I feel like I could have spoken a lot more about my flight. I didn’t talk about managing my meds. Would you like another video? The reason I upgraded is because 24 hours on a plane is a long time for anyone. But add it a disability and its hard going. Trust me I have done it three times before! It was 100% worth upgrading to premuim economy. It defiantly gave me an extra level of comfort. Dont forget to leave your nuggets of information for others to find in the comments. And if you have any other questions drop them bellow too. Looking forward to seeing you in my next accessibility vlog. Check out some other videos: It Never used to be like this ruclips.net/video/qRmR37ZVP9s/видео.html Preparing for a 24hr flight ruclips.net/video/xJ3-pQu-QSA/видео.html Flying solo ruclips.net/video/FT2nrGIGfoQ/видео.html First time out in a wheelchair ruclips.net/video/N1sGQGn4Hoc/видео.html Do I need a wheelchair? ruclips.net/video/9EZtjSadqy8/видео.html
For power wheelchairs that use lithium batteries, make sure they are no more than 300 Watt Hours. My chair can store 2 batteries, but only one is needed. I could only fly with one battery because each battery was 240 Watt hours. I am an ambulatory wheelchair user so I can walk onto the plane. I find booking aisle seats make it easier. Also, carry your joystick on board with you if you can do it doesn’t get broken. I got a tag for my wheelchair with a chip so I could track where it was located and make sure it gets on the correct plane. Also no one can claim my chair is theirs because I have the tag on it. This could work with manual wheelchairs as well. Just an extra precaution so I don’t lose my chair. Fortunately the couple times I used it while flying, I rode right up to the door and then folded it up and they took it down. Same thing when we landed I just waited off to the side so as soon as my chair was brought up, I could put the battery and joystick on and go to my next gate. The one time coming home, I only had 30 minutes to make it to my connecting gate, because we were delayed leaving. Without my chair, if the flight had remained on time, I would never have made it. Fortunately I was able to make the train that connected the terminals, and made it with 10 minutes to spare. Only to then have the flight delayed and didn’t need to rush after all! So be very familiar with your chair and how to dismantle it quickly if needed. Makes it a lot easier, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Yeh it would be helpful to know re what the go is with on flight medical supplies and meds. Also the end of the video captions aren’t picking up what is being said to make sense of what happened
Hi, I'm a disabled wheelchair user based in the U.S. I frequently fly within in US and North America, but have never ventured out to try a long, international trip. This video was super informative and detailed! Thanks for sharing your journey with us! I'm glad RUclips recommended this video. :)
Currently in tenerife for two weeks, arrived last night and dealing the anticipated pain after the flight. First time using special assistance, it went pretty well. Thank you Gem for your previous flight vlogs, it meant I knew more what to expect my first time using it.
You can absolutely request mobility devices being stored onboard with your booking, rather than waiting until you arrive. Depending on the airline they may or may not have the ability to reserve it but it doesn’t hurt to ask in advance. Virgin Australia did this for me a few weeks ago for a Canberra to Melbourne flight I have coming up. I was worried they might not be able to and that I may be too late to organise it as I was told by customer service that it’s “first in, best dressed” but I filled in their online assistance form and within only 2 hours I had heard back to confirm assistance and onboard storage for my rollator on both arrival and departure on a flight I booked months ago.
@@bargainbinredhead Thanks, good to know about strapping. Currently don't use a strap with it as it is stored in car or garage. I also use a cane for short walks.
@@TheMazinoz I’ve tested out strapping my rollator and found that a luggage strap threaded twice around the folding brackets work to stop it opening, keeping it compact. It’s also easy and quick to take it on and off which is important for me as I don’t want to be fiddling around doing something complex.
@@bargainbinredhead Thanks, good to know. I've only just started using one for the mega malls here. Getting around these is a bit of a workout for me and leaves me exhausted for days at times.
I’m a ventilated quadriplegic (& stomach fed) due to MND/ALS. I’m attempting this same flight from London to Brisbane soon. I’m having to travel with a specialist repatriation nurse and one of my carers. My wife will also be travelling with me. Thanks so much for this video. I’ll try to film my flight to help future travellers like me.
It's a little sad they didn't allow all 3 of you to sit together. Especially as it looked as though there were 2 empty seats next to you. I think that would have made the flights a little better in my opinion- having my family around! Can't wait for more content xx
I can tell you now, I went to the same airport and had a way worse experience. The staff were a highlight during all the stress and upset though. They kept me calm and safe. I’d say there’s a big difference between international and domestic. Definitely don’t recall any assistance lane. We very much felt on our own about what was happening and what we were meant to be doing. This was back in July last year. My power wheelchair ended up damaged too but luckily it was still drivable.
@@Wheelsnoheels I had to get some new shock absorbers on the chair and bend the metal holding the hand control back into place. Luckily with the NDIS here in Australia, I wasn’t off the road for long. I have been very lucky. I've seen evidence of peoples mobility aids being completely inoperable due to flying. As long as I had my dog (she went to Sydney and back with me) and a somewhat workable chair….I was happy. Didn’t even care if my luggage went missing. I couldn’t live without those two things 😊
@@kaleidoscope_pie It makes me so angry that you had to deal with the hassle of damaged equipment. Our wheels are our equivalent of able-bodied people's legs and feet. If able-bodied people had their ankles summarily broken on disembarking from a plane so that they couldn't walk anymore, there would be an uproar. When airline staff break our wheelchairs, it is the same as breaking people's legs - it leaves us unable to go where we need to go so how dare airlines trivialise damage to our equipment.
Yeah, you doing these Vids are making it a little bit easier for me to now do some travelling, plus I don’t like flying. Also yrs back they didn’t have all this assistant help and my wheels got battered, I was so upset and I tried not to let it effect the holiday, but it does, you can’t help it. So once I find a place that I’m thinking of going, I will be back on here to get all your help on what people have experienced at these places, etc…..I am a 24/7 wheelchair lifer, so any advise is always taken onboard and also reading about what other people deal with is also a help, so Keep it “Wheel” Guys and thanks Gem your awesome at getting across the every day things we deal with and all the handy tips n tricks of WC life 😎🤘
I’m glad to hear that there is also an accessible toilet downstairs. I was worried that it was only for the people who are able to afford to upgrade My last flight was my first as a wheelchair user. I sat on my seat cushion on the flight. But I think it caused me more pain. My cushion is so thick my feet couldn’t really touch the ground when I was on it. I’m also short to begin with so that didn’t help
I flew for the first time with my chair earlier this month from Amsterdam to London Gatwick and it was such a good experience. The people of Schiphol were amazing super friendly. The lounge in Gatwick was the best thing. I could lay down! Way less noise as well, that was great. Wheelchair went with me up until the door of the aircraft which was also very nice.
I have to use a wheelchair because I lost a leg from a tumor but I use a wheelchair to get around. Thanks for showing this for others and me if I forget my crutches.
It’s great that the toilet was accessible and had space. The first time that I was on an economy airplane flight, I struggled to use the toilet as the space was very tight. It was hard for me to get my prosthetic legs off and on again.
Those flight attendants are awesome! They seem to really treat you like a human being. Versus, in the United States, it seems like a lot of flight attendants just don’t want to deal with you if you have a disability.
You are great. The confidence you have in life is amazing. I couldn't even imagine something like this before my various issues never mind now. I love watching you.
on A380 there is lift between upper and lower decks - at front of plane called stairlift thats used for disabled people to transfer from lower to upper deck - only used if no upper bridge attached to A380 but unknown if its can be used in air
I'm planning to visit Cuba with my best friend this fall. It's one of those organized group tours so we won't be alone. Planning to walk it all with my cane (I'm legally blind, and have hypermobile Ehlers danlos, so I also have some difficulty walking). I'm a little nervous about how it'll go, but I'm more excited. It's gonna be a really fun trip, I'm sure!
Thank you so much for this - I’m a full time wheelchair user too and thinking of travelling to Dubai again Business Class but this time on the A380 -last time it was the 777 and crew were brilliant and kept my chair in the overhead lockers, but just like you said would not let me photograph my chair and wheels in the locker 🤔. So I am so pleased you explained about how to get to the upper level and I was really interested in the loo - the 777 loo was very tiny and I did struggle so I am expecting the 380 to be more accessible for transferring, I didn’t quite get how you did the doors to make the loo bigger, so will you explain again please? I’ve flown on a 380 before in first class with BA and crew didn’t have a clue about the accessible features of the aircraft seat or the fact that they had an accessible loo so I missed out. Love seeing your videos -I usually travel to Florida and always insist my chair stays in the cabin, but some crew are not aware of the American Air Carrier Access Act and I end up with an argument and have to show them a summary of the law before they let me keep my chair in the closet -best wishes Ann
I flew singapore airlines lax to Singapore to Bangalore, India in December! I was so surprised when they let us put the chair in the storage closet and actually knew about it!
