Wheelchair with BA

salimnina

Hi,
I'm not disabled but I need a wheelchair, do I need to give my reasons to why I'm taking the wheelchair and some proofs, or can I just turn up at the check-in without any prior paperwork.

Voyager2002

You should book special assistance at around the time you book your flights, so that people will be on hand to push your wheelchair and carry it (and you) on and off the aeroplane.

Mr_Lawnmower

salimnina said:

I'm not disabled but I need a wheelchair, do I need to give my reasons to why I'm taking the wheelchair and some proofs, or can I just turn up at the check-in without any prior paperwork.

Do not turn up at check-in without making prior arrangements, otherwise you might be refused. If I remember the law correctly, there is a cut-off of 48 hours before the flight to book special assistance; beyond that, assistance is provided on a 'best efforts' basis.

I'm unclear why you describe yourself as "not disabled" but say you "need a wheelchair" and are "taking a wheelchair". If your health is such that you need a wheelchair, then you are entitled to book special assistance. The easiest way to do this is via 'Manage My Booking' on the BA web site. If you are travelling with your own wheelchair, you give the details of the wheelchair after selecting the level of mobility assistance you need. You will not need to provide proof.

Be aware that in many cases, the airline's liability for a damaged wheelchair is limited to around £1300 by the Montreal Convention. It is wise to have your chair insured for its full value if it is worth more than that.

If your chair was issued by a NHS Wheelchair Service, you might need the permission of the issuing service to take it out of the UK and/or you may be required to have insurance for its full replacement value. Check with the issuing wheelchair service if you are unsure.

If you need to speak to BA's Accessibility Team, they are on 0800 408 1100 (Monday to Saturday 0900-1700).

bagand96

As suggested just get in touch with BA to have whatever you need added to your booking.  It can be done online via Manage my Booking or you can phone them up.

What assistance is available? | Disability assistance | British Airways

How to request assistance | Disability assistance | British Airways

Brie

BA's def going to need prior notice if you expect to actually take the chair onto the flight with you.  And I don't know why you would need to do this. 

There is assistance available at Heathrow so you could check your chair as luggage and then have someone wheel you through security and the duty free shops right up to the flight.  And do the same at the other side. 

I admit it does take away some independence and realise that is very important to many people.  

My elderly mom found the wheelchair experience incredibly convenient the last time she came to the UK.  And I've taken advantage of the motorised trolley golf cart type things with a chauffeur that whiz about the airports after security.  Well worth it when I returned to the UK on an overnight flight (awake for 36 hours....) when I was waiting for a knee replacement.  I wouldn't have made it to luggage retrieval without it.

TELLIT01

A non-disabled person making out they need a wheelchair may prevent a person with genuine need getting the support they require.

Voyager2002

TELLIT01 said:

A non-disabled person making out they need a wheelchair may prevent a person with genuine need getting the support they require.

Unlikely. They require people to book assistance well in advance so that they can provide it to all who need help.

And the term 'disabled' is fairly elastic. As airports make passengers walk longer and longer distances through shopping areas, more and more people who are frail for one reason or another may struggle to cope. For such people (who would not think of themselves as disabled) some help in getting to the gate might make a really significant difference to their ability to enjoy their holiday.

lady1964

TELLIT01 said:

A non-disabled person making out they need a wheelchair may prevent a person with genuine need getting the support they require.

Not really; I’m not disabled but when I flew to NY then onto Jamaica 3 years ago, I’d broken my ankle 3 months previously so I had a boot. I booked wheelchair assistance due to the amount of walking involved at various airports. Stupidly I cancelled it which I massively regretted when we had to stand in the queue for 2 hours at JFK security, although my ankle had support, it ached for days afterwards.

The OP could be in a similar situation. 

Mr_Lawnmower

Brie said:

BA's def going to need prior notice if you expect to actually take the chair onto the flight with you.  And I don't know why you would need to do this. 

There are two options: give your chair up in the check-in area or at the gate. You don't need to declare which option you intend to use in advance, but as @Brie says, you must give prior notice, as BA need to make arrangements. If you give your chair up at the check-in area, you will normally be required to take it to the oversize luggage area after it has been tagged by the check-in agent.

You cannot take your chair beyond the door of the plane (unless it's a folding chair and the crew agree to store your chair in the cabin). If you need a chair on the plane, you need to book level 3 mobility assistance and transfer to the aisle wheelchair at the door of the plane. Standard chairs will not fit up the narrow aisle.

I fly several times a year with BA, taking my own chair with me. I leave my main powerchair at home and take a folding powerchair that packs into a dedicated large suitcase (it's huge, but within BA's size limits for wheelchairs). The advantage of the suitcase is that the case takes all the knocks from the baggage handlers, not the chair.

If you are flying BA from Heathrow Terminal 5, go to the dedicated accessibility check-in desks in Zone A.