|
OK...So. I have friends out in Austin and San Antonio I want to visit. I'm in New Jersey and, because parents are willing to donate Southwest rewards points to the cause of giving me (a guy who's got a number of disabilities, not the least of which being I'm blind in one eye and nearly blind in the other (so no driving for me)) my first shot at travelling honestly unaccompanied anywhere, I'll be flying Southwest in and out. Thing: EWR (Newark) doesn't have any direct flights to SAT (San Antonio, my preferred inbound airport) for me to fly on. (If there were, I'd take em, I don't like the potential logistics mess of being a blind guy and changing planes in most airports.) The current travel plan (I'm kicking around alternative arrangements, but this is my hugely preferred one): I fly on (whatever day in October) from EWR to SAT. Met by friends at airport - they don't have space for me to sleep, but they've offered to help me get from airport to hotel and just plain around San Antonio. Spend that night, the next day, and that next night in San Antonio, before heading via Megabus to Austin ($1 fare woohoo). In Austin is my GF (long distance relationship, yes I'm aware of risks, yes I'm certain she's actually a she...), so while (again) no space to crash, she can help me move about the city, and I'm planning on spending longer time there, probably 2-3 days. (The idea is that my total trip should be about 6 days.) I would then fly from AUS to FLL (Fort Lauderdale), since my parents have a condo in Jupiter (yay for their being retired?) that they plan on going to. The questions I have: 1. When I scan Southwest's flight schedules, I see that the options are flights that change planes in STL (St Louis?), HOU (Houston), or BNA (Nashville). HOU I know from friends to be not a fun airport if you're checking bags (as I'm exceedingly likely to), but I've not known people who've changed planes in St Louis or Nashville. Which is the better choice? 2. Alternatively, the idea my dad had was to go EWR-AUS, then SAT-FLL (again, both on Southwest), basically reversing my trip. This would be flights w/o plane changes both ways - which I see the merits of. On the other hand, I had reasons for doing EWR-SAT and AUS-FLL completely aside from logistics. Unrelated question 3: We have 110k rewards points in my name on Southwest. (I have no idea how, and know better than to ask...) Does this mean only I (and companion) can use em, or can they be used by anybody I give access to somehow? (Because if only I can use em, I'm going to  at my dad...)TIA for any help you can give.
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2015 17:04
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 24, 2024 23:59 |
|
|
I can only answer your third question, but you can book travel for anyone using your points. Simply log in with your rapid rewards account, select the flight, and then enter the other person's traveler information. Southwest also offers the ability to transfer points between accounts. Have fun on your trip! I love flying and navigating airports by myself. It always makes me feel a little more important for some reason.
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2015 17:21
|
|
|
Oh, OK. So there's actually reason to save points. Good to know!
|
|
#
?
Feb 24, 2015 19:15
|
|
|
I've only heard great things about Southwest's disability accommodations so I'm sure that if you call them in advance and make arrangements, they should have someone meet you at the airport and assist you in the transfer. I'm deaf and a lot of the time, airlines ask me what kind of accommodations I'll need when I'm at the check in counter & you can select the services you need when booking your tickets where you can state your disability and if you'll need assistance or not. But, it might be better for the peace of mind to call in advance and make arrangements because it's your first time flying alone and that can be really stressful & confusing. Lots of auditory stimuli and big crowds moving around quickly. A lot of the "transfers" on Southwest have you staying on the same plane but you just have to get off for 20-30 minutes or so then board again. I've only connected in Houston out of the three airports you listed and I felt like it was a fairly easy connection, just lots of walking. You don't need to worry about your bags at connections, the airline will take care of that and you don't have to touch your bags again until your final destination of SAT. Typically, the only time you'll have to handle bags at a connection is if you're flying into US from another country then have another domestic connection but all that requires is literally picking up your bag from the carousel and putting it in another spot which isn't really a far walk.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2015 12:16
|
|
|
This is excellent to know. Part of my concerns: I'm not only out of shape (yeah, yeah) but have cerebral palsy - not enough to put me in a wheelchair, but enough to limit how far I can walk without a rest, since CP does a number on your muscular strength. So the airports which are huge and gigantic and have me trekking all over creation to get from one gate to the next in time for the connection (especially if the schedule proves inaccurate) have me nervous. So far as southwest transfers being actually the same plane: God, I hope so. Now, so far as disability accommodations: I don't know what's available. In my whole life, I've been on an aircraft maybe less than 10 times, and not really since well before 9/11. On top of that, I'm honestly...not sure what I'd need. Is there a list somewhere of what's available?
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2015 17:32
|
|
|
Spacewolf posted:Now, so far as disability accommodations: I don't know what's available. In my whole life, I've been on an aircraft maybe less than 10 times, and not really since well before 9/11. On top of that, I'm honestly...not sure what I'd need. Is there a list somewhere of what's available? Have you tried calling Southwest and asking them?
