5 Tips For Disabled People Who Love To Fly
Flying is fun and interesting because it allows you to reach your destination much faster. However, flying can be a huge challenge for passengers living with a disability. The experience can be nasty if you are going through an airport that doesn’t cater to people with special needs. However, being disabled should not deny you an opportunity to enjoy your flights like other passengers. With adequate planning, you should be good to go.
Fortunately, most airports have upgraded their infrastructure to allow people with disabilities to move around the facilities without any difficulty. The problem is that travellers with disabilities are required to check in and go through security screening just like able bodied passengers. Below are tips that can make your flights to be stress free.
5 Tips For Disabled People Who Love To Fly
- Book Your Flight Early
It’s important you book your flight in advance. You should never wait until the day of your departure because you might have to wait for so long. Some airlines tend to be very busy especially over the holidays because that’s when most people travel. The good thing is that you don’t have to literally go to the airport to reserve a flight. You can book a flight on the internet from the comfort of your home. When choosing your flight, you should specify that you are an individual with special needs. In fact, you can call the airport before you book a flight just to let them know that you are disabled. This will help them in knowing the adjustments that they should make to accommodate you.
5 Tips For Disabled People Who Love To Fly
- Arrive at Airport Early
As a traveler with special needs, it helps to prepare the things you will need for the journey early unless you want to be caught up in the hassle of being stranded with your suitcases. It’s recommended you arrive at the airport a few hours before your scheduled flight. This will give you ample time to confirm whether you have carried everything that you need including the medicine. Once you arrive on time, you should label all your stuff including the wheelchair so they don’t get mixed up during flight transfers.
- Bring Your Mobility Equipment
On the day of the flight, you should carry any supportive equipment that you usually use. This can be a walker, wheelchair or a shower chair among other equipment. Most international airlines have wheelchairs that are reserved for passengers with disabilities. However, you may not enjoy using such wheelchairs if you have an electronic wheel chair. The good news is that most airlines will allow you to carry a power wheelchair on a plane. If you have a guide dog, you should notify the airport in advance so that they can reserve some space for your canine friend.
As the day was dawning my plane flew away
- Choose Convenient Seat
Depending on the airline at the airport, you might be allowed to choose a sit. If you get such a privilege, you should pick the most convenient seat on the plane. Ideally, you should opt for a seat that’s strategically close to the toilets and the bathrooms. This will make it easier for you to access such facilities when the call of nature comes around.
- Select the Best Airline
If the airport you are going through is served by several airlines, it’s advisable you settle for the most supportive airline. This will guarantee that you have a smooth transition from the terminal to your destination. You should ask your friends that have special needs to refer you to the airline that they use when travelling overseas. All in all, you should select an airline that has the most supportive staff.
Several members of my extended family have Marfan syndrome, and three close friends have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. They either walk with canes, or use wheelchairs and they get an awful lot of you”re too young to be in a wheelchair, you look perfectly healthy”. The doctors tried to throw graded exercise” at almost all of them, and it did fuck all to make them feel better. Opioids are the only thing that helps, particularly with injuries. Fortunately, our Government is not as paranoid as America”s yet. Anyone who tells my friends and family to suck it up and exercise gets a nice lecture about connective tissue disorders and tendon injuries. They get the same if they pry into the details of my chronic pain. Hopefully it makes them think.
Good information here…! I read your full article and get some many essential information about flying information. This is a very helpful article for all disables person who wants be fly. You give much valuable information here. I full of benefited now to read your blog post. Now I know many information and tips for before fly. Good job and keep it up.
Hi Fredods, thanks for the comment and sorry to hear about such problems. We must be grateful for what we have in life and stay honest and pure and not become a liar like Karolina. Best wishes and safe travels. Jonny
Excellent tips! It definitely pays to plan ahead, get the entire details from the concerned airline and airport to ensure that they are equipped with all the facilities to help a disabled person. I think most of the airports around the world are disabled friendly but yet a pre-confirmation is necessary to ensure a comfortable flight.
Hi John, thanks for the comment. I am happy that you enjoyed my post. Best wishes. Jonny