Delta Fares

What do i do about wheelchair?

My grandmother is travelling from DFW Airport to Chicago and then from Chicago to Mumbai. From Dallas to Chicago she is going on United Airlines and the wheelchair for that is confirmed. From Chicago to Mumbai she is going on Air India and the wheelchair for that is on the waiting list. I told them about the wheel chair when I made the reservation. They said that they have wheel chair and it was confirmed. Now I called today to just make sure and they said that the ticket was confirmed but the wheelchair for Air India is on the waiting list. what do i do now? they said the office for wheelchair is closed right now so call back in 8 hours. The flight is for Januray 6th(tomorrow) at 5:45. please help. and my grandmother had knee surgery on both of her legs and she is 72 years old and she can't speak english at all so she will get lost. so she is gonna have to have a wheel chair.

Public Comments

1. Does she have a wheelchair? Take it. They can help her board and then place it under the plane like they do for baby strollers and when the plane lands, that will be the first thing they take off the plane. First, call back and tell them that you were assured that she would have a wheelchair and you need that to happen as she has no way of walking at all. They have to provide her with what her needs are as you did reserve it. Contact Chicago O'Hare. They are usually great, I have flown in and out of there many times and they are usually very accommodating.
2. Cancel the flight. Hopefully you got insurance. The reason for cancellation is that the wheelchair is essential and the air line has refused to book it. What waiting list???? There is lots of space in the hold. Rebook the flight on somebody other than Air India and make sure that you have the wheelchair confirmed in writing.
3. Try and get an exit seat with loads of footroom - this will allow for the crew to get her in the wheelchair and out, before and after flights. She may need to go on early, and get off later. However, I really don't reccommend that she flies, if she can't move her legs, her chances of DVT (Deep Vain Thrombosis) increase, and as she is 72, it's quite dangerous. The best thing to do is reschedule the flight, for when you can definately have the wheelchair.
4. They evidently don't have enough aisle chairs to go around, and a big demand for them. One may have broken, who knows. Your grandmother's personal wheelchair, like most, are too wide to fit through the aisles of the aircraft, so what normally happens is that your grandmother will transfer from her wheelchair, to an aisle chair at the counter or gate, be wheeled into the aircraft by the staff, and transfer to a seat on the plane. Her personal chair will then be checked into the cargo hold. It's very likely there is a huge demand for the chairs (everyone going home from the holidays), and they've come up short. In all likelihood, she will still be able to get on the aircraft, but might have to wait her turn boarding while the available chairs are in use. My wife's airline runs into this once in awhile. Just make sure you keep pestering the heck out of Air India.
5. The ADA (American Disabilities Act) applies to all airports and we are required by law to assist anyone who has a disability. That includes your grandmother. I'd call the airline back and mention the ADA to them and let them know if your grandmother is not serviced you will report them. If they do not have a wheelchair assigned for your grandmother ask to speak to a CRO (complaint resolution official), tomorrow. One has to be available at the airport at all times, from each airline. The early departure doesn't help much, but get to the airport early.