By Cherie C. Binns RN BSA MSCN
As we are entrenched in winter’s cold, many are thinking of taking a vacation to a warmer climate to break the chill. I have been getting a number of questions on special needs travel and most revolve around scooters and power chairs. For the purpose of this answer to those questions, I will address only those special problems faced by users of full sized power chairs or scooters.
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My scooter has been damaged to the point where it cannot be used on 5 separate flights. The tiller has been broken, seat broken, batteries reconnected to opposite poles causing the batteries to be unchargable, the chassis has been cracked and the scooter has even come rolling down the baggage belt disassembled. The airlines have always footed the bill for the necessary repairs (scooter has been fully rebuilt three times and partially twice).
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4 comments:
I was wondering if the airlines gave you a loaner when your scooter was inoperable.
First, maybe I have been lucky, but I've never had a problem with my scooter on an airline. I've flown them all. I've been around the world with it. My problem is the unaccessability of the older cities to the handicapped.
I check my scooter at the jet, it's taken downstairs by elevator and brought back to me if I have a connection. I DO take thye key with me at all times. If they need the key to take it down then I demand hat they bring it back to me before the plane leaves. They always do. I've had flights wait for it. This way I'm sure it gets on and the battery isn't draining.
Second, on the cruise ships, again the scooter has been around the world on cruises. True you can't get the scooter into most rooms except the handicapped rooms, but the steward is always helpful. I either leave the scooter by the elevator bank to charge overnight, or the steward will bring you an extension cord or they take it back into one of the behind the scenes rooms to charge. Cruising is by far the easiest way to go. All of the lines have the excursion desk which is helpful in letting you know what can and can't be done by scooter.
As a precaution I bring my wheelchair with me at all times. My wife piles the luggage on top of it which makes life easy. The wheelchair almost never gets used but I have it just in case. What if the batteries die or something like that.
In the beginning I relied on the cruiselines wheelchairs. They were always bnroken and were the cheapest piece of garbage you can imagine.
I travel for business with my scooter and rent an accessible van at the destination.
Happy Traveling. Don't let MS stop you.
Thank you for all of this useful info. I still travel with my rollator. I had one horrible experience when it wasn't loaded on the plane and I had to spend a week withour it. When we're on a big enough plane, I take it on board with me.
At airports I request wheelchair assistance or buggy with a driver. That always gets us to the departure gates and through passport control really quickly.
I have a large scooter that I use here at home to get around town. I gave up my car for it. I was having a hard time driving it because of my MS sx. I love my scooter.
Brenda,
Just saw your question. No...the airlines do not provide you with a loaner. They will, however manually wheel you into and out of the plane if your scooter cannot get you to the gate.
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