✈️ Flying with a wheelchair: Medications, Mobility Aids, and More! 

I hope you found these tips helpful. Let me know if you have any plans to fly soon, and let me know if you have any top tips. Don’t forget to subscribe as the next video will be a flight vlog. London to Orlando. I’ll be showing you the full process and me using special assistance. Can’t wait? Check my passed flight vlogs here: London to Florida: Airport assistance ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PURv8-S9diQ.html (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PURv8-S9diQ.html) Heathrow - LA: Flying solo, live toilet footage ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FT2nrGIGfoQ.html (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FT2nrGIGfoQ.html) London - Paris: Short haul ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6r6P93o-DQI.html (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6r6P93o-DQI.html) London - Morocco: S olo I made a massive mistake ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-twKGV6ROOoc.html (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-twKGV6ROOoc.html) Sydney - London: 24 hr on the upper deck, and an accessible toilet onboard ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bHouo2DJ5wg.html (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bHouo2DJ5wg.html)

When I traveled with my wheelchair last year, all your advice made such a difference to our experience. I stayed on the airplane until they brought my wheelchair to me, as I had requested, (they tried to get me onto one of their wheelchairs, but with your voice ringing in my ears, I stood my ground!); and I hid an AirTag in my wheelchair. So thank you for all your advice. Have a lovely time and happy birthday! 🎉x

Of you'd like more dump (bucketing) in the chair you're taking on the trip you could try adding a foam wedge underneath your cushion. I need a lot of dump and have done that with great success both with a stiff foam beneath a hardbacked cushion and a softer foam beneath a softer cushion. The soft foam is marketed as for cars to decrease dump for shirt drivers but worked amazingly used backwards to increase dump. I hope your trip is awesome and I always look forward to all the travel content you decide to make.

I have flown many dozens of times with originally a manual wheelchair and more recently with either a powered scooter or wheelchair. 20 years ago the experience could be quite traumatic, with you having to surrender your wheelchair check in and you been put in an attended wheelchair. This meant that you were relegated to luggage! Unless you had somebody to push you, you couldn’t visit the shops or Cafes in departures. Nowadays things have changed dramatically and you can keep your chair right up to the door of the aeroplane. Even when there are no air bridges, most airports have.ambulifts to get you onto the plane.. Most of my flights have been from Edinburgh to Birmingham, London city, Heathrow, Bristol, Cardiff and Alicante In spain. Only London city has been problematic in recent years. Last time I was there I had to be lifted, down the aeroplane stairs and my wheelchair was only available after a long wait in the baggage hall. As I am a one bag traveller, who hasn’t checked bag in over 20 years, having to wait a whole new experience! Overall travelling by Air is relatively trauma free, if only the same could be said of Britain’s railways!!!

I get the wheelchair assistance at the airport in USA. I have trouble walking longer distances and standing for too long, so it's nice when they can just "drive" me through security and to my gate. Then I have a guaranteed seat at the gate as I wait for the flight. The staff has almost always been super kind about it and very friendly / helpful. I'm about to fly again in a few days, and I've rented a wheelchair for my destination. I don't have one myself yet, but I know I'll be in a big area without a car - so I definitely needed some extra help getting around. I'm pretty excited! Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 🎈 🎉

When travelling with medication I always ask for a hospital letter for my vast amounts of medication. A GP will do it but often charge for the letter however my hospital consultant always seems to be more accurate and never charges me.

I flew to New York from Manchester airport with Virgin and the Special Assistance was superb. As a wheelchair user they were polite, funny, efficient and friendly. I was greeted at the terminal, they helped me with my bags, checked me in, took me through security then into a private lounge all within 40 minutes. They sorted food and drinks for me and my son and took me to the aircraft. Definitely worth using if you have any apprehensions about flying

We go to Florida in 11 days our 3rd visit with wheelchair for my husband, we have clone from different airports and airlines, never had any issues with wheelchair and service excellent staff in airports and airlines

We're about to fly for the first time since my daughter became a wheelchair user. I'm not gonna lie...I'm terrified having seen all of the horror stories. We're only going to see my parents in Spain, so no hotel issues to worry about (my Mum is very elderly, so their place is already adapted). But we've booked the assistance, checked the electric wheelchair is allowed, got specialist insurance etc. Having seen your video we have also now opted to take the wheelchair to the plane. Got my airtags.

