Originally Posted by
Mark in CA
A friend is considering travel from the US West Coast to Eastern Europe. This person suffered a serious stroke several years ago, has been fine since and walks OK, but still has some trouble with balance and, hence, things like stairs and escalators, and needs to avoid long walks (like from one end of FRA to the other). In my experience as a normal traveler, I find US airports much friendlier in general than European ones as far as passengers getting onto and (especially) off of aircraft and general navigation from one gate to another.
Are there generally adequate services at airports to deal with departing, connecting and arriving passengers with such needs? How are these arranged? How reliable are they? Other tips?
sorry to learn of your friends' stroke - if he gets the OK to fly from his Dr - is he OK to travel unaccompanied?
if that is OK then as long as assistance is correctly pre booked with the airline then a Wchr or buggy from check-in to the aircraft will be arranged and off the aircraft to baggage claim and through customs
your friend may blanche at a WCHR assistance but frankly if he is on his own and has balance and walking issues affected by that then the sensible option is to ask for a booked Wchr assistance or at least buggy right through to the gate and off at the arrival