Wheelchair assistance was great. It made everything so much easier and less tiring. At Manchester my husband pushed the chair so we both got through security faster and it was great. At Dublin the person who me us at the airport pushed so I was fastracked through security and John wasn't. It was good because we didn't have to worry about knowing where to go. The downside was that we were taken straight through to the departure gate and once we'd gone through the US immigration there wasn't anywhere much to get a meal. We'd not had breakfast before we left and I was looking forward to getting a proper breakfast in Dublin. We did manage to get something but it wasn't ideal. There was no wheat/gluten free stuff available so I had a rather tired looking salad nicoise!
There wasn't any body obviously there with a wheelchair to meet me at Newark but i didn't bother to ask as we'd done all the immigration stuff at Dublin so it was a short walk anyway. I hope it all works so smoothly coming back.
So for anybody who's not sure about getting assistance I would most definitely say do!
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Louisepenygraig
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Good, glad it went relatively well. Trouble is, all airports are slightly different, so you’re not always sure what’s available on the other side of security, but most bigger airports have food/drink facilities.
My husband has always been told to tag along - how rude of Dublin!
Check with the flight crew coming back - they radio ahead to tell the airport what they require.
At Chicago for the onward flight to Calgary I was taken through the check-in and to the gate. We then had to walk back a bit, maybe 100yds, to the food area. Coming home from Chicago it was United (I think) and they use an inland terminal for the European international departures too. WHAT A HOLE!!! There was next to no seating and it was all full. And only 2 very down-market and grubby diners with awful food - luckily we'd had a decent breakfast. Luckily there was a small area reserved for priority boarding - and I took our friends with me so they had somewhere to sit.
I've booked assistance at Palma as from what I remember it's quite a walk. I was told though that the wait could be a long time for help. Still better than stressing myself out with walk and the coach won't leave without me 😀😀 I HOPE 😂
Wheelchair support worked seamlessly at Dublin. It was suggested we wait on the plane while others disembarked (which we tend to do anyway) and the person with the chair was waiting. I wasn't given any such instructions on the second flight. Their was a wheelchair there for one person. I did notice one at the top of the ramp but I'd already decided not to bother as I knew it would be a short walk and it saved the hassle of knowing what to do about tipping! Both flights were Aer Lingus
We are flying from Bournemouth with Thompson. Small airport so won't need assistance this end. Didn't think about the tipping though. Another stressful dilemma. ... what to tip 😕😕
Not a lot - it is their job, they are employed by the airport. Do you tip the flight crew? Or the check-in staff? The price of a drink is about right depending on the service you had - and if they were particularly kind or helpful. If all you get is a ride on an electric buggy - I wouldn't bother. And actually - mine were gone before I could even do anything.
Guidance I read was for the US. It said you don't need to tip in UK/Europe but tipping is much more expected in the US. I didn't tip at all in Manchester or Dublin. I did get taken in a wheelchair once in Washington when my flight from the UK was delayed and I had to rush to a different terminal. By the time I'd rearranged my flight I was starting to feel dizzy and needed to go back to the original terminal for the new flight. They offered to get me a wheelchair. The person pushing made it quite clear he expected a tip. The whole experience was quite uncomfortable and not very pleasant. It put me off the idea of asking this time but this was such a different experience.
"The person pushing made it quite clear he expected a tip."
Since he wouldn't have got it until he had got me where I needed to be - that attitude would have pretty much guaranteed he DIDN'T get one. Don't care what country it is in.
Just returned from Palma, it is a long walk. Taken off with lift then electric buggy but all of us were just deposited in baggage claim and left to walk to taxis or bus, quite a long way. Have been through Manchester twice each way and was well looked after. Best of all was Iceland , met at aircraft door deposited at door of airport bus. 😁 Have a great holiday.
Probably not! I was relying on it being a 4 hour stopover but then we were an hour late coming in and probably getting on for another hour to get through security and immigration so of course it wasn't that long in the end.
So glad you had help most of the way! Hope you enjoyed my neck of the woods! Being ravenous from Pred., I never go anywhere without food...fruit, nuts, protein bars, etc. My glove compartment looks like a restaurant!
When my brother and sister-in-law came into town because their mother was sick and and dying my brother-in-law had a lot of trouble walking and he is heavy. So he's in the airplane and they are in the air and he has to use the restroom. He asks a flight attendant for the wheelchair that will fit down the aisle and the flight attendant did not want to get it out because it was such a bother and my brother-in-law is an easy going kind of person and I'm sure that he didn't argue one bit about it. But the flight attendant told him to give it a try on his own. So he tried to get down the aisle to the bathroom and he ended up collapsing and they had to make an emergency landing in Colorado. He spent a couple of nights in a hospital in Colorado before getting on another airplane to get the rest of the way to Kansas. The airline that caused this problem gave them back all their money they spent on their tickets and I think they got extra compensation as well but I can't remember what it was. But it was a very bad experience for my brother-in-law to have to go through and then all the while thinking about his dying mother.
I'm really glad to hear that your trip has gone well so far but it doesn't always happen that way. Good luck on your return trip and have tons of fun in Newark!
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