Are wheelchairs allowed on the plane? Citizens with walking difficulties who want to take a wheelchair by plane need to apply for relevant certificates in advance, otherwise they will not be able to board the plane. In the future, airlines will strictly enforce this regulation. There has always been a rule that passengers using wheelchairs need to bring proof of check-in, but it was not strictly enforced in the past. Recently, airlines have issued notices to strictly enforce them.
Can I get on a plane with a foldable wheelchair?
Many friends with physical disabilities want to fly, but they don’t know if a wheelchair can get on the plane. Now I will introduce it to you.
There are no disabled seats on the plane, and disabled passengers cannot get on the plane in their own wheelchair.
Passengers in wheelchairs should apply when purchasing tickets. When changing boarding passes, someone will use an aviation-specific wheelchair (the dimensions are suitable for use on the plane, and there are fixed devices and a flight-use wheelchair). Passengers’ wheelchairs must be checked in free of charge; there are special wheelchair passages during security check.
After getting on the plane, there is a special place for wheelchairs to park, where the wheelchair can be fixed.
It should be noted that when a disabled person who is eligible to take a flight needs the airline to provide facilities or services such as medical oxygen for use on the plane, checked electric wheelchairs, special narrow wheelchairs on the plane, etc., they should book the ticket. at the latest, no later than 72 hours before the flight departure.
Therefore, people with disabilities need to pay attention to the flight, and they should consult the airline as early as possible before booking a ticket, so that the airline can coordinate and prepare. Disabled persons should arrive at the airport more than 3 hours in advance on the day of boarding, so as to have more time to go through the boarding pass, baggage check, security check, and boarding.
If you need to carry a wheelchair, you need to check in:
1) Transportation of manual wheelchairs
a. Manual wheelchairs should be transported as checked baggage.
b. Wheelchairs used by sick and disabled passengers can be transported free of charge and are not included in the free baggage allowance.
c. Passengers who use their own wheelchairs during boarding with consent and prior arrangement (such as group wheelchair passengers), their wheelchairs should be handed over at the boarding gate when the passengers board the plane.
2) Transportation of electric wheelchairs
a. Electric wheelchairs should be transported as checked baggage.
b. Electric wheelchairs used by sick and disabled passengers can be transported free of charge and are not included in the free baggage allowance.
c. When the electric wheelchair is checked in, its packaging must meet the following requirements:
(1) For wheelchairs equipped with leak-proof batteries, the two poles of the battery must be able to prevent short circuit and the battery has been Fits securely to the wheelchair.
(2) For wheelchairs with non-leakage-proof batteries, the batteries must be removed. Wheelchairs may be transported as unrestricted checked baggage, and removed batteries must be transported in sturdy, rigid packaging as follows: these must be airtight, impervious to battery fluid leakage, and secured in a suitable manner, such as with straps , clips or brackets to fix it on the pallet or in the cargo hold (do not support it with cargo or luggage).
The battery must be protected against short circuits, and should be fixed upright in the package, and the surrounding area should be filled with suitable absorbent material, so that it can fully absorb the liquid leaking from the battery.
These packages must be marked “battery, wet, wheel chair” (“battery, wet, with mobility aid”) or “battery, wet, with mobility aid” (“battery, wet, with mobility aid” ) characters. And affix the “corrosive” (“corrosive”) label and the package-up label.
How to apply for wheelchair service
Instructions for on-board wheelchair passengers
Service target:
A person who is physically fit to take the flight is completely immobile and needs assistance from others to enter the cabin and sit of injured and disabled passengers.
Passengers can use on-board wheelchairs (WCHC) to move around the cabin, such as the cabin door to the seat, the seat to the toilet, etc.
Disability certificate or medical certificate:
Disability certificate is required for passengers with disabilities who travel and apply for in-flight wheelchair service.
Injured and sick passengers who take the plane and apply for in-flight wheelchair service must provide a written certificate issued by a county-level or second-class hospital and above, indicating that the passenger can safely complete their air travel without medical assistance. The date of issuance of the medical certificate should be no earlier than 10 days before the earliest boarding date (excluding the day of departure).
Time limit for application: 72 hours before flight departure (inclusive, Beijing time).
How to apply at the airport: Please bring a printed copy of the “Application Form for Boarding Wheelchair Passengers”, valid ID and medical/disability certificate, and arrive at the airport of each departure terminal 120 minutes before flight departure Check-in at the check-in counter.
