WHEELCHAIR TRAVELER BY AIR

Mildred Messinger

A Tale for the Wheelchair Traveler Who Goes by Air

Some airports have rules that can make the trip tougher - and more comical - than it has to be.

I don't know if this could happen to every wheelchair traveler but, since it happened to me, I'd like to forewarn others. As you'll see, the airport where I began my journey had lots of rules for using the wheelchair. To keep things from getting too wordy as I explain what happened, I'll use the following abbreviations:

• WC = wheelchair
• SS = special services
• CH = companionable husband
• AECP = airport employee chair pusher
• CP = chair pusher (generic)

Here's how I got trapped in the SS room. I arrived at the airport at the right time but my flight was going to be delayed for an hour. I was using an airport WC, pushed by an AECP, to get to the departure gate. I came with a CH. The AECP says, 'I can't stay with you that long. I'll take you to the SS room.' (It is important for any WC traveler to know that if you use an airport WC you are entitled to keep the use of it until you board your flight but you are not entitled to an AECP unless you go directly to board. However, if you use your own WC, you must bring along your own CP. This is how these differences can can keep you out of the SS room.)

'I can push her,' says CH. Since he hates anyone else to be in charge, he tries to prevail. He fails.

'It's against the rules for anyone to push this chair but an AECP,' says the AECP as he is pushing the chair - fast - with CH jogging behind.

I'm sure the airport management thought waiting in the SS room would be nice for disabled persons. It isn't. 'Give me your ticket! We'll get you there on time,' bellows the keeper behind the counter. 'Sit there!' she says. To whom_ Not to me; I'm sitting. The order is directed to CH. To my amazement, he obeys and kindly wheels me to sit near him even though his face is quite flushed. I think it must be from having two persons in charge of him.

It is now my lunch time. I am hungry. I had expected to be on a plane having my lunch served. I see a food stand through the doorway. I ask CH if he'd wheel me out the door so I could get some food. 'What does she want_' booms the SS keeper to my CH. I guess she thought to ask because she saw us huddled in conversation and waving at the doorway. I would have answered that I was hungry and wanted to get some food, if she'd asked me. I was afraid of what she might do if I told her I could answer questions myself. It never occurred to me that she would do what she did: She decreed to me!

'If you go out there, you'll have to walk. There's a rule that no one can push an airport WC but an AECP.' There is more decree: 'No, you can't go out until your plane is ready in case they change the gate.' I get brave. 'I'm hungry.'

'Sorry, you should have stopped for food on the way here. Then you could eat at those tables in the back. Once you're here, you can't leave in an airport WC until an AECP comes to get you.'

Of course, I didn't know that until I was in the SS room, but now you know. So just remember, on the way to the SS room by WC being pushed by an AECP, get food.

This material is provided as general medical information and is not intended as advice for individual patients; please contact your physician for specific recommendations.