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We have invited a young Namibian student to speak at a software conference in Cardiff, UK. There are various flight options, none of them direct.

The young man walks with crutches, slowly, and finds it difficult to carry bags (a suitcase would be out of the question for him). He has never travelled by air before.

I think the best option is to get him to Cardiff Airport (CWL) where we can pick him up easily, though there are other options (all also involve international transfers).

My questions:

  • Which airlines and airports have the best reputation for looking after disabled passengers (indeed are there any that are better avoided)?

  • What information should I provide to the airline (and how) to ensure that he will get the assistance he needs?

  • Is it possible or advisable to pay for additional assistance of this kind?

(Likely airlines on the route include KLM via Amsterdam and Qatar via Doha - there are more options via other airports but at the moment I think the advantages of a Cardiff arrival are significant).

An update: following advice received here, we booked the flights - WDH-AMS-CWL, which we selected because KLM and AMS are known quantities and the trip was shorter than alternatives.

The traveller was assisted at each airport on the way and when he returned.

He said he was looked after well, and the staff at the airports and the crew on the flights were helpful. He enjoyed the trip, and I feel much more confident now about organising something similar in the future

Daniele Procida
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3 Answers3

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He will be able to make it. I have seen many people with disabilities travel alone (I am a cabin crewmember)

Let's break it down into a few elements (considering that you are going to use a major airline and not a LCC):

  1. Going to the airplane: almost all airlines/airports do provide free services for people who need help with moving. Many airports even provide golf carts free of charge. All you have to do is to flag the reservation with a wheelchair request. Again, you can do that with almost all airlines online without the need to call someone.
  2. Getting off the airplane: Once the reservation is flagged with a wheelchair request, there should be a wheelchair waiting at the arrival gate.
  3. Luggage: Usually the same person who comes with the wheelchair will take care of that. In other cases, the airport itself will take care of that.
  4. Moving inside the cabin: Crutches are allowed on-board, he can use them in case he needed to move during the flight. I've also seen people who use crutches use the seat-backs instead to give them support until they reach the toilet. However, if crutches are not an option due to small space, many wide bodied airplanes have a small cabin wheelchair, just inform him to ask the cabin crew.
  5. Lavatories: almost all airplane toilets are equipped with handles to support people with disabilities.

As for the "first time traveler" part. There's nothing to worry about, really. Airports have all kinds of signs, boarding passes can be obtained online, anyone with uniform will be able to provide support. Cabin crew onboard will be more than happy to help, safety demonstrations are there. He will be fine.

Make sure to book him a seat near the toilet and in the left side of the airplane (for easier boarding and deplaning), a seat behind a bulkhead (extra legroom) will be perfect. Remember, seats at emergency exits will not be an option for him.

Nean Der Thal
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In addition to the other answers:

  • make sure you minimize the number of connections
  • make sure there is enough time for each connection

That probably leaves you with Qatar going through Doha. KLM markets Amsterdam to Windhoek as a "direct" flight, but it actually stops in Luanda. It appears to be the same aircraft continuing (which isn't always guaranteed) but he may have to get off the plane during the layover.

"Direct" has become a bit of a marketing ploy: some airlines just randomly combine two flight segments and give them the same flight number. It's certainly NOT guaranteed to be non-stop and sometimes it's even a different aircrafts, different gates, different crews and there is no real difference to a regular layover.

Hilmar
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I think most reputable airlines (KLM, Qatar in your question) will offer proper aid and services to person with mobility limitations.

They will have wheelchairs and personal to give assistance with luggage and everything from boarding, disembarking and/or transferring.

BUT You will need to ASK in ADVANCE for the special service.

Max
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