Flying with a Wheelchair

Flying with a wheelchair can be no problem.  If the ground crews are responsive and efficient, the equipment works, and nothing gets damaged or lost, then flying with a wheelchair is similar to the typical cattle-car experience known as flying today.  If, however, something goes wrong – especially the loss or damage of what amounts to an extension of your legs—it can be an unforgettable and unforgivable nightmare.  

You can find blogs about flying with a wheelchair all over the internet.  I wanted to add my voice to the information feed, but I felt that in order to differentiate my post, I should compile the most comprehensive list of advice out there, so that an information-seeker need not look further to feel prepared.  Well, that was my problem with grad school, as well.  I would spend so long gathering information, trying to be as complete as possible, that I would only reluctantly and much belatedly get started on the research itself.

I recently flew with my husband, Ted, from our home in Seattle, WA to Monterey, CA for a long weekend.  I decided to use this experience as a jolt to my preparation penchant and to finally write something.  So, no, this is not a complete list, and yes, someone serious about flying with a wheelchair should gather additional advice before embarking. However, this is my meager contribution to a small but important field.  And now it’s out there. 

1. Plan ahead and early

I like to plan; it’s ingrained in my personality, and it makes me happy.  However, I am married to someone who doesn’t believe in planning.  He is able to use a “Field of Dreams” sort of Jedi mind trick: If you want it, we can make it happen.  Granted, sometimes it works, and the results are all the more gratifying, because you haven’t wasted your time sweating the details.  Sometimes, however, the results are disastrous, and you end up not being able to go to the bathroom for twelve hours.  Life with a wheelchair, unfortunately, demands planning in advance – especially when travelling solo.  Flying with a wheelchair, in itself, does not require advance planning, but seat selection does.  If you have seating requirements (location, not in a bulkhead row, arm rest that moves), it is important to book as far ahead of time as possible to ensure that you get your choice of seat location.  Caveats: bulkhead seats aren’t usually given out until passengers arrive at the airport, and desk agents often don’t know which seats have movable armrests or even where the lavatories are.

2. Arrive at the airport early

Are you sensing an “early” theme?  Even after multiple years of using a wheelchair, I am still guilty of never believing that things will take as long as they do.  They do.  I strongly advise wheelchair travelers to check in at least two hours early for domestic flights, because of the possibility of waiting in lines, trying to sort things out with clueless agents, and going through security, along with the necessity of being at the gate at least 45 minutes before departure time (you will be the first to board).  You may not need this much time; then again, you may get the TSA agent who is intent on doing everything possible to protect the airlines from dangerous wheelchair-driving passengers.

Aisle Chair

3. Tell an agent ASAP that you will need an aisle chair for boarding

Sometimes they already have your information and requirements in the computer.  Sometimes they are organized and prepared.  But sometimes at least one of these things is not true.  Given that, I try to flag an agent as soon as I can to let them know that I’ll be needing an aisle chair, giving them time to find and request one before boarding begins.  Some airlines prohibit passengers flying with wheelchairs from checking in at the kiosks, in which case you’ll meet with an agent at the check-in desk directly, but you’ll probably have to ask to figure out which line to use (hopefully they will direct you to the premiere/VIP line).  Some airlines have all passengers (even those with wheelchairs) check in at the kiosks, in which case you’ll have to hunt down an agent, who may or may not care (in the latter case, that means you’ll first tell the gate agent at the departure gate).

4. Take as few suitcases as possible

Remember that you have to carry what you bring.  Even if you check baggage, you have to carry it to the departure check-in desk and from the baggage claim.  For some reason, many airports seem to have uphill ramps to get outside, adding an additional degree of difficulty.  When travelling by myself, I like to check as much of my luggage as possible, so I don’t have to carry it (don’t forget to make use of the curbside luggage check, when possible). The downside, though, since you are invariably the last one off of the plane, is that you will be so late in getting to baggage claim that you will have to go on a search for your luggage.  Travelling with someone is much easier; that person can carry all sorts of luggage – or better yet, they can load you with luggage on your lap so that you can’t see, and then they can blindly push you through the crowded airport.  Smaller bags can sit on your lap.  If you must carry a rolling suitcase, there are suitcases made especially to attach to wheelchairs.  Or you can just use a carabineer to attach the suitcase behind your chair and hope that it doesn’t twist around too much.  Also, remember that medically-necessary items travel for free (but you should remember to bring your prescriptions).

