Air Travel Tips for Travelers with Health Issues or Disabilities
Travel by air for people with health issues, handicaps, disabilities or special needs, can be challenging. The following air travel tips will help make your flight and trip, whether domestic or international, easier, cheaper and safer.
When making your travel reservations, request any carts, wheelchair services or any other transportation you’ll need. Fully describe your limitations and needs. Get your airline ticket and boarding pass well ahead of time so you don’t have to wait in any lines. You’ll be able to arrange travel at a discount, get better travel deals, and avoid last minute travel headaches.
Talk with your airline representative or travel agent regarding the type of restrooms that are on the airplane. Call your airport and find out as much information as possible about the restrooms and handicapped parking at the airport.
You’ll need to find out how you’ll be boarding the airplane at each of the airports involved in your trip. You may need another type of airplane or alternative route so you’ll have Jetways, or jet bridges, into the plane from the airport and not have to worry about stairs.
One year my mother and I were going to fly out of the San Jose, California airport and discovered after we arrived that we had to go outside on the ground level with the wheelchair to the tarmac. Four airline employees had to carry my mother in the wheelchair up the steep steps to board the plane. This might be impossible if there are weight issues.
Think about what seat arrangement will work best for you needs. Would an aisle seat make it more convenient to get to the restroom? You’ll want to avoid sitting in the emergency exit row. The passengers in this row may be asked to help others in an emergency situation.
Let the airlines and flight attendants know if you have any assisting devices. Find out the best way to store them so they arrive without damage.
Always keep in mind what you can do easily and without assistance, as well as situations that would require help.
Can you transfer to seats by yourself? Will you need a transfer board or assistance from airline staff?
Consider hiring a travel nurse if you have serious health or medical issues. There are traveling nurses networks.
Can you describe your wheelchair, scooter or walker, dimensions, weight, type of tires, type of batteries, etc.? You may need to take along spare batteries. You also may need to rent or buy a travel wheelchair.
Make sure to mention to your travel agent or airline representative any assisting devices you may need or already have like canes and crutches. Do you need a slow pace or are you a slow walker?
If you will be traveling through different time zones, how will jet lag affect your situation?
Consider how the following will be of concern during your trip and discuss with your travel agent: upper body strength, communication ability, speech issues, voice issues, vision problems, hearing problems, heat issues, medication needs, oxygen requirements, and dietary requirements such as gluten-free meals.
Try to arrange or book your air travel through experienced travel agencies or tour operators that specialize in disabled travel. There are a large number of agencies throughout the U. S., Canada, Europe, Australia and many other countries.
Just in case you need them, it’s also good to know if there are any travel agencies that specialize in disabled travel at your destination, for return travel, local resources or travel services.
At the airport let airline boarding personnel know that you may need extra time to board the plane. Sit close to the door at the gate so you’re called first and then board at a comfortable pace.
After the plane has landed, never get off the plane until you see or have your assisting device, wheelchair, travel wheelchair, etc. Flight attendants have to stay on the airplane until the last passenger leaves. They will help you while you’re on the plane but once you’re off the plane they won’t be able to help you.
Make sure you carry your medications and back-up prescriptions with you onto the plane, along with doctors’ names, addresses, fax numbers for faxing prescriptions, phone numbers, medical diagnosis, names and dosages of medications you’re taking and any allergies you have.
Photocopy passports, airline tickets, American Express Travelers Cheques, credit cards, any important papers.
Carry your health insurance information with you on the plane. Know what you’ll do if you encounter a health problem or medical emergency on your trip. Get travel insurance to ensure less costly medical assistance. These emergency bills may not be covered under your health insurance policy. It’ll ease your mind to have this back-up travel insurance and prevent costly emergency medical charges on your trip. Emergency medical costs can run considerably higher than standard medical fees.
These air travel tips should provide good insurance and help make your airplane travel, with health issues, handicaps, disabilities or special needs, easier, safer and cheaper.
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14 Ways to Make Traveling with a Disability Easier
If you travel with a disability, handicap, physical limitation, mobility limitation, or developmental disability, have special needs, or use an electric wheelchair or handicap scooter, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can to make disabled travel easier.
