Anyone With Air Travel Tips??


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I did it; I booked a return flight so I can visit my mom in Florida. (A surprise! She doesn't know.) Can anyone give me any words of advice?? I've asked for bulkhead and aisle seating, and I've asked for a wheelchair too.

 

Thanks,

Susan :plane:

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Enjoy your trip. Sounds like you've got all arranged. I flew last summer for the first time after the stroke. I had my manual wheelchair with me. A skycap escorted me from the check-in/drop-off luggage to and through security. He then took me to the gate. My daughter was with me as well as our carry-on kitty :bouncing_off_wall: (This happened when we relocated from AZ to PA). Once I boarded the plane they took my wheelchair and placed it in cargo. When we landed in Pittsburgh, it was waiting for me when I got off the plane. In AZ I boarded first, in Pgh I was last to get off. The only downside was I was too scared to negotiate the plane's restrooms and aisle getting to it so I really really needed the facilities when I got off the plane.

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susan,

 

have a nice trip! don't forget to carry a list of your meds and health info with you! this site has great tips with helpful info --- http://ezinearticles.com/?Air-Travel-Tips-...s&id=427590

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When I booked, I told them I needed a wheelchair, the airline was great. and I had tochange planes in Chicago. the man even stopped a the restroom and waited with my luggage and took me to a place to get a sandwich and on to my next gate.. he was like a "personal sky cap" make sure you have a little change purse easy to get into and lots of singles.. for tipping those who help you.

 

There are no meals now.. or very few a small sandwich is 5.00 a bottle of water 3.00 so once inside the terminal I did buy some water, and i had a sandwich and some snacks in in my tote for the flight.

 

Happy traveling...

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Guest lwisman

Definitely order a wheelchair. It comes with a person in every airport I have been in. For one thing this means that they escort you where you are going so you don't have to find things on your own, which can be confusing to a stroke survivor especially with all the chaos of an airport.

 

I know there has been talk on the board in the past about airline travel. You might do a search.

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If your pilot is a beagle with an aviator cap and your asst pilot is yellow with wings, watch out for the Red Baron !!!

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you can take your snack and sandwich in your tote to carry on, but you can not have a bottle of water or any liquid over 3 ounces. so you will need to purchase your water or soda once you are thru security. If you have your lap top you have to take it out of the case, and you have to take off your shoes.. so easy off and on shoes if you can.

 

I had a small carry on with meds and things I put in the overhead, and i had a small easy to get into tote with my magazine, snacks things I would want on the flight.

 

you can have an I pod or something for music..

 

don't be afraid to ask for help or let someone know you need something. Everyone was great when I flew.

 

 

 

 

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susan, thats great you are going to see your mom as a surprise, how excited she will be, last time i flew. as donna stated my wheelchair took me right onto the plane, then they put it in cargo and was there right when i got off. my son was with me. so we had a pretty good flight from tx to az. i was able to navigate to the plane restrooms fairly well with my cane. just make sure you ask the pilot if he has been drinking or had a fight with his spouse the nite before the flight. LOL. i do that when boarding the plane when he pops out to greet the passengers and has lended his hand to me to get over the threshold. i usually get a smile and assurance he is well. you gotta have some humor these days when flying. the only problem i have had is when i was traveling one way my name was picked to be searched. i had to remove my shoes and brace, then have a woman search me back and front, put brace n shoe back on then walk through the metal detector, they were kind and treated me well, i just hated holding up the line. they took my chair and put it through by itself. i hope you will have a good experience on this trip. have fun and be aware of your surroundings.

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Hi Susan I flew to Houston in April My adult daughter went with me (since she's a nurse she put a catheter in for bladder we clreared it with the doc. So that solved my biggest problem we sat in bulkhead

!st security didn't make me take shoesoff- had me walk through with Jodie held my hand half the way - so no cane almost through agent offered me a gloved hand &I finiushed without beeping

Second security took my shoes off & wheeled me through into an enclosed glass area a female agent patted me down with just the backs of her hands we were out of the line & she was very classy and never made me feel bad or weird

Good luck & have fun - don't let the heat & humidity get to you

Susan

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Hi Susan~

 

I've taken 2 flights since my stroke 13 years ago. When my husband booked the flight he requested

a wheelchair at all points and a front row seat. More room & outside aisle seat so when plane takes off

if you need to & able you can get up & stretch your legs & walk around to get circulation going. Didn't

have any trouble... :Clap-Hands: Went to Mexico for kids spring break, felt blessed as airport worker

took me through all points with family...we got through all security points. But had to take me behind

a curtain to check my brace that goes all the way to hip on one leg. You'll be fine...I was a little scared

to fly but went fine. Keep all meds with you. Like Susan they had to pat me down to..

 

Your Mom will be so surprised! Have fun Susan...Take care and let us know how your happy flying

goes. God Bless ~ Nancy

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