My experience at Heathrow was awful - never felt quite so much like cargo 😢 BHX has always been good - but I’ve been more assertive since Heathrow, as well as having my own chair etc…

Just watching your video now, Gem, some 8 hours after you posted it. Hope your flight to Florida is going well. 03:05 Bulkhead seats are right at the front of the aisle No. Bulkhead seats are the row of seats, across the width of a seating section, right at the front of a seating section, where there is a physical wall separating seating sections. The aisle runs the length, from front to back, of the passenger area. 06:31 Flight socks They might seem to be silly and a waste, but properly designed and made ones do work, and for any long flight, they are well worth it. 07:05 Doctor Another important thing to have to hand, is a copy of the prescriptions for medications your doctor might have prescribed for you to take in advance of, or on, a flight. 07:33 Huntsman spider That's only a medium sized one. What's real fun, is trying to herd such a spider, from an architrave corner above your computer workstation, to a spot low enough on the wall to be able to capture the spider, to be able to release it to outside. Favourite snacks Only having flown short haul, domestic, my favourite snacks are very dependent on the time of day of the flight. For a morning flight, around breakfast time, a light and tasty sandwich as an in flight breakfast. My go to favourite is egg, lettuce, mayonnaise, on wholemeal. For a mid afternoon flight, banana bread, or carrot cake. And for the bag of sweets, Minties.

❤ Thank you for today's Video! Snacks, 2 really good Protein Bars, nuts, Crystalised Ginger (also helps me avoid feeling 'travel sick')

my friend calls the hotel and most of the time they have comodes and shower chairs available. sometimes she can rent them if not. And last she can get amazon to deliver one if neither of the other options work

Have you thought of getting a stroller bag for the travel on planes for your chair? They’re quite big I’m sure the chair would fit . Then it’s covers fully from bumps and scratches as long as no big bumps or turbulence I hear it protects them pretty well. If you have someone to help you put it on it.

I know you had said to share good experiences, but I unfortunately don't have any when it comes to special assistance.. I was going to be flying from New Jersey to Las Vegas with just myself and my service dog, so I had booked special assistance to help me get through TSA, get everything checked in and get to my terminal. When I got into the airport however, there was no help desk, so I went up to an employee to ask where I should go to meet up with the person who would be helping me. The employee said there was no assistance at the airport, and there never had been, even though I had spoken to someone over the phone and confirmed that everything was in place!

So excited for you all! Safe travels and have a wonderful holiday 😊

Perfect timing, I’m in the airport right now! Lol. Love the advice!! I alwaysss put my wheelchair into the wheelchair priority hold :)

