 Poster: A snowHead
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Thinking of taking my dad for a week in Wengen at Easter. This would involve a flight from Birmingham to Zurich with Swiss, and a subsequent rail transfer.
He's disabled and uses a wheelchair - can't take more than a few steps without it, and certainly couldn't make it up or down aircraft steps. He uses oxygen most of the time, and wouldn't be comfortable without an available supply. Once in Wengen I can't see too many problems - easy transport via electrowagens etc. It's getting there that seems a challenge.
I'd really appreciate any experiences, hints or tips in this regard. I'm absolutely determined that the old sod is going to see the mountains, and watch his grand-daughters shoot off down the hill at great speed!
I've emailed Swiss about the oxygen issue, and I think that the SBB will be helpful on the train. Has anyone done this?
Thanks 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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telford_mike, I'd guess that maybe it might be worth checking with SBB, BOB and WAB, I think your biggest problem will be at Interlaken especially with the BOB trains which tend to be fairly high off the platform, the more modern WAB and SBB trains should be OK for wheelchair users
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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telford_mike, no experience of Swiss, but my wheelchair using mother did several trips with easyJet, and was very pleased - lifted into the plane on a baggage style lift, no problems. That was East Midlands to Geneva. I think those services are more down to the airport than the airline, and Geneva is certainly good.
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D G Orf, IIRC the new BOB trains are low loaders.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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How about taking him onto the slopes? In Are, Sweden they have ski carts at the adaptive ski school and have taken skiers who need to be fully ventilated. Never mind getting him there...get him up the mountain! 
see... http://www.totalskidskolan.se/index_en.php
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As I accompany a wheelchair passenger quite a lot, I'd be interested to how how you got along. When I have accompanied my friend has simply gone aboard an aircraft on one of those boarding gangways. OTOH, at Grenoble, when I was on wheelchair and crutches, I was lifted like rugby props lifting a hooker up steps by two burly French fireman. Our experience of boarding UK and continental trains has been pretty good. Mostly use lifts or ramps provided by staff - but in Austria local trains had platform-level entrances. One other thing - how did travel insurance view the need for oxygen?
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achilles, from my experience in Europe, it varies from airport to airport. At Gatwick, an ambilift is used when we are not on an airbridge, if the assisted passenger cannot manage the steps. Other airports may not have lifts - as you experienced some bring out the fire service to lift the passenger up the aircraft steps in a specially modified chairs.
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I think those services are more down to the airport than the airline
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Totally. Gatwick has one assistance company for the whole airport - and yes, we as cabin crew get as fustrated with delays caused by them as the passengers do!
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