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flying with disabled child

14 replies

lompaloopy · 20/01/2011 10:43

Can anyone help please...? i went into our local travel agents yesterday to see how much it would cost for me to take myself,partner and 3 chikldren to spain for one week. everything was going great until i informed them that my daughter alana is severely disabled and would need to stay in her own wheelchair as she cant transfer to another one as hers is specifically made for her as she cannot hold any part of her body in a sitting position whatsoever,.... i was told that no airline will allow her to stay in her chair but they are willing to help me transfer her to one of their chairs.....alana cannot go into a normal chair or indeed one of their wheelchairs as they would not support her body in the way she requires.... i was told maybe go on a cruise.....a cruise....? if i wanted a cruise i would have asked about one.... i left travel agents in tears as i cannot take my child abroad unles i pay the airline for 6-9 seats, a stretcher for her to lay on and some airlines ask that you pay for a dr or a nurse to accompany you.....well there4 goes the £2000 limit for a holiday before i even think about paying for anyone else to travel....is there any way round this?

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glittery · 20/01/2011 11:11

a few airlines have the Travel Chair and you can also hire it or buy your own but doesnt sound like that would be up to your daughters needs.
what about a Burnett Body Support you take the air out it and it moulds to the childs body, if i remember right Virgin use them on their planes but dont know about others?

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glittery · 20/01/2011 11:13

found this list of special seating on the Easy jet site

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glittery · 20/01/2011 11:15

also more info here

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isw · 20/01/2011 11:25

Hi, how is your dd? My DD is nearly 3 and unable to sit in their seat. I used to take her car seat, normal forward facing one. They will except it as long as it has a 5 piont harness and the seat beat on the plan seat can fit round it. I now have the special tomato seat liners which are more portable and can be used on any type of seat.

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SookieD · 20/01/2011 11:29

Glittery - you really are my one-woman encyclopedia on equipment and facilities Grin

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isw · 20/01/2011 11:35

PS Sookie I am in Spain, so let me know if I can be any help. Do you know what area you want to go to, I may be able to recommend places and hire companies if you need special equipment

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UniS · 20/01/2011 11:40

Not exactly what you were thinking of, but, you can get to Northern Spain by ferry. Take own car, own wheelchair etc.

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wraith · 20/01/2011 11:53

one of the main reasons they cant let you use your own chair is wheel base an isle in most planes is 18inch wise maximium additionally all passenges must be in a seat with a approved seatbelt

goodluck but try one of the suppot chairs glittery mentioned

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lompaloopy · 20/01/2011 12:42

wow thankyou all so much for all your input and help i am going to look into all of your suggestions...i dont know what will be suitable as my daughter really has no control of her body whatsoever and am not sure just how much use some of the seating aids will be, but i will investigete and keep you all posted....thank you again :)

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BriocheDoree · 20/01/2011 13:31

Have you tried contacting airline directly (the answer might be the same but they will have more up-to-date information than the travel agents).

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Mitchell81 · 20/01/2011 13:33

We travel often with our severely disabled daughter. She is 10 and can't move her legs or sit unaided. We take her wheelchair to the door of the plane and then carry her to her seat, use blankets, pillows to support her and as her legs can't bend we put a bag under her legs to prop them up.

We have been lucky on the long haul flights to get an extra seat so that she can lie down. She is small (109cm long).

Is there no way that your DD could sit in a airplane seat? I know how frustrated you must feel, I hate the fact that mosts times we travel we have to get a letter from the docs to say that she is fit to fly.

Hope you find a solution. Smile

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Quorncider · 29/09/2012 23:05

I hope you found something. Let us know. Shame the travel chair didn't suit.

sensoryplaytray.com/flying-disabled-child/

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Myboysaremyworld · 25/03/2013 21:05

Lompaloopy- hi I am in the same situation as you. We have a severely disabled son age 6 but a big 6, he too is unable to sit unaided and has a special wheelchair. He can't sit in a standard wheelchair. Having never been abroad, we are desperate to travel to Spain, only travel options are cruise, but we'd have to have 2 cabins as the disabled ones are 4 berth, there are 5 of us. Also this is costly and takes 2-3days travel. Only other option is fly, but if you had problems then I fear we would too. I like mumsnet forums and regularly get advice from them. Please could you message me or update forum as to your outcome. I have read airlines passenger assistance policies, but nothing seems to help us for our son. I even e-mailed a few for details. If I can find a solution I will endeavour to post here.

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TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission · 26/03/2013 08:24

have you seen the meru travel chair I think it's been updated to offer a higher level of support since this thread was started

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