OO thats awesome. I flew Singapore once before to oz, and they left my wheelchair in Singapore. This was about 14 years ago so hopfully they have got better
Hi I live in Wollongong n.s.w Australia about 2hrs from syd airport, firstly I found your channel by accident and thank you for letting us into your life. I have never flown Qantas overseas and always wondered about the double decker plane. I know as a larger lady what it is like to just walk down the aisle of a plane been 2 Las Vegas twice in 6 years flying United airlines and having to walk sideways and hitting everyone with my backpack walk down the aisle and have them give me filthy stares and apologizing. Thank you for showing your life in a wheelchair getting around a plane I always wondered how you got up and down the aisle of a plane. The toilets onboard United airlines I just got in with my knees to the door. Every time I went threw security I always got picked out of line and putted down I always wondered if it was because I was on the plus size they got me in Sydney, lax, and Las Vegas. Thank You once again and will continue to watch your channel 🇦🇺🇬🇧❤
I'm hoping to go to San Francisco, California this year in August. My dream destination is probably Ireland at the moment, but I'd love to explore all over the UK. I've never heard of assistance lounges! That's amazing!!! I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for those as I travel more.
I flew interstate last year. Security was professional, so busy I did not have time to be embarrassed with the pat-down. The airline staff were all helpful. Once on the plane, the cabin staff chatted with me, and it was mentioned, that in the event of an emergency, I was not a priority (logical but still weird)
i cant fly easyjet alone as you have to have an able bodied person with you, basically i will just burn or drown as otherhalf has to take child first should the worst happen lol
Thank you for this great vlog. I thought maybe it was sponsored by the airline. I wish airlines did that - it would be helpful for those of us who are disabled. Hubby and I have traveled back and forth to Canada many times over the years. And I have also traveled alone. But I have never gone on a long trip like this one. My dream is to visit the Mediterranean someday. Can't wait to see your footage of Australia.
I'm 27 from Sydney and planning to go to LA for my birthday this year. My back is like an 80 year olds and I'm going to get a folding walker so it will be easier for me to walk around Disneyland and stuff like that. I already have crutches and a cane for when I'm in too much pain to walk, but I think having a walker will make it one less thing to worry about in case I have a flair up
I’ve done the Sydney to LA flight twice. The more you can sleep onboard, the better. I was so exhausted from my Disney World trips on return that I slept almost all of the 14 hours. Even embracing short naps will help both pass time and reduce pain.
Oh wow amzing. Have you seen my disney vlogs> (they are from florda though) Do you think you would consider a wheelchair? Im sure a walker will help a lot too.
@@Wheelsnoheels I was thinking of hiring a wheelchair at the parks but for my sciatica and degenerative disc disease, sitting is the worst thing I can do and standing isn't that much better. Besides laying down, walking is the next best thing that hurts the least. So that's how I decided on a 3 wheel folding walker and then I can always take breaks whenever I need to
I used to travel a lot before I had any back issues and loved flying so much. But now after 2 hours of sitting I need a break so I've looked into flights that have a layover in Fiji so it's not the full 14 hours in a row
I am thinking of going to spain this year or next year. I have a disablity called cmt. I can walk but not very well. when i say i can walk i mean 10 steps! Me and my family arnt very sure what its going to be like!
Hi Gem! Thank you for this video! I have a question for you (and your followers!), what helped you cope with the time change, sleeping in a different bed, and just generally being out of your routine? When I was younger these things didn't bother me so much, but now as my disabilities has impacted my life more and more, traveling has become something I dread physically, mentally, and emotionally. All that said, to answer your question, my dream destination is New Zealand! It looks so beautiful. It is also really long flight to get there so I don't know if I ever will get over there. Thanks again for the vlog!
I'm flying to my dream destination (London!) this May. We'll be flying with British Airways to the Heathrow Airport. I've never flown before, so these kinds of videos are super helpful. It's going to be a relatively short flight (about 2 hours), but still I'm a bit worried. I'm a bit scared that my wheelchair gets damaged and because of that I'm taking my older one with me, just to be sure.
Heathrow Airport has good public transport connections - the Piccadilly line runs from the airport all the way through central London. TFL also have tonnes of accessibility info on their website, including a map telling you which stations are wheelchair accessible. All London buses are also wheelchair accessible - usually board using the middle doors and they'll lower the bus to match the pavement and put out the ramp. If you're taking national rail trains at any point you can book assistance, including wheelchair ramps. I think you can do it on the day, but they prefer you to let them know in advance so they can make sure they've got the right staff available. It's probably worth checking the website of the relevant train operator for more specific information, e.g. Great Western Railways run the trains out of London Paddington and South West Trains run them from London Waterloo. If you need to get a taxi, London Hackney carriages should be accessible (the typical London black cab kind that you can flag down). Outside of London or using someone like Uber, it will vary quite a lot and is worth pre-booking if you can (often taxi firms only have one accessible vehicle). They might use anything from a standard car to a Hackney carriage to a people carrier or even a minibus, so definitely worth checking!
I have flown with my chair twice but both times were in and out of the UK . The staff were great. It went really smoothly. I love my wheelchair so to help deal with my stress about something going wrong I checked and you can hire wheelchairs for 25£ a week . London wheelchair hire can deliver to Heathrow airport. and red cross hire wheelchairs too. It was absolutely not needed but I felt better knowing I had places to call.
Potato scallops...you need to go to Coventry to get the best ones, we've been eating them here since at least the 1960,'s, not sure about them being an Aussie thing.
You mentioned the onboard entertainment was closed captioned. Do you happen to know if any of it was audio described for the blind? My husband and I are considering a trip to Australia next year and I’ve been looking at Qantas.
I am glad that some people and travel have changed for we crippled people (sorry, I don't consider myself handicapped). I just can't do what most people can do....
I must admit that I rarely flew when I was "just" coping with a medical handicap. once after I got legally blind and never since I gotten into a powerwheelchair... I don´t envy the travelling, but damn it would be nice to go to australia! 😎
I had always wanted to visit Australia, but then I found out that they’re home to like 8 out of the 10 most deadly poisonous snakes in the world, which I am TERRIFIED of, so that bumped the land down under, OFF of my bucket list, VERY quickly! I have only ever traveled within the US, but as a person with Cerebral Palsy, who uses a chair probably half the time, (and definitely when I travel) It’s really not that bad. It takes extra time, which means extra planning, and some logistical juggling, but I actually really enjoy flying! I’ve definitely had some “unusual” experiences, but nothing awful! I love to travel and wish I was in a position to do it more!
Gem I am flying to Orlando next year back to WDW! It’s my wife’s favourite destination but I have asked her if we could go somewhere else different, I would like to go to New York
Hi, I recently flew 3 times in a month, a couple of business and a short break. Emirates we’re superb, BA were rubbish and easyjet were good as always with the chair. BA put my chair in with the cases and it took and hour and a half to be returned to me at Miami. Dubai had a lifter that reached the second floor of the A380, which was amazing! I want to know how you got the airline to bring your chair on board … I was told by ground staff in the USA that an airline must do this if you ask but - apart from Emirates - I have never encountered an attitude where I thought this would be possible. Have you found rental car companies helpful? I have except in the UK where they are reluctant to upgrade to an automatic for the same price as a manual car.
Due to fly to Barcelona for a cruise later this year. However, it may end up being pushed back a year due to work scheduling. Earlier this month I flew to and from the IOM for a wedding. I'd heard a lot of horror stories regarding special assistance waits at my local airport and was dreading it. However, the staff both ways were brilliant. Only downside was that one of the disabled toilets in the departure lounge on my way to the IOM was out of order so I had to go on a bit of a trek to the other one. I knew where it was, I just hadn't bothered to notice the small issue of it being on a mezanine level and that I'd need to know where the lift was.