I'm flying 8 hours shy of 6 days from now. If the flight attendant tries to kick me off the plane again before my chair gets to the plane door, I'm going to once again leave the video recording running (my camera has a neck strap, so I can record with it just hanging around my neck, avoiding drawing any attention to it) and stand my ground, even harder than last time if necessary (I'm already practicing what to say if it happens). I'll be sitting in bulkhead on the bigger plane this time (I always have at least 2 flights - non-stop isn't an option for my normal itinerary) to test it out, because I'll be sitting in bulkhead all the time once I get my SD (still a few years out, but it will be happening - I'm currently in the program application phase). I try to always sit in a window seat where I can see the cargo ramp well, because that way I can be 100% sure that my chair did in fact make it onto the plane and that it did in fact come off the plane at every airport. I don't move to get off the plane until I see it either being carried up the ramp/stairs to the jet bridge or arrive at the bottom of the disembarkation ramp (if there's no jet bridge), never before. If the plane has more than one, I put a sign on my chair telling the baggage handlers which cargo door to load my chair through, so that I can actually watch it happening. I always put in a seating accommodation request in order to get the best seat for my needs that's still available, and I reference the applicable section of U.S. federal law (my disability isn't one of the ones where they can kick someone else out of a seat for me if it's already occupied, but they're still required to accommodate my request as best as is available as long as I follow the rules for submitting one, which basically consists of just having to be submitted at least a week before the flight), and United has always been happy to grant it (United has an option to do a basic 3-D tour of the plane interior, and that, combined with a photo of the outside of the type of plane, lets me figure out which seat(s) will give me the best view of the cargo ramp - the key is counting the windows). The seats I normally get would cost an upgrade (not up to first class, but economy up to economy plus) if I didn't put in a accommodation request, so it's worth it to me to put one in. I normally fly the row or 2 behind bulkhead on big planes, but I edited my usual message so that I could get bulkhead this time, because it was available and what precluded me from bulkhead in the past no longer does, so it was worth testing out - I've only flown bulkhead one other time, so we'll see how it goes. For those of you whose mobility aids are too big to go in the overhead bin but still fit into the size parameters (it’s 13”x36”x42” under U.S. law - check the airline and the applicable federal law for foreign-only flights), in the U.S., federal law 14 CFR 382.67 and 14 CFR 382.121 subpart I (capital “i”) apply to planes that are of a certain size and were ordered/received after a certain date, which state that they are required to have a method to stow at least one adult size folding wheelchair in the cabin, whether that be in a wheelchair closet or (for those plane that don’t have a wheelchair closet) a row of seats and using an approved seat strapping method to secure the chair, or some other reserved space that isn't the normal overhead bins or underseat space. The passenger must tell the gate agent that he/she would like to preboard in order to get priority to use the space for his/her chair, otherwise it's on a first come first serve basis (wheelchairs always have priority for the space, but, if no wheelchairs are, other assistive devices can also be stored there as long as the applicable regulations for safe in-cabin travel are followed). Be aware that foreign airlines are also required to abide by these for all flights (not trips, but flights) into, out of, and within the U.S., so it being a foreign carrier or only having one end of the flight being in the U.S. doesn’t mean that U.S. rules don’t apply. For more details, a quick google search of the CFR reference number will bring up the exact page of the full document. The first time I stowed my chair in the cabin, I printed the airline’s rules and the applicable CFR sections, stapled them together, and highlighted the relevant lines, so for any of the gate agents who weren’t familiar with the rules for stowing a wheelchair in the cabin, I just handed him/her the papers and he/she could take his/her time to read and understand it - I printed them straight from their respective websites, so there was no way the gate agent (or flight crew - apparently the wheelchair closet is where many flight crew like to store their bags, and apparently there have been times where the crew refused to store a wheelchair in there, despite the passenger preboarding and saying he/she wanted to store his/her chair in the closet, because the flight crew’s bags were already in there and they didn’t want to move them) could challenge me on any of it. The allowance for other assistive devices to be stored in the wheelchair closet means that, if no one chooses to put their wheelchair in there on my second flight next week, I’m going to put my SmartDrive in there. My first flight's plane is small enough that the aforementioned rules technically don't apply, but I'm going to ask them anyway - anyone who has held a SmartDrive knows they're heavy, and they're really awkward to get in and out of the overhead (I end up subluxing my shoulder almost every time because I'm so short (I have to stand on the seat in order to reach into the overhead)), so I wouldn't feel comfortable with a flight attendant doing it for me, not because I'm scared that she'd/he'd drop it, but because it's just so extremely awkward. Regarding special assistance, I used to have to use it (before I got my current chair and SmartDrive 4 years ago), so a few tips for that: -How you book it will depend on the airline, but make sure you check with the airline either when you get to the airport (if you can get yourself into the airport and up to the check-in desk, which might involve waiting in line for an indeterminate amount of time - I've waited anywhere from not at all all the way up to 1 1/2 hrs, depending on how busy it was) or the day before (if you need someone to meet you at the curb) that your request did in fact make it onto your reservation, because their system can get messed up and take the request off without notice (I've had that happen before), even if it shows up when you log in to check your reservation. -They should give you the option to use your own chair/walker/crutches in the airport if you want to carry them on/gate-check them instead of checking them at the check-in desk. Even if you plan to use an airport wheelchair, be aware that the wheelchair assistance people are there to get you from Point A to Point B - that can include any necessary restroom/water bottle fill-up stops, but it may or may not include anything else (I don't have personal experience with trying to make any other types of stops while utilizing assistance - if someone else does, please reply with it), and once they get you to Point B, you're on your own because they won't wait with you, so make sure you plan ahead for that. -If you'll need assistance at the next airport, when you board, ask the flight attendant to call ahead to let them know that you need someone to meet you at the gate when you land. Before I started doing that, I sometimes had to wait 30+ minutes (almost missed my next flight that time). After I started doing that, max I ever had to wait was 2, and usually it was none at all. As for in-flight snacks, I always take a sliced up apple and 1 or 2 Jif to Go's (depending on the apple's size) - I don't always eat it, but I always bring it in case I get hungry on the plane... or in case we have a 2+hr delay on the tarmac and takeoff 2hr45min late that turns my 3hr layover into me barely having time to grab dinner (not eat, only grab) and getting to the gate 15 minutes before boarding starts (barely enough time to get the new tag for my chair and eat a little of what I grabbed), which is what happened back in October. I generally get breakfast on my layover on the trip out and dinner on the layover on the way home, because that's what it works out to be for my normal flight times, though this time it'll be dinner on the way out because the first flight is at 3 p.m. instead of the usual 5-6 a.m.

