Taking a trip should be enjoyable, but air travel as an amputee can be very stressful! The challenge for travelers with disabilities is to foresee their special needs and check carefully to ensure those needs are met every step of the way. Unfortunately, even when this is done, things don’t always turn out as anticipated. Travelers should know how to protest and assert their rights when things go wrong. Here are some tips and links for Amputee travel!
It is important to be prepared and to know what your airline offers! For example, when I fly Southwest I get to board first with no extra charge or pre-arrival work! With some airlines, you can “check” a disability assistive device for no extra charge!
One of the most frustrating parts of air travel for me involves TSA. I always allow for extra time because I know that I will need it to get through TSA. My leg always sets off the metal detectors, and then I have to be patted down. They swab my leg, my hands, and ask me a few questions. I usually leave my shoes on since they’ll be swabbing me anyway (they can’t make you take them off so make use of your disabled status!)
When booking
- If you need help getting on the plane and to your seat, you will need to request any necessary assistance when booking your ticket at least 48 hours prior to departure.
- Consider booking your trip through an experienced travel agency or a company specializing in disabled travel – their knowledge could be invaluable for ensuring your flight and accommodation needs are met.
Toilets on planes are generally small and can be challenging for those with limited mobility, so for longer journeys, you may want to consider taking shorter connecting flights rather than one long-haul trip.
Certified Assistance Dogs are permitted on most flights.
If you will be bringing a wheelchair you will need to provide your airline with as much information about it as possible, including dimensions, type of wheelchair, number of batteries, type of battery and weight. You can check your mobility device for free!
- Crutches, Canes, Walkers, & Scooters
- Casts & Support Braces
- Wheelchairs
- Tools for wheelchair disassembly/reassembly
- Service animals
- Prosthetic devices & associated tools
- Assistive/adaptive equipment
- CPAP machines & respirators
- Medications & associated supplies
- All diabetes-related medication, equipment, & supplies
- Any other disability-related equipment & associated supplies
At the airport
- Check in as early as possible to ensure you can secure the best seat for your needs.
- Give yourself plenty of time to reach the airport and your departure gate with time to spare. It may be worth arriving a couple hours early to anticipate delays.
- All passengers, including those with disabilities, are required to undergo security searches. You may wish to alert security staff of any specific medical needs prior to a security search.
- Wheelchair users will not need to pass through the metal detectors, but will instead be subject to a body search. Make sure to inform security of any painful or sensitive areas before they begin.
- They cannot require you to take your shoes off! They will most likely have to swab you anyway, so they can just swab your shoes too.
Great post. Apt.
I am a bilateral amputee and I travel a lot. I have had mixed experiences at different airports. Schipol Airport in Amsterdam in my opinion is by far the best in terms of treatment and care of persons with disabilities. My worst experiences have been in US (Detroit in particular) and at Charles de Gaulle airport. They made me pass through the scanner in Detroit despite telling them that I had prosthetic limbs on. Of course, the alarm went off and they were scrambling over themselves calling security officers to come and search me. The old lady used me to teach the younger agent how to do full pat down. Told her disabilities must never be a limitation to Air travel. And I will keep traveling despite their lack of courtesy and their insensitivity. I never take off my shoes. Because they are going to swab my prosthetic limbs, shoes and hands anyway. Someone at Heathrow Airport insisted that I must remove my shoes. Told her she would have to take both legs. She was red in the face apologising. Most importantly, I have learnt to keep a broad smile on through the tedious process. It is quite disarming.
It takes Character to treat others with respect and courtesy while doing your “job.” I simply refuse to be discouraged from doing something I love doing and that’s traveling.
Great comment about differences around the world & all spectrums of disability treatment! Thank you for sharing 🙂
A very informative article, really this article is very useful. I have not travel by air yet but in future, this informative article surely help me. 🙂 thanks
I am so glad this can help you become a traveler! Happy travels my friend 🙂
So, a little additional info from a man who is 6’5″with a family of 4. We typically fly Southwest because of the hassle free early boarding option for individuals with physical disabilities. This option allows myself and one other passenger(wife) the ability to board early to find the best seats that will fit our needs. And with having two young daughters under the age of 10, they don’t give us any problems with all 4 of us boarding at the same time. NOW, other passengers who see this are not always happy about it, so I will always wear shorts to hassle of TSA and angry/questioning passengers.