Always carry a small handful in your flight bag.! Or have one zip tied to your axle. I took an internal flight in Canada to VANCOUVER, for connecting flights to UK. After about 5mins pushing myself to the next gate in another terminal I discovered I had a flat tyre. I sat waiting 20 minutes for assistance or a pump and counted over 100 inflatable tyers pass by. With my flight call I had to be pushed and pulled onto an assistance vehicle!
@@kt5229 maybe a toolkit and puncture repair kit? I've added spare inner tubes and cable ties to the toolkit that came with my wheelchair, it has it's own pouch under the seat and definitely gives me peace of mind. Security seem fine with it because it's related to the wheelchair and travels in the hold anyway
Hi Gem! I am going to travel to KL this year and I'm a disable person. I would like to ask for some advise on what should I bring inside my carry-on bag. It will be around 5 days trip there and most of the time I'll be alone. I'm 18 y.o. and my parents will join me for the flight, but we'll be in a different place after we arrive at the hotel (because of a different plans). I will spend half of each day alone and it will be my first time experience this. So I am a little bit nervous whether I can do it on my own or no... I really love your amazing contents, it helps me a lot in knowing what should I do if I'm going to travel alone in the future 💗
How do you manage pressure sores? You're sitting in a chair not designed for your disability for 24h. Do you use a cushion? I would only ever fly first class with beds or else I'd be ridden with pressure sores after a seated 24h flight.
Oh, bless you. You looked exhausted by the end of that! (Still fabulous though!) The only flight I've done was London to New York and back earlier this year and that was more than long enough! The crew were great, but the arm rest in premium economy didn't drop down, so I struggled to transfer in and out of my seat. Originally, I'd wanted to go business class, but the plane only has cubicles that were completely inaccessible.
Last time I flew (from LA) I drank minimal amounts so I wouldn't have to worry about the bathroom situation, but that's not a good idea and now I'm older it's even less so. This looks quite nice and I do want to go to Australia to see all its amazing wildlife (Spiders included!) so I may think about it for a future holiday. I guess I will have to be content with my trip to Yorkshire for now.
I'm new to disability life, use a walking stick to walk and have a wheelchair for those long distances or when a stick is not suitable. I will be going on a cruise with my friend soon to Amsterdam. I really only want to use my chair in Amsterdam, and not on the ship. Hopefully my stick will be enough. Any tips? It's mainly my carpal tunnel syndrome that hinders me using my chair, I can't grip properly and it's really painful. Your videos give me so much insight already, thanks xx
I've found pushrim covers to be extremely helpful with grip, for adding both traction as well as diameter - Reha Design (based in Lithuania), and IntelliWheels and RibGrips (both based in the U.S.) are a few companies that make them; Grippoz (what Gem had on her last chair, not sure where they were/are based - I want to say UK, but can't remember for sure) might still be available somewhere on 3rd party websites, but I think the company itself discontinued them. There might be other companies out there that make them, those are just the only ones I'm aware of. I personally have the Reha ones, and they double (at a minimum - might be even more) the pushrim diameter as well as adding awesome grip to basically the entire pushrim surface (unlike the IntelliWheels FitGrips, which only wrap partway around the tubing circumferentially). I pair the pushrim covers with a pair of gloves (my hands are size 8) - my regular warm weather/inside gloves are just some half finger ones by RimSports (mine are sz L), got them on Amazon, but probably just about any durable and comfortable bike glove would work with the pushrim covers. If not wanting to go the pushrim cover route for whatever reason (or don't have time to - you said "soon", so not sure how much time you have before you leave), the full finger warmer weather gloves I have are the Mechanix Box Cutter gloves (mine are sz S), which have grip over nearly the entire palm and palm-side finger surface - the extra grip those afforded me meant that I didn't have to grip the pushrims nearly as hard, so much so that I could almost wheel along with just my palm/the heel of my hand. The winter wheelchair gloves I use are ski gloves by Swiss Tech (mine are sz L/XL) - the ones I have cinch at the wrist, have a small zipper pocket on the back (I use it for hand warmers on really cold days because they fit perfectly), and they also have a cuff that goes up over the end of my sleeve and also cinches down; the entire palm and palm-side finger surface is a grippy material which I've found to be really durable (the combo of SmartDrive+pushrim covers can really do a number on gloves, but all the ones I've mentioned here have held up just fine). Gem said in a video a few years ago that she uses (or at leastused to use) SealSkins gloves in the winter. Some people think that gloves don't look "stylish", but I honestly don't care how they look, I care how they function, and as long as they make my life easier, I will continue to use them. Hope that helps at least a little.
you are amazing, I have a disability but not in a wheelchair, suffering from severe chronic pain from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes, and I have a spinal cord implant and was worried about what would happen with me travelling with my mobility
I’m flying to Sydney midyear it will be my first trip out of Nz since my injury an being a Big guy an paraplegic would like any tips an advice to prepare for the journey. After watching this vlog there were really useful info about pain meds to make the journey more comfortable i have pain in my legs neuro an tightness so it was good to know. Theres a facility for SCI patients in Sydney for accommodation if anyone has stayed there.
Looks like you had 2 great flights! Is Eurostar an option for you for getting to the continent? We've found it's more convenient than flying, but did notice that the steps onto the train are really high and steep! Also, the change onto the metro at Gare du Nord isn't accessible (even as able-bodied people with suitcases it was hard!).
I hope you had a good trip to Oz. I'm like you and get terrible anxiety about using the bathroom on a flight. I have to say Delta Airlines were not very accommodating to me on one flight I took last year. Generally I find all staff and Airlines are good. I went to Oz last June. Like you I also have a Batec and was glad I brought it. Did you take yours?
Hoping to fly to Orlando to visit our daughter later this year or early next. My wife needs to get her new powerchair first, so that when the airline inevitability destroys the current one, she’ll have another to use upon return. Ordinarily we take the AutoTrain and bring our van, but that gets expensive.
@@thewisepowerchair2369 US airlines lose, damage, or destroy nearly 30 wheelchairs EVERY DAY! That’s almost 11,000 per year. The US Access Board conducted a Congressionally-mandated study of on-board wheelchair securement, and found that there’s no technical or physical reason wheelchairs can’t be secured like on a bus, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigeig has taken up the challenge, but realistically Congress will have to amend the Air Carrier Access Act to require it, the Access Board will have to issue rules governing what an accessible aircraft looks like, and DOT will have to issue rules concerning when aircraft have to comply. Unlikely to happen in my traveling lifetime.
@@thewisepowerchair2369 they're good at bumping off any parts that stick out. If you have a powerchair, check whether you can remove the joystick and bring it into the cabin. I get my husband to remove the headrest and cable tie it to the seat (wheelchair toolkit and ties are no problem if they stay with the chair). I have only been questioned once and security got quite apologetic when they realised the tools were for the chair. I also take the cushion into the cabin as it would be a disaster if I lost it. I made a bag to hang it around my neck during transfers
I can walk, but I can't walk far or stand long. So, I'm flying from Austin, TX to Knoxville TN with an almost 3 hour layover in Houston. I could DRIVE to Houston in that time! Still, I then have a 3 hour flight to my sister's. She and her wife are having me come up at this time because it overlaps the date of my wife's death last year. I do appreciate being able to sit in a wheelchair while waiting for boarding, being able to board without interference and the certain amount of help between checking in and stuff.
I’ve been lucky to have been to Florida quite a few times as my family found it’s very wheelchair friendly. However, the airlines always nearly b******* up my chair. Either my armrests, which I need because I have scoliosis, or the push handles. Can’t wait for more Australia content. Really miss Wanted Down Under 😂
@@Wheelsnoheels There was a time when I wanted to move to Australia too, but I don’t like how the seasons are the opposite way around haha. At least here we get to look forward to spring and summer after the New Year. I don’t mean to sound childish. Like we had snow a couple of weeks ago. I would say an Australian Christmas would be very different to ours. It was a shame you got separated from your family on the plane, but from what I saw in your video it looked like you got spoilt and rightly so! By the way I only watched the Australian episodes of Wanted Down Under haha. You should have applied for it! That hotel you stayed in was amazing for a wheelchair user!
I have an elderly relative (tall and big guy, maybe 240 lbs) who had a stroke and can only stand with assistance, and cannot clean himself after using the bathroom. Will a flight crew help? Or is he on his own?
