Air Travel With My Quantum Chair – PART ONE

by Jared Wayland

Air Travel With My Quantum Chair – PART ONE

Travelling on a plane is often associated with excitement and anticipation, but for those of us who rely on wheelchairs to get around, this excitement can more often than not be overshadowed by nervousness, anxiety, stress and even physical pain in many cases. In this blog post, I’ll give a general look at the process of travelling by plane as a power wheelchair user.
Before heading out on any journey, careful planning is crucial, especially for power wheelchair users like myself. The process of researching and arranging accessible accommodations, coordinating with airlines, and ensuring all necessary medical supplies are packed can be overwhelming. This preparation is essential to ensure a smooth trip, but it can be time-consuming and anxiety-inducing.
Once you check in at the airport, you will first have to deal with security screenings, which I understand are a necessary part of air travel, but they can pose significant challenges for wheelchair users. More often than not, they will let you stay in your chair and give you an ‘extended’ pat down privately. However, I have heard stories of colleagues being physically moved from their chairs to be patted down! The need to transfer to a different seat or be moved by security personnel can lead to feelings of vulnerability, embarrassment and even discomfort. Delays at security checkpoints caused by the extra attention given to passengers in wheelchairs can also create stress, potentially affecting connections and overall travel plans.
While airlines are required to provide accommodations for passengers with disabilities, the reality is that accessibility can vary quite significantly from airline to airline and airport to airport. I have found most airports to be quite accessible, however, the help you receive can vary. The hardest part, which I’ll get into, is boarding and disembarking from the aircraft. This can be particularly challenging, as it often involves navigating narrow aisles and steep jetway ramps. Additionally, most aircrafts are not equipped with accessible washrooms (if you can believe that!), which can be extremely inconvenient during long flights (but this is an ENTIRELY different blog post haha).
Head over to Part Two to hear more about my air travels with my Quantum chair!