[Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

[Hyde, David W. (ESC)]

In your situation, I'd get the assistance with which you are comfortable. You don't need to tell them in advance, and even if you do, it won't help in many cases. When you check in, you will either be asked, or you can request it. They will assist you all the way through the system, including security. Unless you are taking a particularly heavy carry on, I'd not use the wheelchair. 
The time you may need to let them know that you will need help, is if you need to change planes. If you do need to, allow a bit of time between flights. Their assistance is never there when you get off the plane, and they don't move fast.
Finally, you will always be the first blind person they've ever worked with. It is up to you to tell them what you need, and how to do it.
Finally, it will become easier the more you fly. After a while your problem will be in refusing help.	

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sami Osborne via blindtlk
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 12:53 PM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org; blindtlk at nfbnet.org; travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
Cc: Sami Osborne
Subject: [Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

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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