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The regulations relating to travel for people with disabilities have really tightened up over the years to make getting around more equitable. Flying is possible with mobility scooters and electric powerchairs. As these products have become more popular airlines and airports have had to adapt to stay compliant and it is becoming more common for people to travel further afield. With the current weather in the UK we are hoping that June does turn out to be lovely month the weathermen are predicting but it might be worth considering hedging your bets with an overseas trip or two. Inevitably there are lots of issues to be taken into consideration when flying and there are many tales of woe where people have turned up at the airport only to find that things don’t go smoothly. The BHTA (The British Health Trade Association) and the CAA have been working to develop processes to improve the transportation of mobility equipment by air. If you are travelling we strongly advise viewing this very informative video called One Team, One Goal, narrated by Tanni Grey-Thompson by clicking here. It details the process that the airlines have to go through to ensure that your mobility equipment can be transported safely – and arrive undamaged. It is interesting to see the detail as it casts light on why problems can arise. For example it may be that the first leg of a journey is on a large plane with plenty of clearance into the hold but another leg might be on a smaller plane with less. It is not just the overall weight that they have to take into consideration but the pressure on the aircraft floor. It also deals with batteries and where each type of mobility equipment battery needs to be carried – some go in the hold but some in the cabin, for example. Although this will particularly appeal to the information geeks out there, it makes sense for everyone who wants to travel with a mobility scooter or powerchair to watch – 20 mins run time and it could save hours of hassle or a ruined holiday later on. Giving plenty of notice and being ready with the information needed can only help things go more smoothly. The BHTA has also compiled a database of the relevant information you will need and it is available here: www.bhta.net Remember though that if you have had any non standard items fitted you might need to double check dimensions such as overall height. Being prepared might not guarantee you and your mobility equipment a perfectly smooth trip but it’s worth investing a bit of time. Finally More Than Mobility is pleased to confirm that we have teamed up with Premier Care to offer travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions. We know that many people struggle to get cover for themselves/family members if suffering from pre-existing or terminal medical conditions. Premier Care offers cover, without age limits, for all types of pre-existing medical conditions for single or multiple trips. For a no obligation quote please visit our Travel Insurance page. http://www.morethanmobility.com/Electric-Wheelchairs.html
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mobility scooters, powerchairs, travel insurance,
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