Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Any tips on moving around in airports (self.Blind)
submitted by TheJsUser
I'm traveling to another country in two weeks. It'll be my first time leaving my home country and I'm flying alone, not a pair of good eyes helping me out with signs, paths, and moving around.
I'm mostly concerned about landing in a foreign lamd, having no idea where to go and getting in trouble. My girl friend will be waiting for me, but I'll have to go through migration, baggage picking and security on my own, and she's described it as a large place without someone actually guilding you through.
The landing airport doesn't have any publicly available procedure for low visión individuals, at least not online. I'm just scared of that felling of being lost and helpless.
Any tips from you guys? I'm 20:300
I'm mostly concerned about landing in a foreign lamd, having no idea where to go and getting in trouble. My girl friend will be waiting for me, but I'll have to go through migration, baggage picking and security on my own, and she's described it as a large place without someone actually guilding you through.
The landing airport doesn't have any publicly available procedure for low visión individuals, at least not online. I'm just scared of that felling of being lost and helpless.
Any tips from you guys? I'm 20:300
niamhweking 13 points 1y ago
The airports should offer assistance if you ask or let them know in advance. Contact your airline or the airports directly to make sure someone walks you to the gate and then from the landing to your girlfriend in the waiting area
nadmaximus 10 points 1y ago
They will provide assistance if you ask for it ahead of time. My mother-in-law travelled many times to the US to visit us and she doesn't speak English, and she is not the sort to solve problems independently - she would be stuck asking for help, but not speaking English.
So, even though she could walk, see, etc, we requested assistance. This may mean you end up riding on one of those golf carts, or in a wheelchair, unless you can communicate your preference to the person helping you.
Just FYI, the person helping you will probably be a porter, rather than some kind of person with more specialized training. They may make the same silly mistakes many people make when trying to assist the visually impaired.
But, they will help you. And, generally speaking, you should tip them (since they are the porters).
Our experience was to/from Atlanta and Charles De Gaulle (Paris), Atlanta and Brussels, and Memphis/Brussels. Mostly with KLM, Air France, Delta.
So, even though she could walk, see, etc, we requested assistance. This may mean you end up riding on one of those golf carts, or in a wheelchair, unless you can communicate your preference to the person helping you.
Just FYI, the person helping you will probably be a porter, rather than some kind of person with more specialized training. They may make the same silly mistakes many people make when trying to assist the visually impaired.
But, they will help you. And, generally speaking, you should tip them (since they are the porters).
Our experience was to/from Atlanta and Charles De Gaulle (Paris), Atlanta and Brussels, and Memphis/Brussels. Mostly with KLM, Air France, Delta.
carolineecouture 5 points 1y ago
Contact your airline and airport now to see if they offer assistance. Here in the US the TSA offers assistance to passengers with disabilities. Do the same with the arrival airport.
If your airline or airport doesn't ask about having a friend take you too your gate.
Good luck.
If your airline or airport doesn't ask about having a friend take you too your gate.
Good luck.
TechnicalPragmatist 4 points 1y ago
Ask for assistance for the airline the airline is suppose to help you out.
What country will you be going to?
What country will you be going to?
yoyo2718 2 points 1y ago
I’ve yet to use it, but someone told me about an iPhone app called good maps explore, I wonder if something like that would help orient you? Not sure if it is US only, though. Maybe someone who has used it can comment.
mapleswee 2 points 1y ago
100% echoes asking for assistance from the airline AND the airport. Your needs are similar to people who need crutches, a wheelchair or who are senior: you need help navigating the airport, filling out and forms and getting thru customs.
The majority of the countries in the world are very disable-friendly so you should be well taken care 😀
The majority of the countries in the world are very disable-friendly so you should be well taken care 😀
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