[nabs-l] Questions about getting assistance in airports

[Karl Martin Adam]

Hi Sami,

I too have never had a problem just asking for help at security.  
I've usually gone with tickets either already printed out or on 
my phone, so that's usually my first stop at the airport not the 
ticket counter.  They will typically call ahead to have someone 
waiting for you when you get off the plain if you arrive at the 
gate with assistance, but it might be a good idea to ask them to 
do this so you don't have to wait for someone to show up when you 
disembark just in case they don't do it on there own.

HTH,
Karl

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Sami Osborne via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org, blindtlk at nfbnet.org, 
travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Fri, 27 May 2016 13:53:03 -0400
Subject: [nabs-l] 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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