Any tips on smaller regional jets?

[novanoin]

I'll be flying in July from Chicago Midway to Denver to Colorado Springs.

I'm an experienced traveler due to being an military kid all my life.

I've only flown a couple of times since my SCI. I haven't had the chance to be on a smaller regional jet yet (since sci).

I was told by the guy in reservations that the regional jets load from the tarmac via the aircraft stairs. The guy said there is a ramp that leads outside down to the tarmac. I've used the aisle chair since sci but how do they load you via steps?

Any advise or tips?

Also, would you take kafo braces and forearm crutches with you or leave them at home?

My step mom said maybe next day ship them to their house since that's where I am going. I'm not sure about that though. She thought process was that it would give me less to worry about losing or getting damaged.

[jschism]

wether they use stairs or not depends on the airport. I would think Midway and Denver use a loading bridge, the regional jets are a very tight fit even for the aisle chairs. I would think colorado springs would also have a loading bridge. It would have to be a really small airport to use stairs, even then they would most likely use a forklift with a platform attatched. I have flown regional jets from champaign Williard to Dallas several times, they are always nice.
since there is no overhead storage, take your medical stuff in a backpack/small carry-on that goes under the seat. Good thing about the regional jets are they take your chair at the plane and luggage and stuff goes down the chute and loaded right there, so you know your chair is there.
if you take your KAFO's and crutches , you can ask to put them in the plane's closet. I usually have them put my travel hand controls in there.
Try calling the airport directly and ask how they load.

[novanoin]

Originally Posted by jschism

wether they use stairs or not depends on the airport. I would think Midway and Denver use a loading bridge, the regional jets are a very tight fit even for the aisle chairs. I would think colorado springs would also have a loading bridge. It would have to be a really small airport to use stairs, even then they would most likely use a forklift with a platform attatched. I have flown regional jets from champaign Williard to Dallas several times, they are always nice.
since there is no overhead storage, take your medical stuff in a backpack/small carry-on that goes under the seat. Good thing about the regional jets are they take your chair at the plane and luggage and stuff goes down the chute and loaded right there, so you know your chair is there.
if you take your KAFO's and crutches , you can ask to put them in the plane's closet. I usually have them put my travel hand controls in there.
Try calling the airport directly and ask how they load.

Thanks for the advise

They said the plane from denver to colorado springs would be the regional.

[Katja]

Originally Posted by novanoin

The guy said there is a ramp that leads outside down to the tarmac. I've used the aisle chair since sci but how do they load you via steps?

What airline?

At Denver, even at a remote hardstand, there ought to be a ramp (about 3 sections with switchbacks) from the ground to plane.

If there isn't, they load you into the aisle chair on the tarmac and carry you up the steps in the aisle chair.

Get to the gate early - if the RJ is at a remote hardstand, a gate agent will escort you (sometimes through some very interesting places) from the gate to the tarmac.

[russianrob]

Based on my job, I travel frequently and have mostly encountered jetways in even the smallest of airports. On larger planes even DC-80's I can stay in my chair even thru the aircraft door and if lucky enough to get upgraded to row 1 transfer in with no aisle chair. On the smaller regional jets even with a jetway you can't typically even get close to the aircraft door. Be prepared to give lots of instruction as the aisle chair as we all know is already a tight fit.... If there is not jetway, they may indeed inch you up step by step. I would encourage you to request a platform load as others have mentioned. And also try to get a number for the actualy gate telephone and simply call to ask how that airport does it..... You might even be able to google the airport and look at the layout online to see if they have jetways.

[47+years]

I flew out of Denver several years ago. Sometimes I was taken up the stairs in the aisle chair and once I was taken up on the platform they lift the food carts up to the galley in. That was really nice.

[novanoin]

It is Frontier Airlines. I've never flown out of or into Chicago - Midway, so I don't know anything about the airport.