Differences in wheelchair service for domestic and international flights For domestic flights
To the airline information desk at the airport, you need to fill out a wheelchair application form. Take the form to get your boarding pass, give the form to the staff and they will mark your flight that it requires a wheelchair.
Then you wait for the attendant to push you to the gate and wait to board. When boarding begins, someone will also push you onto the plane.
After getting off the plane, if there is a connecting bridge, the wheelchair will usually be waiting for you at the door of the warehouse. If you take the stairs, you need to go down the stairs by yourself. When you get to the airport, there will be a wheelchair. . This process has always been accompanied by someone.
International flights
Since international airlines generally do not have special information desks, you can directly say that you need wheelchair service when you receive your boarding pass. Generally, the service of international airlines is very thoughtful. When you are still in line to get your boarding pass, they will push a wheelchair for you and ask if you need wheelchair service. And they will push you through various security checks, which is very convenient.
When you get your boarding pass, you can request that you be placed in the first row by the aisle. Generally, the first row is relatively large, which is convenient for you to straighten your feet. Or ask to place you close to the toilet so that it is easier to move around on the plane. On the plane, the crutches are generally kept in the front of the plane, and there is no way to get them during the flight.
Procedures for taking a wheelchair by plane
1. At the information desk or service staff, ask which counter for special passengers to check in. There are special counters for this procedure, which avoids long queues.
2. When applying for the boarding pass, you can negotiate the seat position, you can ask to be in the front, near the bathroom, in the aisle or by the window. Adjustments are usually given, if it comes later it is more difficult. But now you can choose your seat online. After you place an order and issue a ticket on the website, pay attention to whether there is such a prompt.
3. The normal procedure is: apply for a wheelchair when checking in for a boarding pass. There are two types of wheelchairs, ordinary wheelchairs and in-flight wheelchairs. After you get your boarding pass, you will know when the staff will pick you up, just wait nearby. If there are many people in wheelchairs, pay more attention. It can be prompted that there is no need for a wheelchair in the cabin, so that the staff can save some trouble. The staff is processed according to the list, and the handover of personnel is more frequent, so more communication is required to ensure efficiency. I have seen the situation where the staff list and the passengers do not correspond, in fact, a lot of words and time are wasted.
4. However, you can also apply for check-in at the cabin door. If you can, the staff will not need to push the airport wheelchair, but will directly use our own wheelchair to send us to the cabin door. Reminder: If you need to pack your checked luggage, you will be charged a packing fee. We can bring some ropes (I brought a few long shoelaces), tie up the wheelchair by ourselves, and the person who picks you up can send it directly to the consignment. hey-hey.
5. After passing the security check, we will wait at a designated location for the staff to take us on board. If it is a remote seat, you can apply for an elevator when you check in for a boarding pass, but that is cumbersome, wastes time, and may cause delays. Beijing Capital Airport seems to have only 2 elevators, but we don’t seem to have it. When boarding the plane, communicate well with the person who was sent to the plane in advance to avoid bumps and other situations.
6. If you feel uncomfortable during the flight, you can negotiate with the flight attendant. One is to give the other party time to prepare, and the other is to relieve tension. Don’t be uncomfortable without saying it. For example, you can ask for a few more cushions or pillows to support your waist.
7. Be sure to fasten your seat belt at all times during the flight. When getting off the plane, pay attention to when others take luggage from overhead, things will suddenly fall or bump.
8. Wheelchairs are generally taken separately from ordinary luggage, and some are mixed. The wheelchairs provided by the airport are not necessarily safe and secure, so it is best to check them before using them.
9. After the staff pick up and drop off, remember to thank them, because they are really hard. This kind of physical work does not distinguish between men and women. I know that many girls have to push heavy wheelchairs, and some have to push dozens of times a day. For large airports such as Beijing Capital Airport and Pudong Airport, it is very tiring to walk twice. Getting on a wheelchair a few times, (and occasionally listening to complaints), is really hard. And their wages are not high.
Tip: Talk to the staff at the airport or station, they can take you to a taxi, and generally you don’t have to queue. However, please use it with caution, this is not a normal operation. We travel with wheelchairs, which is really cumbersome and cumbersome. Airports now treat wheelchairs as valuables and damage is rare. The staff also have special training, so you can communicate with the staff who receive you so that you can complete the journey with peace of mind.
