Visually Impaired and flying without family

[deep-blue-iris]

Really starting to get nervous about my flights now. I'm flying MAN to PFO and my outbound flight is on the 12th October, flying EasyJet. I'm flying with a very good friend who knows my limitations in terms of my vision problems but I'm still worried. My main worries are:

Normal turbulence worries. Not too much of an issue really, just make me not want to use the facilities in case we hit turbulence while I'm in there with no seatbelts!

Being seperated from my friend. EasyJet don't allocate seats and I've been reading that even if you pay for priority boarding it's still a bit of a free for all.

Getting split up in the airports, especially around security (my glasses are metal framed so I have to take them off). Granted we have got funky t-shirts with bright yellow writing to wear in the airport so I can spot my friend but I'm still worried about both of us misplacing our sense of direction!

I've done everything I was supposed to in informing the airline of my eyesight problems, but is there anything else I can do to make sure we get there stress free? Also any experiences of Manchester or Paphos airports would be really helpful as I've no idea where ANYTHING is!

[Falcon]

Stay calm. I am on a bus and will be on my compter in ten minutes to answer your queries.

[deep-blue-iris]

Thanks Falcon :) I think I'll adopt "Keep Calm and Carry On" as my motto for the trip :)

[Falcon]

OK. Lets get down to nuts and bolts and get the big one out the way. You are not going to get separated from your friend. The following sentances are no reflection on your limits but like your luggage if passengers are correctly labelled in the airline's frame of referance the passenger can be properly cared for.
You are a passenger who requires special assistance and will be boarded first and usually by van before passengers get on. You won't be part of the scrum. When you arrive at the airport you need to find the special assistance desk. Your friend can acompany you at every stage. In airline terms you are a Romeo ( phonetic of R short for runner ) Blind Pax. If we use those terms all the ground and air crew will be very clear on what they are dealing with and will get you boarded and seated at the front of the plane. When told by the ground crew that the flight has specials the senior will rope off the front of the aircraft for you all to sit there.

[Barb-SAN]

When told by the ground crew that the flight has specials the senior will rope off the front of the aircraft for you all to sit there.
That's very reassuring information, Falcon.

So those seats up front are very close to the bathroom, and also the cockpit. Perhaps you will be able to visit briefly with the pilots after boarding, to mention turbulence concerns. :D

I wonder if SWA (also unassigned seating) does something similar for blind passengers in the U.S.? I know those who need special assistance (in wheel chairs, etc.) do get to board first.

[deep-blue-iris]

Thanks Falcon, it's nice to know how the airline sees this sort of thing (bad pun, not intended!)

Barb, you've just reminded me of possibly my nicest memory.

When I was about 6, so back in the 90's (21 now) we were in the days of unrestricted flight deck visits. A lovely flight attendant was going down the aisle, spotted me, and asked me if I'd like to visit. Obviously I said yes, and I can remember walking in and being mesmerized by all the dials and buttons and lights. It's actually a memory I hold quite dear to me, for some reason. It's strange, there are bits of flying that I'm nervous about, but overall I'm actually a bit of a plane geek and like learning about them!

I'm actually getting quite excited about this trip now! :hyped: :bigplane:

[Falcon]

Glad to hear it. We pilots miss the flight deck visits it is nice to show people what we do and go a long way to reasuring passengers.

[Barb-SAN]

Glad to hear it. We pilots miss the flight deck visits it is nice to show people what we do and go a long way to reasuring passengers.
It would be an amazing coincidence if you were the pilot on her flight, wouldn't it? Suppose the odds are against it, but would you know who the pilots are if you had the date and flight number?

[Falcon]

Im not down for it and Manchester is not my base but with a standby duty who knows.