Hello fellow travelers. 

Recently I took a trip to California for Thanksgiving.  As you may know, I'm a wheelchair user. When I take a trip by air I need extra room for my legs to transfer into and out of the plane's seat.  So, I make sure to get assigned a bulkhead seat. When I made the reservations I was told the flights would be on planes without bulkhead seating.  After an hour of haggling with the reservations clerk, I rearranged the reservation, not realizing that the new flights had long layovers. I don't know about other wheelchair users, but for me having to change planes and having long layovers can lead to serious health problems. It was back to the drawing board, and back on the phone with a supervisor at Delta. After another half hour of haggling I finally got the flights I wanted. When I asked the supervisor why the new flights weren't offered to me in the first place, I was told the agent simply gave me what the computer spit out first.

Upon checking in at the airport, I discovered there was no bulkhead on the plane.  That was the first of many deceptions I would face on this trip. Fortunately the agent took pity on my situation and bumped me up to first class. Before making the trip back home I called the airline to check in and was told that, because of my problems with the earlier trip, a notice had been placed in the computer that my family and I had been bumped up to first class.  That was the second deception. When we arrived at the airport we were informed that our seats had not been changed. However, three seats in first class were available. That was the third deception. At the gate I was told there were bulkhead seats, but they were in an emergency exit row. I could not help if a problem occurred so was not allowed to sit there.  After a bit of discussion with one of the supervisors, I was also told that the first-class seats were sold, but that I would be put on standby for those seats in case somebody did not show up.  I ended up getting one of the seats, but my mother and brother sat in economy compartment.

As a paraplegic I’ve always had problems transferring into an airplane seat.  Most of the seats on an airplane do not have movable armrests. On this trip I learned something new.  The seat of the aisle chairs that bring me onboard can be raised to the level of the plane seat’s armrest. This allows for a much easier transfer.

Allow me to make a few suggestions for the next time you fly. 

• First, check your reservation many times before actually getting on any plane. 
• Clearly define to the ticketing agent what you need and why. 
• If you are a paraplegic or quadriplegic make sure that the attendants know that they need to raise the seat of the aisle chair to allow for easier transfers. 
• Finally, it is important to note that each of the airlines has its problems.  For instance, in my experience, American’s planes are usually late and Delta almost always screws up seat assignments. So, be prepared for disappointments and frustration!