[nabs-l] Questions about getting assistance in airports

[Sami Osborne]

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