flying

[Ali and boyz]

Taking my DS to Florida in July . Any body got any tips and advice for flying . He is paralised from the shoulders down, and we are flying from the uk. We are going with family so will have loads of support. he weighs roughly 180 lbs so we can't physically carry / lift him

would love any advice on getting on and off the plane etc. and the airport at Sanford.

 

[SueM in MN]

They should have aisle chairs available at the airport. I don't know about the UK, but in the US, they are required to have one available.
An aisle chair is a sort of narrow high wheelchair that fits down the aisle of the airplane.
I don't know if this link will work, but it shows a picture of boarding with and aisle cahir. I posted it once before and it worked for a day or so and then stopped working (I'm hoping we didn't crash their server or something the last time I posted it).
Anyway, Christopher Reeve actually appeared in ads for a particular brand of aisle chairs and it sounds like your son is smaller than Christopher Reeve was, so getting him on the plane should be no harder.
Whatever airline you are traveling should have a webpage about travel with disabilities and I know there are some frequent posters on this board who travel from the UK.

 

[loadsapixiedust]

You need to contact the special requirements team of the airline you are travelling with ASAP and make your son's needs known to them.
What you describe is termed a 'full carry on' and they will arrange this with the ground staff to meet your party in the terminal and escort you to the gate and assist your son to board and lift him right onto his seat. He may use his own wheelchair right up to the aircraft if he will be more comfortable doing that. You will need to consider how he will get to the toilet if that is necessary as cabin crew are not allowed to assist with this other than providing an aisle wheelchair as Sue describes.

 

[Ali and boyz]

thanks pixiedust. as per another thread I replied did it all through MT special needs and they were most helpful. soooooo fingers crossed