Ryanair/Easyjet wheelchair user

eileanlady

Hi there, I'm hoping some of you well-travelled types could give me some advice.

I am hoping to treat my husband to a little winter sun for his 50th birthday in November. We live in the Western Isles so even reaching an airport from which international flights depart costs a pretty penny, therefore I've been looking at the low-cost carriers sites and they have flights going to places I know he'd enjoy.

The problem is I'm a wheelchair user and I've had bad experiences before when flying. Last year, for example when travelling to Madrid with BA (six flights all together from here and back) they failed to get a wheel chair to meet the aeroplane three times!:eek: Not great when you've got conecting flights and you're like a fish stranded on the shore...

Does anyone have any experience of being a disabled traveller with the likes of Ryanair? We've never used them, and having read some of the threads I know opinion is divided, but I would really appreciate some help.

E

Strapped

My mum travels a lot with Ryanair, connecting through Stanted usually. She has mobility difficulties/ needs oxygen and I am surprised to say that she has always found them really good, but then again I think that the wheelchair assistance is provided by a third party (? the handling agents) so it may be airport rather than airline specific.

Carol444_2

Been loads of times over the years with Easyjet with my mum in a wheelchair and they are excellent! Never had a problem with them.

hostie1985

Strapped is right about the 3rd party (the handling agent), it has nothing to do with the airline you are going with, but hope you get on with ryanair/easyjet ok thou :-)

Hostie

xx

ABARKIE

Hi

My partners daughter is in a wheelchair and is unable to walk unaided at all.

We have used Ryanair and Easyjet from Liverpool / Birmingham / Manchester and East Midlands

When you book online on Ryanair, there is a tickbox for you to complete

On easyjet I think you go to the "my bookings" section and add disability requirement, dependant if you walk at all - my partners daughter cannot walk unaided at all.

When you get to the airport and present yourself to the desk (I am working on the basis you have checked on line) - You will be probably be asked if you have requested assistance.

Your wheelchair will then be tagged / labelled by the check in desk person.

You can then be escorted through passport control etc.

You are then left for a while and you are requested to report to a gate, not always the same for the usual passengers

Then you are taken to the flight via ambilift.

Last time with Ryanair at Liverpool we were put on last via the rear of plane.

Usually you are put at the front of the plane.

Usually you are last off the plane - waiting for the ambilift and / or wheelchair.

I hope this helps.

Thanks

eileanlady

Thankyou all for your replies. It sounds like it's worth me taking a closer look at these airlines.

You're right about handling agents providing wheelchair services. However if the carrier and agent don't communicate properly problems arise. I think that was part of my problem last year-BA blamed them, they blamed BA, and I just got stuck in the middle... This was at Heathrow (twice) and Edinburgh.

If anyone has any more advice, about this or generally booking with Ryanair/ Easyjet, I'd be grateful

E

Saint_Chris

my friend is in a wheelchair, and we have used both companies a few times.

my friend can actually walk a few steps, well more than a few, but needs a stick when doing so.

I always book the flight then ring up straight away the flight company, i ask them to add the chair onto the flight, and i tell them that we do not need assistance at the airport, as we go away as a group of friends. i tell them that we are ok, and we can push her round the airport and up to check in gates,

some flights tell you to get to the gate asap and go to the front of the que, they then let the passenger in the wheelchair and 1 other, go on the mechanical lift with others, and then when the lift reaches the top of the plane my friend, walks to a seat, her chair is then, taken back down and put in the hold, some airlines let you get on the plane before passengers, and others as the last passengers.

Either way, easyjet, ryanair, thomsons and monarch have all be more that excellent in their handling of us.

spiro

With Ryanair you have to tell them at the time of booking that you are a wheelchair users as they only take 4 'disabled' passengers per flight.

http://www.ryanair.com/en/questions/do-i-need-to-advise-ryanair-prior-to-travel-if-i-have-reduced-mobility-blind-visual-impairment-or-require-special-assistance-in-the-airport