Around the world with disability assistance required

[wandering_fred]

Hopefully over the next few weeks I will comment on the benefits and difficulties, Mrs WF and I encountered on our recent RTW trip.
This was composed of"
1. Jetstar flights from/to Perth - Kuala Lumpur with an overnight there to ensure next day connections.
2. Separate paid flight KUL-SIN and award flight KUL-HND
3. One World Explorer DONE3 ex HND, justified by multiple flights within the USA, with a long term stopover in KUL.
Jetstar to KUL:
Arranging for mobility assistance PER-SIN-KUL did require some extra effort, but once included in the reservation, the ground handling was quite acceptable. Check in was not an issue but I had purchased 10kg of extra checked baggage allowance and there was no issues regarding free transport of the "walker", which was gate checked in Perth. At T4 in Singapore we were allowed to sit at a cafe near the gate and the wheelchair re-appeared at boarding time.
KUL KLIA2 arrival:
We had pre-registered our passposts as no required and with wheelchair assistance, immigration was quite quick. It is a LONG walk from luggage claim to the taxi area. Taxi fare from the airport to IBIS Styles Sepang was economically acceptable (36myr). The hotel was clean and the staff were very friendly and helpful. Note that the rooms are in separate buildings a short walk from reception. Also be aware that GRAB is the preferred (only?) method of obtaining local transportation.
KUL KLIA1 departure:
The free hotel shuttle bus runs on a schedule which should be booked the day before.
It is a reasonable walk from the drop off area to check in. Check in staff were most helpful (perhaps since I splurged on business class tickets). Wheel chair assistance was provided to the gate area.
SIN arrival:
Malaysian airlines arranged for assistance past the luggage claim area. Things got complicated at that point as we needed to transfer from Changi T2 to T1.
Here is the comment I have made to the Changi management:

My wife (requiring wheelchair assistance registered with the airlines) and I were transiting from a MH flight (T2) to a JL flight (T1) on separate tickets with 3 pieces of luggage and carry on 17 Sep 2024.
There was no obvious method for obtaining a wheel chair to transfer between the two terminals.
Please give my thanks and special appreciation to [ID name supplied] who arranged for the wheel chair (and a "driver") to make the transfer.
1. Information regarding how to obtain mobility assistance from the point where airline assistance ceases to the next location within Changi (either taxi or another terminal for check in) would be highly desirable. And signage upon exit from customs and immigration should be visible.
2. Early check in at the Jewel in T1 cannot support disability check in nor oversize luggage. This should be plainly described. Additionally, airlines which use "multi-airline" check in agents (rather than airline specific personnel) should be identified.
My compliments to the JL airlines check in assistance when that facility opened, as the ticketing at that point was not straight forward.

More after I have attended to some local wandering
Fred

 

[wandering_fred]

Singapore check-in:
JAL premium check in were VERY patient, given the 3 pieces of luggage (one oversize - too long) and the disability walker (also considered oversize). As well we were checking in for a PremY award flight connecting with the DONE3 in HND - separate tickets. The other passengers were likely happy there were 2 other premium check in desks.
A wheel chair and attendant were provided through immigration to the Marhaba lounge and returned promptly prior to boarding. Flight JL36 departed/arrived about 30 minutes late.
Haneda transfer:
A wheelchair was waiting at the gate and was seriously appreciated as it was a VERY long walk to the Sakura lounge. Again the attendant appeared about 10-15 minutes prior to scheduled boarding. Flight JL10/AA8405 departed about 10 minutes late, arriving in Chicago on time. A fair bit of turbulence was encountered on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains.
Chicago transfer:
A wheelchair was waiting at the gate and transferred us to a separate immigration line. Note that there were more than 20 wheelchairs queued go through the set of gates in that area. I asked about Electronic passport control gates (we have USA passports) and the attendant indicated they had been removed. (?? unverified). The only issue with the immigration agent was confirming the olive oil we were bringing to family was not "commercial quantities". Our checked through luggage was easily transferred prior to boarding the train to transfer from T5 to T3. From the train exit, our gate was the furthest away on Pier H for AA2080.
Denver arrival:
A wheelchair was waiting at the gate and transferred us to the Denver airport train system and on to baggage claim. Oversized pieces were somewhat delayed to the annoyance of the attendant. Pickup with family was co-ordinated using the airport Wifi. Note: DIA has specific (read too small) pickup areas for private vehicles which are outside of the Wifi reception area.

