I've recently seen a number of signs on disabled toilet doors along the lines of "not all disabilities are visible".

This discussion has focused on wheelchairs (and yes, that was/is the subject line) but PRM covers a much wider range. Indeed "assistance" covers an even larger range and could ,for example, include interpreters (for language or sign language).

In my view we're only scratching the surface both in this thread and in what happens in life generally.

Under "About Omniserve" it includes a link to a service level agreement (SLA) from which the following excerpts may be of interest:

Sadly the SLA doesn't include any wording to cover what should happen in the event the SLA is breached but it might be a useful bit of ammunition for someone to use.

I don’t understand this. Passengers who have prebooked the service should not have to wait 1 minute.

The Commission did not want any requirement for advance booking, but agreed to it when the airports argued they needed this period to prepare their teams.

Delays can be caused by:

• 'Late arrival of inbound aircraft'
• Doing some shopping on the way to the gate
• The person request visiting the toilet before getting to the gate/passport/customs/terminal
• The pax accompanying the person requesting any of the above

You would think that the airport team would have a good idea of the time the aircraft will actually arrive at the gate. If they don't they should. Other airports seem to manage, but not British ones. It must be the wrong kind of rain on the aprons.

Airport assistance for impaired adult?
 

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

Check with the airline. Depending on the severity of the condition he may need prior approval. He also may need an escort, for example if he cannot make his way to and with the toilet.

In the US it is the airlines responsibility to provide assistance but in the EU++, it is the airport. However, in both cases, request the assistance from the airline and, where possible, 72 hours in advance.

Avoid connecting flights if possible. If connecting avoid U.K. airports - a search here will tell you why.

My friend has flown US domestically alone and was OK. The main concern here is 1) making the connection between flights (no way to avoid at least one) and 2) the less friendly design of many European airports (lots of stairs, especially at arrival gates). My friend can likely manage getting on and off the plane solo, and no problem with lavatory, etc. Otherwise, my friend is quite independent, drives alone, shops, cooks, cleans, etc.

Depends which airport to be honest. I can think of more than a few that it really won't be a problem if booked more than 72 hours in advance. And they will get met with a smile and looked after no problems. I can also think of others eg London Heathrow where the experience will not be pleasant.,

where is he going in East Euro? maybe find a connection point that is smaller and less busy - trouble is most EU hubs are all now massive - even Vienna and zurich are.

if he is going to Poland then LOT fly direct to Warsaw from the USA so the connection could be in the US...

its probably best to to book assistance all the way through as any stress during the trip and connecting could be negative for him

We have recently discussed this in the Cabin of PPRuNe and the key is to avoid Heathrow.

In due course, if you can, feedback your friends experience, it helps others - as the linked thread demonstrates.

The flight will be to Budapest, and so the usual suspects for connections from the US West Coast are LHR, FRA, CDG, ZRH and MUC. Others with only one stop from the West Coast? Austrian/VIE? From what I've been reading here, LHR is a non-starter in this instance. Who knows of Air France will be operating in September. That would mean only FRA, MUC and ZRH.

Another concern I have is the possibility of missing a connection and what would happen then, especially if it involved an overnight stay. Does the PRM service extend beyond the airport?

See if you can get HEL or ARN both airports are good. And then you could use say Airbaltic to get them to BUD. Riga airport is excellent for meet and assist and has a very high English standard and Airbaltic look after their punters.

With this sort of thing its usually easier to reverse the trip so go to the BUD airport website and see which flights go out and then make plans backwards.

AMS although big is pretty solid.

I don't have a clue what the official method of dealing with PRM's if caught in a overnight delay once they are out of my care sorry.

The airline is responsible for the costs of a missed connection,

That would then involve 2 separate bookings, and if the flight from the USA is late the airlines are not responsible. It is an absolute must that your friend should book a through ticket on one reservation. I would also recommend you investigate routes where there are more than one flight from their transit airport to Budapest exists, then if they miss their intended flight there is another that the airline can put them on. Despite what people have said I would consider Heathrow as well as Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt, all of which will have multiple flights to Budapest, so will have the contingency needed.

Yes but it is still possible to get a single ticket involving more than one airline. In the example Air Baltic is in the MITA and would accept an interline ticket issued by another airline.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Can't say I've ever seen a routing between the US West Coast and Budapest that involves either HEL or ARN. AMS is common, however, and KLM often have one of the lower costs.

It appears the EU has some pretty strict guidelines for providing services at airports to PRMs, including having to have assistance provided within 15 minutes of arrival at a request point in the airport even without advance warning.

Considering the seriousness of the stroke my friend had, it's amazing how far they've come, being able to be self-sufficient, including the ability to drive. I'm sure this trip won't be too much of a stretch, but it 's still best to be prepared and take advantage of the services offered as needed.