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14 | InTouch SUMMER 2024 FOLLOW THIS ADVICE TO HELP PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR CHAIR, AND MINIMIZE STRESS DURING YOUR JOURNEY. Whether you're travelling for business or pleasure, catching a flight can be daunting for anyone. And if you live with a disability and use a mobility device to access the world, the prospect of air travel can be even more complicated. FEATURE Beyond booking your ticket and packing your bags, travellers that use wheelchairs often find themselves asking many questions relating to their trip. With a proactive approach, pre-planning and some patience, there’s no reason why wheelchair users can't head off on their dream vacation. With that in mind, we've chatted with some experienced travellers who also happen to be wheelchair users to gather some helpful tips for flying with a mobility device. Here’s what we learned. Plan, plan, plan Whether it's your first flight in a wheelchair or you're a seasoned professional, being proactive is the best thing Top tips for flying with a wheelchair you can do to help decrease stress and set yourself up for an epic trip. Before you do anything, make sure you know the dimensions of your wheelchair (height, width, weight), and have a clear outline of your needs and what equipment is required for you to have an enjoyable holiday. If you have a power wheelchair, it’s also important to know if it uses wet, gel cell or dry cell batteries. Likewise, if you require a ventilator or other battery-operated equipment, it's likely you'll need to fill out a dangerous goods form so that you can fly with the equipment as hand luggage. If you're a wheelchair user, keep in mind that you'll be first on and last off the plane. Avoid booking any super tight connections and consider letting any ground transfers know that you may need a little extra time. Chat with the airline directly Policies and procedures will differ between airlines, so the best thing you can do is give them a call. From here, the airline's disability service division or customer service department can answer any questions about packing, security, boarding, flying and more. While everyone's needs will differ, make sure you discuss the following: • Your chair’s weight, dimensions and battery type (if applicable). • The best way to prepare your wheelchair or mobility equipment for transportation and stowing during the flight.