Flickr image by Stehpentrepreneur

Travel has always been a big part of my Mother’s life.  Once she began to rely on a wheelchair to get around, I became really nervous about how I would be able to travel with her.  I was especially nervous about flying with her on commercial airlines.

Fortunately, there are some great tips on the web for traveling with a wheelchair.

A website called “Accessible Journeys” provides its site visitors with some fantastic tips for traveling with a wheelchair.

• Have your wheelchair inspected to make sure it is in good working order prior to departure.
• Label all of the movable parts with your name and contact information.
• Notify the airlines that you will be traveling with a wheelchair, well in advance of your departure.  Ask that they gate check your chair when you arrive at the gate.
• If you are unable to walk at all, request the following information from the airport (well in advance of your travel date): (1) Ask that they have an aisle chair available to get you from the gate to your seat and (2) ask if they will have an aisle chair available to get you from your seat to the rest room once the plane is in transit (the chair that took you from the gate to your chair returns to the airport gate).
• If your chair is foldable, fold it and secure it with a strap or duct tape – - it will be much less likely to get damaged this way.
• Remove the leg supports and cushions (they can be easily lost in transit) and put them in your carry-on luggage.
• Get a claim check receipt from the staff before you allow them to check your chair.

The Australian Government’s, Air Safety Authority provides some additional suggestions that are also relevant for travelers worldwide:  They include:

• Call the airline 48 hours prior to your departure to confirm that they have received all of your requests
• Some airplanes have aisle seats with armrests that lift.  It makes wheelchair transfers much easier.  Ask your airline about availability.
• Keep in mind that some planes have very small restrooms and not all planes have handicap accessible restrooms – ask ahead of time!

Please note: motorized wheelchairs have separate rules/processes that are not addressed in this post.