Category: Travel and Tourism
Hello,
In a few months I will be flying alone for the first time ever. I know that I need to call the airline to see what accomidations they have, I know that there's a fee for baggage over a certain wait, and I know the policies on bringing liquids in your cary on. Since this is my first time flying by myself, can any of you give me some advice or tell me anything else I need to know? Can anyone recommend any flight booking websites? I've tried Travelosity, Expedia, Priceline, and hotwire. Thanks in advance,
Leslie
hi, Leslie. I've flown by myself many times, and although it's scary the first time, I think you will be just fine.
You can call the airlines and ask about accommodations, but here's my opinion. the airlines can accommodate pretty much anything these days, so long as they know your needs. I am not sure what precisely your needs are, or what your situation is. Do you have someone bringing you to the airport who can walk with you to the gate? If so, just have that person get a gate pass when you check in. Contrary to what many believe, a person may walk you to your gate if they get a gate pass and go through security with you. However, if that is not the case, when you check in, the airlines will call for someone to assist you to your gate. In many airports, these are called sky caps. Sometimes they will try to bring a wheelchair for you to sit in. I personally do not do this, since I am only blind, and can walk perfectly well. However, I know everyone's ideas on it are different, and of course, some people do have walking problems and do need the chairs. I tell them I just need someone to walk with me. The skycap will take you to your gate, and leave. Then when it is time to board, usually it is the gate agent who takes you down to the plane. I would suggest pre-boarding, to make things easier. This gives the flight attendant extra time to show you your surroundings and the safety features, especially if you've never flown at all, or are flying by yourself for the first time. Again, some blind people have different ideas about pre-boarding, but I personally use it. When you arive at your destination, the airlines will usually make you wait for someone to come get you and take you off the plane. since I am familiar with flying now, I can sometimes exit the plane and jetbridge myself, but when I first started flying alone, I waited. Again, if you have people picking you up, they too can get passes to meet you at the gate. I have gone with sighted friends to pick up other blind friends from the airport before, and we have asked for gate passes and been allowed to meet my friend as they came off the plane. If you don't have that option, they will have another sky cap take you to baggage claim, and then help you get whever it is you need to go.
Having people you know get gate passes is most convenient, to be sure. But if that's not possible in your situation, you will be fine working with the airline staff. Just be very clear about what it is you do need, and do not need. Remember you are the paying customer, and you have the right to be helped, but also to be treated with dignity in the process.
As far as travel websites, the only other one I can think of is cheaptickets.com
Hope some of this has helped you.
Yes it has. Thanks.
I think that Alicia has pretty much covered everything with regard to the assistance side of things.
I did just want to throw another website into the mixer for you though and that's
Orbits.com
whom my wife and I often book with. That said we do a lot more international travel than domestic so I can't say how good they are price wise for domestic flights. But definitely another option to check out for you.
Dan.,,
www.fly.com is also a good web site, though a little strange from an accessibility standpoint.
Make sure your booking specifies that you are blind or need meet and assist, generally there is a place in the booking process where you can specify this, if not, call the airline with your record locator (a 6 letter or digit code) and they'll add it. Even if you do not hve this they're still obligated to help you.
I take a different stance on friends and helping. I do not want a person to help me to the gate because I want to be the airline's responsibility all the way, plus the person who helps you has to find and pay for parking, go through security, bring his/her ID to the airline and it is a lengthy process (for family or for the first few tims, of course, that's no problem, but I personally just feel more comfortable having my friend drop me off and take it from there, but this is of course just individual choice).
You can often check in your bag outside at curb side check in, which is convenient.
You can even do this and have a printed boarding pass (many web sites and airlines offer you to print them at home startind 24 hours before departure) so you can get assistance straight from ouside to the gate.
If you fly Spirit they'll charge you for carry on luggage (up to 40 dollars I have heard) plus each bag. Southwest allows two bags free, U.S. Airways, I think, has $15 per bag, AA has first bag free and $50 for a second, just be familiar with the airline you fly and remember to factor this in when you are purchasing a flight.
If you have a laptop you have to take it out for security check point screening, if you have a braille display, about half the time, they want to x-ray your bag specifically and ask you about it.
