Travelling by air

Travelling in an aeroplane can be quite daunting if you don't know what to expect so I've decided to put this information together to give people an idea of how it works.

Different airlines have slightly different policies, for example Ryanair and Jet2will not accept chairs over a certain weight and my power chair weighs 140 kg so I am not able to fly with them. It's always important to read the small print before booking flights.

Booking a Flight

As soon as the flight is booked, phone special assistance with details of your chair, often they can change your seat position. With the longer haul flights it's always worth requesting a bulkhead seat as you get a lot more legroom. I've done this with British Airways and Virgin who have both been quite accommodating. It means you can also bend forwards to do pressure relief and allows more space for carer/PA to climb over you if they need to get out. When you speak to special assistance you will need to know details of your chair-weight and dimensions,as well as what type of battery you have if it is a powered wheelchair. Mine is a lithium dry cell. You can also mentioned any extra equipment e.g. hoist or any additional chairs. In my experience you can also request extra baggage weight for medical supplies at no extra cost which is really useful particularly if you have to take things like chair chargers, sliding boards and catheters etc. This may need backing up with a letter from your GP. You will also need to tell special assistance what level of mobility you have. I have to be very clear that I need a carry on service and can't manage any steps.

At the Airport

Always arrive in plenty of time as there tends to be a lot of faffing around! Check in as normal,and you are likely to have to go through the same questions about dimensions, weights and battery type. You also need to be clear that you need a carry on service. Usually, at check-in you tell them you're happy to meet the assistance people at the gate. Also make it clear do you want to stay in your wheelchair up to the plane door. When going through security there is often a fast track for wheelchair users and their companions. I have to take a spanner to disconnect my battery and joystick which is always a nightmare so I've started hiding it under my cushion! Rather than go through the x-ray they tend to pat you down and swab the wheelchair. It's always interesting when they get the catheter and you have to explain what it is particularly in foreign places! You are then free to go through to duty-free.

It's worth getting to the gate as soon as possible as it is most airlines policy to load the wheelchair users first. You will be taken to the plane door and transferred onto an  "aisle chair". Most places provide two men to do the transfer and you have to explain the have no balance and where it is best to lift you.for me that is under my armpits and and my knees.
If you get a lot of pain, it may be worth taking a sling, guys can lift you using that.
Sometimes rather than wheeling to the plane door they use and ambilift which is a small van that raises up to the plane door.

The battery on powered wheelchairs needs disconnecting. For my chair this means taking the joystick off and then showing the ground staff how to put the chair into freewheel. Always take any parts of the wheelchair to avoid getting damaged.I keep the joystick on the plane and keep it very safe as it has got damaged in the past by putting it in the lockers above the seats.

Once on the aisle chair they will  wheel you to your seat and transfer you over. Depending on the length of the flight I tend to take the gel out of my cushion and sit on that to avoid getting pressure areas and regularly do pressure relief leaning forwards or sideways.









On the Plane

Plane journeys are uncomfortable for able-bodied people people.I regularly do pressure relief by bending forwards or leaning side to side. I tried to wear comfortable clothing that's not going to mark me nd keep myself hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This has a knock-on effect of filling my catheter bag but I always take an empty bottle so that my carer can discreetly empty the catheter bag.

At the Destination

Unfortunately, you have to be very patient. You're first on the plane but you are also last of the plane! With my powered wheelchair they often try to persuade me to sit in one of the airport regular chairs and I have to explain that this is not possible due to my lack of balance and patiently wait for them to bring the powered wheelchair to the door. This is not always easy in a foreign language and can be quite entertaining.The reverse happens and you get transferred into the small aisle chair and wheeled out of the plane to your own chair. I've had my chair come back in all sorts of states with various parts broken so be prepared for anything! The majority of times it is fine though so don't worry.

Again, there is often a fast track three immigration/passport control and you should be guided there by one of the special assistance airport staff.