flying

snowwheels · 07-12-2005, 12:58 AM

I'm planning on doing some traveling this winter, from the DC area to Seattle, Lake Tahoe and Brussels, just wondering if anyone had any advice on who to fly with, I'm trying to avoid the cheap ones like jetblue and southwest, and would appreciate info on the larger airlines such as american, etc., but if that is all anyone has info on, no problem, I'll take it. I am a T11 inc, in a manual chair, full arm/upper body control, that might give a better idea. Thanks

SCI-Nurse · 07-12-2005, 09:00 AM

I'm curious why you want to avoid JetBlue and Southwest. Although generally (but not always) cheaper, we have had decent service on both, and have been unhappy many times with the traditional airlines like Continental or American. Of course if money is no object for you, book a business or first class seat on one of the traditionals and you should have no problems at all.

Have you flown before with a wheelchair? If not, you may want to do a search on this forum using the words "flying" and "wheelchair".

(KLD)

carl · 07-12-2005, 09:55 AM

snowwheels,
I agree completely with KLD - don't reject an airline only because of a lower price. JetBlue is great if it goes where you need to go and some of the "full fare" airlines are in bankruptcy, are cutting back, and have some employees who are not happy. Unhappy employees can't concentrate on customers who really need the assistance. Lower price doesn't necessarily mean less service. Look for an original post by Amanda this year who had similar questions to yours. As a T11 you shouldn't have too many problems flying alone. I'm not sure if you're talking about one trip or two, but the length of the flight is important due to pressure relief and toileting issues. Did you fly before your injury?
Carl
P.S. JetBlue is coming to Newark Airport in the Fall - YAY!!!! (editorial comment)

snowwheels · 07-12-2005, 10:38 PM

Well, I probably shouldn't demean jetblue as I have never traveled with them, but my experience on southwest was not good, and I will not bore everyone with the story of my Los Angeles trip in 2003. The trips will obviopusly all be fairly long, DC to Seattle and back, then to Tahoe and back, then Brussels and back. I should have been more specific in asking about American as I have a frequent flyer program with them and a lot of unused miles, but yeah, pre injury, I flew a lot for the work i did in fall 04, and we were always going on vacation to SE Asia, Australia, the Med or Middle East over my life.

Bear1019 · 07-20-2005, 11:28 AM

hey,
i fly american all the time (at least twice a month) and love'em. Personally, my chair is narrow and i can roll onto the plane and to the first first class seat. this means they do not need to get two people to help me with an isle chair. so, they bump me to first almost every time.
a few days ago i flew ATA (like a jet blue or SW) and i was torn. 1st flight was bumped to 1st, and return was coach. delayed both times. but it was into/out of chicago, so that's the reason.
i'm a proponent of AA. good people, bumped up almost always, and they know what they're doing.

unless u use an electric chair, it doesnt matter who u fly. I dont even tell them i'm disabled anymore before the flight. they ask u to tell them so that they can get an isle chair there waiting for when i get to the gate, but it's never there anyway, so now i just go. with all the flying i do, i've never had problems (knock on wood)

Leif · 07-20-2005, 12:01 PM

If you are a thoracic incomplete I think you will do fine. I’m T4 inc, and can walk a few steps with crutches but have to bring my wheelchair with me wherever I go. I have been flying two times to the US and several trips in Europe, - France, Germany and Spain (vacation) and many trips within my own country after my SCI. So far I have had only one problem. - It was my first flight and my wheelchair did not arrive with my flight. It caused me a heck of a lot of problems so after that I learned a good lesson and always make sure to talk to one of the airline stewardesses and have them to confirm and check that the wheelchair is onboard before take-off. When booking I also requests a aisle seat in front of the airplane as close to the lavatory as possible. And I agree there is a lot of very helpful information here on this site when it comes to flying with SCI. I have also found that when travelling with a wheelchair all kinds of people are very helpful (sometimes to helpful), the same with the airline employed. And one more tip – no coffee drinking before or during the flight, it only makes you have to take a leak more often. For the swelling in the legs I try to move them from time to time. Which airline company to choose? I don’t think there is a big difference.

steveg · 07-20-2005, 01:30 PM

I have over 1.5 million miles on American Airlines. My biggest reason is that their culture seems to be very aware of the needs of people traveling with disabilities and they really get it. Additionally, they put manual wheelchairs in the flight attendants closet so I know exactly where it is.

Steve

snowwheels · 07-21-2005, 01:56 AM

Thanks for the good advice in the last three posts. I actually didn't expect a further response here so I called AA and they said they would accommodate so I went ahead and booked the flights. They said the aisle chair would be no problem, but I was trying to figure out if I could get my own chair on board, a tilite zra, I think 20 inches wide at the widest point, it would be first class, but I don't remember if the domestic first aisles are wide enough. Anyways, maybe that question can be answered here. I also booked a Lufthansa flight for the Brussels trip with a connection in Frankfurt. I again booked first class, and they said, depending on the plane type wheeling right to my seat would be no problem, so that is good, but I was more concerned with the flight itself, 8-9 hours in the seat, has anyone done one of these long flights and what can they tell me about pressure relief, etc.

SCI-Nurse · 07-21-2005, 02:04 AM

Sit in your wheelchair cushion.

Do weight shifts by either doing push-ups from your armrests, or side leans, or (if enough room) lean forwards.

Wear TED hose for the flight. Well reduce swelling and decrease your risks for developing a DVT. Even ABs are at risk for getting this on long plane flights.

(KLD)

Leif · 07-21-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowwheels

I also booked a Lufthansa flight for the Brussels trip with a connection in Frankfurt.

