Bring the cane and show it around anytime you need to ask for assistance from anyone. This will save a lot of explanations and avoid confusion.

I'll describe how this works in Europe because that is what I know, but this should be the similar in the USA and similar but more varied worldwide.

In Europe assistance is usually handled by the airport until they get you to the boarding gate and then at the other end the airport should have someone meet you off the plane and take you to the taxis, public transport or the meet & greet zone. Although the airport staff are involved the arrangements are usually made with them by the airline.

There may be a specific desk at the airport for assistance or you just approach the first help desk and they should summon someone to guide you. Consider contacting the airport by phone or messaging to find out how they work.

Depending on your route through the airport you might find yourself parked for a short while in a special seating area for people being assisted through the airport. This is normal.

Once you get to the gate you will usually be brought forward for priority boarding. This may feel like a privilege to you but it is just a practicality for the staff handling the boarding. Similarly when being guided by airport staff they should take you to the front of any queues for security checks because this lets them get back sooner to help the next person.

> Why am I torn - I do not want to make myself a target

I'm not sure what you are worried about here. Lots of VI and otherwise disabled passengers travel everyday and it is business as usual for the airline and airport to accommodate them. Other passengers are usually quite accommodating when they see the white cane.

Each airport has it's own disability assistance company. Ours is OCS. So check out the airports own website and you can usually book a helper in advance or if you arrive early you queue for a helper. They are usually located in check in area. Go to them first and they'll accompany you through all the process. I'd bring my cane if I were you. The helper might not be trained in guiding someone. They have so many disabilities to train and learn in they can't be good at everything!

Check out $1.

For what it's worth it didn't play well with Dark Reader for me.