Boarding a Plane as a Wheelchair User

boarding a plane in a wheelchair
Back to plane seats for day one!

 

On this site, I frequently talk about travel tips and things that you can do to make your trips go a little smoother. However, I still get quite a lot of questions about what it’s like to get on a plane if you are in a wheelchair. If you have never flown before then the whole boarding process can be a bit daunting. I’ve flown dozens of times and it is actually still a little nerve-wracking for me as well. There is no sure-fire way to easily board a plane as a wheelchair user, but knowing what to expect can make things a little better… or at least help calm your nerves. So, I decided to show you guys exactly what it’s like!

 

When I recently flew out of Atlanta on a Delta flight, I decided to strap my GoPro to my head and I recorded the entire boarding process from my perspective. This includes transferring into the aisle chair, getting down the aisles of the plane, and then transferring into the plane seat. Every time that I fly, the process is somewhat different, but I can say that this is an accurate representation of how it goes most of the time. Check out this video and let me know how your boarding experiences usually go –

 

 

 

 

11 Comments

  • Jenn Grahams says:

    Hey, Cory! I like how you thought to use the GoPro to film this. I’m sure this is a great resource for anyone who is nervous about the process and hasn’t tried the asile chair before! As a flight attendant, I see passengers using this boarding method probably 1 in every 3-4 flights. I’m glad that we can make flying accessible to everyone! If the asiles get any smaller though, it might be difficult to make this happen. 🙁 As you mentioned, it is a TIGHT fit for someone of average size. Safe travels and keep blogging!

    • Cory Lee says:

      Hey Jenn! Thanks for your comment and for your services as a flight attendant. I’m convinced that that has to be one of the best jobs ever. 😉 Hopefully the aisles don’t get any smaller. It’s nearly impossible to squeeze down them now, but we make it work with some help.

  • Samina ibrahim says:

    Couldn’t really see the actual transfers cory!

  • My son has a custom wheelchair he is quadriplegic and uses the Eagle Hoist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6wIIX_ce-4

  • KMC says:

    Hello Cory,

    Glad to see you’re comfortable with flying. I’ve had more bad experiences that I can count that I choose to take Amtrak or Via Rail now when I travel. (For business and/or for vacation) If you ever get the chance, try the train I’ve found it to be more relaxing and easier despite the fact that it takes longer. I always book the accessible bedroom (unless its a day trip) and I can either stay in my chair (Quickie Q7) or transfer pretty easily into the seat. Its also easy to transfer into the bed at night as well. Anyways its all in how you get there, am I right?
    In closing I want to say I love your blog, and keep at it. I was born with CP and SCI so I’ve been in a chair off and on since birth. (More on now, as I’m getting old….lol) Take care and thanks for all the info you put out there!

  • Damien says:

    Hi Corey, I find the toilet situation the biggest problem with flying, any suggestions? You can’t take an isle chair on the plane during the flight here in Australia.

  • MaryAnn Salgado says:

    lol Wow your boarding on is a lot smoother than mine I’ve done it enough times all I can say is thank God for our family members. Its a good idea to film it. The last time I traveled I had to leave my wheelchair at the bottom of the plane so they had to take me in their isle tiny chair down a steep ramp and forward, I refuse I demanded they turn me backwards I’m not joking it took them 40 minutes to turn the chair around because the ramp was so narrow. lol #travelingsneveradullmoment #lovealltheattention

  • Paul Vaughn says:

    I think what I found most interesting, albeit not surprising, is that one of the attendants (the one in front of you) spoke directly to you, while the other one consistently asked about you, as if you were not present, but never spoke to you… “What seat is he sitting in” or “is he going to need help getting into the seat”.

  • Sal P says:

    There is no way they could do this for me. I am 300 lbs. First, I can’t fit in those toy-sized wheelchairs they try to put you in. Second, they would see me and do anything besides try to help me. I can’t blame them. I’m sure they are not properly trained for someone my size. I’m sure there is a liability factor protecting their employees. There has to be a major overhaul to airplanes become they can ever call themselves handicapped accessible. Planes are horrible for anyone over 6 ft tall also. They have to stop their cookie-cutter mentality and think outside the box or just use simple common sense.

  • Denise Bryant says:

    Hi Corey! I’m the mom of a 31 year old male named Travis who has cerebral palsy. I love your blog and have been following it for a while now. I found it very interesting to watch your mom from the view your GoPro gave us. I can so relate to her. I know it’s often times really tough for you and Travis as you travel. It tires him out and we often have to take a day to recoup after we arrive and then chill the day before we leave for some what we call “travel energy”. We didn’t actually get to see your mom do the lifts but I could hear her “prepare for” breaths both before, during, and after. Watching her struggle with the suitcases to the overhead bins brought tears to my eyes because after getting Travis settled that is always the next tough step in getting us going. Travis is always so worried about how much it takes out of me to get us there. I have rheumatoid arthritis and physically things are getting harder for me as well. I’ve used my head more times to get that suitcase up and down than I’d care to admit always shrugging it off so he won’t feel bad for me. I see myself in your mom and want her to know how much I think of her for “giving it all” to make sure you “get it all”! I know how much you appreciate and love her for supporting your journeys. None of this is the life we had planned for our beautiful boys but we are strong and determined and thankfully stubborn enough to attempt to give you guys the world! I wish you and Travis could meet. He could certainly use a friend like you. Even with his CP he worked hard and was in college at Texas A&M University on the pre-med track when he had to have a hip replaced. He got a really rotten deal on a DePuy hip that was recalled 18 months later and that they knew had an astronomical failure rate for 4 years before they put it in him. His life fell totally apart. As a matter of fact our traveling has been the only thing that has kept him going. He scuba dives with an amazing group called the Eels on Wheels out of Austin, Texas and now our whole family dives. This year we have been to St.Croix (an amazing trip), Mexico, and New York right now as I’m writing this comment. If you ever make it to Texas give us a shout. I could see you two rolling around and creating some beautiful havoc together! Lol Many thanks for sharing your world with us! Love, a mom in Texas who gets it!

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