And if you are lucky you'll evan get your own bed in one of those Airbus planes.
http://konzern.lufthansa.com/en/html/ueber_uns/flotte/

07-12-2005, 12:58 AM	#1
snowwheels Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: boston/edgartown/zurich Posts: 155	flying I'm planning on doing some traveling this winter, from the DC area to Seattle, Lake Tahoe and Brussels, just wondering if anyone had any advice on who to fly with, I'm trying to avoid the cheap ones like jetblue and southwest, and would appreciate info on the larger airlines such as american, etc., but if that is all anyone has info on, no problem, I'll take it. I am a T11 inc, in a manual chair, full arm/upper body control, that might give a better idea. Thanks

07-20-2005, 11:28 AM	#5
Bear1019 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 148	flying hey, i fly american all the time (at least twice a month) and love'em. Personally, my chair is narrow and i can roll onto the plane and to the first first class seat. this means they do not need to get two people to help me with an isle chair. so, they bump me to first almost every time. a few days ago i flew ATA (like a jet blue or SW) and i was torn. 1st flight was bumped to 1st, and return was coach. delayed both times. but it was into/out of chicago, so that's the reason. i'm a proponent of AA. good people, bumped up almost always, and they know what they're doing. unless u use an electric chair, it doesnt matter who u fly. I dont even tell them i'm disabled anymore before the flight. they ask u to tell them so that they can get an isle chair there waiting for when i get to the gate, but it's never there anyway, so now i just go. with all the flying i do, i've never had problems (knock on wood)

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07-12-2005, 09:00 AM	#2
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,515	I'm curious why you want to avoid JetBlue and Southwest. Although generally (but not always) cheaper, we have had decent service on both, and have been unhappy many times with the traditional airlines like Continental or American. Of course if money is no object for you, book a business or first class seat on one of the traditionals and you should have no problems at all. Have you flown before with a wheelchair? If not, you may want to do a search on this forum using the words "flying" and "wheelchair". (KLD)

07-12-2005, 09:55 AM	#3
carl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 464	snowwheels, I agree completely with KLD - don't reject an airline only because of a lower price. JetBlue is great if it goes where you need to go and some of the "full fare" airlines are in bankruptcy, are cutting back, and have some employees who are not happy. Unhappy employees can't concentrate on customers who really need the assistance. Lower price doesn't necessarily mean less service. Look for an original post by Amanda this year who had similar questions to yours. As a T11 you shouldn't have too many problems flying alone. I'm not sure if you're talking about one trip or two, but the length of the flight is important due to pressure relief and toileting issues. Did you fly before your injury? Carl P.S. JetBlue is coming to Newark Airport in the Fall - YAY!!!! (editorial comment)

07-12-2005, 10:38 PM	#4
snowwheels Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: boston/edgartown/zurich Posts: 155	Well, I probably shouldn't demean jetblue as I have never traveled with them, but my experience on southwest was not good, and I will not bore everyone with the story of my Los Angeles trip in 2003. The trips will obviopusly all be fairly long, DC to Seattle and back, then to Tahoe and back, then Brussels and back. I should have been more specific in asking about American as I have a frequent flyer program with them and a lot of unused miles, but yeah, pre injury, I flew a lot for the work i did in fall 04, and we were always going on vacation to SE Asia, Australia, the Med or Middle East over my life.

07-20-2005, 12:01 PM	#6
Leif Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 17,392	If you are a thoracic incomplete I think you will do fine. I’m T4 inc, and can walk a few steps with crutches but have to bring my wheelchair with me wherever I go. I have been flying two times to the US and several trips in Europe, - France, Germany and Spain (vacation) and many trips within my own country after my SCI. So far I have had only one problem. - It was my first flight and my wheelchair did not arrive with my flight. It caused me a heck of a lot of problems so after that I learned a good lesson and always make sure to talk to one of the airline stewardesses and have them to confirm and check that the wheelchair is onboard before take-off. When booking I also requests a aisle seat in front of the airplane as close to the lavatory as possible. And I agree there is a lot of very helpful information here on this site when it comes to flying with SCI. I have also found that when travelling with a wheelchair all kinds of people are very helpful (sometimes to helpful), the same with the airline employed. And one more tip – no coffee drinking before or during the flight, it only makes you have to take a leak more often. For the swelling in the legs I try to move them from time to time. Which airline company to choose? I don’t think there is a big difference.

07-20-2005, 01:30 PM	#7
steveg Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 636	I have over 1.5 million miles on American Airlines. My biggest reason is that their culture seems to be very aware of the needs of people traveling with disabilities and they really get it. Additionally, they put manual wheelchairs in the flight attendants closet so I know exactly where it is. Steve

07-21-2005, 01:56 AM	#8
snowwheels Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: boston/edgartown/zurich Posts: 155	Thanks for the good advice in the last three posts. I actually didn't expect a further response here so I called AA and they said they would accommodate so I went ahead and booked the flights. They said the aisle chair would be no problem, but I was trying to figure out if I could get my own chair on board, a tilite zra, I think 20 inches wide at the widest point, it would be first class, but I don't remember if the domestic first aisles are wide enough. Anyways, maybe that question can be answered here. I also booked a Lufthansa flight for the Brussels trip with a connection in Frankfurt. I again booked first class, and they said, depending on the plane type wheeling right to my seat would be no problem, so that is good, but I was more concerned with the flight itself, 8-9 hours in the seat, has anyone done one of these long flights and what can they tell me about pressure relief, etc.

07-21-2005, 02:04 AM	#9
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,515	Sit in your wheelchair cushion. Do weight shifts by either doing push-ups from your armrests, or side leans, or (if enough room) lean forwards. Wear TED hose for the flight. Well reduce swelling and decrease your risks for developing a DVT. Even ABs are at risk for getting this on long plane flights. (KLD)