<p>My elderly parents will be accepting wheelchair assistance for the first time this Thursday when they fly out for DS's wedding. Does anyone have any experience with this? What should they expect? How much should they tip? Any suggestions that will make the process easier for them? We've notified the airline that they will need help and convinced the parents that they really need help, but they really hate having to accept help--it embarrasses them and makes them feel old and feeble. However, they haven't flown much in the past few years...and all the children and grandchildren live far away from them. Big sigh.</p>
<p>They might like those electric carts they use at some airports! It has been years since my mother used the service, but I think that once they use it, they will not feel so bad about it. Ten years ago, my mom tipped about $2. Now, five would probably be good.</p>
<p>My mom flew several times back and forth to Fla needing wheelchair assistance while on oxygen. They always treated her very nice. She got into a wheel chair at the curb and was wheeled through security in a special line and on to her gate. They were ready for her when she landed. It all worked out very well.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t this be in the Parent’s Cafe?</p>
<p>See if you can get passes to go through security and wait at the gate for them. They will feel better once they see you and you will be able to assist with the transportation to baggage. The person who takes them to the airport should be able to get one too, and stay with them until the gate. I have done this with my grandmother.</p>
<p>If they are hard of hearing, see if that can be noted somewhere or have them tell the gate agent. My father-in-law missed the announcement for a gate change and missed his flight.</p>
<p>Getting the wheelchairs at the departure airport has usually not been a problem for my parent, but if you, or another family member, can get a gate pass to meet them on arrival, that would be great. On a recent trip, the wheelchair was NOT at the arrival gate for either legs of the flights. On one leg, I got to the gate a few minutes early, and asked for the wheelchair. The flight arrived, and it still wasn’t there. Had to ask a 3rd time…and finally got a very helpful airport employee who found someone who could get the wheel chair.</p>
<p>Same thing happened on the return flight, where a sibling met my parent.</p>
<p>Just remember, if you get a gate pass, you will need to go through security, so don’t have anything in your purse/pockets that can’t go through the screeners.</p>
<p>I think my parent tips $5.</p>