With being 6’5″, my knees begin wear your feet end(photo above). I will do my best to be the first one to board so I can find adequate leg room, or bargain with the individual sitting in that seat to swap/move. Shady and selfish? Maybe…. but worth the comfort for a 4+ hour flight!
And forget trying to use any airline toilet! I will limit my fluid consumption for several hours before boarding. And always try to use the restroom terminal.
Just my two cents… Oh, almost forgot. TSA Agents dislike their job about as much as we do. So have some fun with them and the job they are required to do! I like to shake my hips and dance a little. Bring a smile to their face! It’s boring watching screens all day.
It is not selfish by any means! Life as an amputee is not a life of comfort. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I feel your pain Uriah. As a 6’2″ AKA, it’s really difficult to be comfortable in regular seats although I don’t think i have it as bad as you do being an additional 3 inches taller. I also try to fly Southwest as often as I can because I found their seats are a bit more spacious than other airlines and I can either board early or in between A and B boarding groups with my family (we have a 2yo kid).
I also dont try to use the airplane toilets unless its an emergency (they are tiny!) so i also work on limiting my fluid intake or trying to hold it for relatively short flights till we can get off the plane.
I’m only 5 feet tall haha so I cannot say I feel your pain! My boyfriend is 6’4″ so he has the height discomfort and I fidget a lot from the artificial leg discomfort. So we usually try to spot bigger seats. Thank you so much for sharing!!
I like to have fun with TSA people and they generally enjoy a little humor. I flew a couple weeks ago and while a TSA agent was giving my prosthetic a pat down I started laughing. When he looked up at me to see what I was laughing about I said “sorry, my leg is ticklish”. He quickly apologized and then after about an 8 second pause he said “wait, really?” A few other nearby agents and I got a good laugh out of that.
Haha yes!!! love the humor 🙂 makes the situation a little more bearable for everyone involved! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
I definitely like to have fun with the TSA people. I flew a couple weeks ago and while one of the agents was patting down my prosthetic let I started laughing. When he looked up to see why I was laughing I said “sorry, my leg is ticklish”. He quickly apologized then after about an 8 second pause he looks back at me and goes “wait, really?” A few near by agents and I had a good laugh at that.
Angelina, i follow your Instagram page and it’s full of great insights; I also try to visit the blog when i can.
One thing that’s annoying about air travel for me is that the TSA policies are sometimes inconsistent across airports in the US. It has gotten better over the last few years but it can still be a frustrating experience (I think i missed a flight due to an extensive and unnecessary TSA pat down at Chicago Midway about 5/6 years ago). At most airports, they do the walk through the Xray machine, then the patdown and then the testing but to my surprise i was in Detroit a couple of weeks ago and they just tested my hands and shoes i believe (after walking through the xray machine) and that was it. I was shocked, I said are you sure. He said that’s a new policy. I havent traveled since then to test it but have a few trips planned for next week so we’ll see.
A valuable piece of advice that i would suggest for amputees is to sign up for Global Entry (which includes Pre-Check). There are separate lines at the airport for general travelers and those with GE/PC. The PC lines tend to be shorter (not always) and you are allowed to wear your shoes through the check – so no awkward explanations of why you cant remove your shoes although you still need to tell them you cant walk through the metal detector *shrugs*. The GE is also useful for when going through Customs after international travel, shorter lines and typically faster processing. In June I returned from Europe and there was absolute chaos at Arrivals. Only folks with GE were able to get out of there quickly, regular folks were stuck in lines that would take hours to clear.
I believe it costs $100 and is valid for 5 years if approved. It’s something worth looking into even if just for travels within the US
Wow! what a wealth of information in this comment. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 I agree it is totally worth looking into!
I’ve been an amputee for 38 years AKnee
and dealt with pretty much every scenario with TSA and multiple airlines.
I do have Global Entry, but it depends on which airport or Country you are flying in/out of for efficiency. Would rather have it than not.
I never take shoes off and def. less hassle when wearing shorts. Scanner, pay down, swabbing is just routine these days. Most TSA are pretty decent when you show them courtesy, but still a few like to be overzealous with their authority.
I usually request bulkhead at check in for extra leg room and typically it is available at no extra charge. You will have to show them your disability. Also, pre boarding is available at AA, United, SW etc,
You can check a wheelchair or crutches etc at the gate.
Happy Travels
Great addition thank you so much for sharing ☺️ happy travels ✈️
Always ask for a better seat say your leg is fused and you need more room.
And. If your bag is over weight. Just say it’s medical. Prosthetic components are inside. A few fringe benefits