Wear a jacket where you can keep your phone, ID, mp3 player and such and just throw it in the security scanner basket, avoid wearing a belt or any other metal thing, since it is much faster if nothing beeps on you at security check point.
JFK still insists you sit in a wheel chair or they refuse to help you. I have had this experience on 6 or 7 trips through there in the last 2 years, most recently last weekend, so this is definitely something to keep in mind. AA and British Airways staff do this at least, Jet Blue seem a bit more flexble, it depends who the airline contracts with for ground services.
I get frustrated but I generally decide I'd rather get on the plain than win some dignity/moral victory.
Then just try to enjoy the flight. I find them boring and uncomfortable, but I've been on 30 flights so far this year and expect quite a few more .. you get used to it.
Enjoy free soda and make sure to hydrate, drink a soda or glass of water every hour, at the minimum, and stand up and find the bath room from time to time, stretching your legs is a good idea.
Enjoy
-B
How can they make you sit in the chair or not assist? That's illegal, for one thing. and interesting: it did not used to be that way. I flew through JFK once, and did not have that problem. However, it was years ago, back in 2004. Still, not right. As I said in my earlier post, we are the paying customer, and it is our right to say what we do and do not need.
When I flew, I got out of the plane myself and asked for assistance when I was on the jet bridge. Also, when I was dropped off at the airport, I asked for a skycap to take me to the gate, rather than my parents taking me there. I just felt that that would show a little more independence. And of course I asked that they didn't give me a wheel chair, since I'm only blind. Overall, it went pretty well.
Hi,
I've been in a few flights in the past few years, two of them international and 4-5 of them domestic.
I've always hated the fact that they bring a wheelchair my self, and I usually try to tell them politely that I would like to just walk with them rather than ride in a wheelchair.
Sometimes, the major airports have electric carts that they use to transport disabled passengers throughout the airport to their gates. This allows them to transport more than one person as the carts usually have like 4 or 6 seats in them. The carts have a beeper on them to for backing up and alerting the people in the airport that the cart is backing up or to get people to move out of the way. The personnel driving these carts are usually helpful. They help you to your gate and they have even helped me when I wanted to get something to eat in the airport or whatever else I may need. I usually took the cart as there were always multiple riders in the cart so you don't feel quite as singled out as you would if someone put you in a wheel chair when you didn't need it and are capable of walking. It also allowed them to drop off people at multiple gates in the order of when the person needed to be at the gate first I think.
I did travel through JFK once, but I didn't fight them much on the wheelchair because I had some things going on that I was upset about and preoccupied so I didn't really say anything when they brought the wheelchair because I think I was on the phone then, but otherwise I would have tried to get them not to put me in the wheelchair to get me on the plane. That's why I don't know if they would have refused to help me if I didn't take it.
Also, some airlines have Braille books that describe safety, exits, and things like that just like the ones that are in back of the seats that are in print. Sometimes they offer them to you, and you may want to ask them if they have such materials in Braille. I think US Airways does, but I am not sure if that is with all of their flights or not. Also, they say all of the safety instructions over the intercom as well as when to put your seat belts on and when they are about to take off or land and related instructions related to that. If you preboard they will show you where the little fold-out table is and where the oxygen masks are in case you need them in an emergency situation and also where the exits and bathrooms are.
Also, as far as booking sites, I use expedia for a lot of the flights I have made in the past. I also found a website:
www.airfarewatchdog.com
This site has a search feature to search specific dates and times or you can do a flexible date search that picks the cheapest flights within the period you specify. It searches several different engines for the cheapest flights. You can also set up email alerts by city, and they email you daily about the lowest prices from that particular city or to that city. They do a list of domestic flights and their prices first in the email, and after that is a list of weekend domestic fares to or from that city, and the last list is international fares to or from the city you picked when you set up the alert.
I know this post was lengthy, but these are my experiences with flying.
