[Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

Fri May 27 19:04:07 UTC 2016

When I flew Souhtwest Airlines last year, I called TSA Cares 3 days before my flight, gave them my flight information, and someone called me back the day of the flight and it was the person who would be meeting me at the curb.  (This was in Birmingham, AL).  He called me the day of the flight and asked me about what time I would be arriving and what kind of car I was in.  He helped me at the check in desk and then got me through the security checkpoint and took me to my gate.  Someone from another assistance service (not TSA) then got me from the plane to the baggage area at the Orlando airport.  I had also informed Southwest Airlines that I am blind, but TSA was the one I contacted.  I did this the year before and it all worked out great even though TSA got the date wrong on my return flight from Alabama.  When I got to the curb in Birmingham the year before, a TSA worker had been outside on her break and gave up her break to help me through checkin and the security checkpoint.  I was called by TSA 3 days after I got home inquiring about my upcoming flight.  I told them I flew 3 days ago (they had the wrong date) and told the woman about the awesome unexpected help I got from the woman on her break.  She said she knew the woman and was her supervisor and would commend her for it.  So you should call TSA and get the details.  Here is information I got from the TSA website:

Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares will serve as an additional, dedicated resource specifically for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.  Travelers may also request a Passenger Support Specialist ahead of time by calling the TSA Cares hotline at 1-855-787-2227.
The hours of operation for the TSA Cares help line are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 11 p.m. Eastern Time and weekends and Holidays 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern Time. 

Hope this is helpgul.  Have a safe trip.

Annely
--------------------------------------------
On Fri, 5/27/16, Hyde, David W. (ESC) via blindtlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports
 To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
 Cc: "Hyde, David W. (ESC)" <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us>
 Date: Friday, May 27, 2016, 2:05 PM

 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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