Or if you’re a mature traveler or senior who is a slow walker or just wants a slower pace, becoming more informed about disabled travel services and disability travel resources, will lessen the anxiety that often accompanies disabled travelers.
The following travel tips, resources and information for the disabled will help make trips, tours, holidays and vacations a lot easier for you, or for a child with a disability, whether short-term or long-term.
1. Plan your trip well in advance! Do you need to order extra supplements, medications or renew prescriptions, fix eyeglasses or change prescriptions, get a physical, have dental work done, have your wheelchair fixed or tuned up, etc.?
2. If possible, always book your travel through an agency that specializes in helping people with disabilities. This is important because specialized travel agents and tour operators for the disabled are experienced and can save you some awful headaches.
They offer a lot of good tips and a wide range of services for the handicapped traveler. Among other things, they can arrange for a: wheelchair at the airport, wheelchair accessible hotel room, wheelchair rental, lift-equipped accessible van, full van, minivan, RV, handicap scooter, or any other handicap vehicle.
Travel agents for the disabled can help arrange accessible transportation, help plan the best accessible cruise, give cruise line and cruising tips, arrange travel insurance and take care of special needs.
Agents can check with hotels for: inner and outer door widths to accommodate your wheelchair, ADA-approved handicap bath tubs, grab bars, or for roll-in showers. Just tell them your needs.
Travel agents can help you find cheap airfare, cheap tickets, cheap flights, cheap travel auto insurance, cheap hotels, cheap car rentals, cheap cruises, cheap vacations and cheap travel of all kinds.
3. Besides taking along your travel agent’s phone number, you’ll also want to take with you the phone numbers for the travel agencies that specialize in disabled travel at your destination, in the event you can’t reach your own agent.
These travel agents may know how to solve problems that come up regarding your hotel, car or van rentals, etc., even if you didn’t order your tickets through them.
4. When traveling to another city, check out the local health and medical associations before you go. For example, get the phone numbers for the local MS chapter if you have MS. These organizations can be great resources.
They usually know what museums, restaurants, theaters & other local facilities are wheelchair accessible and where you can get oxygen, emergency supplies or medical assistance. They may be able to help you with any problems that arise.
5. If you plan to rent a handicap scooter, wheelchair, electric wheelchair, handicap van, full van, mini-van, RV or other vehicle in another city, don’t wait until you get there. Make all the arrangements before you leave on your trip.
Make sure you ask any specifics like, are there tie-downs, ramps, or hoists, etc. Check on what van, RV, car or auto insurance you’ll need before you go.
6. Don’t leave anything to chance. If you can, double-check all the arrangements your travel agent makes. Call the airlines, hotels, scooter, wheelchair, car, RV or van rental companies, medical equipment rental companies, etc., and verify the specifics, especially if you’re traveling in a wheelchair or have any other special needs like oxygen.
This is important if you haven’t used the agent before.
7. If you need oxygen or any other special medical equipment, call airlines and suppliers well in advance of your trip. Don’t wait until the last minute. Start calling them as soon as you know you’re going to be traveling or taking a trip.
Then double-check with your travel agent and the airline at least three to four days before your flight.
8. Arrive early at the airport. It’s better to wait around there than miss your plane. This will eliminate some of the pre-trip anxiety you might feel and make for more leisurely travel. This seems like common knowledge but many people still arrive at the gate just in the nick of time.
With all that’s going on in the world today there are many reasons why you want to allow for more time at the airport.
9. In your airplane carry-on bag keep copies of the prescriptions for your medications and eyeglasses, extra eyeglasses, sunglasses, all your medications and supplements, and a list of your doctor, dentist and other health professionals with their addresses, and phone numbers.
Include your doctor’s fax number for prescriptions in case you lose your medications. Keep duplicate copies of these in your luggage and at home by the telephone. Know where your medical records are kept.
10. When you travel, and for any other time too, if you take medications, learn their names and exactly what they’re for if you don’t know. People come into the emergency room all the time and don’t know what medications they’re taking. You might be surprised to find out that most people say ‘a little yellow pill’ or ‘a white capsule’, etc.