So excited for you guys have the best time!

My favourite snacks are lemon sherbets and chup a chup lollies to suck on during take off and for during the flight I like crisps (prawn cocktail or chilli flavours as I have a dairy allergy).

We have air tag Gem one will be on my wheelchair and the others will be on our suitcases

Have a great holiday Gem we are just behind you 21 days and we will be seeing Mickey and Harry 👨🏻‍🦽✈️🇺🇸❤️

This is for flights departing from or arriving to USA ACAA laws state the airline must give you the most accessible seat available, this includes bulkhead seats, at no extra charge. ACAA laws state the aircraft must allow at least one wheelchair in the cabin closet, in the overhead storage or in a passenger seat. Storing the wheelchair in the cargo hold is only a last resort option if none of the aforementioned is possible to provide. Wheelchairs and other mobility aids take priority over everything else, including the staff luggage

Safe Journey🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

I would keep an eye on the weather when you get to Florida, its Hurricane season as from the radar it's pretty clear.

My favorite airplane snacks are trail mix and granola bars 14:37

I have a question for you. Do you use a travel scooter instead of bringing the wheelchair on the airplane? Just curious.

How are you going to cope queuing at Disney? Since the changes to DAS I assume you are no longer eligible for it?

I need some of what you are taking lol..

prietena mea are o gramada si a donat din ele,iar mama ei a vindut citeva la tirg de nevoie ( my friend has a bunch and donated some of them, and her mother sold some at the flea market )

Gem I am a hemiplegic guy who loves cruises, do u cruise?

I asked my gp before I flew and he said I could take aspirin a few days before flying

TRAVELING BY AIRPLANE WITH A WHEELCHAIR 💜💜💜💞💞💞👍👍🤏🦽🦽🦽🛫🛫🛫

Priceless information as always. Thank you!

Hello from California! I'll be taking my first plane trip in April. Thanks for this video and great recommendations! My wife and I will be flying on a British Airways A380 to Spain! She got me an off-road wheelchair for the trip! So excited, but I've heard British Airways' service has gone downhill. Got to fly Qantaa next! Watched your video flying to Australia!

I’ve never been on a plane. My power chair is my legs. We’re going to Benidorm with TUI in September and I’m scared something will happen to my chair. I have classical EDS and my joints are very delicate and I’m so worried about it all

