Hi everyone! I haven't been posting because I've been in Hawaii celebrating my 50th birthday. This photo of me and Alan was taken on the island of Kauai. The views there were just incredible.
We flew American Airlines from Baton Rouge to Dallas, then to Los Angeles, and from there to Lihue. Our friends Melissa and Greg were with us. Melissa is a new TravelScoot owner but has borrowed one for previous trips. We quickly established a routine for the flights. Going through security in Baton Rouge and then in Lihue for the return trip were almost identical experiences. We rode our scoots through the security line then got off to walk through the scanner. They pulled the scoots through an adjacent gate, swabbed them and gave them back to us. Melissa had one regular lithium ion battery and I had two. If you are asked what kind of battery it is, my experience has been that what they want to know is that it's non-spillable.
At the gate we went to the agent to get gate check tags for our TravelScoots. These tags seem to be a little different at each airport. Sometimes we get a receipt and sometimes we don't. We were able to preboard on each flight. We rode our scoots to the door of the plane. As soon as I stopped Alan took off the lithium ion batteries and put them in his carry on to take on the plane. I took care of lowering the handlebars all the way down, then detaching the handles and covering them with the protective cover.
To see what the protective cover looks like in use and to read Hardy Huber's travel instructions, go to http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-and-easier-way-of-airline-travel.html.
When we landed at the next airport we waited until last to get off the plane. This gives the crew a chance to bring our TravelScoots to the plane door. Alan and I were amazed to look out the plane window on one flight and see a man carrying BOTH TravelScoots like they were barbells while he climbed the stairs to bring them to the plane. That was an incredible missed photo opportunity.
Once we were off the plane we reversed the procedure we used getting on the plane. Alan reattached the batteries and I set up the handlebars.
Melissa was able to ride her scoot on each jetway (the hallway between the airport and the airplane) without much trouble. In two of the airports Greg got behind me and put his hand in the center of my back and pushed to help me get up the inclines. I really needed the extra assistance I got from Alan and Greg so I wouldn't want to have to travel alone with my scoot, but I know others do it all the time.
Melissa did just fine with one battery for the three airports. I used all of one battery and part of a second, but still had charge left over to tour the resort the first night. Alan brought both my chargers and made sure both batteries were fully charged each night.
In future posts I'll tell you more about the fun we had with our scoots, but first I wanted to go over the travel details. If you've never flown with your scoot my recommendation is to be sure you have plenty of time on any layovers to give them time to get your scoot, and for you to get it reassembled and rolling again. We've found that lowering the handlebars, detaching them, and covering them is the best way to keep the scoot from being damaged. Removing the batteries and taking them in our carry on ensures that no one takes the scoot joyriding and it also keeps the batteries from getting damaged. One one previous trip a battery that was left attached was returned to us dragging the ground. If you don't want to put the battery (or batteries) in your carry on, your other option is to follow Hardy Huber's travel instructions, at http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-and-easier-way-of-airline-travel.html.
We flew American Airlines from Baton Rouge to Dallas, then to Los Angeles, and from there to Lihue. Our friends Melissa and Greg were with us. Melissa is a new TravelScoot owner but has borrowed one for previous trips. We quickly established a routine for the flights. Going through security in Baton Rouge and then in Lihue for the return trip were almost identical experiences. We rode our scoots through the security line then got off to walk through the scanner. They pulled the scoots through an adjacent gate, swabbed them and gave them back to us. Melissa had one regular lithium ion battery and I had two. If you are asked what kind of battery it is, my experience has been that what they want to know is that it's non-spillable.
At the gate we went to the agent to get gate check tags for our TravelScoots. These tags seem to be a little different at each airport. Sometimes we get a receipt and sometimes we don't. We were able to preboard on each flight. We rode our scoots to the door of the plane. As soon as I stopped Alan took off the lithium ion batteries and put them in his carry on to take on the plane. I took care of lowering the handlebars all the way down, then detaching the handles and covering them with the protective cover.
To see what the protective cover looks like in use and to read Hardy Huber's travel instructions, go to http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-and-easier-way-of-airline-travel.html.
When we landed at the next airport we waited until last to get off the plane. This gives the crew a chance to bring our TravelScoots to the plane door. Alan and I were amazed to look out the plane window on one flight and see a man carrying BOTH TravelScoots like they were barbells while he climbed the stairs to bring them to the plane. That was an incredible missed photo opportunity.
Once we were off the plane we reversed the procedure we used getting on the plane. Alan reattached the batteries and I set up the handlebars.