5. Security might not be as bad as you fear: You might get to bypass the long waiting line in favor of the expedited VIP line (ask), you don’t have to take off your shoes to go through security if you can’t (or if it’s too difficult), you don’t have to go through those new full-body scanners, and you get a full-body massage (the manual pat-down).

6. As soon as your things get on the conveyor belt to go through the scanner, wheel in front of the gate that bypasses the full-body scanner.  Make sure one of the harried TSA agents knows you are there and waiting and calls for a “(Fe)Male Assist!)  Do not wait until everyone ahead of you in line has gone through the scanners to do this.  You may feel like you are cutting in line; this is not true – you are not in their line; you are just crossing over to yours.  This is the weakest link in the TSA process, since you have to wait for a free assistant of the appropriate gender to come and let you through the gate and conduct the scan.  The sooner you can start the process, the better.

7. Make sure you designate a person to be responsible for your things as they come out of screening.  Many times a TSA agent will ask; sometimes they forget.  If you don’t have a travel companion to take responsibility, make sure you remind your TSA screener to do so.  Your screened items will invariably finish screening long before you do.

8. Be prepared for screening to take a long time and be unpleasant, and you may be pleasantly surprised.  Everyone who cannot walk unassisted (without holding onto something) must submit to a manual screening, the pat-down.  After waiting for a gender-appropriate screener, you will be taken to a quieter spot in the midst of the turmoil for your screening.  Remember that you have a right to ask for a private screening. Personally, I have never asked for a private screening, because I can’t even imagine how much longer it would take and because I figure that the number of people who find it titillating to watch a middle-aged woman get a pat-down compared to the number of people in a hurry to catch their plane put the odds in my favor.  If all goes smoothly, you may even beat your travel companions through security; you may also get a screening agent who training someone, is new, or is maddeningly thorough.  After screening you, the agent will test the wheelchair, by wiping some paper on various points on the chair and sticking the paper in a mysterious machine.  If you haven’t removed your shoes, the agent will probably clean your soles with this magical paper as well.  Final warning: if you have been spending time on manicured grass, it’s possible that the mystical machine will not like the results; I am guessing that it’s because well-manicured grass demands fertilizer, which contains nitrogen, which is also used in making bombs.  This can cause anxiety, the need for multiple supervisors, and lots of wasted time.

9.  Don’t forget to ask at the gate to get a gate-check claim ticket.

Since your wheelchair will be gate-checked, you should ask at the gate (where you board) for a gate-check claim ticket.  You will need to answer questions about the presence and type of battery (most of them are dry-cell) and the weight of the wheelchair.  This is a good time to double-check that an aisle chair has been ordered and will be there for you. 

10. Different crews and planes allow different boarding methods

Usually you take your own wheelchair down the gateway to just outside of the entrance to the plane, where you transfer to an aisle chair, and then the staff wheel you onto the plane and to your seat.  Sometimes you transfer to an aisle chair at the gate, and then the staff wheel you to the plane and then to your seat.  Sometimes, if you ask, you can roll your own chair to the bulkhead seats (assuming you are sitting there), without transferring to an aisle chair at all.

11. Bring a large bag and put all of your removable wheelchair parts in it before boarding the plane.

I always travel with a canvas bag large enough to fit all of the detachable wheelchair parts.  At the entrance to the plane, while I transfer to an aisle chair, Ted transfers all detachable parts (foot plates, seat cushion, and seat back from my manual chair) from my chair into my canvas bag, which we carry on in addition to our two bags.

