Since we are in Europe, we, of course, want to see Daughter #3 and family. They have just moved to Copenhagen, Denmark after living 16 years in Amsterdam, Netherlands...a huge change for them as a family. As we've never been to Denmark or Copenhagen before, we decided it was worth a side trip to visit.
We arranged good flight connections on Swiss Airlines to go and return. But when Wife hurt her foot, we realized that that trying to make the getting around the airports was going to be slow, painful and potentially further damaging of her foot. So we arranged for wheelchair service. Let's just say the experience was...well an experience.
Especially in Palermo.
They have a specific system for handling getting wheelchair people on the planes and it is like nothing we've seen before. You've made the reservation ahead of time (a requirement). They acknowledge it when you check in. And then you wait and wait watching many other people flagging down wheelchair people while you are ignored. Finally you find someone who helps you (understand that since you speak no Italian and they speak no English that the communication is incomplete).
We find out we have to go to a waiting area. We will not be brought to our gate until it is almost time to board the plane. This screws up our plans for eating since we assumed we had plenty of time to purchase something for lunch. We have to wait in the bullpen area on faith since we really don't know what is happening. But they acknowledge we are there. And then finally, we are picked up, taken to a special security area, go through and then to a special area for boarding on a lower level than the normal boarding.
There is a place there for buying some food. I run to get something but they are going to put us onboard before I complete the order. I grab what I can which is a half grilled sandwich and get back to where we are loading.
Accept we aren't going on the plane. We are put on some kind of truck. We drive toward the plane and wait...a long time. We are thinking, "This plane is going to be very late" because everywhere else we've flown, the wheelchair people go on before everyone else.
We finally drive to the plane. It is a lift vehicle so our 'box' is raised and they open a door in the back of the plane. They let us come on and the plane is completely full and Wife has to make her way the entire length of the plane because our seats are up front.
The process is weird.
When we get to Zurich to change planes, no wheel chair is waiting. Fortunately the distance to the next gate is not long. In Copenhagen, there is a guy waiting for us. He takes us as far as baggage claim. But then I have to push Wife and our bags out to find 3A who is in a far off parking garage. All in all not the greatest of air travel experiences.
But we are here with the 3's and that is great.
Landing View
There was a rather spectacular sunset as we were landing
1 comment:
Ugh, that's too bad. I have heard from friends in the US that wheelchair service within the country is often quite good, but yours sounds like a non ideal experience. Glad you made it!
Post a Comment