Traveling

Returning safely to air travel

Returning to air travel can be a motivating factor in recovery. As with other aspects of adjusting to life after injury, it helps to be assertive and persistent and to try to be flexible and have a sense of humor.

Focus on supportive resources

  • Research your destination to discover services that are available for individuals with disabilities. Consult online resources focused on your needs, such as travel magazines and organizations that advocate for independent travel.
  • Make an itinerary of your planned attractions. Contact these locations before your trip to ask about general accessibility, accommodations they could make, and support programs that they may have.
  • To be prepared for the possibility of a medical emergency, consider finding the name of a physician or other medical professional where you’re traveling, and reach out to make an initial contact prior to the trip to establish a relationship.

Prep carry-on luggage

  • Always carry extra medications and personal care supplies on board with you in case your luggage is lost or your flight is delayed.
  • Make a list that includes your medical diagnosis, medications, physicians’ names and contact details, and insurance information.

Ask for assistance

You can make reservations directly with the airlines and request support services online. You can also use a travel agency that has experience booking travel arrangements for individuals with disabilities.

  • Specify what kind of support you may need, including assistance in navigating the airport as well as on the plane. Be prepared to share what type of assistive device you use, as the reservation may need to record the dimensions of the equipment you will be bringing aboard.
  • Choose airplane seats that allow for easier access.
    • Request a bulkhead seat to get more legroom. If bulkhead is an exit row, you may not be able to sit there due to FAA regulations.
    • If you cannot get the bulkhead seat, request an aisle seat with an armrest that raises.
  • Try to get a direct flight, unless you need a layover for bowel or bladder care.
  • If flying somewhere with a smaller airport, try to confirm the type of plane you will be flying on. Some airports do not have jetways and will board by stairs from the ground, so ask about procedures for boarding you in these cases. Most domestic airlines have an electric elevator to get you to the door of the plane. Know that being carried up the stairs is against the law.
  • Confirm your assistance requests with the airlines shortly before your trip.

Ask for assistance

  • Request to board plane first to give you additional time for transfer and get adjusted in your seat.
  • Let the airline staff know how best to help you. Make contact by name with a member of the on-board flight crew. Ask about emergency evacuation procedures that may pertain to you.
  • Note that airline staff are there to help you with general needs, but they are not allowed to help you with personal care, such as eating, medication management, using the restroom, etc.

While in transit

  • In boarding your flight, remain in your chair until you reach the end of the jet way in front of the door of the plane. You will then be required to transfer to the aisle chair in order to board.
  • Tell the staff what method you prefer to be transferred, such as by spotting, sliding board, two-man lift, etc. Let them know what parts of your body are sensitive so they can take appropriate precautions when assisting you. Raise the plane seat’s armrest or place a blanket or pillow over it to protect you during the transfer.
  • Remove your cushion from your chair to have on the plane with you, since airline seats do not provide the correct pressure relief that your own cushion does. If you have an air-filled cushion, you may want to remove some air, as it will expand in the pressurized cabin. Remember to refill it to the appropriate level after landing.
  • If you have difficulty with balance, advise the staff not to let go of you or move away after the transfer is complete until the safety straps are in
    place. Ask them to apply chest and waist straps around you for safety.
  • About a half-hour before landing, ask the flight attendant to radio ahead to remind the ground crew that your chair should be brought to the gate upon arrival.

Look out for your wheelchair

  • Before departure, ask for your chair to be gate-tagged so it will be brought to you at the gate upon arrival. Label any removable parts of the chair with your name and contact information in case they become separated from your chair in the baggage compartment. If possible, ask to take them on board with you. If you have a folding manual wheelchair, you can ask for it be stored in the on-board stowage location.
  • Upon arrival, inspect your chair and its parts before getting into it, and ensure it works properly after you are in it. If anything is wrong, contact airline personnel before leaving the airport.
  • If you find any damage, document it immediately and file a complaint.
    • Keep all tickets, receipts, and dates and times of contact.
    • Get a claim number and phone number for follow-up contact on getting your chair repaired.
    • Keep a record of all names of who you deal with, from flight personnel to general airport personnel.
    • If you are not satisfied with how the airline personnel are handling your situation, ask to speak with the airline’s complaints resolution officer. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
    • Keep a copy of the resolution for your personal records.
  • To be prepared for the possibility of a damaged wheelchair, consider finding the name of a repair shop where you’re traveling, and reach out to make an initial contact prior to the trip to establish a relationship.
  • Consider leaving your own chair at home and renting one at your destination.

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