Thanks,
Misty
Alicia, the problem with JFK is that most of the skycaps there know limited English. I swear they flew in from their native country just to work in the airport, and never cleared customs. They probably sleep in a remote corner somewhere when they're not on duty, and don't shower. This is why they make you use a wheelchair. They can't understand that you don't need it. You're better off saving your breath, and letting them push you, and do the grunt work. I do hate wheelchairs in airports though, and JFK's the only one that has ever forced the issue on me.
If you're booking domestically, try www.southwest.com where bags fly free.
Random tidbit, the Skycaps, at least at JFK, make 8 dollars an hour and no insurance or anything, does not sound very attractive.
I have carried a few dollars on me for tips but while they force me into a wheel chair they will not get tipped, simple as that.
It is confusing with thipping because some airports almost expect you to tip (Detroit) while others (Charlotte) apparently ban their skycaps from accepting tips, at least that's what I've been told.
The only word against Southwest (great people, good airline, highly ercommended in any other way) is that often you need to stop over or connect on the routes you go because of the way their system is set up.
Usually you can go most places with only one stopover but occasionally you need two, depends on your route.
I've also had good experience with Jet Blue, it all depends where you are going (and coming from of course).
Keep some cash on you, in 5 dollar bills, may be 20 or so, in case you need to pick up something or get a snack on the airplane or something. Some airlines only take credit cards but some only cash and they usually carry little or no change.
Oh, I've certainly encountered my share of sky caps that speak crap for English. I love how disabled people can't get jobs, but these guys can? OK, sorry, entirely different rant, which I won't go into here.
Anyway, I only tip sky caps if I feel they have earned it. Some really do, and I try to tip them well, as I know they don't make a ton of money. But attempting to force me into a wheelchair is not earning it. I also won't tip them if they come right out and ask for it, which happens sometimes. If you have to ask for it, you just lost it. Harsh, I know, but I can't stand that.
Misty, I forgot about the fact that some airlines have their safety manuals in Braille. I have seen that a couple times, but for the life of me can't remember which airlines I was flying when I did. My feeling at the time was that I think it's really cool they have it, and that they should have it. However, I personally did not pay a lot of attention to the Braille copy, because I've been flying since 1994, and had heard and seen all the safety info before.
Just as a side note, I absolutely love Southwest.
I flew four times alone this summer and 2 times last year. no one offered me a wheelchair, and I would have refused. no way. I am a young healthy hirl. I am fully capable of walking and I'm ot going to look even more handy capped by riding in a wheelchair but, that's just me.
I like flying alone. Its a real adventure, and I find it to be exciting. sometimes its a bit frustrating trying to tell them that you don't need them grabbign your arm every second or trying to hold on to your hand and stuff but I just do it politely but firmly and I'm fine. The last 3 times I've flown it was with my guide dog. Its a bit more of a hassle but its just fine.
I tend to save myself some time and headache and actually not use the airport assistance provided—not out of any desire to prove my independence, more as a time saving measure. For grins, when I travelled more extensively on business, I did a time trial, taking three trips with arport assistance and three trips without, and the assistance failed the time test 3 times out of 3. Not only that, but one of those nearly had me stranded in Houston for the night. Needless to say, arguing that I was stranded because I *ACCEPTED* assistance was not something I relished, insofar as the general concensus amongst airline personnel has a history of being that the only way you'd be a competent traveller if you're blind is if you had a sighted helper.
On the subject of the wheelchair, one instance stands out in my mind—I was giving a sales presentation in Austin (the same trip that had me nearly stranded in Houston, actually). After landing in Las Vegas, I was provided with an escort with a wheelchair. Noticing that the chair was a bit heavy, and after determining that they apparently were unable to divest themselves of it due to ... um ... policy, I got directions to the connecting gate and took off at a sprint. Now, the poor un-asked-for escort unit, after a fashion, plaintively informed me that "the last blind person wanted a wheelchair". See, I'll buy "policy" (though I'll be having a conversation with upervisors about "policy"), and I'll buy ignorance on the part of the attendant type, but "the last X needed Y, so all X's need Y" sort of got to me ... so I sort of told her that the last woman I talked to was a lesbian, so if she would kindly get her girlfriend on the mobile that I would provide, I'd be more than happy to take the wheelchair (at least partially because, if she complied with such a request, I'd at least be a good sport about the whole thing). Needless to say ... she didn't say much after that.
