I recall you saying that you are 6’0" tall and all legs. As a 6’ woman with RA who does NOT have mobility issues but still has a LOT of pain, I can tell you that the flight is going to be very, very difficult. With the flare-ups you’ve been having, I don’t think you should even attempt that length of flight unless you get AT LEAST an economy plus seat. A regular economy seat with your legs wedged in with limited ability to adjust would be torture for a long flight – I mean torture quite literally. Will you have enough mobility to walk up and down the aisles from time to time during the flight?
Please, do what it takes to upgrade to an economy plus seat!
I agree that economy plus is the only way H and I will fly any more and we are about 6 or so inches shorter than you. Seats have really shrunken–side to side and between rows over the years. PLEASE opt for the economy plus or larger seat.
Bulkhead seats are nice as well, but you have to have your things put in the overhead bins and be willing to assist for any evacuation–don’t think they will allow disabled folks to sit in bulkhead seats.
I do think I have the ability to walk up and down the aisles. I’m not sure that we can afford to upgrade but I will see what I can do. I’m paying for the trip and it’s already a stretch. If not for the fact that my great aunt likely won’t be around for very long, we wouldn’t even be attempting this.
Economy Plus is a United term. The equivalent Delta term is Delta Comfort+. It has 34-35" seat pitch, versus 31-32" seat pitch in Delta’s (and many other airlines’) regular economy seats. The generic term for these kinds of seats is premium economy.
Pretty sure it is exit row seats where they do not want anyone who would have difficulty opening the exit door and getting out quickly sitting there. Exit rows are usually not bulkhead rows. Note that some airplanes have exit doors that detach, so you have to pick it up and throw it out of the door opening.
I found a reasonably priced “premium economy” type seat on Air France. Does anyone have experiences with Air France? Or Air Canada? (Windsor is only a little farther than Detroit Airport!)
Paging @GMTplus7 since I think you travel quite a bit (IIRC)
However, does the flight from Windsor require connecting? Also, Windsor is on the other side of an international border from Detroit, so if you live on the US side, you may have to budget extra time for border crossing just to get to the origin airport.
I love Air France. I’ve flown in the Premium Economy class on Air France to Paris and it is great. The PE may vary depending what airplane it is though; it was fantastic on the 777. I’ve never flown on Air Canada.
I have flown on Air Canada, but only in regular economy on the single aisle A319/A320 type planes (Canada <-> US and domestic within Canada). Seat comfort is typical for a 31" pitch regular economy seat. The experience in premium economy in a two aisle plane flying trans-Atlantic may differ.
Hey Romani! I had to travel domestically in a wheelchair a few months ago. I called the airline (Delta) to book tickets and requested wheelchair help at the airports. We sprang for first class seats, but the airline would have offered us the best economy fare seats had we asked (bulkhead, as mentioned, which have the drawback of no under the seat storage). I boarded first and got off last—allow time for a slower transition between connecting flights. I could not stand and walk through the scanner at the security check point. I explained that to the TSA and they gently patted me down.
My impression from the experience was thank God for the ADA. I used elevators, large sized family bathrooms (room for my husband to help me), ramps. It took me longer to get around, but I could do it. People were kind and helpful, whether they were other travelers or the airport personnel assigned to help me. We took a long car trip, too, and I was pleased to note how accessible chain gas stations and restaurants were.
I don’t know how difficult it will be to get around in England. Are there handicapped hotel rooms there? We also used those in the US. As asked by others, how accessible is public transit? Sidewalks?
Allow extra time, be patient, bring your sense of humor.
Thank you so much. My mom and I were talking about this this morning and I basically said it can’t be worse than the last time we traveled to England. I was 2, my mom’s mom was extremely weak and dying of lung cancer, and I ran away from them in the middle of Heathrow International.
Luckily we have a pretty good sense of humor about all of this. We have to in order to just keep our sanity through everything.
I found a very reasonably priced air france flight. The Air Canada is actually Air Rouge (or Canada Rouge?). The reviews of the seats were that were very uncomfortable but the reviews were mostly from 2014.
Not to be a downer, but just FYI my sister has lupus and traveling does sometimes cause it to flare up. Hopefully you’ve got the international insurance thing covered, but what helps my sister is to reduce the stress of traveling as much as possible by not trying to do too much in the way of activities.
Thanks, @anomander I’m already in a flare right now and I know this will probably make it worse. I haven’t traveled at all since getting sick and wouldn’t be attempting this if it weren’t for elderly relatives and failing health.
Unless there is a price issue with booking your flights by phone, that is how I would do it. Ask for what you need, whether it is easy lav access, a particular seating position, being in a row close to the jetway to reduce walking etc. With symptoms that wax and wane, planning for the worst case scenario isn’t a bad idea. Airlines seem to take medical needs very seriously and will want it to work out all around. See how full the particular flight is; they may have ways to stack the deck in favor of you getting a little space advantage. I had an unpredictable circumstance, and was always able to get help at the last minute, yet booking it ahead helped. Another thing that really made a difference to me was being able to use the airline’s lounge during a long layover. That is usually reserved for frequent flyers or business class and up passengers, but if it would help, the space is much more comfortable than the bulk of airport seating areas. Couldn’t hurt to ask.
All the best and sorry that this trip is precipitated by a sad family time.
I haven’t been to London for a few years and not since having a kid using a wheelchair myself (as you probably know, if you don’t need it you don’t see it), but a friend with MS went on a trip about two years ago and was VERY impressed with accessibility in London. Where else will you be going?
The Chase Sapphire preferred visa credit card (and some others) provides some travel insurance but not trip evacuation insurance. My relative who has lupus has been in remission for decades now and has done a lot of travel without any flare ups. You can talk with the airline disabilities desks at no charge before and after buying your ticket, to find out how they can help make your trip as pleasant as possible. I call them right after purchasing my tickets and they help me get a comfortable and appropriate seat and have H seated beside me, even when we are in separate reservations. When I needed a wheelchair, I would let the airlines know right after booking the ticket and confirm it before the flight.
I’m sorry your relative is doing poorly and your lupus is flaring. Please take care and give yourself lots of rest time.
@Tigerle I think the plan right now is to spend around a week in Swindon which is in SW England. It seems like a pretty big town. Then we’ll spend around a week in London. The one thing I’d really like to do is the haunted London walk or whatever it’s called but I’m not sure I can convince my mom to do that
@HIMom my Chase credit card (it’s not Chase Sapphire though) is the only one I use but I have several credit cards with other companies, too. Good idea in checking into travel insurance.
I will definitely be calling the airlines before I purchase the tickets just to save myself a headache (or attempt to). I did start ordering tickets yesterday through some airline (maybe Air Canada? It was late… lol) and there was a space to explain what accommodations were needed.
Yes, it’s worthwhile calling your CCard companies to see which offer what benefits. I have been able to get the change and cancellation fees refunded by the CC insurer in past medically-required cancellations. United also refunded cancellation fees when my doc ordered me to cancel travel and gave me a travel certificate for future travel.
According to http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Air_Canada/information.php , the Air Canada Rouge planes have regular economy seating with 29-30" pitch, Rouge+ premium economy with 34-35" pitch, and Premium Rouge seating that is like domestic business class or not even that good.
