Before I took my first flight as a wheelchair user, I spent hours searching the internet for answers to all of my questions – with little success. One of the main reasons I started this blog was to put all of those answers online, so that they would be easy for others to find. As a disabled traveler who has now taken more than 500 flights with my power wheelchair, I have dealt with just about every problem you could imagine. Still, I have a passion for airplanes and flight and I keep flying to open air travel to people with disabilities.
I have arranged this air travel guide to follow the timeline or “ribbon” of travel. It answers questions about the air travel process for wheelchair users, from booking to baggage claim. Read through each of the sections, and you’ll be properly prepared to begin your wheelchair travel journey on an airplane.
Before Travel
Planning & Booking
How to Book Your Flight and Who To Contact for Wheelchair Assistance at Major Airlines (100+ listed)
Summary of Disabled Passengers’ Rights and the Air Carrier Access Act
European Union Rights for Passengers with Disabilities in Air Travel
Can I store my manual wheelchair in the airplane cabin?
At the Airport
Onboard the Plane
TSA Security Screenings for Travelers With Disabilities: How It Works
How to Reduce the Risk of an Airline Damaging Your Personal Wheelchair
How do wheelchair users board the airplane, and what is an aisle chair?
Do airplanes have accessible bathrooms? How do I use the airplane lavatory of I cannot walk?
Arrival
Baggage Claim
Wheelchair Damaged? Lost Baggage? Follow These Steps to Seek Resolution.
