Advice for Flying While Disabled
 

Hi all - I'm trying to help out a friend in a somewhat difficult situation and thought that this might be the place to get some good advice.
Friend has recently been diagnosed with the double whammy of two different cancers at the same time, one of which required open heart surgery just about three weeks ago. She is going from DC to Boston (Dana Farber) for a second opinion before starting treatment and may have to travel alone. I suggested that she contact United's Disability Services to see about travel through the airport as she likely will need a wheelchair, both due to her bouts of shortness of breath and to protect her chest, still healing from surgery; help with any lifting; preferential seating, etc. I don't have a specific question but more that I am looking for any advice that I can pass along to her to make her travel easier. I would have gladly volunteered to accompany her, but I will be out of town on the date that she has her appointment.
Since she's flying on United, I thought I would post here, but if mods need to move elsewhere, please feel free to do so.
Thank you!

Is Amtrak not an option?

Get the wheelchair at check-in. Pay for E+ or F for extra space if desired. Leave plenty of time so as to not get stressed along the way.
It is a rather long ride and not all that much better an experience for someone in that situation I'd think.

As someone who has taken the train from DC to Boston, I can tell you it is a LONG ride. She is going up and back in about a 24 hour period - flying makes the most sense.

FT has a general forum on Disability Travel.

Is your interest just on UA travel portion or the greater travel issues including ground transportation, hotels, restaurants, ....?

[MENTION=1067]Win[/MENTION]eCountry - I was thinking more of the airport/United portion; her sister who lives in CT will be able to meet her in Boston once she arrives.
Thank you for the link to Disability Travel on FT....I hadn't noticed that before. It is helpful - but still willing to accept any other advice :)

I helped a friend travel from SFO who was less disabled than yours (mostly from old age; reduced mobility and lack of strength). I drove him to the airport and dropped him at the curb. He waited for me to quickly park my car, and I went inside with him to help with check-in and requesting the wheelchair. I was easily able to get a gate pass and go with him and the wheelchair pusher to the gate. The agent was great and explained boarding to him. Someone onboard must have helped him put his duffle bag up in the bin and get it down. He told me the FAs were very nice and helpful. On the reverse flight back, his niece did that same thing - got a gate pass and went to the departure gate with him. I think it helped him to have someone well known to him by his side at both points while he was waiting to board. Boarding can be the most stressful part of the trip. Best wishes to your friend during the travels and treatment.

JK-SFO

Depending on what your friends needs in Boston and what she needs during the travel, United's baggage delivery might be helpful. If she will have people to help her before check-in and after arrival, though, it may not be any better than just checking a bag.

Myburg, sorry to hear about your friend. That is just terrible to have to go through. Rather than distract from the good advice you are getting in the thread, please PM me. I'd like to offer you some options.

Thank you all for the good advice; I will pass it along to her. She has a tough road ahead, but hoping for the best. Bluedemon211 - I have PM'd you.

There really is not much to be done by UA's disability services here. She should call the carrier she chooses (very unlikely to be UA unless IAD is her closest airport) and simply ask that a note about wheelchair assistance be put in her PNR notes. She will still need to ask when she gets to the airport and, it make take a few minutes, but someone will come and get her and escort her through the security checkpoint, to the gate, and onto the aircraft if she needs the wheelchair for that part too. In any event, she will be pre-boarded which means that she won't be pushed around and won't have any time pressure to move down the jetway at a fast clip.

At BOS, so long as she has asked at the departure gate, there should be a wheelchair with an attendant carrying a device with her name on it. If not, one will be called. Same process in reverse.

Same thing in reverse.

I would strongly urge against checking luggage for a 24-hour trip. It just adds to the stress and in-airport time.

The one thing to consider here is that UA will not supply any form of special assistance in terms of onboard care. If she needs assistance onboard or beyond the minimal services of someone qualified to push a wheelchair, she should travel with someone.

DItto on this--Amtrak Acela service from Capitol Hill in DC to South Station in Boston is easy, convenient, fast, and a much easier overall travel experience than flying.

Good luck!

Tim

And since when is 7-8 hours on a train fast, easy, or convenient?

Amen! Although I use Acela regularly to go to downtown NY, I would never use it for WAS-BOS, which is just under 7 hours 15 minutes on a good day.

Instead, she should reach out to the career/employment offices at Georgetown, GWU, American Univ., or George Mason (among others), and see if there's a college student willing to travel with her to Boston, expenses paid for the round trip. The student would help her get on/off the plane, and with the local transportation in Boston. I imagine this student could be obtained at $20/hour plus airfare and hotel (is this overnight?), and the student will be happy to have free time to explore Boston while your friend is at Dana Farber.

That's an interesting thought, [MENTION=22848]AndyPatterson[/MENTION]! I think she is re-thinking going alone and seeing if there is someone else who could accompany her, so this is definitely another option for her to consider.
And [MENTION=297911]Often1[/MENTION] - yes, IAD is the closest airport for her, so it will be either United or possibly JetBlue, depending on schedule.
Thanks for the advice!