You know those golf cart thingies in airports?

[zoidberg]

How does one go about using these? Do you need to arrange in advance or just hop on a passing one?

My mom is coming to visit me, and if she has to change planes I would like for her to be able to use one because she has some mobility issues and tends to get a little overwhelmed with having to find her way in an unfamiliar place like a large airport.

[hisno1girl]

When she books her flight she needs to tell them she requires assistance getting from gate to gate and they'll either do the cart or a wheelchair.

She can also tell them when she checks in.

[zoidberg]

Ok. Can you choose which one? She doesn't really need a wheelchair, just a bit of assistance.

[zoidberg]

This would be O'hare, so the golf carts are definitely available.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

My mom has had luck flagging them down. LOL And one actually flagged her down when they saw her walking with her cane (also in O'Hare). The safer bet would be let the airline know ahead of time though.

[zoidberg]

Ok, thanks everyone. This eases my mind quite a bit because her only choices are to travel to a large airport 2 hours away (she does not drive) to get a direct flight, or fly from the small local airport and change planes in Chicago. If she can get some assistance in Chicago that seems like a much better option.

[taffy]

I'm a flight attendant (who flys into Chicago a lot). Just let the agent know when she is boarding and also let the flight attendants know. They can relay to the pilots to radio it in. I'd be willing to bet there will be one waiting at the gate anyway.

[Deleted]

Oct 4, 2014 15:36:42 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

My mom has had luck flagging them down. LOL And one actually flagged her down when they saw her walking with her cane (also in O'Hare). The safer bet would be let the airline know ahead of time though.

Yeah, this happened to me when I was seven months pregnant!  Wheeeeeeee.  LOL.

[Saint Monica]

I flagged one down b/c alcohol

Eta: I think I jumped up and down while pointing and saying I want to ride

[mich1]

I just used one going through O'Hare yesterday. I made arrangements for wheelchair assistance when i bought the ticket and the cart met me outside my gate.

[zoidberg]

Oct 4, 2014 21:44:55 GMT -5 mich1 said:

I just used one going through O'Hare yesterday. I made arrangements for wheelchair assistance when i bought the ticket and the cart met me outside my gate.

Ok, so they didn't have you use a wheelchair? I just booked her ticket and the only accommodation option that seemed close was "needs wheelchair for long distances". She doesn't actually use a wheel chair (sometimes a cane) and she was worried that they would make her ride in one.

[mich1]

Many times, they will use the wheelchair to take you to a cart that is in a central location, especially if you need to go between terminals.. I cannot walk long distances either.

It really depends on which airport you are going through. MSP works this way and so does Houston. But I was wheelchaired between terminals in both DET and LGA. ORD had a cart meet me at the gate. I have never had access to a cart getting through security and to the gate I leave from, that you are wheelchaired.

[zoidberg]

Oct 7, 2014 13:25:57 GMT -5 mich1 said:

Many times, they will use the wheelchair to take you to a cart that is in a central location, especially if you need to go between terminals.. I cannot walk long distances either.

It really depends on which airport you are going through. MSP works this way and so does Houston. But I was wheelchaired between terminals in both DET and LGA. ORD had a cart meet me at the gate. I have never had access to a cart getting through security and to the gate I leave from, that you are wheelchaired.

Thanks so much for your help. The airport she is flying out from is tiny. Super tiny. One gate, which is right next to the ticketing counter. That won't be a problem.

She will need to change planes in ORD, so I think she'll be happy to have the cart meet her there. I think she is still feeling too proud to want to use a wheelchair, but if she has to go between terminals (which I believe that she will) it is going to be way too much for her even with the cane. So if they bring her the chair I hope she just sucks it up and uses it.

[mich1]

Normally, my connecting flight through ORD leaves from a terminal waaaay off. Turned out it was only 8 gates down this time and I could have walked it. However, if your mom needs to change terminals, she should use whatever transport they provide. My experiences through these connecting airports is only a single flight or two so a cart may or may not be available.

[zoidberg]

I think she will need to change terminals because she is coming in on one of those tiny regional planes that hold like 30 people. My best recollection is that they come into a different area than the larger planes.

[WOT?*]

I just thought I'd put this out there too. They've become "tip" salary at a lot of airports. I know Cleveland was when I lived there ten years ago. When I learned of it, I was appalled. So remember to tip your wheelchair and carter guys.
www.nydailynews.com/new-york/airport-wheelchair-agents-minimum-wage-article-1.1589656

[mich1]

Oct 7, 2014 16:40:29 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

I just thought I'd put this out there too. They've become "tip" salary at a lot of airports. I know Cleveland was when I lived there ten years ago. When I learned of it, I was appalled. So remember to tip your wheelchair and carter guys.
www.nydailynews.com/new-york/airport-wheelchair-agents-minimum-wage-article-1.1589656

This is a good point.  I generally tip $3-15, depending on where I am taken.  The wheelchair runner who took me out to the parking garage after getting my luggage gets at the high end.  Those that take me a few gates get the lower end.

[zoidberg]

That's just sad.