Emergency workers need to know what you’re taking so they don’t give you medication that would interact adversely with it, overdose you or somehow interfere with their treatment and your recovery.
11. If you’re traveling by air, tell the flight attendants when you board, of any medical problem you might encounter on your flight. Note the location of the closest restroom before getting seated. Tell the flight attendant if you think you’ll need assistance getting to it during the flight.
You may need or want an aisle seat for easy access to the restrooms. Discuss seating with your travel agent.
12. If you need someone to travel with you, ask your travel agent for ideas or suggestions. Call the local chapters of medical associations and ask if they can recommend a travel assistant or travel companion to help or accompany you.
There are national companies who offer traveling nurses, traveling companions or travel assistants to accompany disabled travelers or people with serious medical issues.
13. Make sure to take with you: any medical cards, Medicare cards, discount cards, car or auto rental discount cards, auto insurance policy numbers and agent’s phone number, passport, airline tickets, etickets, American Express Travelers Cheques, debit cards, credit cards, and drivers license. Photocopy everything.
Keep photocopies in your luggage and at home by the telephone or someplace where someone has access to it in case you need it.
14. Read everything you can about traveling with a disability. Read disabled travel books, access guides, accessible guidebooks, disability travel articles and travel publications for the disabled traveler. Read the personal travel experiences of wheelchair users and others who have traveled with disabilities. Be informed.
These travel tips, information, resources, and services for the disabled should help you, or anyone with a disability, handicap, physical limitation, or who uses a wheelchair, have an easier, more pleasant, anxiety-free, trouble-free trip, tour, holiday or vacation.
Helen Hecker
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/14-ways-to-make-traveling-with-a-disability-easier-86689.html
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Things You Need to Know When Travelling Abroad
International travel can be an exciting experience. Especially if you have never traveled abroad. Different cultures offer many new sights to see and things to try. You also need to be aware of the potential dangers of traveling as well. It’s important to consider all of these details before you travel. Knowing ahead of time will make your trip more enjoyable.
If you decide to travel internationally, you may want to consider taking out insurance. Travel Insurance is available to protect you from last-minute changes in your plans such as flight cancellations. International flights tend to cost more than domestic ones so it would be a benefit to have this type of insurance in case anything happened. Aside from flight coverage, it is good for other things as well. A crucial point to remember is medical insurance. If you have a medical insurance plan, find out in advance if it covers you for international travel. Some plans do not cover expenses in foreign countries. A travel insurance policy will cover these unforeseen medical costs that can crop up while you are traveling.
When preparing for departure, be sure to arrive at the airport well in advance. With all the safety and security measures in place nowadays, it can take a long time for get to the gate. You want to leave yourself enough time to check your bags and account for security delays. It’s better to have more time to kill than not having enough time and waving good bye to your plane as it takes off. To facilitate your ease going through security, make sure you have your boarding pass and passport convenient at all times so you can take them out when necessary. This way you don’t have to stop and search through your bags every time someone asks to see your identification.
First time international travelers should beware of scams. Many times thieves pounce on unsuspecting passengers. In order to keep yourself and your belongings safe, keep your bags close at all times. Check bags that you will not need during your flight. The most important thing you will need is your wallet with your passport and boarding pass. Try to avoid taking unnecessary items with you.
Another good idea before leaving on your trip is to make copies of all your documents. Photocopy your passport as well as boarding pass and any other travel vouchers you may have. Also include credit cards, medical prescriptions, and your medical insurance information. Credit cards with your photo on them may help locate them in the event your wallet is stolen. Having photocopies will also provide you with the numbers for everything as well as expiration dates. Copying prescriptions gives you the exact information should you need to refill the prescription if the original has been stolen. As mentioned previously, make sure that you have medical insurance that will cover you in another country. If not, then certainly make sure you take advantage of travel insurance before you depart.
When traveling to another country, it’s good to know the currency conversion rate between the dollar and the currency of where you are going. Even if you travel with credit cards, make sure that they will be honored as payment. Find a place to exchange your cash for local currency. Sometimes going to a bank machine offers the best rate since it will be current. Otherwise, going directly to a bank would be a good idea. Either way, it’s good to do the research before you travel anywhere. It will help prevent you from potentially getting ripped off. Another option is traveler’s checks, which can be purchased from your local bank prior to your trip, and can be used anywhere.