Hi Gem, my partner and I (he is a T5 paraplegic) are travelling Edinburgh to Auckland via Doha next month. I am scared! We're in economy because Qatar airways has economy and business only, and business class was absolutely unaffordable (anyone got 12000$ spare? Sigh). Qatar is meant to have a really good economy class, however our longest flight is 20 (yes, TWENTY) hours long and it will be the longest flight we've ever been on since his accident. So far we've only ever flown for about 3-4 hours since his accident. We always make sure he's got his cushion, thankfully he doesn't get neuropathic pain but does get a lot of musculoskeletal pain from posture as he is very tall and space is limited. I was wondering whether diazepam might be a good shout for it to also diminish stiffness and spasms. I am so glad and reassured everything went well with special assistance. I hope we'll be able to get his chair on the plane too, it's very narrow (narrower than my hips tbh lol). I always follow you eagerly as someone who has so many more years experience with SCI and also lives in the UK so thanks for this video. If anyone reading this comment has extra tips please help! I think one of the things I learned is to make sure your layover is at least 2.5-3h long because you will be the last off the plane and intercontinental planes are huge.
I strongly suggest discussing the medication issue with your GP. I also suggest that you write off the first day of the trip as recovery and adjustment. Finding out about the different beds and even pillows or even going shopping for different pillows etc.
I'm planning to fly from LAX to Manila. I haven't tried flying anywhere since my accident in 2022. My husband is worried what the long flight might do to my legs swelling and all the pain that I'll experience. Can you please give me advice? Are you able to elevate your legs on premium economy?
great video and plenty of advice. i normally just travel in the uk but hubby is wanting to travel abroad this year and it will be the first time for me since my disability. Since i use my wheelchair nearly all the time, did you have any problems with your legs while travelling that type of distance? Also since you could put your wheelchair on board the plane, do all airlines allow this or only some? Just that i would not want my wheelchair to go missing or get damaged.
I think you can ask the airline if you can store it on board, depending on the size of your chair and if someone else hasn’t already claimed it. Best bet would be to check with airline and when you’re booking your seat request your chair be stored on board if they have the space. Gem has a lot of good tips. But when I traveled to California last summer, I asked if I could keep my chair on board, and even though my chair folds down pretty small. It was still slightly too big. But if your chair will fit I’d ask as soon as possible so someone else can’t get ahead of you. Hope this helps!
@@writergirl3108 exactly. Although on most of my flights the chair has been taken to the hold and its been ok. Id check out my flying to Paris vlog, as thats a smaller plane, and I have some good tips for that kind of flight. x
I have never been on a plane with an on-plane aisle chair or an accessible bathroom. If I cannot traverse the aisle or use that super tiny bathroom, then it was holding it
My question is more health/chronic illness related rather than just traveling as a wheelchair user (although I am a 👩🦽). How have people who tend to need emergency hospital care (for instance due to severe allergies) travel? I'd love to travel again but part of it is worrying about wheelchair access but mostly anxiety about needing to go to hospital in another country? I'm even nervous about going on a weekend break to the other side of the UK. Anyone used to be like that but not anymore, and maybe has some tips?
@@Kiwiberries31 thanks for replying! Yeah, it's not so much the paying for it, although I really not sure insurance would cover me, id be too big a risk for them. It's more the anxiety of something bad happening because of a language barrier or because they don't know how to treat my conditions (I have rare ones). I have thought about starting close and then getting further away 😊
Hello Gem. Not watched much of the video yet. I am quite concerned by some comments that powerchairs and wheelchairs are damaged on airlines. I dream of travelling when I am well enough. What do you do in the situation that your wheelchair is damaged and unusable?,
First would be to file a complaint with the airline. Then, depending on where you’re traveling, you might be able to call the dealer you got your chair from or manufacturer and they might be able to get someone out to fix it for you, if possible. They might also be able to arrange a loaner chair so you have something. I’ve heard people doing this. Fortunately this didn’t happen to me, but I would make sure the airline did right by you by paying for the repairs and paying for a loaner since they damaged it. Take pictures of your wheelchair before and after so you can prove it was the airline that damaged it and the airline can’t claim your chair was damaged before you boarded.
Get insurance before you travel. If the airline/airport cause damage I'm told it's easier to get it sorted if insurance companies are arguing. One thing that terrifies me is theft so every detachable part of the chair and the chair frame are clearly labelled. They're also marked with a uv pen as well.
I’m hoping to go to Netherlands sometime this year (I live in Sweden) to spend real life time with the love of my life who’s Dutch. It’s not far at all, only 1,5 hour by plane down to Amsterdam and then a short trip by train from the airport, but it will still be my first time going outside of Sweden since 2015. Luckily I’m very calm about traveling and have no issues navigating airports or even a foreign country, so my only worry really is if my wheelchair will arrive properly or not
@@iveschrijen9419 I’m ambulatory so should be fine even without assistance for the train :) Even with it being tiring, at least I have the option to stand up to get past an obstacle if I feel the gap between train and platform is a bit much or so
I do have a question re when you were boarding . You said that Shaun and daisy had to wait downstairs so I’m guessing they didn’t get prioritized boarding .my worry is as well as being a wheelchair user I’m a single parent with 2 young children. Is it a hard rule that people traveling with you can’t bird priority too ?
Some airlines here in the US do allow families to board together - Southwest Airlines does that. But I'd strongly suggest checking with the airline regarding its policy on families traveling together.
Shaun and Dasiy with there when she boarded, unless the footage was from other flights on their trip. I think they were either sitting downstairs (ie in normal economy) or waiting with her wheelchair to ensure it got stowed securely.
I live in Aus and I'm flying my myself down to Brisbane in May flying Jetsar/Qantas. I am really worried about them breaking my power chair. It's folding but has to be taken as checked baggage. It's carbon fibre too, so scared they'll drop it and it will just shatter.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
I feel like I could have spoken a lot more about my flight. I didn’t talk about managing my meds. Would you like another video?
The reason I upgraded is because 24 hours on a plane is a long time for anyone. But add it a disability and its hard going. Trust me I have done it three times before! It was 100% worth upgrading to premuim economy. It defiantly gave me an extra level of comfort.
Dont forget to leave your nuggets of information for others to find in the comments. And if you have any other questions drop them bellow too. Looking forward to seeing you in my next accessibility vlog.
Check out some other videos:
It Never used to be like this
ruclips.net/video/qRmR37ZVP9s/видео.html
Preparing for a 24hr flight
ruclips.net/video/xJ3-pQu-QSA/видео.html
Flying solo
ruclips.net/video/FT2nrGIGfoQ/видео.html
First time out in a wheelchair
ruclips.net/video/N1sGQGn4Hoc/видео.html
Do I need a wheelchair?
ruclips.net/video/9EZtjSadqy8/видео.html
I think it’s best to make yourself as comfortable as you can within your means for situations like this. Would love to see more :-)
😊😊😊
For power wheelchairs that use lithium batteries, make sure they are no more than 300 Watt Hours.
My chair can store 2 batteries, but only one is needed. I could only fly with one battery because each battery was 240 Watt hours. I am an ambulatory wheelchair user so I can walk onto the plane. I find booking aisle seats make it easier. Also, carry your joystick on board with you if you can do it doesn’t get broken. I got a tag for my wheelchair with a chip so I could track where it was located and make sure it gets on the correct plane. Also no one can claim my chair is theirs because I have the tag on it. This could work with manual wheelchairs as well. Just an extra precaution so I don’t lose my chair. Fortunately the couple times I used it while flying, I rode right up to the door and then folded it up and they took it down. Same thing when we landed I just waited off to the side so as soon as my chair was brought up, I could put the battery and joystick on and go to my next gate. The one time coming home, I only had 30 minutes to make it to my connecting gate, because we were delayed leaving. Without my chair, if the flight had remained on time, I would never have made it. Fortunately I was able to make the train that connected the terminals, and made it with 10 minutes to spare. Only to then have the flight delayed and didn’t need to rush after all! So be very familiar with your chair and how to dismantle it quickly if needed. Makes it a lot easier, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Can you make a vid about managing your pain meds while flying an also compression socks etc
Yeh it would be helpful to know re what the go is with on flight medical supplies and meds. Also the end of the video captions aren’t picking up what is being said to make sense of what happened
Hi, I'm a disabled wheelchair user based in the U.S. I frequently fly within in US and North America, but have never ventured out to try a long, international trip. This video was super informative and detailed! Thanks for sharing your journey with us! I'm glad RUclips recommended this video. :)
I have really enjoyed seeing your daughter grow up over time....
Currently in tenerife for two weeks, arrived last night and dealing the anticipated pain after the flight.
