Wheelchair Assist after getting off plane

[Dietemann]

I know about help getting on the plane, but how far will you be taken after getting off. To the luggage carousel or even out of the terminal? This is all new to us and want to be prepared.

[kokopelli-az]

Is this an airport in the United States?

[FOPMan]

In the US, generally to ground transportation options (eg, just outside the airport doors). Your mileage may vary on assistance to off-site but airport-coordinated central car rental centers (lime Baltimore) and to parking NOT in a terminal garage (eg, economy parking, off-site, third-party parking).

 

You should expect to tip accordingly, based on time consumed, distance, and if baggage assistance is also provided.

 

You should NOT expect to use an airport-supplied wheelchair without an airport-supplied assistant.

 

 

[GeezerCouple]

8 hours ago, Dietemann said:

I know about help getting on the plane, but how far will you be taken after getting off. To the luggage carousel or even out of the terminal? This is all new to us and want to be prepared.

 

Both in the USA and overseas, we have found that the wheelchair pusher and wheelchair can be used from the airplane door to the baggage carousel and then on to ground transportation.

Sometimes the helper will ask; other times we mention it first.

 

We try to tip the helpers generously, but for arrivals, they typically spend extra time just waiting... for the luggage... so we tip a bit extra as we are getting into a taxi, depending upon just how lengthy that wait was.

 

Even in a couple of smaller foreign airports, there wasn't any special difficulty getting assistance and a chair.  Or, not yet...

Occasionally (in USA or overseas), DH needed to go into the terminal to get wheelchair assistance when we arrive at the airport.

 

GC

[Bob++]

Much the same in Heathrow although they will abandon you at the carousel if you don't specifically ask them to stay. 

[Dietemann]

Thank you all, very helpful. DH recently "graduated" from a rollator to just using a cane, but walking is a strain so any help is appreciated. We had a great wheelchair pusher at Ft. Lauderdale when getting off the ship, I was not sure what happens when getting off a plane. And yes, we tipped very generously.

[kokopelli-az]

Our wheelchair pushers have always taken us where we asked.  We tell them where we want to go when leaving the plane.   ie, to the family restroom, then to luggage pickup and then to a taxi or Uber.   

The pushers have pretty much been great.   

[GeezerCouple]

14 minutes ago, kokopelli-az said:

Our wheelchair pushers have always taken us where we asked.  We tell them where we want to go when leaving the plane.   ie, to the family restroom, then to luggage pickup and then to a taxi or Uber.   

The pushers have pretty much been great.   

Yes, I should have mentioned that any other "stops" one wishes to make... we've never had any difficulty.  In fact, they almost always pause after pushing out of the gate area towards the terminal at the first rest stop and ask if we'd like to make a stop.

 

Also, when heading towards the gate after security on outbound, we usually ask if we could stop at a little shop so we can get some Diet Coke or sparkling water to bring on board.  We prefer the bottles, because they can be re-capped during the flight.  Cans... not so much! 😞   And of course, we couldn't bring the beverages through security.

 

Thus far, there has only been one time that "after security" there was no place to purchase anything.  (That was in one particular terminal/gate area in Singapore.  No way to purchase anything at all, beverage or otherwise.  Odd.  Someone was leaving money on the table with that plan!  They've got a captive audience sitting around waiting, and waiting some more...  Even if they aren't going to get supplies for *on* the plane, they might want some munchies or beverages while waiting.)

 

Bottom line is that the helpers/pushers are almost always very helpful indeed.

(At one small European airport, it was the "rescue crew" who helped out, so the pusher had a bright red uniform on, big boots, day glow vest, etc.  Surprisingly, he was one of the few who wanted to spend more time chatting with almost everyone we passed, or so it seemed, than to get us to the taxi.  For a while, the pushers at JetBlue arrivals in Denver were corporate volunteers.  And it was more than obvious that they were "volunteering".  They were in no rush, they often didn't think about how to handle a wheelchair so it didn't bump straight into something, they would constantly stop to speak with another volunteer passing by, etc.  And apparently the "volunteers" got travel vouchers... 😉 ) 

 

GC

[Dietemann]

I really appreciate all answers and information, so helpful. I now feel more comfortable about navigating the system.

Thank you all.