[Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

Sat May 28 20:44:16 UTC 2016

This is good information and it's a more balanced view of the TSA than we've 
heard lately.  In my opinion, it does seem that the TSA has gotten an unfair 
rep lately.

Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Annely Rose via blindtlk
Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 3:04 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Cc: Annely Rose
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Questions about getting assistance in airports

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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