Bottom line when you travel; you want to make sure your time abroad is well spent and enjoyed. Make sure you handle the necessary preparations before leaving home so that you don’t have to worry about these details on your vacation. So see as many sights as possible and don’t forget to take your camera.
Ken Snow
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/things-you-need-to-know-when-travelling-abroad-51848.html
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Trip Cancellation Coverage
Trip Cancellation Insurance coverage under your travel insurance policy:-
Ready for the long-hauling amazing trip to the beautiful Caribbean islands, with bountiful of excitement and delight. Any day the scorching heat and the coastal vistas across the Caribbean could make a wonderful and a memorable trip. But have you imagined, what you would do if by any chance something gets wrong and you have to cancel the trip in between. In that situation, the expenses that you have to bear could even get on your nerves. What would you do with your flight tickets, hotel reservation, and other expenditure that have been made in advance? Thatâs where that trip cancellation coverage comes in an utter demand.
Trip cancellation pays off- to all the financial loses that a person has to incur in case of any emergency like illness, accident or an emergency cancellation. It serves to your protection during travelling and also makes it a point that a person wonât loose anything paid in regard to the travel expenditure. Without this, you may stand to lose all that youâve paid for with regards to your travel expenses. Trip cancellation coverage policy ensures the compensation of a certain portion of the financial loss, only if the reason for the cancellation is compelling and matches the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy.
Things to know about Trip cancellation insurance:-
1. Trip cancellation insurance compensates for whatever expenses paid; in case you have to cancel your trip in between on account on any serious problem.
2. Provides an arrangement for trip cancellation, if the destinations you want to visit undergo with any kind of natural disaster. In that case you can anytime call off your trip and ask for the repayment from your Travel Insurance policy.
3. Usually, on every travel insurance policy this special coverage is provided to the travellers. Travel insurance companies like help the aged, saga offer this special coverage with their multi insurance products. With insurance bookers, you can get a minimum cover level of up to â¤1000 on their senior 65+ insurance product.
4. Vis-Ã -vis many credit card companies also provide in-built travel cancellation coverage. Companies like American companies and other MNCâs also boasts about this special coverage.
William Catherine
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/trip-cancellation-coverage-111048.html
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The Importance Of International Travel Medical Insurance
Traveling on vacation or business is usually a lot of fun; exploring new places and cultures while enjoying new cuisines adds to the experience and pleasure of visiting new destinations but, at the same time, you must take into consideration the possibility of any sort of accident that may happen at any given moment. Therefore, international travel medical insurance is essential every single time you take a trip abroad.
Where And How To Obtain International Travel Medical Insurance
Usually, when you book your vacation, your travel agent is responsible for letting you know about international travel medical insurance as well as its coverage and cost. All airlines expect you to have one as a requirement in order to be able to fly out of the country.
If you are booking your flight tickets online, then you will probably be prompted to purchase international travel medical insurance as well; the insurance itself is not very expensive depending on the regulation of the country you are about to visit as each country applies different laws and regulations.
What Does International Travel Medical Insurance Cover?
International travel medical insurances usually covers any accidents that may happen when you are traveling; emergency evacuation and sometimes even refunds of travel costs; this feature usually differs from one insurance company to the other. Take a moment and read the medical insurance you are about to buy for even if you may never expect to have any such emergencies you never know what may happen next and you will need to fall back on the medical insurance you just purchased.
Helpful Tip
International travel medical insurance is a precautionary matter that most travelers need to carry even if they have other medical insurances as well; they cover international laws and regulations and, therefore, apply only when you leave the country.
International travel medical insurances differ vastly depending on the country you are about to visit, therefore, ask all relative questions before you are in an emergency situation and realize that you don’t even know how to get in touch with your insurance company or what types of accidents they cover.
Accidents happen everyday and even if it is the last thing that will ever cross your mind when planning a vacation or trip abroad, being careful and prepared can only keep you safe in case you should ever need international travel medical insurance.
Darlene Berkel
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/the-importance-of-international-travel-medical-insurance-73870.html
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