Let me go on record as saying, lest I be confused with one of those types that feels that you're incompetent if you take advantage of airport assistance, that the results obtained through the aforementioned tests were mine, and that your mileage may vary. I also don't tend to preboard, againnot out of any sense of proving my independence, as much as out of a sense that there are others (people with small children, for instance), that need that more than do I. I wouldn't even pretend not to need it if I, say, had my blind, nonverbal, autistic nine-year-old travelling with me—I'd also get reinforcements from the ranks of the skycaps.
Usually sky caps have been willing to get rid of the chair when I tell them I do not need it. When they don't, I make use of it by tossing my luggage into it. that one always stammers them, which is fun.
I hadn't thought of that, actually. I always worry checking luggage that it'll end up in Atlanta whilst I make it safely to Toronto. ... Or ... no, this is probably only if you fly Delta.
Certainly walking by yourself is a good option for some airports. If you get all technical about things and travel a heck of a lot you may start wondering about the most accessible airports. I absolutely love Charlotte, NC, from an airport travel perspective. The terminals are laid out in a star with a center with businesses/restaurants etc. If you get a direction towards your terminal you can find your gate easily by yourself, no assistance needed.
But airports like JFK with an international flight coming up and a terminal change, then it just does not seem to be worth it to go at it alone. Also, blame me or not, if I play the blind card I often get to sit in Iceland Air's business class lounge with free wi-fi, food and drinks for 2 to 3 hours, and that is a wonderful experience while travelling, screw preboarding. ;)
This depends on airline and I have hardly ever gotten such special treatment from a U.S. based one (not that I should, just saying, do not expect this). U.S. Airways used to give me some perks because a close family member had worked there a long time and, in any case, I used to get upgradaed to first class when I travelled employee standby, gone are the days.
Oter very accessible airports that come to mind are Dallas Ford Worth (at least if you do not have to switch terminals, for direct flights it is amazing, the distance from curb to gate is the least I have ever experienced on any airport), St Louis (seems to be pretty straight forward airport), Boston (staff there is nice, even just dropped me on the inter terminal bus and left me there when I told them I'd take care of it, and I love that, some people having a bit of confidence in me when I want it is a good thing). Bad airports are JFK, Seattle (huge) and Chicago (also huge).
Cheers
-B
I have an update,
I looked at flights on different sites. I found some flights on US airways that look like they'd be within my budget. I have one more question for you guys. If I feel like I want to book my flight over the phone instead of online, do the airlines charge a fee? Thank you all once again for the help,
Leslie
@angel_tears: I've never been charged an additional fee for booking over the phone vs. online, but your mileage may vary. If you're having trouble with the booking sites, perhaps explaining to them that they're posing accessibility issues will get them to waive the fee. If not, try getting a customer service supervisor or something.
@wildebrew: Oddly enough, Atlanta seems to have posed fewer problems for me than a lot of sighted people—which struck me as odd. I don't find Seattle overly challenging ... although this is because heaps of flights that I've taken are either into or out of Seattle.
I've not flown a lot of international flights—although, when I did fly to India back in 2005, I remember having no issues with Air India (although they did ask if I needed my food cut for me). That trip was a bit of adjusting for cultural differences, actually—although my client's being fairly well-known in the IT industry over there sort of helped me find some common ground amongst the ... mabe not so oddly high amount of IT people I was seated with on the flight back. Needless to say, the return flight from Bombay was one where I got some assistance—although admittedly a heap of that was with translation, and some of that to dodge the wheelchair assist that folks insisted on foisting off on me. I truly would enjoy finding out what's behind the perceived connection between malfunctioning eyes and malfunctioning legs.
Leslie, yes, some airlines do charge fees for booking over the phone, but not all. I am not sure if US Airways is one of those or not. Their own website may say. Also, if/when you call them and go through the automated system before you can get to a customer service rep, you will usually get notified if they charge extra fees for booking on the phone. If they do, I would do as someone else suggested and let them know it's an accessibility issue, and take it to a supervisor if you must. You will probably have to, if it comes to that.