12. Give the ground crew specific instructions about how to move and store your wheelchair (every chair is different, as is the level of knowledge of every crew member)

My manual chair is folding, so we simply demonstrate how to collapse it.  I take the key for my battery-powered travel scooter, so we show them how to flip the lever to manually push the scooter, how to lower the handle bars, and how to disengage the battery.  The Freedom Chair is too wide to fit through the door from the jetway down to the tarmac, so we instruct the crew in how to remove the wheels (it fits then).

Keep in mind, however, that just because you inform the departure ground crew, the arrival airport crew may have absolutely no idea how to operate the chair.  You could ask the departure crew to call the arrival crew and let them know the important information (how the wheels detach, for example).  They may do so; or may not!  Travelling with an able-bodied person and sitting near the front may help solve such a problem, because that person can exit the plane at the beginning of the line and wait outside the plane door to instruct the ground crew.

13. Passengers needing assistance are the first ones on and last ones off the plane.  This lateness can be a problem for retrieving luggage at the baggage claim and the gate.

Usually, Ted disembarks with the rest of the passengers and waits by the plane entrance, so he can offer advice to the ground crew in charge of the wheelchair and make sure that nobody takes the wheelchair.  (Really!  It happened twice: When Ted and I finally got off of the plane, my wheelchair was not there.  Both times, we finally found it in the parking lot, leading me to believe that someone mistook it for an airport wheelchair – even though I had removed the foot plates, seat cushion, and the back!  Next time I’m going to spray paint my name and a skull and cross bones on the seat sling).  The other option is for the able-bodied person to exit early, have a chat with the ground crew (advice about the wheelchair and making sure they save it for me), then going off to baggage claim to claim the bags before it’s too late.  Of course, these strategies work much better if you’re near the front of the plane. 

Final Advice: Travel with a Rock Star

I read in someone else’s blog that an important key to travelling with a wheelchair is to travel with a rock-star support person/travel companion. I realize that that isn’t possible for everyone at all times, but I admit that it is my most important piece of advice as well.  I have been able to do and see so much more just by travelling with an able-bodied person who thinks creatively and is willing to help.  At the most practical level while flying, it helps to have another person monitor, collect, and/or carry your luggage and make sure nobody takes your chair.

There are horror stories about flying with a wheelchair; there are also great experiences.  Make sure you allot more time than you’d ever think necessary, and don’t assume that anyone knows anything about your chair.  Remember that most airplanes are not covered by the ADA.  In 1986, Congress passed the Air Carrier Access Act, mandating the Department of Transportation to develop new regulations ensuring that passengers with disabilities would not face discrimination.  These regulations were published in 1990, and a summary can be viewed online at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/passengers-disabilities

Additional sites with advice about flying with wheelchairs (not an endorsement; just some links):

http://wheelchairjimmy.com

http://www.1800wheelchair.com/news/tips-for-traveling-with-your-wheelchair/

https://www.allwheelsup.org/wheelchair-airplane-traveling-guide/

Happy Skies!

Monterey, CA

Monterey Bay

Many, many years ago in college, I spent a beautiful summer in Monterey, CA, studying Russian at the language institute.  Classes all morning and homework in the evenings left several hours each afternoon where I was free to explore the peninsula and watch the otters.  In the years after graduation, I made several trips back to the Monterey Peninsula – usually to go kayaking and always wonderful.

Many years later, living in Seattle, I began to wonder if indeed these idyllic memories rang true (rather than hyperbole implanted by the tourist bureau and aging memory).  I finally got the chance to go back this summer, and the short answer is “yes.”  Monterey is as fantastic as I remember.   I was even more thrilled to discover that the peninsula was wheelchair-friendly.  In fact, after the challenges of wheelchair hiking in the Washington mountains, it was downright magical to find easily-accessible trails.  We spent three days in Monterey, enjoying tourist attractions, recreating memories, and searching for otters. 

