Traveling with limited mobility

Many folks with mobility issues from age, surgery or other reasons are reluctant to fly, fearing that they’ll never be able to negotiate a busy airport, much less the aircraft itself. But airports and airlines have long offered services to help these travelers, which last week included my husband. So, how well do these services work?

            Dave underwent surgery on his right foot on April 11, and three days later flew to Arizona to visit his family and see his mother during her final illness. The trip couldn’t be put off, so on the day of his outbound flight, I drove him to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. He was flying Sun Country, so we used Terminal 2. After letting him out, I parked the car and then returned to help him with his rolling suitcase as we went inside to the check-in station. Dave gets by on crutches well—previous knee surgeries gave him plenty of experience—but we still arranged for him to get a wheelchair once his checked bag was on its way.

            It went very well. An aide was standing by with a simple wheelchair, like the ones in the photo, and whisked him directly to security. The TSA agents were very helpful (having TSA Pre-check certainly helped speed things along) and the “pusher,” as a wheelchair aide is called, went through the checkpoint with Dave and took him directly to his gate.

            Once on the plane, the flight attendants were very helpful as well, storing his crutches and stowing his carry-on overhead. Upon arrival in Phoenix, there was another wheelchair and a
pusher waiting to whisk him to baggage claim. On the return flight, Dave asked his pusher to stop at a coffee shop on the way to the gate, and the gentleman was happy to help Dave get his chai tea “fix” for the day.

            Overall, he said it was a very efficient and helpful experience, and he was happy to provide gratuities to each of his pushers. “It was well worth it,” he said, adding that he hopes he’ll never have to do it again!

            Federal regulations require airlines to provide travelers with disabilities extra services like these, including first-to-board privileges at the gate, but the airlines have embraced it with the goal of providing superior service to handicapped travelers. After all, the airlines want them on their planes, and these folks want to travel, so it’s a win all the way around. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation announced plans for new regulations that would enhance existing rules, noting that millions of Americans use wheelchairs and most of them would love to travel, just like most everybody else does. The DOT estimates that the number of passengers with a disability traveling by air in 2021 was about 18.1 million, and that number has surely increased in the years since.

            If you’re concerned that mobility challenges might limit your ability to travel, we’ll help you get on board. Give us a call and get packing!