Want to commend the airport assistance programs at JFK and Amsterdam airports. Dad realized that the walks from the gates to the departure areas and between gates were too much for him, even though he is active and independent . He arranged for the airport assistance- thinking it would be the trams that we have seen. It turned out to be a combination of trams and 'wheelchairs'. He was meet at the gate on arrival and his hand luggage was loaded on the chair. In Amsterdam, we were taken to a special area to wait the 3 hours for our next flight. We were then taken by tram thru the passport control area and directly to the boarding ramp for our next flight. He was allowed to board first and get settled. On our flight back, we had a one hour window to change at Amsterdam for our flight to JFK. We were met by a lovely man, who helped dad and luggage onto the tram. got us seatbelted in and drove what would have easily been a 45 min walk to our departure gate. He drove us thru the special passport control area first, then stopped at a WC and waited for us. He the drove us to the gate, parted the waiting passengers and delivered us to the gate agent to be boarded.
At JFK, we were greeted by a lovely Caribbean woman who called dad "Poppy" in her lilting voice and told him to just please sit back in the chair and let her handle everything. Took us thru the about 25 minute walk to passport /Customs. helped us with the machine and then took us to a special line to go thru Customs. Insisted on being sure we had a way home and did we want her to wait until the car service same.
This service made what had become the most stressful part of our trips and most exhausting parts so easy and doable.I'm so grateful that the service was available and staffed by such kind and competent people. And grateful that my dad was not too proud to acknowledge that he needed it. ( He requested it when first booking the flights and then confirmed it a week before. On arriving at the airport at each leg, he confirmed again that they had the request)
Posted by
Washington DC
28073 posts
Diane, I'm very glad it went so well. It's amazing how kind folks can be when we acknowledge we need a little help.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2083 posts
And thank you for taking the time to post and share your positive experience. We traveled with Dad until he was almost 96 and it was gratifying to see that random acts of kindness aren’t always random at all.
Posted by
Placentia, CA
1075 posts
Great story. I am so glad to take you took the time to write such a positive experience. We need to see more of these type stories.
Posted by
SF Bay Area
329 posts
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing your stories.
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
Diane, at JFK, I've only experienced wheelchair service at Terminal 4 and I am guessing that is where you and your father were. They are the BEST. I flew home to JFK two days ago and the lady who met me at the jetway was as wonderful as the lady who called your father Poppy and took wonderful care of him. As with your experience, she stayed with me from jetway all the way to the Airtrain taking me through to Global Entry as I have it, lifted my bag from the carousel, took me to the ladies' room and waited by the sinks, and then took me to the Airtrain and waited for the Jamaica train to arrive. In my short experience with wheelchair service at airprots, there is no wheelchair service as professional, thorough and kind as the one at Terminal 4 JFK.
I've used the wheelchair service at AMS as well and they were fine. I'm glad it worked out for you and your father.
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
On the way in a London (different trip) the person walked us through
everything (and we got the express treatment)
Apparently, LHR has made a change as I was told last week. They have "compartmentalized" disabled services as they call it to make it more "efficient" for disabled people at least at Terminal 3. One now has to take a combination of 6 wheelchairs and golf carts from the jetway until after the baggage carousel. LHR did NOT think this through because they drop you off and you have to wait for the next wheelchair or golf cart to take you to the next portion of the journey through baggage claim. At best, there may be one bench for you to sit while waiting but when I was there, there was no place to sit and I and others were forced to STAND which makes nullifies the "benefit" of wheelchair services when you arrive at LHR. It was very painful.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32351 posts
Diane,
I've had to use wheelchair service at several airports, and my experience was similar to what you described. For the most part, airports seem to have this figured out pretty well. Although the circumstances weren't entirely pleasant, I was amazed at how quickly I got through airports and on or off the aircraft.