I had the misfortune to transfer at Heathrow four times. I'm a 6'5" skinny dude with virtually zero strength on my own. (Like a 140 lb lettuce). The first two times were okay-ish because we had cca 6 hours to transfer. But on the third occasion Assistance didn't show up for cca an hour even though the captain was yelling with them to hurry up. The plane was already cleaned and read to taxi to another terminal for its next journey. Of course we missed our onward flight and the check-in agent had the gall to insinuate that it is my fault that we were late. On the fourth occasion we got to the gate minutes before closing, only because we ditched our Assistance. (imagine a prison escape) Then this plane was also delayed because only a single (quite short) dude showed up without an aisle chair. He wasn't allowed to use the aircraft's aisle chair nor the gate agents' help to put me in the seat because of liability reasons. At Heathrow the assistance agents have these specialist PDAs which are apparently as useful as tits on a fish. That assistance operation has become a shitshow or clusterfuck lately. On the other hand, I transferred at WAW, FRA and MAD earlier and they were efficient, professional, kind and even amusing. In Madrid they even summoned a gate agent to accompany us who was of Hungarian descent and could easily translate for us. That was a heartwarming gesture.

I use prochlorperazine most days , it helps so much with nausea especially gastroparesis style nausea

Good evening. Love the channel. Subscribed. Where did you get the pink push rims please ?😊😊

Looking forward to your florida vlogs .... have a great time xx

See the. Air plane travel. Name. Air plane.

Many places in the US There are often DME companies that will rent hospital beds, commodes, shower chairs, even scooters, power chairs or transport chairs,etc. I look for those places when I go somewhere and many deliver if local enough. DME loaner charities that loan out gear are a cost free option, if one is where you’re traveling. They do make folding versions but I feel like they can be flimsy. Some hotels have shower chairs. Request that on booking and call ahead a day prior to arrival to confirm that it will be available still.

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing! I’ll be saving this video for the next time I fly. Sounds like it will be an amazing trip! Last I flew I had a folding wheelchair and roll at or. Now I’m full time in a power chair so knowing not to get off the plane before mobility aids and an attendant get there is something I never thought about! TSA Cares is the US version. They have to allow unlimited medical items without cost and priority within the cabin for medications. I travel with many many litter bags of IV fluids, including being hooked up to my ambulatory IV pump. They also have to allow bottled water, Ice packs, needles/syringes, etc if it’s for a medical need. However, not all TSA agents or flight staff know this. I found that I have to contact the airport after contacting TSA Cares and speak with the TSA cares agent on site. I give information of everything that will be with me to the airline as well. The TSA agent meets me at security to assist with the special ways all these medical supplies are tested and screened. I bring doctors notes for everything to be safe. I do all of the set up and contacting 2-4 or more weeks in advance whenever possible. Manchester, NH, USA is a small regional airport but they have been amazing with helping to make flying as easy as possible. Baltimore airport started out a little tricky but once I found a way to contact the TSA Cares agent at that airport and not just the main call center, they were amazing! This is all prior to COVID so I don’t know how much change has taken place since. A friend of mine who uses a power chair said on large planes it can be requested for the chair to be put in a shipping crate for its protection before being loaded under the plane. He said they try to fight him every time but research on what type of plan and the storage capabilities on the plane can help. I usually print the rights and allowances pages from TSA cares site to pass out to any airport/plane staff who try’s to say otherwise. Most folks are quite kind and they just didn’t know about disability travel righ]s in the US. Thank you for all the information and awareness you spread throughout our community and beyond! ❤

I wish you were my neighbor and we could have coffee, Gem!

I have yet to travel with my Chair. other than local.

Hello Gem. Gem, folding chairs are not suitable for sitting in all day long. I remember you mentioning that it caused you pain. Take the rigid back one. You will be more comfortable and hopefully not have so much pain. I hope you, Shaun and Daisy have a lovely holiday. Happy Birthday, Gem.

Adding to more airports with special assistance. I am autistic. In the past few years I have flown a few times with Bristol airport. I checked in my luggage and then went to special assistance. They took me through the airport & fast tracked me through the scanners to get my hand luggage checked & helped guide me through the airport. Was put in a lounge. Then when it came time they took me to the plane and made sure I got on. Also going to America (I cannot remember the airport) traveling they drove me on their buggies through the airport so I didn’t have to walk all through it.

Special assistant, my wife has agoraphobia and problems with new people, sorted her out, she had someone who took her from the car, same people took her to the plane and handed her to the plane staff, who handed her over to the special assistant in orlando who handed her over to Disney (Disney is 1 of the few places she feels safe, and she had to do an emergently trip to Disney)

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