Re: Air Travel With Electric Wheelchairs

[Guest guest]

I travel with a Kitchen Kart but haven't flown in sometime so I don't know

what they may say. I so know they tag the Kart with a tag that says dry cell

since it uses rechargeable flashlight battery. I do know they tried to put in

the

above compartment but it was SouthWest and it was an inch too big to fit.

Irwin

[Guest guest]

Rob,

What kind of battery is in your wheelchair? If it is a wet battery,

you will need a container for it.

You will ride your electric chair down the jetway of the aircraft -

where you will be transferred to an aisle chair. You will have to

show them how to disconnect and secure the battery.

The gate agent will then put you in your seat. (Request a bulkhead

aisle seat for ease of ingress/egress.

At your destination or your connecting point, you will be

transferred out to the jetway where your electric wheelchair will be

waiting for you. You will have to show them how to assemble it and

reconnect the battery.

By the way, Southwest has been superb with my electric scooter -

unlike many other airlines (e.g. United, American).

Hope this helps.

Randy Bradford

> Dear Lists,

>

> I am writing in regards to the problem, especially now days,

of Airline Travel with an Electric Wheelchair. Do to the nature of

these not being small, lightweight, like the manuals are, and this

being my first experience with an electric chair, how do you go

about boarding and everything.

> I am guessing you relinquish your chair at check-in, where you

are given a manual chair??? And do they wheel you, even if you have

family with, to the gate???

> And do they bring the chair to you at your gate, or do you

have to go to the baggage claim area to get your chair? As one who

shipped a pair of Sheltie Pups once, I know you claimed animals at

baggage claim, where they came out with your Dogs, so I'm guessing

the same is true with an expensive wheelchair also???

> But my major concerns are with discount airlines, like

Southwest, as I've flown with them before my injury, and they were

pretty good at loosing my luggage and not delivering it to your

hotel either. So are they reliable when it comes to an electric

wheelchair, or does everyone with chairs stay away from discount

airlines altogether???

> And my last question, which I am finding out allot from my

auto insurance company, does anyone know the insurance problems when

it comes to an electric wheelchair. My auto insurance is claiming

coverage in the event of an accident, and theft, but only up to half

of the cost of the auto will they cover on the chair.

> Your home owners insurance is to cover the chair in the event

that something happens to it if you are traveling by air and

something were to happen to it. But your health insurance is also

responsible for covering your chair too, from what my auto insurers

stated. So who really covers your chair when your traveling, both

your health and home insurance companies, or just your home

insurance company???

> I know for allot of you, this is nothing, but to me, this is

all new, so if you could enlighten me, I would gladly appreciate it.

> Thank you.

>

> Rob Tille

>

>

[Guest guest]

Rob,

I fly several times a year on average. Everything Randy says below is

true. I have flown with Southwest, Delta, United, and American.

Needless to say I personally prefer United, but that is also because I

have flown them the most going back and forth from Orlando to LA.

Delta once damaged my chair, but I never got it fixed. The damage was

simply the battery indicator light no longer worked on the joystick.

I would also recommend you get GEL sealed batteries so they do not

have to pack them. They simply disconnect the power to the control

box and you are on your way! Make sure you do request a more upfront

seat. I have even been so lucky as to be bumped to first class a few

times.

Hope this helps!

Chad

> > Dear Lists,

> >

> > I am writing in regards to the problem, especially now days,

> of Airline Travel with an Electric Wheelchair. Do to the nature of

> these not being small, lightweight, like the manuals are, and this

> being my first experience with an electric chair, how do you go

> about boarding and everything.

> > I am guessing you relinquish your chair at check-in, where you

> are given a manual chair??? And do they wheel you, even if you have

> family with, to the gate???

> > And do they bring the chair to you at your gate, or do you

> have to go to the baggage claim area to get your chair? As one who

> shipped a pair of Sheltie Pups once, I know you claimed animals at

> baggage claim, where they came out with your Dogs, so I'm guessing

> the same is true with an expensive wheelchair also???

> > But my major concerns are with discount airlines, like

> Southwest, as I've flown with them before my injury, and they were

> pretty good at loosing my luggage and not delivering it to your

> hotel either. So are they reliable when it comes to an electric

> wheelchair, or does everyone with chairs stay away from discount

> airlines altogether???

> > And my last question, which I am finding out allot from my

> auto insurance company, does anyone know the insurance problems when

> it comes to an electric wheelchair. My auto insurance is claiming

> coverage in the event of an accident, and theft, but only up to half

> of the cost of the auto will they cover on the chair.

> > Your home owners insurance is to cover the chair in the event

> that something happens to it if you are traveling by air and

> something were to happen to it. But your health insurance is also

> responsible for covering your chair too, from what my auto insurers

> stated. So who really covers your chair when your traveling, both

> your health and home insurance companies, or just your home

> insurance company???

> > I know for allot of you, this is nothing, but to me, this is

> all new, so if you could enlighten me, I would gladly appreciate it.

> > Thank you.

> >

> > Rob Tille

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

This last summer, I flew from Orlando to Milwaukee to see my guy

friend and used two different companies- because I wanted direct

flights. The first was Air Tran and they were great. I got on the

plane 5 minutes before the other passagers. When we arrive They had

my electric wheelchair redy for me. The flight home was Northwest.

They took 40 minutes to find my wheelchair. I don't know why. But,

I had to use the restroom big time. And Northwest lost the strap

to hold my batteries case on. When the man finally brought it up, he

said it was beneath everyone luggage. They had late passegers and

they threw their luggage on my chair in a hurry. The workers at the

airport would stop asking me who was picking me up. I had arranged

to leave my van at the airport with a special pass I had for free.

It was grat and easier to leave my van at the shuttle parking lot.

btw- When I checked in to come home, my guy friend got a pass to go

with me to the plane. He even got to carry me in to the plane to my

seat. Yes yes- He has a strong back!

Lois Marie