• Plan ahead, do your homework, and work with a travel agency that specializes in travel for the elderly and/or disabled.
• Advise your travel agent about your particular needs in detail, right down to the small portable aisle chair, which is used to transport passengers from the entry door of the plane to their seat and to the bathroom.
• Many cities offer disability guides. Check out www.disabilityguide.org for those offered in the United States. Many foreign destinations offer them as well. Look for them online or ask your travel agent to research this for you.
• Think smarter, not harder. For example, a bedside commode, which hotels do not provide, often can be disassembled and fit into a large suitcase. In fact, put all such items in a separate box or suitcase and clearly label it Medical Equipment. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations permit you to bring this excess baggage on board a flight or cruise ship without incurring additional fees.
• Motorized equipment frequently is damaged in transit. If possible, consider renting it at your destination. Check the Center for Independent Living’s Web site, www.ilru.org, for a list of rental and repair facilities throughout the United States or, again, ask your travel agent to contact the companies for you.
• If you do plan to take a motorized scooter or wheelchair with you, get detailed instructions from the airline on how to properly pack and transport it. Being informed may save you a great deal of time and spare your equipment from damage.
• Well in advance of your trip, make sure your airline and travel agent are fully aware of your needs so that your comfort can be assured. For example, if you must be close to the bathroom, this should be taken into account when reserving seats for your flights. Consider whether it will be better for you to sit in a bulkhead seat where you’ll have more legroom or an aisle seat that has an armrest that raises, which will make it easier for you to sit down and get up. Little details like this can make a big difference in the success of your trip.
• If you are traveling with a manual collapsible chair, ask if it can be stored in the cabin’s closet. Most large planes will have room for it, but be prepared to have it stowed in the cargo area if the space already has been taken. If this happens, don’t worry—you’ll be one of the first passengers to board the plane so your chair can be stored below while the rest of the passengers are boarding. And since you’ll be one of the last people to deplane, a crew member will have sufficient time to retrieve it and hopefully have it waiting for you when you leave the aircraft.
• Airports and airlines have elaborate systems in place to aid travelers who are elderly, disabled or slow walkers. Employees have been designated to help you get from curbside through check-in/security and to your boarding gate. It’s a good idea to request this assistance even though your disability is not severe or if you are “just” a slow walker. If walking causes you pain or if you tend to get confused amid all the chaos at the airport, having a friendly attendant at your elbow is a blessing. Although a tip is not mandatory for this service, it’s always appreciated.