Wheelchair Travel Tips -Boarding a Plane & Renting a Car

[coldbeaty101]

Good tips

[silvertip185]

I'm afraid if the airlines take my chair away from me, I won't get it back or it will be damaged. Do you know if you can keep your chair with you on the plane? Mine is a Tilite TR with folding back but rigid frame. With the wheels off and the back folded down it can fit in a pretty small spot. Is there a way to find out in advance if the airline will leave your chair in the cabin?

[Donflorgon]

Thank you sooo much! Ive been scared to death to fly.

I read that your chair is only 27", is that true? You look as big as me, & I use a 40". I doubt my chair will fit down the aisle.

Also, is it impossible to use the bathroom on a plane?

Thanks again for this video!

[walkingdan]

Greate video! My teenager son has severe spastic quad CP and required extensive supports. None any airlines ever allow his manual wheelchair or electric wheelchair that is only 23.5" wide to be pushed to his seat. The airline funkie aisle wheechair is a joke, so his dad usually had to carry him into the seat. If your wheelchair has a hi-back, be parpare for the airline to dis-assemble it, because it will come back looking different then when it went in. :)

[MSGOODBAR]

You get mad props for handling that manual wheelchair by yourself. When I had it I always had to have someone push me.

[guzek6]

what kind of plane was it

[guzek6]

when was this taken??

[PSPMaui]

Great video, very informative. Thanks

[disabledfriendfinder]

this was great info i saw this video before my very first flight it really help me out

[jujy20]

Hey, great video! very informative. my daughter's wheelchair is not collapsible, we can only remove the armrest and wheels. i was wondering if the plane has a big enough storage area to store her chair?

[2020bloodyjack]

@jujy20 ehh..no they don't really. You hop in an isle chair and you part with ur chair and it goes under in the luggage bay :/

[civilwarcat]

Excellent video! I'm disabled myself and this extremely helpful. I flew to CA from VA a couple of times around 10 yrs ago or so and I got bumped to 1st clas which was awesome but I would have found a video like this very helpful b4 I went. Thanks

[WheelzAndTheChair]

What an awesome video thank you so much EasyStand.

I had my accident nearly a year ago and was really not looking forward to flying. I just wanted to let you know you have really helped a newly paraplegic guy down here in oz thanks mate!

Wheelz.

[EasyStand]

Now you can go from "down under' to flying high!

[baads303]

Thanks for the video. I have a question about tire pressure. Do you need to lose some pressure before you fly, will the tires burst?

I have Schwalbe Marathons and they are 145psi. They won't work with less than 80psi. What do you think?

[professirx]

thank you, God bless

[bachandbark]

Great tips! Thanks so much. However, would someone tell me how you get to the airplane 'wash-room' (W.C) from your seat after they have taken your wheelchair away to store? Do they just bring it back for you and if so, how the **** do you get into the tiny W.C. on a plane? I have avoided flying because of this.

[WildkatPublishing]

They have a smaller folding aisle chair to help you to the washroom if needed. I usually use the washroom at hte airport just before boarding though and don't drink a lot before or while I'm on the plane so I don't have to go while on the plane. This is a lot easier because you don't have to be pushed through all of the people on the plane getting caught up in people's arms etc. Then I go again as soon as I'm in the next airport before going to luggage claim.

[bachandbark]

Thanks! Although I am not sure that I can go 10 hours without using the washroom, even if I do what you suggested - which I WILL remember next time I need to go for a short trip! Anyway, thanks a lot for your reply. :)

[powertrack55]

i know what a friend of mine used to do.. eat alot of rice or somethin like that that obsorbs water... take (i think its called) i diaretic, so u dont hafta pee (ask a dr.)... and avoid tea or caffien, they constrict the bladder... hope i helped and didnt give any bad advice :-)

[bachandbark]

powertrack55 thanks for trying, with your advice based on your friend's experiences. Unfortunately eating rice will not 'absorb' fluids in the body - the kidneys see to that, and your kidneys being really important organs, do not like diuretics unless you need them for cardiac failure or other medical disorder. The diuretics also change the salt ions in your body and can cause serious illness if abused. The caffeine in coffee does seem to act as a diuretic in itself.

