Traveling by plane can be stressful enough for anybody, these days. It seems as though airplane seats are smaller, lines at the airport are longer and the airlines have cut back on some of their services in the interests of saving money. However, air travel can be particularly stressful and difficult for those of us who perhaps need extra time and assistance – passengers traveling with a wheelchair, passengers taking their pet with them and young children traveling alone.
Traveling with a Wheelchair
If you do use a wheelchair, your first question should be: Do I use a wheelchair that the airline provides, or should I take my own? If you need to travel with your own battery-operated wheelchair, it must be collapsible in order to fit on board the plane. You are generally allowed to take a wheelchair in addition to your regular baggage allowance, at no extra charge. Make sure you check in at the airport in plenty of time, as you and your wheelchair will still have to go through the regular security checks, and your chair may be examined.
If you can comfortably walk a short distance and just need your wheelchair for covering a long distance, it may be easier to ask your airline to provide you with a wheelchair, and there is usually no additional charge for this service. An advantage of using the airline’s wheelchair is that a representative from the airline will usually stay with you and make sure you board the plane without any problems. At the time of booking the flight, let your airline representative or travel agent know that you will require a wheelchair, and make sure it will be provided at every point on your journey, particularly if you are changing planes somewhere.
Generally, the chair will be provided to you when you check in for your flight, either at the curbside or ticket counter. Be sure to remind your flight attendant just before your plane lands, so an airline agent can meet you at the arrival gate with the wheelchair. An alternative to using a wheelchair if you have trouble walking long distances is to use the little electric carts (that anyone may use) that carry people through the terminals.
If you have your own wheelchair, it can usually be stored in the plane’s cabin on a space available basis, although smaller commuter planes may not always have the facilities to stow your chair on board. Your travel agent or airline representative will tell you what kind of plane you are on and the storage facilities it has. You may have to check the wheelchair as baggage when you check in for your flight, if all the storage facilities in your plane’s cabin are full.
When making your flight reservation, try to get an aisle seat on the plane or a seat with some extra room if you need it. Airlines usually block several seats near the front of the plane for passengers with disabilities, or you may want to request a seat that is further back in the plane and closer to the lavatories.
Traveling with a Pet
Taking your pet with you by air also requires some additional planning and extra time when you travel. Airlines allow you to take a cat, dog or bird with you and there is usually a charge to do this. Your pet can go on the plane with you, if the container it is in can comfortably fit under the seat in front of you. If you want your pet in the cabin with you, make sure you inform your airline as there is only room for a limited number of cabin pets and the space must be reserved. If your pet is too large for the cabin, it will have to be in the cargo hold of the aircraft, usually on a first come, first served basis. Make sure your pet container meets airline guidelines, as far as the size and materials go, most containers purchased in pet stores are usually adequate. A hard sided container lined with soft material or newspaper is recommended by most vets.
If you take your pet in the cargo hold, check with your airline as to the exact rules and requirements. The outside of your container should be labeled “live animal” and be sure to put your name and address and flight itinerary on the outside of the container. You may be asked to verify that you have given the animal food and water immediately before the flight, and you may also need a recent health certificate or rabies vaccination certificate. Some airlines have an embargo during the hotter summer months, prohibiting animals from being transported in the cargo hold.
Make sure you check in with your airline in plenty of time when traveling with your pet. If you have your pet in the cabin with you, it must remain in the container at all times and under the seat in front of you – some people are upset when they find out they can’t take their cat or dog out! If you travel with a Seeing Eye dog, by the way, that is allowed for no additional charge as long as your animal does not block the aisle or emergency exits.
If Your Child Has to Travel Alone
It is a huge adventure for a child to travel alone, and it is perhaps almost as stressful for the parents who see him or her off as it can be for the child itself. If your young child needs to travel alone, first check with your airline as to their particular requirements; most airlines have a minimum age restriction. The age of your child also determines whether they are allowed to take connecting flights or only non-stop flights. Of course, you will want your child on a non-stop flight, wherever possible. Your airline may also not allow you to book a child traveling alone on the last flight of the day if they are changing planes somewhere – in case of a flight delay they would then be stranded overnight somewhere.
Most airlines will charge you an “unaccompanied minor” fee, which can usually be prepaid by phone, or in person at the airport. This charge covers the extra work involved by the airline to basically keep an eye on your child for the duration of the journey – especially important if your child is booked on connecting flights. When you drop your child off at the airport, somebody from the airline will then stay with him or her until check in time, and also make sure the check in process goes smoothly. Once your child arrives at their destination, an airline agent will stay with them until they have been safely met at the other end.
If somebody is meeting your child at their destination, you may have to give the name and phone number of that person to your airline – who will then hand the child over only if provided with an official photo id. The person meeting your child may be able to go directly to the gate to meet them, in which case they will be provided with a temporary gate pass. And don’t forget to get your child a frequent flyer number – they are never too young to start earning airline miles!