First time using special assistance, it went pretty well. Thank you Gem for your previous flight vlogs, it meant I knew more what to expect my first time using it.
So glad they were helpful. Enjoy your trip. I hope you get to manage the pain.
You can absolutely request mobility devices being stored onboard with your booking, rather than waiting until you arrive. Depending on the airline they may or may not have the ability to reserve it but it doesn’t hurt to ask in advance. Virgin Australia did this for me a few weeks ago for a Canberra to Melbourne flight I have coming up. I was worried they might not be able to and that I may be too late to organise it as I was told by customer service that it’s “first in, best dressed” but I filled in their online assistance form and within only 2 hours I had heard back to confirm assistance and onboard storage for my rollator on both arrival and departure on a flight I booked months ago.
Good to know, I was going to ask about rollators.
@@TheMazinoz You just need to give them dimensions and the weight of it and I believe you have to have them strapped closed.
@@bargainbinredhead Thanks, good to know about strapping. Currently don't use a strap with it as it is stored in car or garage. I also use a cane for short walks.
@@TheMazinoz I’ve tested out strapping my rollator and found that a luggage strap threaded twice around the folding brackets work to stop it opening, keeping it compact. It’s also easy and quick to take it on and off which is important for me as I don’t want to be fiddling around doing something complex.
@@bargainbinredhead Thanks, good to know. I've only just started using one for the mega malls here. Getting around these is a bit of a workout for me and leaves me exhausted for days at times.
I’m a ventilated quadriplegic (& stomach fed) due to MND/ALS. I’m attempting this same flight from London to Brisbane soon. I’m having to travel with a specialist repatriation nurse and one of my carers. My wife will also be travelling with me. Thanks so much for this video. I’ll try to film my flight to help future travellers like me.
It's a little sad they didn't allow all 3 of you to sit together. Especially as it looked as though there were 2 empty seats next to you. I think that would have made the flights a little better in my opinion- having my family around! Can't wait for more content xx
I can tell you now, I went to the same airport and had a way worse experience. The staff were a highlight during all the stress and upset though. They kept me calm and safe. I’d say there’s a big difference between international and domestic. Definitely don’t recall any assistance lane. We very much felt on our own about what was happening and what we were meant to be doing. This was back in July last year. My power wheelchair ended up damaged too but luckily it was still drivable.
Oh dear. Is your chair ok now?
@@Wheelsnoheels I had to get some new shock absorbers on the chair and bend the metal holding the hand control back into place. Luckily with the NDIS here in Australia, I wasn’t off the road for long. I have been very lucky. I've seen evidence of peoples mobility aids being completely inoperable due to flying. As long as I had my dog (she went to Sydney and back with me) and a somewhat workable chair….I was happy. Didn’t even care if my luggage went missing. I couldn’t live without those two things 😊
@@kaleidoscope_pie It makes me so angry that you had to deal with the hassle of damaged equipment. Our wheels are our equivalent of able-bodied people's legs and feet. If able-bodied people had their ankles summarily broken on disembarking from a plane so that they couldn't walk anymore, there would be an uproar. When airline staff break our wheelchairs, it is the same as breaking people's legs - it leaves us unable to go where we need to go so how dare airlines trivialise damage to our equipment.
Thank you for doing so much for disabled people.❤
Yeah, you doing these Vids are making it a little bit easier for me to now do some travelling, plus I don’t like flying. Also yrs back they didn’t have all this assistant help and my wheels got battered, I was so upset and I tried not to let it effect the holiday, but it does, you can’t help it. So once I find a place that I’m thinking of going, I will be back on here to get all your help on what people have experienced at these places, etc…..I am a 24/7 wheelchair lifer, so any advise is always taken onboard and also reading about what other people deal with is also a help, so Keep it “Wheel” Guys and thanks Gem your awesome at getting across the every day things we deal with and all the handy tips n tricks of WC life 😎🤘
Pretty amazing adventure!! Great job!👏👍
"It's like eating a leather insole" this made me laugh! Never been to Australia but would love to x
Thank you for your video especially showing the bathroom.
I’m glad to hear that there is also an accessible toilet downstairs. I was worried that it was only for the people who are able to afford to upgrade
My last flight was my first as a wheelchair user. I sat on my seat cushion on the flight. But I think it caused me more pain. My cushion is so thick my feet couldn’t really touch the ground when I was on it. I’m also short to begin with so that didn’t help
I had this issue too with my cushion. So I would alternate. I'm a bit sore as a result..
Could you take something to rest your feet on?
My cushion didn't fit on the seat but I wasn't risking leaving it with the wheelchair
Thank you Gem! Your content is incredibly helpful indeed! Also you and your family are fabulous!
Thanks for sharing you experience with us all. I love how bright and bubbly you are ❤
I flew for the first time with my chair earlier this month from Amsterdam to London Gatwick and it was such a good experience. The people of Schiphol were amazing super friendly. The lounge in Gatwick was the best thing. I could lay down! Way less noise as well, that was great. Wheelchair went with me up until the door of the aircraft which was also very nice.
met welke vliegmaatschapij vloog je als ik vragen mag?
Yeah Schipol airport is brilliant! X
I have to use a wheelchair because I lost a leg from a tumor but I use a wheelchair to get around. Thanks for showing this for others and me if I forget my crutches.
It’s great that the toilet was accessible and had space. The first time that I was on an economy airplane flight, I struggled to use the toilet as the space was very tight. It was hard for me to get my prosthetic legs off and on again.
Those flight attendants are awesome! They seem to really treat you like a human being. Versus, in the United States, it seems like a lot of flight attendants just don’t want to deal with you if you have a disability.
Hi Gem Sean DB,always nice to see your smiling faces am looking forward to seeing more videos of yalls trip love from TEXAS
You are great. The confidence you have in life is amazing. I couldn't even imagine something like this before my various issues never mind now.
I love watching you.
As an Australian….. 🤟🏻 also a wheelchair user (full time).
on A380 there is lift between upper and lower decks - at front of plane called stairlift thats used for disabled people to transfer from lower to upper deck - only used if no upper bridge attached to A380 but unknown if its can be used in air
Wow... thank you for the inspiring, factual, and fascinating insight❤
Thank you for sharing! Qantas are good for travelling, I fly with them every time
I use an electric wheel. been worried about flying - especially the bathroom - but this has made me confident to start lookinh to book a flight :)
I'm planning to visit Cuba with my best friend this fall. It's one of those organized group tours so we won't be alone. Planning to walk it all with my cane (I'm legally blind, and have hypermobile Ehlers danlos, so I also have some difficulty walking). I'm a little nervous about how it'll go, but I'm more excited. It's gonna be a really fun trip, I'm sure!
Wow that sounds so exciting. I hope you have the best time
Thank you so much for this - I’m a full time wheelchair user too and thinking of travelling to Dubai again Business Class but this time on the A380 -last time it was the 777 and crew were brilliant and kept my chair in the overhead lockers, but just like you said would not let me photograph my chair and wheels in the locker 🤔. So I am so pleased you explained about how to get to the upper level and I was really interested in the loo - the 777 loo was very tiny and I did struggle so I am expecting the 380 to be more accessible for transferring, I didn’t quite get how you did the doors to make the loo bigger, so will you explain again please? I’ve flown on a 380 before in first class with BA and crew didn’t have a clue about the accessible features of the aircraft seat or the fact that they had an accessible loo so I missed out. Love seeing your videos -I usually travel to Florida and always insist my chair stays in the cabin, but some crew are not aware of the American Air Carrier Access Act and I end up with an argument and have to show them a summary of the law before they let me keep my chair in the closet -best wishes Ann
I flew singapore airlines lax to Singapore to Bangalore, India in December! I was so surprised when they let us put the chair in the storage closet and actually knew about it!
OO thats awesome. I flew Singapore once before to oz, and they left my wheelchair in Singapore. This was about 14 years ago so hopfully they have got better
Hi beautiful! I just came across this video. And, after watching and enjoying the vibes ❤ I had to subscribe so, I come along for the ride.
Hi I live in Wollongong n.s.w Australia about 2hrs from syd airport, firstly I found your channel by accident and thank you for letting us into your life. I have never flown Qantas overseas and always wondered about the double decker plane.
I know as a larger lady what it is like to just walk down the aisle of a plane been 2 Las Vegas twice in 6 years flying United airlines and having to walk sideways and hitting everyone with my backpack walk down the aisle and have them give me filthy stares and apologizing. Thank you for showing your life in a wheelchair getting around a plane I always wondered how you got up and down the aisle of a plane. The toilets onboard United airlines I just got in with my knees to the door.
