SnowYeti
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2007
- Posts
- 334
I couldn't find many posts on people flying with crutches. So I thought I would write up a basic TR that details what I had to encounter, flying with crutches.
First of all, I never imagined how hard crutches are for people with injured limbs. I now appreciate disabled car spots, wheelchairs, and all the things that exist to make life easier for the disabled. I broke my ankle, had surgery, and now am in a cast (for a total of 6 weeks from surgery).
Last week I flew QF :
SYD segment:
I tried to do online check in the night before, but it advised me that I could not move seats, or print a boarding pass, because I was a passenger with Special Requirements.
The next day for the flight : Drove to long term car park, parked in disabled, caught bus. Hobbled along from bus up to departures.
Went to business counter, checked in one bag. Confirmed that I had a bulk head seat, which is what I really hoped for, obviously can't take exit row when incapacitated. Was advised to go to "Baggage Services" which is near security to get someone to wheel me in wheel chair. Went to the desk, and told them I was going to QP, they advised to tell QP to send buggy as departure gate was 1. Went to security, went through scanner with crutches. Then was told to put hands on the plastic barrier (on x-ray machine) while they scanned my crutches. They then gave me a pat down, was very brisk though, was more of a show thing, not a security thing I thought. Hopped along to QP and got my friend to get me some refreshments.
Time to board, so I asked at QP desk to get me the buggy. Waited downstairs, buggy came, and I was driven to gate 1. Had a few people grinning at me, I felt a bit embarassed, because mostly I've only seen older people on those things, but being incapacitated, you soon to learn to ignore it and know that you really do need assistance. Why not use it if it's available.
Time for boarding. It appeared nobody told them there was a PAX with special assistance, so I just boarded with everyone else. People were stomping on me, over taking me, it was really annoying as I am really slow on crutches. Someone actually said "Excuse me sir, can I help you with your bag". What a nice passenger. I said thanks, and was OK. Hopped onto plane, and gave crutches to FA. Sat at bulk head, was a 737. Tiny plane!
Landed in Brisbane. CSM asked me if I needed any help, I said yes please. I was last to leave aircraft, someone came onboard to collect me. I hopped to door of plane, and was wheeled up the aerobridge in wheelchair. Got to the gate, and was put on a buggy (while sitting on wheelchair). They took me right down to the baggage area, where I got my bags and hobbled to get picked on.
A pretty good experience I thought, Brisbane seemed to be more helpful.
BNE segment:
Went to check in, and was told to sit at the "Special Assistance" area to get picked up by someone. Waited a good 20 mins, 2 people came. Both Qantas staff. One wheeled me and one took my crutches. Went through security, this time I got out of chair and hopped through security, it didn't even beep ( I have metal in my leg)..... sat back down in wheelchair, was wheeled to gate to wait for boarding. I didn't have time to go into QP.
Boarding was about to commence. One of the QF staff asked me if I would like to board first or last, I said first, then they wheeled me down to the plane door. Waited there 20 mins, aircraft delayed. FA's were dancing and carrying on, CSM saw me and said "Oh, hello". Then they all stopped. It was nice to see that everyone was having fun preparing for the flight, I guess it was late and they needed to entertain themselves. CSM offered me a drink while waiting in wheel chair. Declined as I didn't feel like it.
Got on plane, was not in a bulk head seat, but on the 767's, there is a small section (2 rows) of seats in their own cabin. Was sitting in the 2nd row. Was great, seat next to me was blocked, so I had room to put my foot in other persons spot.
Got to SYD, I got my own crutches out of the locker where suit jackets go. CSM advised me we were at gate 2, so I said no need for wheelchair or buggy. Hopped out, actually went first, as I didn't want to wait forever. Got baggage, struggled and hobbled to the long term bus stop. Got on bus, got to car and drove home.
Conclusion
I think QF did a relatively good job for me. Being on crutches you get exhausted quick (I am quite athletic), and long walks are just (im) possible ... things take forever. It's sort of hard to explain. So imagine walking and using 2 arms and 1 leg. It's almost like doing a pushup every 2nd step. :shock:
What I don't understand is that my baggage had a "Special Assistance" tag on it, pink and white striped. I don't think it did anything as I had business tagging anyway ... ? I think it's impossible to travel on crutches if you have a suitcase. I don't know if Qantas were willing to pick up my bag and take it to the long term bus stop. Lucky I was travelling with a friend. Otherwise, I would have only had to have carry on (and light) to be able to travel.
Other things to remember :
While it is an absolute pain to travel on one leg, it IS possible, so anyone injured, don't think it's impossible. I did it! Of course it would have been nicer to travel in J, but I'm not prepared to pay ~500 for each sector on a 1 hour flight.
I guess there are other medical complications such as the blood thinning requirement. I did feel a bit dizzy next few days after travel, apparently this is due to my blood being thinned for a long period. (Had to take injections day before flying, day of flying and day after).
After that trip last week, I said I wouldn't fly unnecessarily until I had the plaster off and could walk on 2 legs. However, now need to fly to HBA for a funeral next week. It will be on DJ because QF flights are 3 times more expensive than QF for that particular trip :-|
Good luck to anyone flying with crutches! I know how you will feel.
If you read the whole TR, then thanks for reading and I hope you learnt something. I hope it will help someone in the same situation as me. It certainly was an experience. I'll report back next week on DJ experience
.
First of all, I never imagined how hard crutches are for people with injured limbs. I now appreciate disabled car spots, wheelchairs, and all the things that exist to make life easier for the disabled. I broke my ankle, had surgery, and now am in a cast (for a total of 6 weeks from surgery).
