Charlotte USA

[Dee Sa]

we are going to Las Vegas for a wheelchair bound lady's 60th birthday, we always go around the same time but this year it coincides with Easter, we usually go direct flight with Virgin but this year they want �1,140 each return fare,so we have had to book with US airlines and change planes and check luggage through customs at Charlotte for �380 each.
I once changed planes with wheelchair person at Chicago and it was a nightmare , so I am not looking forward to this at all.
Has anyone done this, do they have any tips for a smooth passage onward ?
we have stated "wheelchair asst" at all airports but in Chicago they met the plane but when they say we had our own wheelchair they walked away and left us to it.
maybe Chris can advise or any advise welcomed.

[Buenchico]

Hmm.

The Charlotte Airport website stresses that it's up to the airline to arrange assistance, rather than the airport authorities:
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/Pa ssenger+Services/Accessibility+Resources+and+S pecial+Needs.htm

Even so, it might be worth phoning the airport, shortly before departure, to emphasize your needs:
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Airport/Co ntact+Us/home.htm
(Prefix those numbers with 001 from the UK).

I'd also advise you to email US Airways shortly before departure, to remind them of your requirements:
http://www.usairways.com/awa/content/contact/c ustomer_relationsform.aspx

Then hassle the US Airways check-in staff to pass the message through to Charlotte.

When I ran a railway station we got loads of 'passenger assistance' bookings. With the best will in the world, it was sometimes possible to overlook a booking when things got really busy. It was, however, far harder to forget bookings when you'd been phoned three times by the company's customer services department, then been phoned by the station staff who were putting the passenger onto the train, phoned again by the relative who was seeing the person onto the train, phoned yet again by the conductor of the train and finally phoned by the passenger himself!

Keep hassling and eventually, with a bit of luck, the message should get through! ;-)

Chris

[Dee Sa]

many tks Chris,you always give such good advice
Dee