Every time I went threw security I always got picked out of line and putted down I always wondered if it was because I was on the plus size they got me in Sydney, lax, and Las Vegas. Thank You once again and will continue to watch your channel 🇦🇺🇬🇧❤
I'm hoping to go to San Francisco, California this year in August. My dream destination is probably Ireland at the moment, but I'd love to explore all over the UK.
I've never heard of assistance lounges! That's amazing!!! I'm definitely going to keep an eye out for those as I travel more.
Oh wow I'd love to go there too. Have an awesome time
Assistance lounges sound wonderful! I struggle despite ear defenders and sunglasses
I flew interstate last year. Security was professional, so busy I did not have time to be embarrassed with the pat-down. The airline staff were all helpful. Once on the plane, the cabin staff chatted with me, and it was mentioned, that in the event of an emergency, I was not a priority (logical but still weird)
i cant fly easyjet alone as you have to have an able bodied person with you, basically i will just burn or drown as otherhalf has to take child first should the worst happen lol
@@IceFish. OK, no easyjet for me as I am a lone traveler
@@IceFish. ABSOLUTELY! That's what I keep telling my wife and the cabin crew, "If you guys wait for me, you're FUCT!"
Ah yes. They said to me to stay seated and they will come back for me. Id probably crawl though. (have you seen my emergance transfer sling though?)
Laughed about the bit and being asked your age. HEDS do age gracefully but not thinking you were over 18!
Thank you for this great vlog. I thought maybe it was sponsored by the airline. I wish airlines did that - it would be helpful for those of us who are disabled. Hubby and I have traveled back and forth to Canada many times over the years. And I have also traveled alone. But I have never gone on a long trip like this one. My dream is to visit the Mediterranean someday. Can't wait to see your footage of Australia.
Aww sadly not sponsored. OO the med is lovely.
I'd love to got to the USA there are so many things I'd love to see plus I'd love to visit some friends there
Just sitting here jealous of Daisy's Stitch pillow 😍
Great information. Thank you. I love these travel blogs.
Great video! Never enough videos on travel in a wheelchair. I have made one on plane travel too - great to see another view. ❤
Fab abi, I had a look. very informative. :)
I'm 27 from Sydney and planning to go to LA for my birthday this year. My back is like an 80 year olds and I'm going to get a folding walker so it will be easier for me to walk around Disneyland and stuff like that. I already have crutches and a cane for when I'm in too much pain to walk, but I think having a walker will make it one less thing to worry about in case I have a flair up
I’ve done the Sydney to LA flight twice. The more you can sleep onboard, the better. I was so exhausted from my Disney World trips on return that I slept almost all of the 14 hours. Even embracing short naps will help both pass time and reduce pain.
A rollator is much easier and less effort than a cane or crutches, and you can sit down!
Oh wow amzing. Have you seen my disney vlogs> (they are from florda though) Do you think you would consider a wheelchair? Im sure a walker will help a lot too.
@@Wheelsnoheels I was thinking of hiring a wheelchair at the parks but for my sciatica and degenerative disc disease, sitting is the worst thing I can do and standing isn't that much better. Besides laying down, walking is the next best thing that hurts the least. So that's how I decided on a 3 wheel folding walker and then I can always take breaks whenever I need to
I used to travel a lot before I had any back issues and loved flying so much. But now after 2 hours of sitting I need a break so I've looked into flights that have a layover in Fiji so it's not the full 14 hours in a row
Adjusting meds is always tricky when travelling with a time difference.
I am thinking of going to spain this year or next year. I have a disablity called cmt. I can walk but not very well. when i say i can walk i mean 10 steps! Me and my family arnt very sure what its going to be like!
Hi Gem! Thank you for this video! I have a question for you (and your followers!), what helped you cope with the time change, sleeping in a different bed, and just generally being out of your routine? When I was younger these things didn't bother me so much, but now as my disabilities has impacted my life more and more, traveling has become something I dread physically, mentally, and emotionally.
All that said, to answer your question, my dream destination is New Zealand! It looks so beautiful. It is also really long flight to get there so I don't know if I ever will get over there.
Thanks again for the vlog!
Ooo ild love to go to NZ too.
Good questions. I missed my bed terribly, and by the end I couldnt take another day...... Pain killers. ear plugs.
I'm flying to my dream destination (London!) this May. We'll be flying with British Airways to the Heathrow Airport. I've never flown before, so these kinds of videos are super helpful. It's going to be a relatively short flight (about 2 hours), but still I'm a bit worried. I'm a bit scared that my wheelchair gets damaged and because of that I'm taking my older one with me, just to be sure.
Heathrow Airport has good public transport connections - the Piccadilly line runs from the airport all the way through central London. TFL also have tonnes of accessibility info on their website, including a map telling you which stations are wheelchair accessible.
All London buses are also wheelchair accessible - usually board using the middle doors and they'll lower the bus to match the pavement and put out the ramp.
If you're taking national rail trains at any point you can book assistance, including wheelchair ramps. I think you can do it on the day, but they prefer you to let them know in advance so they can make sure they've got the right staff available.
It's probably worth checking the website of the relevant train operator for more specific information, e.g. Great Western Railways run the trains out of London Paddington and South West Trains run them from London Waterloo.
If you need to get a taxi, London Hackney carriages should be accessible (the typical London black cab kind that you can flag down). Outside of London or using someone like Uber, it will vary quite a lot and is worth pre-booking if you can (often taxi firms only have one accessible vehicle). They might use anything from a standard car to a Hackney carriage to a people carrier or even a minibus, so definitely worth checking!
I have flown with my chair twice but both times were in and out of the UK . The staff were great. It went really smoothly. I love my wheelchair so to help deal with my stress about something going wrong I checked and you can hire wheelchairs for 25£ a week . London wheelchair hire can deliver to Heathrow airport. and red cross hire wheelchairs too. It was absolutely not needed but I felt better knowing I had places to call.
Heathrow special assistance are fantastic!
Potato scallops...you need to go to Coventry to get the best ones, we've been eating them here since at least the 1960,'s, not sure about them being an Aussie thing.
You mentioned the onboard entertainment was closed captioned. Do you happen to know if any of it was audio described for the blind? My husband and I are considering a trip to Australia next year and I’ve been looking at Qantas.
Thanks so much for this informative and useful video. 😁😁
Are scollops not available in chippies in your part of the UK? They are up here and they're called potato fritters.
I am glad that some people and travel have changed for we crippled people (sorry, I don't consider myself handicapped). I just can't do what most people can do....
I must admit that I rarely flew when I was "just" coping with a medical handicap. once after I got legally blind and never since I gotten into a powerwheelchair... I don´t envy the travelling, but damn it would be nice to go to australia! 😎
Hopefully I can bring you some aussie joy.
@@Wheelsnoheels Yes, please do! ❤️
I'm going to Minneapolis from Oslo with a transfer in Amsterdam or London. First long haul with a wheelchair
I had always wanted to visit Australia, but then I found out that they’re home to like 8 out of the 10 most deadly poisonous snakes in the world, which I am TERRIFIED of, so that bumped the land down under, OFF of my bucket list, VERY quickly! I have only ever traveled within the US, but as a person with Cerebral Palsy, who uses a chair probably half the time, (and definitely when I travel) It’s really not that bad. It takes extra time, which means extra planning, and some logistical juggling, but I actually really enjoy flying! I’ve definitely had some “unusual” experiences, but nothing awful! I love to travel and wish I was in a position to do it more!
Gem I am flying to Orlando next year back to WDW! It’s my wife’s favourite destination but I have asked her if we could go somewhere else different, I would like to go to New York
Fantastic content. Thank you for making this video.
Hi, I recently flew 3 times in a month, a couple of business and a short break. Emirates we’re superb, BA were rubbish and easyjet were good as always with the chair. BA put my chair in with the cases and it took and hour and a half to be returned to me at Miami. Dubai had a lifter that reached the second floor of the A380, which was amazing! I want to know how you got the airline to bring your chair on board … I was told by ground staff in the USA that an airline must do this if you ask but - apart from Emirates - I have never encountered an attitude where I thought this would be possible. Have you found rental car companies helpful? I have except in the UK where they are reluctant to upgrade to an automatic for the same price as a manual car.
Incredible video!
