and you have a connecting flight with little time between connections , you may miss your flight ! If it ’ s absolutely necessary to have a connecting flight , be sure to allow plenty of time between flights ( I usually recommend anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours if you need to use the restroom – which may be busy between flights , or go through customs or security ) to get from one gate to the next .
9 . If you can , arrange transportation to and from the airport . If you have a wheelchair , make arrangements in advance to have accessible transportation pick you up in your destination city and get your confirmations emailed to you . There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and finding out there is no accessible transportation , or if it is available , the hours of operation are different than what you anticipated .
10 . Too many times I have found it necessary to make a minor repair on my
wheelchair during a trip so I always bring spare parts and tools . Any type of assistive device , such as wheelchairs , scooters , or walkers can be damaged while traveling , so put together a small bag or kit of spare parts and tools for emergency repairs . For example , I always bring a spare inner tube for my wheelchair in case of a flat tire . When flying , make sure to inspect your assistive device and take pictures of it with your phone when you check it for stowage and as soon as it is returned to you after you land . Inspect for any damage or missing parts and report anything out of line to the gate agent right away .
11 . Make sure that you know your rights before going through airport security and be aware of the TSA ’ s rules for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions . See also the U . S . Department of Transportation ’ s Disability Resource Center .
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