Melissa was able to ride her scoot on each jetway (the hallway between the airport and the airplane) without much trouble. In two of the airports Greg got behind me and put his hand in the center of my back and pushed to help me get up the inclines. I really needed the extra assistance I got from Alan and Greg so I wouldn't want to have to travel alone with my scoot, but I know others do it all the time.
Melissa did just fine with one battery for the three airports. I used all of one battery and part of a second, but still had charge left over to tour the resort the first night. Alan brought both my chargers and made sure both batteries were fully charged each night.
In future posts I'll tell you more about the fun we had with our scoots, but first I wanted to go over the travel details. If you've never flown with your scoot my recommendation is to be sure you have plenty of time on any layovers to give them time to get your scoot, and for you to get it reassembled and rolling again. We've found that lowering the handlebars, detaching them, and covering them is the best way to keep the scoot from being damaged. Removing the batteries and taking them in our carry on ensures that no one takes the scoot joyriding and it also keeps the batteries from getting damaged. One one previous trip a battery that was left attached was returned to us dragging the ground. If you don't want to put the battery (or batteries) in your carry on, your other option is to follow Hardy Huber's travel instructions, at http://mytravelscoot.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-and-easier-way-of-airline-travel.html.
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More and more, I've started allowing them to put the battery into the bag, and then tape it to the seat. Somehow it makes them feel better..ha ha...the problem is that a UPS plane in the middle east full of small lithium batteries caught on fire and the FAA put out a warning.
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteHappy 50th birthday! I was going on the Carnival Splendor for Christmas, but those plans changed after the much publicized fire. We had to reschedule, so now I will be cruising to the Mexican Riviera on my 50th birthday! Thanks for your blog, and for posting your airport scoot experiences...
Linda
Great post. I am glad you went to such a beautiful place for your birthday! I am looking forward to the pictures and news of your adventures in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteDean, is that happening in the U.S. or just when you travel outside the U.S.? You're the only person I've ever known whose scoot gets wrapped in a bag. Happy trails!
ReplyDeleteLinda, a happy 50th to you too! Beware, AARP will be tracking you down if they haven't already. They're relentless. :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll share a picture or two of your Mexican Riviera cruise. I love it when folks share their TravelScoot adventures with us!
(You can email me, elizabeth@ifisher.com, to send in photos.)
Cynth, I'm hoping to get a bunch posted this weekend. I can't seem to get caught up since I got home! I still owe you an answer to an email too. Where does the time go?!
ReplyDeletenice coastal picture !
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas, Elizabeth,
from
daniel
Hi Elizabeth, I love reading about your travels and experiences as an owner of a TravelScoot.
ReplyDeleteI just returned home from a trip to Copenhagen. I rented a Pride Rally, which I was able to ride through security and to the door of the plane at which time it was gate checked. Here is my dilemma. When I arrived in Amsterdam I was greeted by an airport worker and a manual wheelchair. When I asked about the scooter I was told that I could reclaim it at baggage check in Copenhagen.
I was taken to a waiting area and helped to a seat, at which time the wheelchair was taken away. I had a 3.5 hour layover until my flight to Copenhagen. There I sat unable to go to the restroom or to get something to eat or drink. By not allowing me the use of the scooter during the layover. They in essence took away my legs as I am unable to walk more than a few feet without severe pain which many times has caused me to collapse in agonizy.
I am going to Norway at the end of January and plan to rent a TravelScoot. I have layovers in both Paris and Amsterdam. My question to you or anyone who might be able to answer, have you experienced riding your TravelScoot to the plane then taking it on the plane as a carry-on? It is very important that I have access to it during layovers.
Oh, by the way happy belated 50th birthday. I will be spending my 57th birthday in Norway. :-)
Lady H
Lady H,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the birthday wishes! They're not really belated, because I'm planning on celebrating 50 until I turn 51. :-)
I've never taken my TravelScoot on the plane as a carry on, but I've never had to. I gate check mine and ride it to the door of the plane. They take it and store it with the baby strollers, and bring it to me when we land.
I cannot imagine how you went all that time without being able to go the restroom or to get anything to eat or drink. That's horrible!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, they don't even bring up the baby strollers upon landing at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam. They have to be claimed at baggage claim upon arriving at destination as well.
ReplyDeleteIt was horrible not being able to use the restroom during the layover especially having flown for 10 hrs. I usually limit myself to one beverage on the plane as the lavatory is very difficult at best to use when you weigh 455 lbs.
Good idea!....maybe I should be 56 again from here on out.
Lady H
I've never flown outside the U.S., but if I had encountered this sort of problem I'd certainly talk to the folks at the airline who handle accommodations for disabled passengers. Surely they could work out a better way to handle this for you!
ReplyDelete