We leave in a little more than a week for our cruise vacation, and, never having traveled with my TS before, we're sweating the details that can make or break a trip like this.
So, I have a couple of questions for folks who have flown with their TravelScoots:
- Is there any reason or benefit notifying the airline ahead of time that you are bringing your 'Scoot?
- Did you take the big bag that holds the folded-up TS? (We're thinking we might need it for some of the excursions, even if we hire private cabs.)
- For those who have cruised, any excursion-managing tips would be much appreciated.
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I do recommend notifying the airline of the TS. Most airlines have a special needs representative who will make note in their system. We recently cruised with my TS and never needed the big bag. When I did fold mine up on an excursion and on a bus, I put the seat and the battery in a tote bag. Both times, the bus driver stored it behind his seat and fastened it with a bungee cord. I do think I will travel with my own bungee cord next time just in case the driver doesn't have one. As for excursion-managing tips, the most important thing to remember is not to let them separate you from your TS. I allowed an excursion to separate me from my TS promising that they would lock it in their office and would return it to me when we docked (we were on a fishing trip). As promised they returned the TS to a floating dock just before our return. The problem was they didn't set the brakes. Every time the dock rocked the TS would roll forward or backward. We managed to grab it just before it went overboard. We reported the incident to the cruise line and verified that there would be no problem on our excursion the next day. When it was time for us to board the glass bottom boat the next day, I was told that I needed to leave it on the dock and that no one would bother it. I insisted that I needed to take it with me and they nodded and said we would have to handle it ourselves, which with the TS, was no problem. When we docked, an hour later, we were in a different place and had to travel about a mile through their "straw market" to get to where we started. Those who left scooters and wheelchairs had to send someone to go get them and bring them to where we were. The boat skipper would not return anyone to where we originally left. Otherwise, using the TS on a cruise was easy. Other cruisers respected my need for more space and were generally gracious.
ReplyDelete1) When I flew American in July I found something on their website where they asked that we call and let them know. That way they know you'll need a gate check tag, and it puts them on alert that you may need special assistance.
ReplyDelete2) I don't see any reason you'd ever need the bag. The amount of time it would take you to pack the scoot into the bag would be wasted time, in my opinion. It's so easy to just fold the scoot. Another thing, if it's in the bag and other people are handling it, it's easier to throw it if it's in the bag (think baggage handlers and suitcases), but if it's not, you have to put your hands on the frame and carry it where you're going.
Anne, I think no matter how much you try to think a trip to death, you cannot possibly be prepared for every possible scenario. Rhonda and I flew on the same airline through the same airport a couple of days apart and had WILDLY different experiences with our scoots. Mine was great, hers, not so much.