Old Monterey

In the old town section, many of the buildings are preserved from the first half of the 19^th century when the Spanish and then the Mexican governments ruled this part of California.  The wheelchair accessibility in this area is not bad, and the neighborhood is slated to upgrade its accessibility, starting September 6, 2016.

Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row

Immortalized in Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, these areas evoke the heyday of the fishing and canning industries in the first half of the 20^th century.  They are now a hotbed of tourist activity, including hotels, restaurants, and shops.  These areas are mostly wheelchair-accessible.

Restaurants

Downtown Pacific Grove

We avoided the crowded, tourist-filled seafood restaurants and chose the higher-rated restaurants on Yelp.  Most of them were in the quaint, pretty, homogeneous town of Pacific Grove.  Because the town has preserved its Victorian architecture, wheelchair accessibility is mixed, but staff was always willing to help us find accessible restrooms nearby, if needed.

Fruit

Monterey Produce Market

As a recovering vegetarian, I think that one of the many best things about Monterey is its location next to the Salinas valley, dubbed the “Salad Bowl of the World.” For all but the dedicated carnivore, no visit is complete without a trip to one of the local produce markets, farmers markets, or farm stands. We went to all three and happily availed ourselves of fresh local strawberries and artichokes.

Aquarium

Perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in Monterey is the Monterey Aquarium.  Rightly so.  The exhibition on the jellies alone is worth the insanely expensive price of admission (hint – many hotels offer a discounted ticket valid for two days).  The aquarium and its restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Grouper

Jellies

Sea Kayaking and Sailing
Although we did not have time to go this trip, some of our fondest memories are from kayaking and sailing on Monterey Bay, surrounded by otters and seals.

Marine Mammals

Monterey Bay is well-known for kelp beds, marine research, marine reserves, scuba diving, and marine mammals, including otters, seals, and whales.  Otters can be spotted playing in the water or floating in the kelp beds.  Seals can be found lazing on the beach, soaking up sun on the rocks or buoys, or swimming in the water.  Whales are best seen on one of several whale-watching boatrides.

These are not rocks!

Perhaps the cutest animal ever
!

Coastal Trail

One of my favorite parts of Monterey is the coastal trail.  It is a 29-mile paved, two-lane, multi-use trail that goes along the coast from Pacific Grove to Castroville.  There are continuous views of the ocean, cypress trees, beaches, rock formations, marine animals, the sun or moon, and breath-taking vistas – sometimes visible from the trail, sometimes accompanied by a bench or picnic table off of the trail, and sometimes down a short, hard-packed sand path leading off of the trail.  This is a wonderful trail for the Freedom Chair, taking advantage of its levers to cover the lengthy miles.

Asilomar Beach

The biggest surprise awaited me at Asilomar Beach.   My expectations of beauty were well met.  The beach is covered with soft white sand, which was interspersed with dunes of wild gardens of coastal plants and flowers.  Looking out to the ocean afforded amazing views  -- otters playing in the water as the waves crashed against the rock formations, under a sky blazing with the colors of the setting sun.  What I did not expect, however, was the incredible accessibility provided.  There were numerous disabled parking spaces designated.  These spaces were located next to entrances to wide, level, accessible trails of hard-packed sand mixed with boardwalks.  The surfaces of the trails were usually hard enough for any type of wheelchair; in the few sketchy spots, the Freedom Chair was a perfect match.  There was even a boardwalk from the road down to the state beach (of course the boardwalk ended at the start of the beach, leaving a large swathe of deep, dry, soft sand between the boardwalk and the ocean.  The mountain bike tires, so effective on harder sand, didn’t go anywhere in this softer, deeper sand.  It would have been a perfect opportunity to try the Freedom Chair’s beach tires.

Asilomar Conference Grounds

The downside of such an amazing place is no surprise – insanely expensive lodging.  One cheaper option that comes to mind is the Asilomar Conference Center attached to the state beach.  Of course, availability is limited for non-conference-attendees, and even more so for guests needing ADA accessible rooms.  So, plan ahead and Happy Trails!

Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River

Middle Fork (Snoqualmie River) Trail

Every once in a while we get snobby and jaded, thinking we’ve seen it all.  After all, we’ve been around the world.  We’ve travelled on the Dempster Highway en route to the Arctic Circle.  We know potholes!  So, at times we may take warnings of potholes not as seriously as we should.  Stupid! 

We’ve talked about exploring the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River for quite some time now.  There is a campground, previously used for garbage dumping and target practice, and now closed for road construction, that is in a beautiful setting of Washington forest along the Snoqualmie River.  Surrounding it, there are trails along the Snoqualmie River, with a connector path to the Pratt River and beyond.  To reach the campground and trails, exit off of I-90 near North Bend, traversing a road littered with potholes that should not be dismissed.

The description of the trail sounded perfect:  the grade is gentle, the first few miles of the path are also used by horses and bikes, and after the first ¾ mile, the trail widens, as it was old railroad path used for logging.   All of that seemed ideal for a wheelchair.

Things began nicely.  The trail itself is hard-packed dirt, which was easy to roll over.  In the 1990's, Forest Service volunteers constructed a bridge over the river from the parking lot to the trail, eliminating a questionable river crossing and making the beginning quite accessible.  Unfortunately, things deteriorated from there.  We started out to the left, upstream on the Middle Fork Trail, which quickly became narrow, sloping steeply down to the river, and scattered with large rocks.  We didn’t get very far before being forced to turn around, back to the river.  This time we headed in the opposite direction, downstream toward the Pratt River Trail.  We got a bit further, but once again the trail became narrow, steeply sloped, and rocky.  Despite the best efforts of my able-bodied co-hikers, lifting me over fallen trees and large rocks, we were finally forced to turn around.

Bridge across Snoqualmie River at beginning of trail

Snoqualmie River Middle Fork Trail -- high consequence falls!

Snoqualmie River Middle Fork Trail-- things got rocky

Snoqualmie Middle Fork Trail -- beautiful trail on the flat land

The trail itself was beautiful – in the heart of the forest with a gorgeous meandering river down below.  We found several sour blue- and thimble- berries.  We tried to photograph a red-headed woodpecker near the trail.  There was dripping, green moss all around us on rocks and trees.  But, the trail was impassable for a wheelchair after not very long, so we headed back to the river and found a scenic spot for a delicious picnic instead.  The promise of a cold beer at a local pub aided in the navigation of the potholes on the way out.

Snoqualmie River -- too cold to contemplate

Bellevue

Give me isolated wilderness, or give me a thriving urban scene.  Suburbs, on the other hand, give me the heebie-jeebies.  However, an afternoon in Bellevue, across Lake Washington from Seattle, opened my eyes to a geography of suburban parks with great trails.

We parked at a fruit stand (unfortunately it was closed) and headed north on the 10 mile Lake to Lake Trail and Greenway.   Historically an area of blueberry fields, the 10 mile greenway trail connects nine parks between Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish.  The trail is surfaced with hard-packed gravel and in good condition.  It winds through second-growth forests, fields of grasses and birds, and fenced-in blueberry fields.

Lake to Lake Trail and Greenway connecting Lakes Washington and Sammamish in Bellevue, WA

The most amazing find was a small blueberry field that was not fenced in.  A moment of post-Catholic guilt (is it really ok to eat these berries?) was followed by continuous mumbling of disbelief (why was nobody else going crazy?).  After a passing dog-walker assured me that the berries could be eaten by the public, and with her "permission," the blueberry-gorging commenced.  Luckily, the berries were high-bush blueberries, so I could stay in my chair to pick.  Over a half of an hour later, with a full stomach and full cup holders on my fanny pack (the only containers I had), we headed back to the car.  I'm pretty sure my tongue was purple.  I know my face had a huge smile.   I still don't understand why there weren't a ton of people there, but what good fortune for me!

