[Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

[Steve Jacobson]

Over the years, assistance in airports has been a very tricky subject.  The
amount of help each of us needs varies greatly, and airport staff has a
difficult time understanding that we are individuals, each with our own set
of strengths.  When asking for assistance, it would help all of us if people
would be sure to keep the following in mind:

Do not allow yourself to be made dependent on staff by letting them keep
your ticket.  This was something that has been done in the past.

Do not put yourself in the position of requiring that someone get you from a
separate location when your plane starts to board.  You need to be where you
can hear the boarding announcement so you can let someone know you need
assistance in the event that the person assigned to you forgets or is
unexpectedly absent.

If you have asked for assistance and are told that you will get assistance
to leave the plane once it is empty, prepare to leave the plane on your own
when you notice that the stream of people exiting has stopped.  Remember
that often a plane is going to another destination and it may well not
completely empty out.  People have missed connecting flights waiting for
staff to help them from a plane because someone forgot.

Ask yourself if it is really necessary for you to be given preference by
being taken to the pre-check security line unless you have chosen to pay for
that service.  This can be a tough one, though, because if you require
someone to accompany you the entire time, they may wish to place you in the
pre-check line to save their time as much as yours.  Some of us may require
skipping the wait due to other disabilities, but poor eyesight does not
automatically mean we cannot stand in line.

To me, it is important to draw a line between receiving assistance and being
treated as though we were children.  Whatever assistance each of us needs,
we need to keep that in mind as we make choices.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Judy Jones
via blindtlk
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 1:08 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Judy Jones <Judy.Jones at icbvi.idaho.gov>
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

Hi,

Different people handle this situation differently.  If you are familiar
with an airport you travel all the time, then you would need less
assistance.

In your case, your airport may have check-in before you actually enter the
airport.  You can let the ticket taker know then that you will need
assistance.  I have never had any problems getting the assistance as I need
it, and I have flown quite a bit out of all kinds of airports and for
several years.

If you have a change-over in your flight, you can let the flight attendant
know before landing that you would need assistance to your next flight.  No
problem.  

Judy


-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sami
Osborne via blindtlk
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 11:53 AM
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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