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A good primer on flying. I would add to remember to check if your meds are legal in the country you are visiting or transiting through. Also, find a wheelchair repair company at your destination in case they do break your mobility device.
cntraveller.com
Beyond Barriers: an accessible guide to air travel
In the second instalment of Beyond Barriers, a column dedicated to accessible travel, we provide an accessible guide to flying
schroth-sensei3 Comments-
Nice article, but two things jumped out for me.
I have never heard of a “special declaration of interest” before. I don’t know how many travelers with disabilities know this even exists.
And, this: “Providing privacy when transferring onto an aisle chair or on board is expected but not mandatory.” Why would we need privacy? This is another thing I’ve never heard of anyone asking for. Transferring is a normal thing. Asking for privacy adds a sense of shame or embarrassment about transferring. There’s nothing embarrassing about it. It’s a fact of life. Now, how one is transferred can be improved.-
Maybe it’s a UK thing?
I agree. Transferring should not be embarrassing. Hiding it will add to the stigma.
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The “special declaration of interest” is not new to me, though up until my upcoming trip I’ve never brought something worth enough to declare (this time my power wheelchair will definitely qualify). Any cash and/or item worth a set amount or more (I believe it was US$9,000+ years ago, may be different now) that are checked-in are supposed to be declared. This is in case anything happens to it (lost, stolen, etc.), and like the article says, the airline would then inform the flyer of their liability for declared items. This could mean the item can be denied on a flight, be limited coverage, and/or requires an additional fee to cover its proper transportation. Wheelchairs (such as the more expensive power chairs) should be declared if it meets the declared value, I believe at bag check-in when they tag it. That being said, in the US they cannot deny needed medical equipment such as a wheelchair, should not charge extra for it, and liability rights for damaging it are not restricted by usual “special declaration of interest.” Recently the coverage for such medical equipment has even been expanded in the US, with many airlines working in conjunction with the government to develop them, and they hope to have other countries adopt similar coverage in turn (which would be great).
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