Ahh thank you so much
WOWZAAA😯😯😯😯
Due to fly to Barcelona for a cruise later this year. However, it may end up being pushed back a year due to work scheduling. Earlier this month I flew to and from the IOM for a wedding. I'd heard a lot of horror stories regarding special assistance waits at my local airport and was dreading it. However, the staff both ways were brilliant. Only downside was that one of the disabled toilets in the departure lounge on my way to the IOM was out of order so I had to go on a bit of a trek to the other one. I knew where it was, I just hadn't bothered to notice the small issue of it being on a mezanine level and that I'd need to know where the lift was.
Always carry a small handful in your flight bag.! Or have one zip tied to your axle. I took an internal flight in Canada to VANCOUVER, for connecting flights to UK. After about 5mins pushing myself to the next gate in another terminal I discovered I had a flat tyre. I sat waiting 20 minutes for assistance or a pump and counted over 100 inflatable tyers pass by. With my flight call I had to be pushed and pulled onto an assistance vehicle!
A small handful of what? I'm so confused 🥴
@@kt5229 maybe a toolkit and puncture repair kit? I've added spare inner tubes and cable ties to the toolkit that came with my wheelchair, it has it's own pouch under the seat and definitely gives me peace of mind. Security seem fine with it because it's related to the wheelchair and travels in the hold anyway
Hi Gem! I am going to travel to KL this year and I'm a disable person. I would like to ask for some advise on what should I bring inside my carry-on bag. It will be around 5 days trip there and most of the time I'll be alone. I'm 18 y.o. and my parents will join me for the flight, but we'll be in a different place after we arrive at the hotel (because of a different plans). I will spend half of each day alone and it will be my first time experience this. So I am a little bit nervous whether I can do it on my own or no... I really love your amazing contents, it helps me a lot in knowing what should I do if I'm going to travel alone in the future 💗
How do you manage pressure sores? You're sitting in a chair not designed for your disability for 24h. Do you use a cushion?
I would only ever fly first class with beds or else I'd be ridden with pressure sores after a seated 24h flight.
Well done indeed Gem!
Oh, bless you. You looked exhausted by the end of that! (Still fabulous though!)
The only flight I've done was London to New York and back earlier this year and that was more than long enough! The crew were great, but the arm rest in premium economy didn't drop down, so I struggled to transfer in and out of my seat. Originally, I'd wanted to go business class, but the plane only has cubicles that were completely inaccessible.
OOO thats tricky. These seats were really good the slid down.
Dying to go away on holiday but the toilet situation is terrifying.
😯 I’d always wondered how we get up there!
Last time I flew (from LA) I drank minimal amounts so I wouldn't have to worry about the bathroom situation, but that's not a good idea and now I'm older it's even less so. This looks quite nice and I do want to go to Australia to see all its amazing wildlife (Spiders included!) so I may think about it for a future holiday. I guess I will have to be content with my trip to Yorkshire for now.
Oh I love york. Make sure you visit Betties tea room if thats your thing.
If you do fly to oz. Qantas were amazing.
Potato scallops are available in Irish McDonalds too.
i hope you had a good trip
I'm new to disability life, use a walking stick to walk and have a wheelchair for those long distances or when a stick is not suitable. I will be going on a cruise with my friend soon to Amsterdam. I really only want to use my chair in Amsterdam, and not on the ship. Hopefully my stick will be enough. Any tips? It's mainly my carpal tunnel syndrome that hinders me using my chair, I can't grip properly and it's really painful. Your videos give me so much insight already, thanks xx
I've found pushrim covers to be extremely helpful with grip, for adding both traction as well as diameter - Reha Design (based in Lithuania), and IntelliWheels and RibGrips (both based in the U.S.) are a few companies that make them; Grippoz (what Gem had on her last chair, not sure where they were/are based - I want to say UK, but can't remember for sure) might still be available somewhere on 3rd party websites, but I think the company itself discontinued them. There might be other companies out there that make them, those are just the only ones I'm aware of. I personally have the Reha ones, and they double (at a minimum - might be even more) the pushrim diameter as well as adding awesome grip to basically the entire pushrim surface (unlike the IntelliWheels FitGrips, which only wrap partway around the tubing circumferentially).
I pair the pushrim covers with a pair of gloves (my hands are size 8) - my regular warm weather/inside gloves are just some half finger ones by RimSports (mine are sz L), got them on Amazon, but probably just about any durable and comfortable bike glove would work with the pushrim covers. If not wanting to go the pushrim cover route for whatever reason (or don't have time to - you said "soon", so not sure how much time you have before you leave), the full finger warmer weather gloves I have are the Mechanix Box Cutter gloves (mine are sz S), which have grip over nearly the entire palm and palm-side finger surface - the extra grip those afforded me meant that I didn't have to grip the pushrims nearly as hard, so much so that I could almost wheel along with just my palm/the heel of my hand. The winter wheelchair gloves I use are ski gloves by Swiss Tech (mine are sz L/XL) - the ones I have cinch at the wrist, have a small zipper pocket on the back (I use it for hand warmers on really cold days because they fit perfectly), and they also have a cuff that goes up over the end of my sleeve and also cinches down; the entire palm and palm-side finger surface is a grippy material which I've found to be really durable (the combo of SmartDrive+pushrim covers can really do a number on gloves, but all the ones I've mentioned here have held up just fine). Gem said in a video a few years ago that she uses (or at leastused to use) SealSkins gloves in the winter. Some people think that gloves don't look "stylish", but I honestly don't care how they look, I care how they function, and as long as they make my life easier, I will continue to use them.
Hope that helps at least a little.
Lol. That huntsman wasn't that big. We had one downstairs where I grew up. It was bigger than a small dinner plate
you are amazing, I have a disability but not in a wheelchair, suffering from severe chronic pain from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes, and I have a spinal cord implant and was worried about what would happen with me travelling with my mobility
Gem I notice that you don’t have anti tip wheels at the back of your wheelchair?
I have low vision and always go to business class
I’m flying to Sydney midyear it will be my first trip out of Nz since my injury an being a Big guy an paraplegic would like any tips an advice to prepare for the journey. After watching this vlog there were really useful info about pain meds to make the journey more comfortable i have pain in my legs neuro an tightness so it was good to know. Theres a facility for SCI patients in Sydney for accommodation if anyone has stayed there.
Thank for this, I feel a bit more confident to fly. I am just terrified that my electric wheelchair will get damaged.
Looks like you had 2 great flights!
Is Eurostar an option for you for getting to the continent? We've found it's more convenient than flying, but did notice that the steps onto the train are really high and steep!
Also, the change onto the metro at Gare du Nord isn't accessible (even as able-bodied people with suitcases it was hard!).
I hope you had a good trip to Oz. I'm like you and get terrible anxiety about using the bathroom on a flight. I have to say Delta Airlines were not very accommodating to me on one flight I took last year. Generally I find all staff and Airlines are good. I went to Oz last June. Like you I also have a Batec and was glad I brought it. Did you take yours?
Scotland this summer.....
Hoping to fly to Orlando to visit our daughter later this year or early next. My wife needs to get her new powerchair first, so that when the airline inevitability destroys the current one, she’ll have another to use upon return. Ordinarily we take the AutoTrain and bring our van, but that gets expensive.
(worried) Do airlines destroy powerchairs/wheelchairs? I dream of travelling when I am well enough.
@@thewisepowerchair2369 US airlines lose, damage, or destroy nearly 30 wheelchairs EVERY DAY! That’s almost 11,000 per year.
The US Access Board conducted a Congressionally-mandated study of on-board wheelchair securement, and found that there’s no technical or physical reason wheelchairs can’t be secured like on a bus, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigeig has taken up the challenge, but realistically Congress will have to amend the Air Carrier Access Act to require it, the Access Board will have to issue rules governing what an accessible aircraft looks like, and DOT will have to issue rules concerning when aircraft have to comply. Unlikely to happen in my traveling lifetime.
@@thewisepowerchair2369 I'd like to think they dont destroy wheelchairs. However, sadly there is always a risk.
@@thewisepowerchair2369 they're good at bumping off any parts that stick out. If you have a powerchair, check whether you can remove the joystick and bring it into the cabin. I get my husband to remove the headrest and cable tie it to the seat (wheelchair toolkit and ties are no problem if they stay with the chair). I have only been questioned once and security got quite apologetic when they realised the tools were for the chair.
