I may be out of step with everyone else, but when I used airport transport services for an Aunt when we traveled (we are both disabled, but mine is COPD while hers was both COPD and failed back syndrome), I could not stand the slowness and indifference of the transport personnel pushing the transport chair. Getting them to stop at the bathroom and not disappear was always a huge issue, never mind getting them to pay attention to the person in the chair (vs only talking to me, the visibly mobile person). I should not be pushing a chair with 170 pounds of human in it, yet I can’t tell you the number of times our pusher decided I was able to handle her and evaporated on us during the bathroom stop. (Pre-pandemic; my Aunt has since passed in 2020).

I just returned from a trip between SFO and BOS in the United States, and was thankful I’m still mobile and didn’t need to request transport help. (30-OCT-24 thru 04-NOV-24).

I always give myself 4 hours (vs 2) at the airport for dealing with the bags and getting through security. So far, that’s worked best for me for not getting overwhelmed or frustrated with the process when traveling alone at my own pace.

I had to haul my stationary oxygen concentrator (18 pounds), and I was first on / last off the jet, and was thankful for the flight attendants to help me lift the 20 pounds of ox eqt into overhead storage – a surprise I wasn’t expecting (being unable to lift the weight over my head) and a lesson learned for additional frailty during this series of flights.

I found the number of disabled travelers of all varieties had grown exponentially, and the airlines seemed to be handling it well.