[Caito100]

This is a great video and echoes what we have found throughout the US and Europe with my husband who has MS and is in a wheelchair

[Beepoe111]

I'm a 10/11 Para. Thats kinda weird that alot of you have had probs with Ableboddied's taken chairs I have traveled around the world, many times by my self and in almost 20 airline flights over 24+ Yrs of travel Only once did some old bitty try and sit in my chair..... But I don't think she was mentaly all there.... If you are woried about it tell the atendent.....

[bbbrotman]

the train transporter was in the hartsfield jackson airport? rigt???

[easystandmjs]

Actually is was at Denver International.

[wheelieblind]

first class was fun :-)

[Tat2Dragons]

Great video,but I'm curious,where do they actually put your chair after you are seated?

[easystandmjs]

They tag the chair and put it in the belly of the plane. Some ask for it to be put on board and they are suppose to if they have the room. I have not done this but friends have and it works. Remember to get it tag and ask to have it brought up when leaving the plane. BEWARE wheelchair service has gotten bad for the walking disabled and they have been known to take the chair sitting there. This happened to me in Minneapolis and NWA has been sued over this in Detroit.

[Tat2Dragons]

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it.:)

[tlef002]

how do you manage bowel and bladder while on a long flight?

[easystandmjs]

That is a very tricky thing. You really need to stop eating a day or two before and load up with immodium. As far as the liquids go depending on what you use, bring a couple of gatorade containers and go with the flow.

[UAL602]

wat type of airplane was it???

[carmaster366]

Boeing 757-200

[ebaysutube]

Cool!! I travel a lot and knew most of that, but you still had 1 tip I didn't know. Thanks.

[bigvalleybigvalley]

I was not aware there may be discounts available in the short term parking. I will be checking into this at my local airport so I am not paying $80 for a weekend trip. Parking out in long term in a lot of trouble with the transport of luggage and finding an accessible tram while trying to make it on time for a flight.

[bigvalleybigvalley]

The free 1st class upgrade is nice but always being able to just jump into the first seat is ideal. Having to use that isle chair is a big pain. Everyone just ask when you check in if the first row is available for you. If it is or a 1st class seat is available you will almost always be switched to it. Easier for everyone involved.

[Araivinthgang]

wat renteal car did u get?

[mizzoufan80]

thats amazing

ur really good

what airports were you in?

[handicapable124]

its a pain in the ass when you go into security when in a chair,when i was 10 i was going to chicago and they were like putting or rubbing these pads on me to see if i had bomb residew on me,i was like scared to death,but its a big thing now,after 9/11

[FMJPower]

great video, this actually helped me allot being in a chair and flying for the first time.

[travelplus1]

rich pooper first class

[EasyStand]

The first class ticket was not purchased. The seat was open and he simply asked for it. Nice tip huh?

[yoggy25]

hey there :_) whats the wide of your chair ?

[EasyStand]

@yoggy25 The chair is 25" wide (correction)

[EasyStand]

@yoggy25 25" wide

[youbeforeyou]

very informative video with excellent tips. if only the security checkpoints all went so smoothly!  thanks!

[macwrite]

Great video I am also disabled and I learned something from this I can walk but have mild CP, poor balance and can't stand for long along with other disabilities.

[mezo113113]

god bless you,i'v learened alot from your vids,thanks.

[SirScott1]

Hey I am a disabled individual and I learned alot from your video thank u.

[crazynames]

FYI- As a paraplegic I have traveled a lot and I have used Enterprise a number of times. The last 3 times that I have used them I have had major problems. At one airport I called in the morning I was supposed to arrive and they said they wouldn't have my car ready for a couple of days...so just FYI if you are planning on renting a car with hand controls from Enterprise.

[jacksmack76]

Another good tip- if someone is traveling with you, have them get off the plane right away after landing and make sure that no one walks off with your chair. Actually saw someone grab a person's checked wheelchair and use it as a cart for their carry-ons.

[SirScott1]

OMG. When I travel with people they will go get the bags when I am waiting for the isle chair

[easystandmjs]

That happened to me twice. The first time was fortunate to be traveling with a co-worker who stopped the guy before he got too far. The second time was going through customs and the people coming down with the aisle chair saw the chair go by them and back tracked and got it back.