Note: USA wheelchair attendants appreciate tips whenever used by people wandering
Fred

 

[wandering_fred]

At this point of our USA portion of the trip, Mrs WF and I went our different ways. I to school reunions in the eastern USA and she to remain with visiting children and grand-children. Her routing in this time was DEN-DFW-TUS//TUS-DFW-DEN
Chosen because of a perception that motorized transfer at DFW would be "more available".
The first problem was when booking the flights on AA (AS routes were way out of the way) almost all flights at socially acceptable hours (after 0800) were married segments with no D class availability. However the TA was creative and since QR long haul routes were scheduled later in the trip, QR code shares were used to find flights with D class non-married segments, albeit with connections of an hour or less.
In practice, the wheel chairs at DFW performed successfully only after a bit of passenger stimulus. And the connections were made. On the return, the excuse was that the one attendant needed to get all the assistance passengers from the plain before the transfer of Mrs could be begin. Closer to the actual flight dates a few married segments with D class did somehow appear though still not at useful times.
We had planned to meet up again at DEN, I arriving from PHL a few hours earlier than the Mrs. Alas the mid day direct exPHL flight was cancelled, so I had an earlier start than I really wanted given 1.5 hour drive. I then managed to occupy an extra 4-5 hours while waiting for the matchup. Oversize luggage (including walker) at DEN was delayed but then the family chariot was scheduled post work hours so only our patience was lost.
More wandering
More wandering
Fred

 

[wandering_fred]

DEN-LAX-MAD-LPA
Here is where airport differences almost/did cause difficulties.
AA support into the LAX international terminal was as expected. Wheelchair waiting at the arrival gate (yes the small plane terminal) and then bus through to T4 and the international terminal to the Qantas business lounge. Pickup for departure as promised.
Note: Iberia does things differently. Even in Business class if you want a specific long haul seat (ie close to each other = PAY UP). But given a overnight flight, separation for a few hours can be tolerated.
On all of the Iberia flight arrivals in Europe, the wheel chairs are NOT waiting at the arrival gate. They show up AFTER deplaning starts. And Madrid airport the gates are a LONG way from the central arrival areas. After a walk longer (the long travelators helped) than MRs WF found acceptable, I headed off and finally did get a wheel chair in the terminal central transfer area. Waiting for the FAs to tell you the wheel chair has arrived is "the way to go"
Note also that Madrid has two major terminals. And as a result wheel chair transfer between the two is handled from a central area in each terminal by a "disability assistance" bus. So the transfer is gate to central area A to bus transfer to central area B to lounge/gate. The transfer bus was full both times we experienced it.
The MAD-LPA flight was with Iberia Express and with European style business seating (economy with middle seat blocked). 6 or 7 rows blocked for business. The WCHR assistance generated some seat re-assignments but unlike the long haul flights, the FAs happily moved a couple of people around to put Mrs WF and I in the same row. The meal on the way to LPA had better taste than the long haul Iberia meal (roast beef) with cardboard presentation. Go figure.
Arrival in LPA with the oversize luggage was better than expected as the taxi was an adequate sized 4 door and one side of the back seat folded down to allow for the longer box. Alas first world taxi rates applied.
Note: to the climate sensitive: Mid range hotels and all restaurants on the esplanade do NOT have air conditioning. So if 70+% humidity 80degF causes discomfort consider other locations? Hint: I was told to go buy an electric fan.
LPA-MAD
The reasonably timed (0930) flight to MAD was cancelled, leaving the only option at 0755 to connect with the next long haul flight. So a 0500 start to the airport from the hotel. Booking in advance ensured the driver was a few minutes ahead of our arrival in the lobby. The check in and flight to MAD was much the same as the flight from MAD, with 3 rows reserved for European style business. Breakfast alas was not up to the dinner standard but adequate and the MAD transfer process was repeated with care taken to wait for the wheel chair to arrive. Alas the lounge was not memorable but certainly better value than the terminal public area.
Story to be continued about the wandering
Fred