| Around1990, it became apparent that disabled | | | | are required to be able to assist a disabled person |
| persons represented a considerable percentage of | | | | with only 48 hours notice. The only way this does |
| total persons using airline travel. An airport transport | | | | not apply is when the disabled traveler requires |
| chair then became a necessary investment for all | | | | special accommodations like oxygen tanks, or the use |
| airports. The ACAA wanted to make sure that all | | | | of a bariatric chair. Rest assured that the porter who |
| passengers regardless of their physical impairment | | | | meets you at your gate is trained and |
| received equal and necessary accommodations. Do | | | | knowledgeable. Most airline porters are literally at your |
| you qualify for an airport transport chair? A number | | | | service, helping you get through security checkpoints |
| of passengers have difficulty moving but manage to | | | | quickly, and retrieving the rest of your luggage at |
| live without a wheelchair. However, airports are a | | | | baggage claim. It's not uncommon for porters to also |
| different obstacle, getting from one terminal to the | | | | give you curbside service by helping you get into |
| next may be physically exhausting, and painful even | | | | your outside waiting vehicle and loading your luggage |
| with the help of a cane. Airports understand that a | | | | in the trunk for you. Going the extra mile is what |
| person journeying through their airport may need | | | | most airline transport hosts strive to do, they won't |
| transport chair assistance even if they don't look like | | | | mind stopping when you request to get a snack or |
| they do. Generally, four categories are used when | | | | newspaper from the inside newsstands, and |
| reserving wheelchair assistance. A person who can | | | | restroom breaks are understandable. Keep in mind |
| usually walk in normal circumstances like climbing stairs | | | | though, that it's a great way to show your |
| or such, might need to have a wheelchair to help | | | | appreciation by providing your escort a tip. You're |
| them get from one gate to the next, or from the | | | | confident about your wheelchair rental, but what |
| gate to the aircraft. A person who can perform | | | | about your bags? If you're traveling with a small bag |
| certain walking functions, but requires an alternative | | | | that you don't mind holding in your lap, your luggage |
| to stair climbing qualifies for an airport transport chair. | | | | is not an issue for you. It's when your carryon bag is |
| A person who has little to no lower body mobility, | | | | significantly heavy and was built with small wheels |
| but is accustomed to operating a standard chair or | | | | instead of a strap that you may begin to worry |
| power chair qualifies for airport transport service. | | | | about how it will be handled. Most airlines have |
| Finally, any person whose everyday means of | | | | started a wonderful trend of purchasing transport |
| mobility are by a wheelchair due to either lower | | | | chairs that have rear luggage storage. These chairs |
| immobility or both upper and lower immobility qualifies. | | | | allow for medium to small size bags up to 50lbs to be |
| Who will be at the gate to pick you up with a | | | | strapped conveniently to the back of your chair while |
| transport chair? While it's not a good idea, airports | | | | you ride. |