happen to me in my flying career, but on a percentage basis, (and I'm just guestimating here), 5-10 "problematical" flights for over 100 flights a year gives about a 1-in-20 to a 1-in-10 chance of having a problem.

So I'd say not to sweat it; the odds are in your favor. Hope it's a rewarding and expanding experience for you and your child! ^

I would say you should have no worries traveling on AA with a diabled person and no status. I have first-hand experience traveling on AA with a disabled person from the mid-west to Caymen Islands (2 plane changes no less). AA was incredibly accomodating - early boarding, patiently waiting for us to deplane, having the personal wheel chair brought up form the belly of the plane to make connections, etc. A warm smile, and hearty thank you to the AA staff produced friendly and extra efforts from crews and ground staff.

I'm a lowly silver skyteam elite this year but tbh, I can't see much difference between elite and non-elite except the mileage bonus. I haven't (touch wood) had anything go wrong (in 150k of transatlantic flying over the past 18 months) so I haven't had to ask for anything based on status. IMHO the fact your flying American, a top tier airline, should give you some confidence in things going well.

My mom, till recently, didn't know about status. She injured her ankle and during the recovery flew BOS-SFo-BOS on UA. We called UA ahead and explicitly asked for assistance (wheelchair assistance). UA helped her through security at BOS, SFO and got her E+ seating despite no status.

Last week, she flew BOS-FRA-BLR-FRA-BOS and LH, went out of their way to try and keep the seat next to her empty, to give her room if needed. That is typically a benefit they offer elites in the FF program. Not general members. There was someone from LH waiting at FRA to see if she needed help transfering to her new gate for her BLR flight. Ditto on the trip back.

So, despite no status, most airlines will help you. I don't specifically know about AA's programs for Disabled travelers. You may want to ask on the AA and the Disabled travelers boards.

Have you considered posting your concerns on the Disability Travel forum? You might want to find out what experiences they have with flying with a disabled child. Maybe there are differences of experience based on elite status or not.

I'm disabled and have status on Skyteam. However, I fly plenty on airlines where I have no status. Follow other advice given - no "last flights out" on your connection. Get Skycap to help shuttle your luggage about - its worth a few $ in tips. Make sure you check in at COUNTER, and make sure they know of your special needs. They will offer pre-boarding for those who need it - your entire party qualifies. Board early, take your time, get your stuff stowed. Make sure the FA knows of any special needs you have. Most of all, be polite and friendly, and they will help you. They will be very relieved to find a disabled PAX accompanied by caring relatives - much less worry for them. Plan ahead if needed and request in-airport transport on carts, or a pusher for a wheelchair. Even if you can push your child you will have had a very long day and could use the help. Remind the FA before landing, politely, of and needs you have on ground.

Take special care if you happen to be flying ASA connecting in ATL. I have seen them treat mobility-challenged PAX poorly, mostly through ignorance instead of malice.

Enjoy and appreciate any special treatment, and do not worry about lack of status. You'll be fine. Please let us know how things go.