Guest guest Posted May 1, 2000 Report Share Posted May 1, 2000 Hi Rhonda, Call British Air and tell them you are disabled. Get to the airport early and since airports are so big with alot of walking, ask for wheelchair assistance all the way to the gate. Ask British Air if they have 'pre-boarding' for the disabled. All of the airlines I have been on do. This means you board before others, along with families with small children and thee airline staff gets you comfortable. If you need your crutches to get up and walk in-flight, tell the cabin stewards that. Otherwise they might put your crutches away in a closet somewhere where you can't get to them. You might also ask to be seated in the 'bulkhead area' if you are traveling economy class. This is by the emergency exit and is ONLY given to people with disabilities OR families with small children and babies. However, this is why I said get to the airport early, you cannot 'reserve' these seats and only if you get there early and ASK, you might get them. Summer is a busy travel time and the bulkhead area is first come first serve. Don't rely on a travel agent to get this for you - they can't, no matter what they say. It will be up to you to ask. When I fly overseas, I always try to take an evening flight. This is so I can get some sleep. Since most flights from the West Coast to both Europe and the Pacific are 10-11 hours. Then I arrive a bit refreshed, and stay awake until nightime in the new country. This will help your biological clock adjust, since you are crossing many time zones. And yes, I tried Melatonin, all it did is keep me WIDE AWAKE for days, so I don't advise that. A few days to a week later you should be over the jet lag.Jet lag could feel like extreme CMT fatigue so I take it easy for 3 days in my new surroundings. Sometimes airlines move the disabled passengers to business class - again, this is only if economy is full, and this is only at the discretion of the cabin stewards, but hey,it doesn't hurt to ask. I did this once and got seated in business class. Ever since then, I just pay the extra $ because it is so much more comfortable, my needs are met, seats are bigger, more leg room, cleaner lavatories, shorter distances around the cabin and I can sleep! I have found hotels and people in general in Europe very accepting of disabilities, although some of the places I stayed lacked grab bars in the shower, etc. You might want to tell the hotel upon your checking about your special needs. Or tell this to the concierge when making day plans. If you are going with a tour group, I would suggest you let the tour director know first thing what your needs are.Maybe prepare a written list, you can make multiple copies of to give to others - it is something concrete, thene they won't forget. Other than the cobblestone streets that are hard to walk on - can unbalance you - everything in Europe was great. I also recommend you make a couple of copies of your passport, put one in your suitcase, leave one in the States with family. In case it is lost or stolen, it is easier to replace with a xerox of the original. Also, get duplicate prescriptions of medications - put one set in your luggage, carry on the other set. In the carry on set, leave the meds in the same bottles they come in. Precautionary for customs. Also, using wheelchair assistance in airports not only gets me to connecting flights, but also gets me through customs quickly, without standing and waiting in long lines. Reading some of the Lonely Planet guidebooks for the countries you are visiting will give you good ideas of more facilities that are accommondating to disabilities. Their books are in all the bookstores or here is the website http://www.lonelyplanet.com they have great travel info, down to earth and real! Perhaps some of our European CMTUS members can share some tips from their side of the Atlantic! Gretchen Rhonda/Steve//Austin wrote: > > Hi everyone! > > I will be making my first airplane trip in July. We'll be flying > British Air, and visiting Germany, France, Switzerland, and Austria. > Does anyone know of any provisions made for disabled passengers on > British Air (I use standard wood crutches), and secondly, are people in > these countries normally accommodating to disabilities? > > Thanks, all! > Rhonda in PA! > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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