Beginning in December, the epidemic prevention policies across the country are gradually relaxed. Many people plan to go home for the New Year. If you want to take a wheelchair and fly home, you must not miss this guide.
In November, due to work needs, I will go on a business trip to Shenzhen. The leader said that it is quite a distance from Suzhou to Shenzhen. Why don’t you go by plane, firstly, the journey will be easier, and secondly, it is just a good time to experience the process of flying with an electric wheelchair.
In recent years, many customers will ask about the precautions for flying with electric wheelchairs, especially the lithium battery. Generally, I will send the document “Battery Consignment Standards of the Civil Aviation Administration of China” to customers, including the consignment of lithium batteries for electric wheelchairs. The standard is the lithium battery of the electric wheelchair, which needs to be quickly disassembled. The capacity of a single battery should not exceed 300WH. If there are two lithium batteries in the car, the capacity of a single battery should not exceed 160WH. The body of the wheelchair is checked in, and the battery is carried into the cabin.
This time I finally have the opportunity to experience it for myself. I am excited and looking forward to it. Come and see it with me.
1. Ticket booking and matters needing attention
I booked the ticket on the night of November 17th, and flew from Wuxi to Shenzhen on the 21st. The airline is Donghai Airlines. Because I checked in an electric wheelchair and needed an airport wheelchair and a cabin wheelchair, I contacted the airline as soon as I booked the ticket, provided my ID card and flight number, explained the needs, and they registered, but did not confirm . Even though I contacted them again on the 18th and 19th, I finally found out that the appointment was not successful at the airport. This step needs to be asked several times by myself, and it must be confirmed after arriving at the airport. Otherwise, if the appointment is not successful, your electric The wheelchair was checked in again, and it was impossible to move an inch after that.
2. Itinerary
According to the departure time of the plane, make a good itinerary and reserve enough time to deal with unexpected emergencies.
Originally, my plan was two lines:
1. Take a ride from Suzhou to the terminal of Wuxi Shuofang Airport directly.
2. Suzhou train to Wuxi, then Wuxi subway to Shuofang Airport
In order to better experience the process, I chose the second route, and the high-speed rail ticket from Suzhou to Wuxi is only 14 yuan, which is very cost-effective. Although the process was very enjoyable, there were a few problems that I did not expect, which delayed some time.
After getting out of Wuxi Railway Station, I diverted people and lined up to do nucleic acid. After the nucleic acid was ready, I drove an electric wheelchair to take the subway. Exit 9 of Wuxi High-speed Railway Station on Line 3 is very close, but there is no barrier-free passage and barrier-free elevator. It’s at gate 8, but there are no clear directions.
There was a guy at the No. 9 entrance who was registering information. I tried to ask him to call the subway security officer. He looked up at me and pretended to continue to operate the phone with his head down, leaving me embarrassed. Maybe he was afraid that I would lie to him. After waiting for a while, no one else passed by, so I had to check the service number of Wuxi Metro on my mobile phone. By contacting the subway customer service, I finally got in touch with the station.
Now many cities have opened up subways, railway stations, and airports, which greatly facilitates barrier-free connections for wheelchair users. The concept of urban barrier-free is becoming more and more popular, urban public transportation is also constantly improving, and society encourages more wheelchair users to travel.
3. Check-in and luggage delivery
After arriving at the airport, find the corresponding airline, check in, get a boarding pass, and check in the luggage there.
Passengers in wheelchairs can also directly contact the check-in director, which can be regarded as a green channel and can be processed quickly.
The check-in director will help you get the registration card, and at the same time he will confirm the following things with you:
1. Whether you are accompanied, whether you need airport wheelchairs and cabin wheelchairs (if you forget to make an appointment, you can apply at this time, but there may not be any).
2. If the electric wheelchair is consigned, it is necessary to confirm whether the battery can be disassembled and whether the capacity meets the requirements. He will confirm it one by one.
3. Sign the risk notification confirmation letter;
4. Wheelchair consignment is generally 1 hour before boarding, as early as possible.
4. Security check, waiting and boarding
Airplane security checks are very strict. Before going to the airport, please check which items are prohibited and do not carry them.
To mention a few details, umbrellas will be checked separately. Laptops, wheelchair batteries, power banks, mobile phones, etc. cannot be placed in the bag, and need to be taken out in advance, which is also checked separately.
I also brought a film camera and film this time. It turns out that I can really ask him to check it by hand without going through an X-ray machine.
The airport wheelchair I applied for and the cabin wheelchair I used for boarding will also be checked in detail at the security checkpoint, which makes me feel very safe.
Here is the difference between airport wheelchairs and cabin wheelchairs. These are two different manual wheelchairs. Airport wheelchairs are provided by the airport after your electric wheelchair is checked in, until the cabin door. After entering the cabin, due to limited space, you need to use it. Transport passengers to their seats for flawless boarding with narrower, smaller cabin wheelchairs.
Both wheelchairs need to be reserved in advance.
After security check, just wait at the boarding gate to get on the plane.
5. Get off the plane
It’s my first time to fly on a plane, and the overall feeling is still very wonderful. When I was floating in the air, I thought of Hayao Miyazaki’s animation “Howl’s Moving Castle”, which is fantastic and romantic.
I was the last one to get off the plane, and I also used a wheelchair to connect. I first used the cabin wheelchair to leave the seat, and then used a larger wheelchair to land safely on the lifting platform. After that, I took the airport bus to claim my luggage.
Please rest assured that you will be accompanied by airport staff throughout the process until you get your electric wheelchair and leave the airport.
Please accept this ultra-detailed wheelchair flying guide. If you have any other questions, you can leave a message. I sincerely hope that more disabled people will get out of their homes, participate in broader public affairs, and take a wheelchair to see the wonderful things outside. world.
Post time: Dec-21-2022