[Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

[Edward Green]

Hi Sami,

I'm not sure there's a set point by which you need to have informed the airline that you require assistance, but you may as well do it as soon as you can.  Whether or not you book it by phone or online will probably depend on the airline, though I can't recall one where I've booked assistance online.

They will certainly assist you at all points in the airport, though you will need to identify yourself to a member of staff at the airport to trigger the assistance.  Will you be accompanied to the airport? If so, the easiest will probably be to ask the person with you to help you to the checkin desk so the airline can take it from them.

Whether or not you tell the airline that you don't need a wheelchair, you may get one.  What you then do about it is up to you.  Some people refuse to get in it as a matter of principle, others get in it for speed/a quiet life.

Cheers,

Ed
> On 27 May 2016, at 18:53, Sami Osborne via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I hope you're all having a great holiday weekend and enjoying spending time with family and friends.
> 
> This August, I'll be traveling from my home state of NY all the way to San Francisco, CA for a ten-day-long music camp for the blind.  This will be my first time flying by myself without my family.  I'd like to ask you guys a couple of questions about getting assistance to the gate at the airport, which we, as blind people, probably all need.
> 
> First of all, how much in advance should you let the airline know that you need assistance? When my mom was buying the plane tickets, she discovered that one of the questions they asked was if I was a blind person with a guide dog.  She didn't answer that because I only have a cane.  But on the airline's website, there is no information regarding getting assistance if you're blind.  So I'd like to know if you'd need to apply for assistance well in advance of your trip or just a few days before? Also, should you do it on the phone or can you do it online?
> 
> Second, I know that they can help you to the gate, but will they assist you with getting to the security checkpoint as well? When I go flying with my family, the airport employees usually assist me with going through security, so I already know that they can do that.  But as for getting from the curb to the checkpoint, would they be able to do that?
> 
> Third, as I mentioned before, this is my first time  flying on my own.  I know that a lot of times in the airport, they'll ask you if you want a wheelchair, only because they assume the worst about us.  I think you know what I mean.  Anyway, when I apply to get assistance, should I tell them that I don't need a wheelchair and just use sighted guide with whichever airport employee is walking with me, or would I need to do that  at the airport?
> 
> I hope that you people who fly independently can help me with this.
> 
> Thanks and happy Memorial Day weekend,
> 
> Sami
> 
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