- 1). Reserve your airline tickets by calling the airline or a travel agent directly. Advise the representative that the passenger uses an electric wheelchair. If reservations are made online, call the airline and speak with a representative about the accommodations. Depending on the type of disability and whether an attendant will be traveling with the disabled person, special seating arrangements will need to be made. Advance notice the passenger is traveling with an electric wheelchair is not required but is beneficial to the traveler.
- 2
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Pack the user guide for the electric wheelchair. Use the guide to determine which parts of the chair will need to be taken apart in order for the chair to be stowed on the plane. All pieces of the chair that will be removed for stowing should be clearly labeled with the passenger's name. Take the user guide on the journey to ensure that the components removed from the chair are replaced properly. A small tool kit should also be packed. An empty bag may also be helpful to pack; this can be used to safely store components of the chair that are removed before it is stowed on the plane. - 3). Arrive at the airport at least an hour earlier than required. Before transferring the passenger from his electric wheelchair to an airport-provided wheelchair, prepare the electric wheelchair to be stowed under the plane. This includes removing the joystick, unlocking the wheels and removing arm and foot rests. The Federal Aviation Administration is required to remove certain types of batteries for safety. Consult the chair's user guide to determine if the chair has gel or dry cell batteries. These types can be left attached to the chair during flight. If the chair is equipped with these batteries, place a sign on them stating "Batteries Safe for Travel" to alert crew members. Removing batteries unnecessarily can cause damage to the chair.
- 4
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Passengers in wheelchairs will be among the first to board the plane. On planes that do not have a bridge to board, the aisle chair is used to carry passengers in wheelchairs up the stairs. Aisle chairs are slim seats with straps for security. They also have handles used by crew members while lifting passengers. - 5
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If necessary, an aisle chair will be used to assist the passenger to his seat.
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