The Inconvenient Truth of Airline Travel, Wheelchair Passengers Must Know!

I have been fortunate enough to have the privilege to travel on an airplane. Even after countless flights, I still get goosebumps when the thousand-ton metal body of the plane, powers itself to fly through the air like a feather. I have traveled internationally a few times but most of my travels have been within INDIA.

In case you are a lone wheelchair passenger, this blog should help you immensely by warning you of the oncoming challenges and their possible solutions.

Part 1: Pre Airport checks-

Once you have confirmed your flight ticket, even before you arrive at the airport, you must start your preparation immediately. With your confirmed ticket number, call the airline to book an airport wheelchair. This is a free service that the airline has to offer to its passengers. However, it is dependent on the availability of wheelchairs at the airport. Hence pre-booking helps a lot, both – to the airline as well as to us, the passengers. Once you have booked the wheelchair, they register it against your name in the system.

There are two types of wheelchairs that you can book-

• Cabin Wheelchair
  • It helps you go into the aisle of an airplane cabin and take you toward your seat. If you are like me, who can’t walk at all, then book the cabin wheelchair.
  • Usually, the aisles of the planes are quite narrow, so normal wheelchairs can’t go in the cabin.
  • The only disadvantage of this, it can only be moved by pushing from the back. Even if you want to go to the washroom, the helper has to push you in, you won’t be able to push the wheels using the reams like we usually do. Another thing, it is not the most comfortable wheelchair for wide hips individuals as the wheelchair sit is usually very small.
• Normal Wheelchair
  • If you can walk a bit, then this wheelchair is great. It takes you from the tube to the door of the plane and then you can walk on your own or with the help of staff toward your seat.
  • Generally preferred by old passengers rather than disabled ones.

At the Airport –

I usually come in my own wheelchair, the compact trolly bag, and a handbag. In the handbag, I keep all my important documents, such as a ticket, passport, visa, etc. so I don’t have to search in any other place. Once at the airport, I locate the airline counter and immediately ask for the pre-booked wheelchair. It might take some time for the airline wheelchair so be patient. When the helper and the wheelchair arrive, you need to carefully move from your wheelchair to the airline’s. Once done safely, you need to start packing your wheelchair, so it can go with the luggage.

You must remember,

• The wheelchair weight should not be considered in your baggage weight. As per the aviation law, transport of the wheelchair through airplane, can’t be charged. Many times, I had to fight with ignorant airline staffers about this. So be firm and if airline staff is not giving you a boarding ticket, without paying the extra baggage fees, then a simple shaming tweet, and tagging the airline authorities can work magic. Worked like a charm for me, many times.

• Safely packing your wheelchair, in a protective bag or tightly packing it with simple ropes is your responsibility. Airline staff cares a hoot about luggage and they throw stuff around a lot. No airline will ever take responsibility for the damage to a wheelchair so be extra careful and pack your wheelchair nicely and tightly. Don’t let it roll away. Here is one example of how unpacked wheelchairs are treated by the baggage handlers.

https://x.com/DefectiveBecca/status/1726436230190293222?s=20

I usually prefer a folding wheelchair. My wheelchair can de-attach its wheels and the central piece also folds in the middle. I disassemble all the parts, tie them with a rope, and put them in a cushion.

In summary –

• Prebook the wheelchair
• Hire a porter, if you are not able to push your wheelchair and trolly bag.
• Pack your personal wheelchair before putting it in the baggage
• Pay no additional cost for the wheelchair
• Doing a web check-in helps avoid the rush

Part 2: In the Airport

Ok, if you are in the airport, sitting in an airline wheelchair with a helper to take you around, after depositing all your luggage at the baggage counter, then the toughest part of the travel is over. Now, you are heading towards security check-ins. Because you are seated in a wheelchair, you will get a preference. Remember the handbag, that comes really handy now. Some of the security personnel would like to verify your disability certificate or the UDID card in India. Whip it out of the handy bag and have a lot of patience.

I respect the security personnel and I know they are doing their job but it may take a while for them to understand your disability. It might happen, that they may take you to a separate room where a senior officer examines you carefully. Whenever I have worn caliper, I have noticed, they usually do a bit more scrutiny. I always want to be of any assistance to them. So patience is the key and having all the right govt authorized documents handy helps a lot.

After extra verification, which takes about 20-30 minutes max, you are free to board the plane. Congratulations, you are just inches away from sitting in the plane.

Part 3: In the plane

Now, after praying to the gods of heaven that your flight should not be late, you should be going through a tube that connects the airport to the plane soon. If have booked a normal wheelchair, the helper will take you close to the door and help you board the plane. If you have booked a Cabin wheelchair, then either you will board the plane through a normal tube or you might get cabin entry through a truck that can elevate to the door of the plane. The helper should make you sit at your seat. Usually, the disabled passenger gets the aisle seat as it’s easy to board from the wheelchair. However, if you are lucky and no one is seated near you, you can slide around to get yourself a window seat.

Now, relax and enjoy the magnificence of engineering as the plane gears up for take-off.

At the other end, they should be ready for you with another wheelchair and that wheelchair will take you to the taxi stand out of the airport.

---