I have to thank Barb for her posting about travelling with her brother in a wheelchair. It has made me feel better about our uncoming trip to Paris with my 91 year old father. Reading different people's experience, however, has left me with a few questions I hope can be answered. We'll be renting a companion chair which has 4 small wheels, which we push.

We'll be flying USAirways non-stop. The first representative I spoke with said to call once we made our reservations to request a wheelchair. I did, and that representative said to just tell them at check-in. Both said we could either check the chair or wheel it right onto the plane. Barb said that by checking the chair, one of the parts were lost in transit.

I know that by using the chairs at the airport the escort knows where the elevators are and it seems like you get to the gate much quicker and easier. Can we get an airport escort if we use our own chair to go on the flight? It could be difficult carrying our carry-ons and purse and pushing the chair.

We have seats over the wing toward the front of the plane. When we land, should we get off as usual? My father can walk, albeit slowly, and we could get to the ramp before he gets into the chair, if that's faster. There are 2 aisles, so I can't think it's better to wait to get off last.

Suggestions, experiences? This is our first trip like this, but hopefully not our last. Dad wants to go to California and then Rio. Hope I got a bunch of his genes!!! What kick!!

Karen, bless you for undertaking this trip, and more power to your father for his love of life. I made 3 trips with my mother when she was in her 90's and now that she is gone, I cannot tell you how much I treasure those memories. We used a transport chair just like the one you are describing.

I think airlines handle some of these matters in different ways, so as far as getting an escort with your own chair, you should check with US Airways to be sure. However, that is what we did on at least one occasion, because I didn't feel I could manage our carryons and push the chair.

We never checked the chair. We always took it to the gate, and then they gate-checked it, and had the chair waiting for us upon arrival. You should still be sure that everything is secure on the chair -- the footrests, etc.

I think you will find it easiest to wait til last to get off the plane.

In general, the one tip I would give you is to allow plenty of extra time at every stage of your journey. Everything takes just a little longer.

Have a wonderful trip!

Having an escort simplifies things immensely, especially when going through security and customs within the U.S.

And in France! Two years ago we landed at CDG the day of the nationwide strike, and the extendable gates were not in use. Had I not ordered a wheelchair I would have had to go down those rolling-stair units. As it was, I and another man in a wheelchair were transferred to a Star-Wars-like contraption that rose up to the height of the plan and took us off, then over to a gate on the side of a terminal arm that was up at the same level.

topping for Karen: let us know if you've figured out how to access your threads.

Thank you all for your info. Yes, now I can just check what I've written without going through hundreds of questions. But what is topping?

Because threads are displayed in the order in which they're updated, threads that have not been touched for a while fall further down the list.

Topping just means that someone has updated the thread (by typing ttt, for example, "to the top" or topping) so that the thread is updated and brought back up to the top.

And don't forget to click on your name to find all the threads you've contributed to.

Hi Karen, topping or ttt is what is done to bring your thread up to the top of the forum as sometimes ones thread can go way down the list because of so many new threads.

Marilyn wanted to make sure you saw this answers. Have a wonderful trip with your father, that will be a very special time for both of you.

>>extendable gates<< = "jetways"

Hi,

I travelled w/ my father who is disabled, but can walk short distances very slowly. My advice matches theirs -check the chair at the plane entrance. They have a special chair that can bring him down the aisle in the plane, but my father found it too constraining. It is very narrow and straight-backed, and straps are placed in an "X" across the passenger's chest. Then, as there were only 2 wheels, the chair is tipped back in order to push the passenger down the aisle (it sort of reminded me of Hannibel Lechter in Silence of the Lambs, except sitting down). I think he felt more conspicuous and a bit scared by the whole thing, so on the 2nd leg of our trip he walked (slowly) to our seats. We de-boarded last. Just a note, which may seem obvious - the bathroom timing thing was also key on the plane...

Best of luck on your trip, and enjoy! I hope this was helpful.