Air Canada for Wheelchair Users

Air Canada offers a variety of special services, including on-board wheelchairs and assistance

Jan 20, 2007

Talk to Air Canada directly as early as you can, to ensure you are on a flight which is suitable for you.

Some Air Canada planes have washrooms which are accessible using the on-board wheelchair.

When you travel with an assistant, the assistant may be eligible for a discounted fare. The terms and availability of discounted fares for personal assistants are not published on the website. You have to book through a travel agent or speak to Air Canada directly to find out about an attendant fare. You, the primary traveller, may book your own fare over the internet if you choose.

What if there is a change in plans?

We all know that sometimes planes are delayed, flights are cancelled, and plans have to be changed.

Experienced travellers recommend that you keep your wheelchair, walker, or other mobility aid with you until the very last minute before boarding, and have it stowed in the cabin if at all possible. Manually operated folding wheelchairs can be stowed in the cabin on some flights only.

If you cannot have your wheelchair in the cabin, you can insist on keeping it as far as the gate, and on having it delivered to you at the gate (not the baggage area). This is part of the service Air Canada offers. Provided you give them the requested 48 hours notice, you should expect them to accommodate your request for keeping your wheelchair or walker close by, for as long as possible.

No Lifting

One thing Air Canada staff will not do is lift a passenger. On board the airplane, they will assist you transferring to and from the aisle wheelchair, and will help you get to the washroom.

The copyright of the article Air Canada for Wheelchair Users in Accessible Recreation is owned by Jill Browne. Permission to republish Air Canada for Wheelchair Users in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jan 20, 2007 11:05 AM

Jill Browne :

Air Canada asks for 48 hours notice of any special requests.

I would love to think that all airlines always honour every special request they get, at least the requests made through proper channels.

What do you think? Fairy tale or realistic expectation?

Jan 20, 2007 10:17 PM

Jennifer W. Miner :

You know, when I read this article, my first thought was - don't ALL aviation companies offer support for people in wheelchairs? I thought the Federal Disabilities Act (down here in the USA) made it against the law to not provide accomodations. If not, then they should all follow Air Canada's lead.

In terms of your question, yep, fairy tale. They usually can't even arrange for a family of 4 with 2 young children to all sit together.

Jan 21, 2007 12:10 PM

Jill Browne :

Thanks Jennifer. Your understanding of the law matches mine, for the USA.

I do think that the airlines are reasonably sincere, on both sides of the border, in trying to live up to their obligations and promises. Yes, some people will call that naive. But I live with the glass half full.

However there are details which the laws don't always spell out, hence the airlines can use discretion.

One example is whether a person is required to surrender their wheelchair before they get to the gate. This and the way baggage handlers treat equipment, particularly power chairs, give rise to a lot of concerns and complaints.

On Air Canada's website they specifically talk about their willingness to be helpful on both these matters.

I will have to dig around for some statistics, if they are available, on their performance.

I like what they say - it's comprehensive and detailed. I hope it's how things happen in real life.