Last week I flew QF :
SYD segment:
I tried to do online check in the night before, but it advised me that I could not move seats, or print a boarding pass, because I was a passenger with Special Requirements.
The next day for the flight : Drove to long term car park, parked in disabled, caught bus. Hobbled along from bus up to departures.
Went to business counter, checked in one bag. Confirmed that I had a bulk head seat, which is what I really hoped for, obviously can't take exit row when incapacitated. Was advised to go to "Baggage Services" which is near security to get someone to wheel me in wheel chair. Went to the desk, and told them I was going to QP, they advised to tell QP to send buggy as departure gate was 1. Went to security, went through scanner with crutches. Then was told to put hands on the plastic barrier (on x-ray machine) while they scanned my crutches. They then gave me a pat down, was very brisk though, was more of a show thing, not a security thing I thought. Hopped along to QP and got my friend to get me some refreshments.
Time to board, so I asked at QP desk to get me the buggy. Waited downstairs, buggy came, and I was driven to gate 1. Had a few people grinning at me, I felt a bit embarassed, because mostly I've only seen older people on those things, but being incapacitated, you soon to learn to ignore it and know that you really do need assistance. Why not use it if it's available.
Time for boarding. It appeared nobody told them there was a PAX with special assistance, so I just boarded with everyone else. People were stomping on me, over taking me, it was really annoying as I am really slow on crutches. Someone actually said "Excuse me sir, can I help you with your bag". What a nice passenger. I said thanks, and was OK. Hopped onto plane, and gave crutches to FA. Sat at bulk head, was a 737. Tiny plane!
Landed in Brisbane. CSM asked me if I needed any help, I said yes please. I was last to leave aircraft, someone came onboard to collect me. I hopped to door of plane, and was wheeled up the aerobridge in wheelchair. Got to the gate, and was put on a buggy (while sitting on wheelchair). They took me right down to the baggage area, where I got my bags and hobbled to get picked on.
A pretty good experience I thought, Brisbane seemed to be more helpful.
BNE segment:
Went to check in, and was told to sit at the "Special Assistance" area to get picked up by someone. Waited a good 20 mins, 2 people came. Both Qantas staff. One wheeled me and one took my crutches. Went through security, this time I got out of chair and hopped through security, it didn't even beep ( I have metal in my leg)..... sat back down in wheelchair, was wheeled to gate to wait for boarding. I didn't have time to go into QP.
Boarding was about to commence. One of the QF staff asked me if I would like to board first or last, I said first, then they wheeled me down to the plane door. Waited there 20 mins, aircraft delayed. FA's were dancing and carrying on, CSM saw me and said "Oh, hello". Then they all stopped. It was nice to see that everyone was having fun preparing for the flight, I guess it was late and they needed to entertain themselves. CSM offered me a drink while waiting in wheel chair. Declined as I didn't feel like it.
Got on plane, was not in a bulk head seat, but on the 767's, there is a small section (2 rows) of seats in their own cabin. Was sitting in the 2nd row. Was great, seat next to me was blocked, so I had room to put my foot in other persons spot.
Got to SYD, I got my own crutches out of the locker where suit jackets go. CSM advised me we were at gate 2, so I said no need for wheelchair or buggy. Hopped out, actually went first, as I didn't want to wait forever. Got baggage, struggled and hobbled to the long term bus stop. Got on bus, got to car and drove home.
Conclusion
I think QF did a relatively good job for me. Being on crutches you get exhausted quick (I am quite athletic), and long walks are just (im) possible ... things take forever. It's sort of hard to explain. So imagine walking and using 2 arms and 1 leg. It's almost like doing a pushup every 2nd step. :shock:
What I don't understand is that my baggage had a "Special Assistance" tag on it, pink and white striped. I don't think it did anything as I had business tagging anyway ... ? I think it's impossible to travel on crutches if you have a suitcase. I don't know if Qantas were willing to pick up my bag and take it to the long term bus stop. Lucky I was travelling with a friend. Otherwise, I would have only had to have carry on (and light) to be able to travel.
Other things to remember :
- I did have a note from my surgeon saying I was FIT to fly, and extra leg room would be beneficial, however I did not show this to anyone.
- I did have a note from my surgeon saying I had metal orthapaedic implants in my leg, I did not need to show this to anyone.
- I did have injections (only reason for checkin) (Clexane) to help avoid DVT in injured leg.
- I did have a BACK SLAB cast (this is like 3 pieces of long plaster wrapped around in a U shape, to allow for altitude / swelling). It's much heavier than a normal fibre glass or PoP cast. And yes it did swell alot!! It came down the next day after having leg elevated overnight. It would have been painful / damage causing to fly in a normal cast.
While it is an absolute pain to travel on one leg, it IS possible, so anyone injured, don't think it's impossible. I did it! Of course it would have been nicer to travel in J, but I'm not prepared to pay ~500 for each sector on a 1 hour flight.
I guess there are other medical complications such as the blood thinning requirement. I did feel a bit dizzy next few days after travel, apparently this is due to my blood being thinned for a long period. (Had to take injections day before flying, day of flying and day after).
After that trip last week, I said I wouldn't fly unnecessarily until I had the plaster off and could walk on 2 legs. However, now need to fly to HBA for a funeral next week. It will be on DJ because QF flights are 3 times more expensive than QF for that particular trip :-|
Good luck to anyone flying with crutches! I know how you will feel.
If you read the whole TR, then thanks for reading and I hope you learnt something. I hope it will help someone in the same situation as me. It certainly was an experience. I'll report back next week on DJ experience
.
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