Traveling is a stressful affair, but if you are in a wheelchair, it can cause a lot more stress. If you have flown before, you will have no doubt encountered just about every problem imaginable. Thankfully, most of today’s leading airlines are now becoming much more wheelchair-friendly… but issues do still arise in this instance from time to time. Fear not, however, as this doesn’t necessarily need to ruin any of your future traveling experiences. There are a number of things that you can do to enjoy stress-free air travel, three of which are detailed below.
To unearth our comprehensive advice and guidance on how to fly with a wheelchair, be sure to read on.
Enlist N.E.M.T assistance
Non-Emergency Medical Transport (N.E.M.T) has been created specifically to make air travel safe, enjoyable, and hassle-free for anybody that is suffering from either a short- or long-term health condition. So, if you’re serious about actually enjoying your next airplane journey, you should seriously consider enlisting this form of specialist healthcare support.
When you take advantage of air medical transport, you will be able to receive expert wheelchair assistance from the moment you board the plane to the moment you leave it. This highly attentive form of medical care will help you to remain comfortable and at ease throughout the duration of the flight.
Before the flight
If you want to embark on your next plane journey without any fuss or hassle, it’s highly recommended that you start thinking about your flight well in advance of your departure date. Unfortunately, you cannot turn up at the airport and expect everything to go smoothly. Therefore, a careful planning process has to be undertaken to ensure your onboard comfort.
Before the flight, it’s highly recommended that you heed the following advice:
1. Notify the airline
During the flight reservation process, you should notify the airline of the fact that you are wheelchair-bound. This will allow them to make the special arrangements needed to help you onboard the plane in a seamless fashion. What’s more, it will help them to provide you with ongoing accommodation as the flight progresses and ultimately comes into land.
2. Carefully select your seat
The seat that you select will have a profound effect on the comfort of your air travel. If you are unable to walk or stand unaided, choosing a seat that does NOT have a bulkhead is advised. Bulkhead seats have armrests that are immovable, which means that you will have to be lifted into your designated plane position if you do, in fact, make this type of seating selection.
Accept help
Whether you choose to enlist professional assistance or not, you can rest assured that there will be qualified professionals at your departure airport waiting and willing to help you. These assistance teams are required, by federal law, to be trained in the act of wheelchair transportation, which means that you will most certainly be in good hands. All you have to do is accept the help that they offer!