Blueberry fields forever

Seward Park

I am continually amazed by how much beauty is packed into this city and how lucky I am to live here.  Today was no exception.  We went to Seward Park, which juts out on a small peninsula into Lake Washington, and hiked from the top of the hill down to the lake, and then we climbed back up a series of not-as-accessible trails to the starting point.  In 2010, the trails were given names, and signposts at each of the trail junctions clearly mark the trails with appropriate symbols of difficulty.

On the way down, we followed the service road, also known by a spectacularly unpronounceable Duwamish name - Sqebeqsed.  The trail is perfect for wheelchair users -- mostly a very gradual downhill grade on a hard-packed dirt and gravel path, surrounded by old growth forest.

Sqebeqsed Trail at Seward Park

Trail surface

Beginning of trail and big trees

The trail continues down the hill through the forest, eventually reaching Lake Washington, with a view of the Seattle skyline at the bottom.

Lake Washington with Seattle in the background

On the way back, we took less-accessible trails.  Mud, rocks, roots, and steep hills necessitated extra pushing and help.

Why Woodpecker Trail gets a "diamond" for difficulty

Despite the extra challenges, the uphill trip was well worth it, due to the surrounding woods, the solitude of the trails, and the glimpse of a pileated woodpecker.  Near the end of the hike, we again took a less-developed trail back to the car, but this time the path was once again hard-packed and clear of obstacles.

Andrews Bay Trail

Discovery Park Loop Trail

Having fixed my inner tube and tire, we set out once again for the unpaved Loop Trail in Discovery Park.  The trail led through forests with beautiful trees, a variety grasses, chirping (with birds) bushes, and a viewpoint with a sweeping vista out over Puget Sound. 

The highlight for me was the big sandy area, an alternate side trip on top of a sand dune next to the actual trail.  I got to test the Freedom Chair’s ability to move on sand.  Granted, I could only go a little way before getting tired, especially when going uphill, but I was moving nonetheless.  The trail was a bit sandy before and after the sand dune, but otherwise it was medium-packed or even hard-packed dirt – quite feasible for a manual chair with a third wheel.

The trail led to the paved road/trail where we had hiked last time (West Point lighthouse and wastewater treatment plant), so we turned around and made our way back through the abandoned houses on this former military base.

Waste-water Treatment Plant

One of the most scenic and iconic hikes in Seattle is at the waste-water treatment plant in Discovery Park.  Really!  

I set out to try the Discovery Park Loop Trail (thanks for the recommendation, Jerry!), only to make a discovery of my own -- that my left tire had a giant bulge in it.  Luckily, I had my portable, battery-powered scooter along in order to run some errands.  In order to make the best of another beautiful day, my husband and I decided to re-visit the wastewater treatment plant.  

The trails are mostly paved or hard-packed dirt, so the scooter would work on them (although we did run into a couple of nasty roots that upturned the pavement and made me wish for my Freedom Chair).  

The trails, along the coast and beach, are accessed by a long walk from the visitors' center; however, those with a disabled placard from the DMV can pick up a pass from the visitors' center which allows them to drive on the access road and park near the entrance to the trails, across from the beach.

This time of year was especially gorgeous, with daisies, thimble-berries, and other wildflowers blooming.  The path went through beautiful areas of greenery and salt-water habitats, often right along the coast.  On this side of the water, the view includes the West Point Light House and a beach piled high with driftwood. On the other side, one can see the Olympic Mountains. In-between are numerous sailboats and kayaks. And looming over everything from a distance is the elusive, majestic, and awe-inspiring Mount Rainier.  This time, as always, we wondered why the hell we don't come here all of the time.  

Hard-packed trails through beautiful greenery...

... right along the coast of Puget Sound, complete with sailboats...

... and a view of a light-house and driftwood-packed beach...

...and, to top it off, a most-elusive and yet most impressive mountain!

Definitely gives new meaning to a visit to a sewage plant!