Need Advice A Bad Knee

[Jacksond]

My weak knee has suddenly become unstable. I am returning to Melbourne from Paris early November. Can anyone can tell me the best way to get assistance if needed at CDG and BKK for moving around the airports. I'm flying Businessbif that makes any difference. Should I just contact Thai Airways direct. Hope it's not a silly question.

 

[Deleted member]

I would ask for a wheel chair. I assume you have a walking stick as a visible sign of your disability ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My weak knee has suddenly become unstable. I am returning to Melbourne from Paris early November. Can anyone can tell me the best way to get assistance if needed at CDG and BKK for moving around the airports. I'm flying Businessbif that makes any difference. Should I just contact Thai Airways direct. Hope it's not a silly question.

As GPH says - just call the operating airline for each leg (if they are different), ask them to access your booking, and put in that you require wheelchair assistance.

You may wish to refine the level of care you need... for example... whether you only need the wheelchair to the door or the plane, or whether you need it right to your seat (etc).

You can also ask the airline if they have any suitable seating if you require it.

 

[docjames]

Contact the airline who will arrange assistance at the airport.

 

[Dr Ralph]

You need to proactive and contact the airline directly. Do it now.

 

[RAM]

And what all of the prior advice were assuming...

That you confirm by email with whoever you contact exactly what they have said will be done.

Getting someone on the phone to spell their name (and get a reference number) can make a huge difference between something positive being done once you put the phone down.

Only other suggestion is to try and be VERY early to your check-in so that if Murphy's Law (or worse - O'Toole's Law) holds true you can recover from it without ruining the trip home.

Good luck.

 

[Jacksond]

Thanks for all of the advice! The knee is better today however I will contact Thai later today. It's a long walk at Bankok as I'm sure some of you know. I will know more about my condition today.

 

[Jacksond]

Not sure if I posted my reply properly. Thanks for the advice! I return ti paris tomorrow so I'll se how I go then. Too much walking. I bought a stick yesterday du to the insistance of someone in our party.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for all of the advice! The knee is better today however I will contact Thai later today. It's a long walk at Bankok as I'm sure some of you know. I will know more about my condition today.

My mother had wheelchakr assistance at BKK a couple of years ago. Collect her from the flight, take her through transit security to lounge then back again to board aircraft.

 

[Jacksond]

Thanks for the support everyone. My knee is much "better" so I will keep my walking stick handy just in case.

 

[cgichard]

Jacksond, your walking stick has prompted me to ask a distantly related question. I am planning a several linked walking holidays in France next year and part of the advice for the first trip, in the Cévennes, is that "Walking poles/sticks of adjustable height are also highly recommended" for this trip. Now I'm planning to go hand luggage only again and I know that airlines do not allow walking poles in the cabin. On this occasion, travelling via LHR and MRS there is likely to be no opportunity to purchase appropriate poles en route or at the destination. However, I know that walking sticks are permitted if required as mobility aids, and I do possess an old-style fold up walking stick with a fat rubber ferrule that I was thinking of taking, even though it is heavier than modern walking poles and not adjustable in height. I could pretend that I need it for day-to-day walking but that isn't really true and no doctor would certify that.

Has anyone else travelling with hand luggage only been faced with this dilemma and found a solution?

 

[Jacksond]

I bought the stick the other day in Tours because my knee became very painful and felt unstable. It is a neat folding juo and not very heavy. I plan to take onboard in my cabin bag. I don't know if I will need to use it. As i said in my last post, the knee feels a bit better. I paid 21 Euros for it at a chemist.

 

[cgichard]

Useful to know that sticks like that can be bought at chemists in France. Let us know if you encounter any problems taking the stick on the plane. Wishing you a safe and pain-free journey home.

 

[Jacksond]

I will report on the stick when I get home on Nov 10th. Again thanks for all of the interest in my plight!

 

[Dr Ralph]

What was the end result for this Jacksond?

 

[Jacksond]

I meant to submit my "stick report" yesterday6 now that I'm home but other things intervened. I simply put the folded stick in my carry on bag as I do not need it for support at the moment. I didn't mention it and was not inspected by security. I will see my GP soon about the the next step regarding my knee. I would like to thank everyone for their interest in my issue.

 

[cgichard]

Thanks, Jacksond. It's good to know there were no questions about your folded stick in carry-on bag. In the event a different solution to my dilemma has presented itself: the local leader of the walking tour I've booked has a spare (or even two) that she's willing to lend me. I hope your knee heals rapidly with no long-term consequences.

 

[Jacksond]

Thank you for that. I would have shown the stick to the airline/customs if required, however I don't think they would have objected. The end is flat, I'm not sure about the other types.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I meant to submit my "stick report" yesterday6 now that I'm home but other things intervened. I simply put the folded stick in my carry on bag as I do not need it for support at the moment. I didn't mention it and was not inspected by security. I will see my GP soon about the the next step regarding my knee. I would like to thank everyone for their interest in my issue.

Glad to hear it went well.