I also take the cushion into the cabin as it would be a disaster if I lost it. I made a bag to hang it around my neck during transfers
I know what it feels when it gets overwhelming I have ASD
Interesting I’ve never had my chair stowed in the cabin before
I can walk, but I can't walk far or stand long. So, I'm flying from Austin, TX to Knoxville TN with an almost 3 hour layover in Houston. I could DRIVE to Houston in that time! Still, I then have a 3 hour flight to my sister's. She and her wife are having me come up at this time because it overlaps the date of my wife's death last year. I do appreciate being able to sit in a wheelchair while waiting for boarding, being able to board without interference and the certain amount of help between checking in and stuff.
Im so sorry to hear of your loss. I hope you have a safe comfortable journy.
I’ve been lucky to have been to Florida quite a few times as my family found it’s very wheelchair friendly. However, the airlines always nearly b******* up my chair. Either my armrests, which I need because I have scoliosis, or the push handles. Can’t wait for more Australia content. Really miss Wanted Down Under 😂
OMG I was obssessed with that show. Especially as we were thinking of moving there lol.
@@Wheelsnoheels There was a time when I wanted to move to Australia too, but I don’t like how the seasons are the opposite way around haha. At least here we get to look forward to spring and summer after the New Year. I don’t mean to sound childish. Like we had snow a couple of weeks ago. I would say an Australian Christmas would be very different to ours. It was a shame you got separated from your family on the plane, but from what I saw in your video it looked like you got spoilt and rightly so! By the way I only watched the Australian episodes of Wanted Down Under haha. You should have applied for it! That hotel you stayed in was amazing for a wheelchair user!
Gem - did you pay for a Business Class ticket or Premium Economy?
I have an elderly relative (tall and big guy, maybe 240 lbs) who had a stroke and can only stand with assistance, and cannot clean himself after using the bathroom. Will a flight crew help? Or is he on his own?
Potato scollop. Is that not a potato fritter? - common in Scotland.
We call them hash browns here in the states. We normally use ketchup and salt to season it lol.
Hi Gem, my partner and I (he is a T5 paraplegic) are travelling Edinburgh to Auckland via Doha next month. I am scared! We're in economy because Qatar airways has economy and business only, and business class was absolutely unaffordable (anyone got 12000$ spare? Sigh). Qatar is meant to have a really good economy class, however our longest flight is 20 (yes, TWENTY) hours long and it will be the longest flight we've ever been on since his accident. So far we've only ever flown for about 3-4 hours since his accident. We always make sure he's got his cushion, thankfully he doesn't get neuropathic pain but does get a lot of musculoskeletal pain from posture as he is very tall and space is limited. I was wondering whether diazepam might be a good shout for it to also diminish stiffness and spasms. I am so glad and reassured everything went well with special assistance. I hope we'll be able to get his chair on the plane too, it's very narrow (narrower than my hips tbh lol). I always follow you eagerly as someone who has so many more years experience with SCI and also lives in the UK so thanks for this video. If anyone reading this comment has extra tips please help! I think one of the things I learned is to make sure your layover is at least 2.5-3h long because you will be the last off the plane and intercontinental planes are huge.
I strongly suggest discussing the medication issue with your GP.
I also suggest that you write off the first day of the trip as recovery and adjustment. Finding out about the different beds and even pillows or even going shopping for different pillows etc.
I think your video's are ace, and helpful, as I'm a wheelchair user myself, is it ok if I ask you some questions? :D
I'm planning to fly from LAX to Manila. I haven't tried flying anywhere since my accident in 2022. My husband is worried what the long flight might do to my legs swelling and all the pain that I'll experience. Can you please give me advice? Are you able to elevate your legs on premium economy?
great video and plenty of advice. i normally just travel in the uk but hubby is wanting to travel abroad this year and it will be the first time for me since my disability. Since i use my wheelchair nearly all the time, did you have any problems with your legs while travelling that type of distance? Also since you could put your wheelchair on board the plane, do all airlines allow this or only some? Just that i would not want my wheelchair to go missing or get damaged.
I think you can ask the airline if you can store it on board, depending on the size of your chair and if someone else hasn’t already claimed it. Best bet would be to check with airline and when you’re booking your seat request your chair be stored on board if they have the space. Gem has a lot of good tips. But when I traveled to California last summer, I asked if I could keep my chair on board, and even though my chair folds down pretty small. It was still slightly too big. But if your chair will fit I’d ask as soon as possible so someone else can’t get ahead of you. Hope this helps!
@@writergirl3108 exactly. Although on most of my flights the chair has been taken to the hold and its been ok. Id check out my flying to Paris vlog, as thats a smaller plane, and I have some good tips for that kind of flight. x
I am going to London soon which airline should I use coming from New York
Have you ever flown with a fully lie-flat business class seat suit?
No but it’s on my bucket list. One can dream 🙏🏼
I have never been on a plane with an on-plane aisle chair or an accessible bathroom. If I cannot traverse the aisle or use that super tiny bathroom, then it was holding it
My question is more health/chronic illness related rather than just traveling as a wheelchair user (although I am a 👩🦽). How have people who tend to need emergency hospital care (for instance due to severe allergies) travel? I'd love to travel again but part of it is worrying about wheelchair access but mostly anxiety about needing to go to hospital in another country? I'm even nervous about going on a weekend break to the other side of the UK. Anyone used to be like that but not anymore, and maybe has some tips?
@@Kiwiberries31 thanks for replying! Yeah, it's not so much the paying for it, although I really not sure insurance would cover me, id be too big a risk for them. It's more the anxiety of something bad happening because of a language barrier or because they don't know how to treat my conditions (I have rare ones). I have thought about starting close and then getting further away 😊
Hello Gem. Not watched much of the video yet. I am quite concerned by some comments that powerchairs and wheelchairs are damaged on airlines. I dream of travelling when I am well enough. What do you do in the situation that your wheelchair is damaged and unusable?,
First would be to file a complaint with the airline. Then, depending on where you’re traveling, you might be able to call the dealer you got your chair from or manufacturer and they might be able to get someone out to fix it for you, if possible. They might also be able to arrange a loaner chair so you have something. I’ve heard people doing this. Fortunately this didn’t happen to me, but I would make sure the airline did right by you by paying for the repairs and paying for a loaner since they damaged it. Take pictures of your wheelchair before and after so you can prove it was the airline that damaged it and the airline can’t claim your chair was damaged before you boarded.
@@writergirl3108 Thank you.
Get insurance before you travel. If the airline/airport cause damage I'm told it's easier to get it sorted if insurance companies are arguing.
One thing that terrifies me is theft so every detachable part of the chair and the chair frame are clearly labelled. They're also marked with a uv pen as well.
@@dawnmoriarty9347 Thank you.
I’m hoping to go to Netherlands sometime this year (I live in Sweden) to spend real life time with the love of my life who’s Dutch. It’s not far at all, only 1,5 hour by plane down to Amsterdam and then a short trip by train from the airport, but it will still be my first time going outside of Sweden since 2015. Luckily I’m very calm about traveling and have no issues navigating airports or even a foreign country, so my only worry really is if my wheelchair will arrive properly or not
Are you landing on Schiphol? I got great help there, for the train you have to call NS for assistents (i am from holland)
@@iveschrijen9419 I’m ambulatory so should be fine even without assistance for the train :) Even with it being tiring, at least I have the option to stand up to get past an obstacle if I feel the gap between train and platform is a bit much or so
@@ReyOfLight If it is an intercity train there will be stairs to get into the train
@@iveschrijen9419 I’m able to walk up or down some steps :)
a scolloip? i’m an aussie and i think ur talking about a hash brown?
I do have a question re when you were boarding . You said that Shaun and daisy had to wait downstairs so I’m guessing they didn’t get prioritized boarding .my worry is as well as being a wheelchair user I’m a single parent with 2 young children. Is it a hard rule that people traveling with you can’t bird priority too ?
Some airlines here in the US do allow families to board together - Southwest Airlines does that. But I'd strongly suggest checking with the airline regarding its policy on families traveling together.
Shaun and Dasiy with there when she boarded, unless the footage was from other flights on their trip. I think they were either sitting downstairs (ie in normal economy) or waiting with her wheelchair to ensure it got stowed securely.
I live in Aus and I'm flying my myself down to Brisbane in May flying Jetsar/Qantas. I am really worried about them breaking my power chair. It's folding but has to be taken as checked baggage. It's carbon fibre too, so scared they'll drop it and it will just shatter.