General rule. When it comes to fees, U.S. Airways will charge them for everything they possibly can, as will American. Prepare for that. In fact, US Airways, for a little while. tried to sell softdrinks to passengers, rather than comp them. This, as you can imagine, was a disaster, and nobody was paying $2 for a canned soda. They scrapped that one, and it made me laugh.
love hotwire.com. they have awesome deals but you need sighted assistance to book it.
I could book just fine online with U.S. Airways but that was 8 months ago, so it may have changed during one of the "web site improvements".
I believe they charge extra for the phone and will charge you $15 per bag that you check in, unless that has changed/gone up.
I've generally had very good service on board U.S. planes and staff/crew have been very helpful.
They charge $7 for a beer on trans Atlantic flights, which is beyond ridiculous, $5 was what I considered the limit of ridiculousness that other airlines generally make you pay.
Re wheel chairs, I think they just want the blind person tied down and out of the way so they do not have to consider what to do with them.
Cheers
-B
Why the deuce do you need sighted assistance with Hotwire? CAPTCHA? I'm disappointed.
Hmmm, did they make hotwire less accessible? I never had a problem with it, but it's also been awhile since I've booked there.
maybe it is me but lets say I want a flight. I log in fine but then when I go to book it or enter info or want to change my account all jaws says is treview. treview. over and over lol. maybe nvda or soemthing works better.
I probably take the chicken way out and call the airlines to make my reservations. Which is the easiest web site to use to book flights? All I picture is hitting a wrong key; senior citizen jitters I guess. I use a wheelchair too; it seems faster and easier than walking in the airport. Anybody noticed that folks even though they see us with somebody can run right into us because they are in such a hurry themselves? I fly next week which will be crowded as all get-out. i would never see my family if I didn't fly to them, but I wonder when I will insist somebody fly here. Southwest airlines seems to be great for assistance, but they all seem very accommodating. I even was on a low salt diet and had a low salt diet tray on a flight from Chicago to Florida.
I've flown alone several times. I agree with the second poster. I find that
preboarding is easier, also if you need to change planes the airline waits until all the other passengers are off before getting you off. Another idea is if you are planning to tak a pacmate, braillenote, or some other notetaker on the plane do not let them put it through the xray thing at the securtiy chec-point, have them hand-scan it. I find this doesn't seem to be a problem, when putting away your notetaker put it in the seat pocket in front of your or under the seat. And as for flight booking sites i recimen www.expedia.com
They generally don't want you putting notetakers or personal computers in the seat pockets. I'd keep that in your carry-on bag.
I personally choose to forego airport assistance to the extent to which I find doing so to save me both time and the hassle of dealing with overbearing employees who do not understand my needs and/or who do not speak English. I absolutely love the experience of flying alone, and have discovered some strategies for interacting with airlines in such a way that I can exercise personal choice in how I travel while still obtaining any needed assistance. Let me point out that some of what I am saying comes from a blind frequent flier friend of mine who takes over 50 flights a year and who is exteremly active in issues of disability advocacy in the airline industry. First--a bit of airline lingo: if a passenger requests airport assistance, the agent will usually enter a special service request (SSR) into the passenger's record (PNR). This notation alerts airline employees to the fact that the passenger (PAX) would like assistance, so that they can be sure to fulfill such requested accommodations throughout the duration of the trip. It is up to the individual passenger whether he or she would like such assistance, and therefore airline employees should only enter an SSR into a passenger's record at his or her request. Before I knew about such technicalities, I used to take the assistance offered to me. Now, however, I usually choose not to have such a notation entered into my PNR, and have found such a decision to allow me greater freedom and flexibility as a traveler. In the first place, I have encountered far less resistance when politely refusing assistance which I don't actually need. For example, I usually choose to deplane either alone or with another passenger, and without a request for assistance in my record I don't have to worry about encountering situations of dealing with a non-English-speaking, wheelchair-carrying skycap who may or may not object to my decision to travel to my next gate alone. Usually it only takes a bit of polite refusal on my part for airline employees to understand my wishes, yet others put up considerably greater resistance, and such situations can prove less pleasant. Also, I have found that, when I request