So. Special Assistance at the airport.
From the view of a visually impaired couple. One using a white cane.
We took this last year so we were able to not be so worried having to check ourselves in, trying to deal with small print and the added pressure of people behind us, whilst we find reading difficult and not wanting to hold people up. It’s very nerve-wracking trying to do that when there’s a queue and you can’t rush. So Special Assistance sorts all this for you.
This is how we arranged special Assistance for both countries. Manchester Airport and Rhodes Airport for our holiday to Tilos in Greece.
When you book your flights either online or by phone, you can can request Special Assistance.
They will ask you some brief general questions about what assistance you’ll require. If you need to change or add to Special Assistance after you’ve booked, if you Google the company you’re flying with for the Special Assistance contact details, you can then add or change.
The information asked maybe do you need a wheelchair or a guide. Do you need help through security and checking luggage. Which was the main reason why we wanted assistance.
Do you need help to get onto the plane? Do you need help for the steps to the plane?
So then you’ve given the information to them and they will tell you how long to arrive before your flight. They will also tell you to go to the Special Assistance area in the airport, which is well signposted when you get there or there will be someone around to ask.
When you get to that at the day of your flight. You’ll need to confirm your booking with the reception desk. They will confirm your needs in more detail. Then you wait there until someone comes to assist you through the airport, through security, to your gate number and to the plane door.
Once you’re on the plane, the stewards and stewardesses will take over and probably offer to show you the safety procedure and let you examine the seatbelts and life jackets so you know what to do. They were very good with us offering to explain one to one and showing us all the apparatus prior to the flight.
When you initially get to Special Assistance, just explain that you will need same in your holiday destination airport as well.
VD scenes in Manchester Airport of the Special Assistance area. Luggage and coffee cups. At the bottom of Easy Jet plane. View out of the window. Being guided at Rhodes Airport. Food on the plane and video of plane up in the air.
Tag: Blind Traveller
Coming up soon…
Writing of a few posts are underway at the moment for me.
Lots of different topics.
We have got back a couple of replies to the complaints my friends made against a local pubs complete mistreatment of them because of a guide dog. I promised I would write a post, so now I can. That’s coming up.
Another incident recently from my holiday that another complaint was made about. Both of these issues are regarding not understanding or seemingly having no compassion for people with sightloss.
Anyway. Less of that ☺️ A few are to do with my recent holiday and what we experienced as Special Assistance travellers being 2 visually impaired people, and a friend needing a wheelchair and what I found different this time seeing when I went away before this year, I hadn’t been even been diagnosed yet. So my eyesight was fine then.
I’ve thought of a few handy tips too.
It’ll be abit ranty for a few of them. This is unfortunately due to what I’ve experienced alot recently being either sight impaired myself or through my friends.
There has to be more awareness. We have to spread it louder and stronger than this. I try in my own little way, but it’s really not enough.
I’ve seen alot of compassion though. People that do care make the world of difference. It’s just the little bumps in the road. The uncaring few that can set you back. I have to think of all the good people I’ve come across recently on my adventures.
One Vision Blog 