traveling help?

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you many want to sent a private message to finetooner for he work for the airlines , he is a sweet man who will answer all your questions . lorraine { rainey xo }

Hi Freedomtocome: You're one of the main reasons I'm here! I'm a facilitator/developer for Atlantic Southeast Airlines, one of the regional carriers for Delta Air Lines. May I ask you a few questions? 1) Does your wheelchair have a non-spillable battery? 2) Do you require an aisle chair to get to your airplane seat or can you negotiate short distances with assistance? 3) Do you have any particular seat preferences? 4) What size of aircraft are you flying on? First, make sure you tell the airline you're booked on that you have a motorized wheelchair and whether or not you will need an aisle chair to get off and on the plane. Try and contact your airline's reservations at least a week prior to your flight. The airlines cannot force to you to check your wheelchair at the ticket counter; you may by law keep it right up until you actually board the plane. Also, if you have an expensive joy-stick or other detachable parts, airline personnel MUST disassemble and reassemble them with your supervision! Depending on the size of plane you're flying on, your wheelchair should be able to be loaded, stowed, and unloaded in it's upright position and because of a new D.O.T. provision, the battery cables should not even have to be disconnected. Remember, the airlines cannot force any service on you because of your disability, including forcing you to sit in a seat of their choosing. By law, the airlines must repair or replace anything damage they cause to your wheelchair up to and including the full replacement value of the chair itself. Also, you are legally covered under a federal law called the "Air Carrier Access Act" (14 CFR Pt 382) So, if you feel that you are being mistreated in any way, immediately ask for a "Complaint Resolution Official. These trained reps must be available to any passenger with a disability to deal with complaints or mistreatment. One of your biggest obstacles might be passing through TSA security. Go to www.tsa.gov and read up on the way TSA security screening handles passengers using wheelchairs. Let me know if you have any detailed or specific questions regarding travel by air. Flying with a wheelchair is better than it used to be but still needs improvement and that's where I come in. I hope this helps....have a great trip! Jeffrey Ward Facilitator/Designer - Below Wing & Contract Partners Airport Customer Service Training & Standards Atlantic Southeast Airlines P. 404-856-1494 C. 678-697-0183 A-Tech Center 990 Toffie Terrace Atlanta GA 30354-1363 jeffrey.ward@flyasa.com "Attitude determines Altitude"