Taurean
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Post by Taurean on Oct 23, 2021 19:45:45 GMT -5
This would be awesome. I made one flight to Europe several years ago, when we landed the back of my power chair was broken so that it would not sit upright. The partner of the owner of our little German country hostel manufactured a metal bracket to replace what was broken; it was finished by the time I woke up from my jet lag nap. That was the beginning of a wild trip covering 3 countries in 3 weeks.
I'd like to travel overseas again, but I don't feel like I can unless I take a chair I'm ready to part with.
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Post by ProudRealist on Oct 26, 2021 22:16:58 GMT -5
ProudRealist , Given ur vast experience in traveling, what solution would you propose if you r the policy maker ? ✈️ What I think airlines should change (keep in mind that I am quite aware just how drastic this idea is) is to actually have space on an airline for people to simply drive in with their own chair and be strapped in. I get that this would not be possible on smaller airlines, but on the larger ones it might be viable of course, I highly doubt the airlines would be willing to surrender a handful of paid seats to accommodate someone in a wheelchair... but one can only dream! Seriously, how good would that be, no transfers, no lifting, just arrive at the airport and drive straight into the aeroplane. As for a more realistic, achievable change, I think wheelchairs need to be stored in their own separate storage cages and not lumped in with everything else. I can only presume that things get bumped around a lot, which is what is causing the damage, so maybe they need some customised storage sections to compensate. Honestly, I have no idea how chairs are stored nor why they're damaged, so it's pretty much a guessing game if you ask me how things should be improved.
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Post by koala on Oct 27, 2021 0:50:54 GMT -5
As for a more realistic, achievable change, I think wheelchairs need to be stored in their own separate storage cages and not lumped in with everything else. I can only presume that things get bumped around a lot, which is what is causing the damage, so maybe they need some customised storage sections to compensate. Honestly, I have no idea how chairs are stored nor why they're damaged, so it's pretty much a guessing game if you ask me how things should be improved. I've actually read up on this because I, too, was curious. Most of the damage occurs during loading/unloading (at least for power chairs). They have to squeeze them through the same doors as all the rest of the luggage, but they aren't big enough to actually fit a full upright chair. Also, there are no lifts, so it's just a bunch of guys hoisting it into position. They have to remove any armrests, tilt them back (if they have that feature), put them on their side, and shove 'em in. I actually watched them unload my husband's chair, and the whole process is quite mortifying 😬
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gentlegiant
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Taken by Tina :-)
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Post by gentlegiant on Oct 27, 2021 4:02:58 GMT -5
Every time i travel with an airline - and i travel a lot - i wonder why they don't just let my wheelchair stand on its wheels (locked). Instead i quite often see it upside down or on the side. Last time they threw it down the stairs at DFW (see photo). Attachments:
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Post by ProudRealist on Oct 27, 2021 21:04:21 GMT -5
Damn gentlegiant, i would have been super pissed if that happened to me!
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Post by ContingentlyComposite on Nov 5, 2021 19:24:48 GMT -5
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Post by masterchief on Nov 6, 2021 0:36:45 GMT -5
I don't know if such a law exists but I think we need a law that will prosecute anyone who intentionally or by negligence cause damage to wheelchairs or any essential equipment of a PwD. I think it might just work in making the handlers be more careful in handling the equipment.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2021 0:19:15 GMT -5
Yet another thing I overlooked as an able-bodied person. It's ridiculous that they don't let PWDs sit in their wheelchairs on a plane, nor is that regarded. How dehumanizing. :/ I can't imagine how infuriating and traumatic it would be to lose my only form of (very expensive!) 'legs'/physical independence due to someone else's incompetence.
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HottRodd
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Post by HottRodd on Nov 7, 2021 15:09:08 GMT -5
It is always a gamble when travelling with plane for sure. Thankfully my manual chair was not badly damaged once (although minor damages have occured often) but one time, my sportchair was completly wrecked. The frame was snapped in two, and how it happened, of course no one could answer. It should be very difficult to do, but they managed.
One time long ago i saw a spanish video of an airline employee just throwing the wheelchairs as hard as he could, completly manhandling them, some fell on the curb of course, he just picked them up and threw them again. Unfortunetly i can't find this video.
But unfortunetly i do not think this will be solved just with training, as there are many people just so tired of their life and job, that they will keep handling the luggage, be it wheelchair or coffert, poorly.
There is although no reason manual chairs should not be allowed into the planes. With powerchairs, there is more safety issues.
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Post by justnick on Nov 7, 2021 15:51:25 GMT -5
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solid
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Post by solid on Nov 14, 2021 17:13:22 GMT -5
It is always a gamble when travelling with plane for sure. Thankfully my manual chair was not badly damaged once (although minor damages have occured often) but one time, my sportchair was completly wrecked. The frame was snapped in two, and how it happened, of course no one could answer. It should be very difficult to do, but they managed. I think it's a matter of the lighter the chair, the easier it is to break. My power chair's never been badly damaged, just some small scratches here & there and that's about it. Sports chairs are easy to throw around and as a result snap. But if the wheels weigh over a hundred kilos (200+ pounds), good luck throwing that one around.
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Post by Dr. BiPAP Sachin on Mar 31, 2022 12:25:15 GMT -5
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Post by sungod on Mar 31, 2022 12:47:55 GMT -5
I've seen claims/dreams like this design for years. Like supposed promising cures to our various disabilities, I'll believe it when I see it
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fer
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Post by fer on Mar 31, 2022 15:56:07 GMT -5
I hope in the future as more and more people with wheelchair use planes. I'm not sure how many flights have wheelchair travelers now vs ten or twenty years ago. Also the airline should held responsible for any damage dealt to the wheelchair.
But yeah airflight is a gamble. I mostly only travel domestically but I would hate going abroad just to have no ability to move whatsoever.
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kro354
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Post by kro354 on Mar 31, 2022 17:14:35 GMT -5
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