You can fly, you can fly, you can flyyyyyyyyyy!!

Hello all. As the title of suggest this will be about flying. Despite all of the problems that the media is reporting I just love to fly on a trip. Smaller planes (MD-80s), larger jets (787s). There is just no more of an adventure to me than flying. I know what you are saying to yourself “flying an adventure??” Well for someone in a wheelchair it is a real adventure. I have been on the tarmac in an aisle chair (a very narrow seat that can be wheeled down the plane aisle to your assigned seat) waiting to use the funky little ramp to the plane with my wife beside me holding our wedding clothes (Indiana Jones eat your heart out). I get to see behind the scenes of airports and see what few travelers get to see. So the advice I am about to give you is road tested (air tested in this case).

Standard Airline Isle Chair

First off, the airline employees don’t deal with mobility impared people as much as you might think. So cut them some slack -- they are doing their best. When booking your flight let them know you have a mobility impairment and what they can do to help (this can be done either through the airline directly or through your travel agent). Plan plenty of time between connecting flights, I have more than once run across an entire airport to make a connection (it sucks so learn from my mistakes). I personally try to book a middle and window seat so that if there is another person in our row (gate check and with the airlines booking practices there will be) they will not have to crawl over me.

Get there really early. Just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you get a pass on security. You will be pulled aside and patted down, shoes and chair checked with their sniffer machine, etc. Be straight forward with the NTSB person. If you have a legbag or colostomy bag let them know about it so they don’t dislodge or accidentally kink something. Again they don’t know about these things so again be patient with them.

Once you are past the security gates check in with your airline immediately. This is just good practice for anyone but especially for someone with special needs. Get that knocked out early so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute. The gate check people will get you set with your boarding passes and gate check tags. (you will have to gate check your wheelchair, walker, stroller, anything that will not fit in the bins).

Then try to relax. Get a magazine, book, portable DVD player and wait until boarding. It will be a while so get as comfortable as you can.

When you are boarded you will be one of the first people to get on the plane (this is nice until you get to your destination where you will be the last one off so no reason to jump up when you land). Once aboard flight attendants will talk with you about emergency exits, ask if you need anything specific (pillows, blankets) and then be on their merry way to deal with other passengers. This would be the time to situate yourself and get ready for your flight. Even though you will not be the first to get off you will need to be ready when they come to get you. You also might have to remind them that you will need assistance (especially on long flights where difficult people can make even the most viligiant flight attendant forget things).

Also try to remember you are (hopefully) on vacation so don't let someone's bad attitude get it off to a bad start.