assistance, many airline personnel seem to feel responsible for "looking after me" such that when I want to, say, find the restroom or food, I must convince them as politely as possible that I'd rather do this on my own and that they need not worry about my personal safety. I remember one incident in which I walked to the bathroom in the gate area on my own and, upon returning to the gate, the skycap assigned to assist me felt terrible that she neglected to guide me there, even though I insisted that the bathroom was only a short walk away and relatively easy for me to locate. And then of course there are the usual difficulties of interacting with skycaps who do not speak English and walk at a snail's pace, meanwhile failing to directly inform me of such details as gate information or changes in flight status. In short, I have found that, once they are entered into the system, blind people are often treated more like pieces of luggage to be shuttled around the airport than as actual passengers, and I therefore do my best not to enter the system so that I can travel on my own time and pace without worrying about the perceived liability factor by employees. Now, I don't want to make any general statements about skycaps and other airline employees; to the contrary, many have proven to be quite courteous and professional. It's just that help in the airport can be very much hit or miss, and I'd rather avoid the "misses" to the greatest extent possible. This is not to say that I navigate airports without any guidance whatsoever. When I am in a location which is unfamiliar to me--and at this point this is often the case--I will usually ask for directions to my destination, whether it be the gate, security, Starbucks, etc. Whether or not I choose to preboard, independently walking down the bridge to the plane is usually a straightforward process, and I will often deplane and walk to baggage claim with a fellow passenger in order to avoid waiting at the plane for an undetermined length of time for assistance. In addition, I have found that I can usually save time by printing my boarding pass before going to the airport, so that I can skip the check-in desk and head straight to security as long as I don't have to check bags. Eliminating the front-desk checkpoint also provides one fewer opportunity for someone to enter an SSR into one's PNR against one's wishes (Which can definitely happen, so be careful).
Let me emphasize that whether or not you choose to accept assistance is not the issue. Just remember that you are the paying customer, you know your needs best, and that nobody has any business arguing otherwise.
I usually buy my tickets from cheap tickets, but have used orbits as well. I've flown probably 25 times give or take. As far as international, Virgin Atlantic was my favorite, American Airlines was just okay. Same for United, just okay, nothing to write home about. I don't know if this is still the same on international flights, but they all had free alcahol, the last time I flew overseas at least. I've never had the pleasure of being upgraded, although that would be nice someday. As far as domestic airlines, south west and jet blue are my favorites, and delta is the worst. In my experience at least, their staff were rude, flights were often delayed, and, they damaged an instrument of mine as well as a laptop and wouldn't pay for the repairs. I have had nothing but bad luck with jfk airport. I avoid it at all costs. I don't care for dallas or atlanta either. My favorite US airports are Austin tx, newerk nj, and Boston, Ma. I have to say that flying with my seeing eye dog is better than when I used to do it with a cane. With a dog, I can get where I'm going faster, and, I don't have to have the wheelchair arguement with someone who can't speak freaking English. What annoys me is the fact that the airline staff try to put me in a bulkhead seat, when that is the last thing they should do. I can't count the amount of times I've had to have that debate. that, and the TSA agents who insist I give my dog to them. No thanks. Look in your handbook. The dog stays with the passenger throughout the screening process. I get tired of having that debate too.
Otherwise, I quite like flying, although it's not as enjoyable as it used to be.
Hi everyone,
First of all, thanks so much for all the helpful advice. I had a stop in Phillidelphia before I got to my destination, and that flight was turbulant. I got stuck in the airport for almost 2 days. I called my family and boyfriend at the time every 10 to 20 minutes to keep them all in the loop. I did get put up in a nice hotel for the night, and my breakfast the next morning was paid for by the airline. I didn't end up getting to my destination until midnight. the flight home wasn't that bad. I only got stuck in Philly for 30 minutes or so because the flight attendant who was supposed to be there wasn't. Luckily, someone from another flight was nice enough to cover for the missing flight attendant. It was quite an adventure. Thanks again everyone. Take care,
Leslie
You could expedia.com
You can not take any liquckeds unless they are from the air port.
You should tell the air port that you visually in pared.
That way they they can help you out.