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2015 21:55
|
|
|
Not yet - I'm so used to doing everything online these days, I admit the thought of calling doesn't occur to me at first...Let me dig up their number, that said.
|
|
#
?
Feb 25, 2015 23:21
|
|
|
Yeah, calling them is the best. Online has fairly limited options and sometimes stuff gets messed up and it doesn't show up in the system but calling ensures that you'll get what you need. Airports often have cart things that you can use with prior arrangements, SW should be able to swing that for you if you mention that you have mobility issues too so they can pick you up at your gate and drive you to the next one. Or you can request wheelchair service to get someone to push you to your next gate which they might do because the carts aren't guaranteed or might need to be used for other passengers with a tighter connection. Don't feel ashamed about requesting a wheelchair, flying is confusing and stressful so there's no need to make it worse by over exerting yourself. I have deaf/hoh friends who typically don't need accommodations in daily life but when they fly, they request preboarding (definitely request preboarding but they should allow you to preboard anyway!) and important announcements to be written down as it's so loud and confusing with the multiple announcements going off at the same time so they don't know when it's their turn to board. There's no real list of accommodations per se, but major airline such as Southwest have dealt with thousands and thousands of passengers who need accommodations so they'll be able to accurately guess which ones you need when you explain what your needs/concerns are - blind, limited mobility so can't walk long distances, first time flyer. No need to request exact ones you'll need, I just request stuff because I'm deaf and I don't want a guide/escort & invisible disability so I need to talk to the agents when I get to the gate because how will they know who I am if I don't? Again, the check in agents should be able to talk you through the process and possibly get someone to go with you even if you didn't request wheelchair service. This all sounds complicated and confusing but trust me, it'll be ok and all work out fine in the end 
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 02:05
|
|
|
Ooh, inflight announcements - good catch. Thing I didn't mention, I'm deaf in one ear - I've usually compensated excellently w/ remaining ear, but when I fly? Uh, I'm not going to trust my one good ear or good eye. Otherwise - yeah, I get you. This flight is 9 months away if it happens, I'm just trying to figure out how to structure the flight plans right now. (Which raises a question: Is there anywhere with maps of *airports* online? Like, if Southwest is spread across multiple terminals at an airport, or if an airport is insanely huge (HI ATLANTA gently caress YOU FOREVER), I'd like to know that now so I can avoid connections through there.)
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 05:28
|
|
|
You can find a list of gates Southwest uses at each airport here: https://www.southwest.com/html/air/airport-information.html You can then use that list to compare against the maps here: http://www.flightstats.com/go/AirportTerminalMaps/airportTerminalGuide.do?region=North+America
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 13:57
|
|
|
Awesome, thanks. Edit: Navigating the maps... STL (St Louis) - Oh, what the gently caress. Southwest says their gates are in Terminal 2. Flightstats maps don't *show* a terminal 2... BNA (Nashville) - Nice and contained it looks like. 50 minute layover is nice too, but wish the map had a scale to it. HOU (Houston) - 2 hour layover?! On the other hand the airport looks navigable... Spacewolf fucked around with this message at 17:45 on Feb 26, 2015 |
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 14:11
|
|
|
Spacewolf posted:STL (St Louis) - Oh, what the gently caress. Southwest says their gates are in Terminal 2. Flightstats maps don't *show* a terminal 2... Terminal 2 in St. Louis is the same as Terminal East see http://flystl.com/AirportGuide/TerminalDirectories/ConcourseERetail.aspx
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 20:16
|
|
|
Good to know.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 22:38
|
|
|
None of those airports are hard to navigate for a plane change and layover. Southwest is good about not spreading their flights over multiple terminals, so go with the flight that makes the most sense to you.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2015 23:30
|
|
|
Good to know.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2015 02:12
|
|
|
Which Houston airport might you be flying into? There's Hobby which is tiny and likely very easily navigable whereas the main airport, Bush Intercontinental (IAH) is stinkin' huge and a mess. I'm not sure exactly what situations are most difficult to deal with when you're blind and navigating unknown areas, but IAH has massive, open layout concourse buildings with multiple levels that you have to transition between and tons of stuff like pillars, chairs, displays, and such in the way on the floors of the main lobbies. Sighted people wander through the clutter easily but it seems like it may make your experience more difficult. Apologies if my assumption comes off as condescending. Anyway once you're actually in the terminal you want its not so bad. There's a mix of the old school rotunda style terminals and the newer straight and long ones. Neither should pose much difficulty except for the crowds. If you have a choice, I'd go Hobby. It's a much older, more ghetto airport but its small and convenient if you're just switching planes.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2015 02:41
|
|
|
Oh, I should specify more. Houston I'd be switching at Hobby. IAH I have heard about, IAH makes me twitch pre-emptively.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2015 03:52
|
|
|
In that case you're green, Hobby shouldn't be very difficult to navigate. The ride from there to SA would be short as gently caress, too. It only takes 3 hours to drive so I'd be surprised if you spend more time in the air than on the tarmac. STL and BNA look fine at a glance, probably better than Hobby. But if you find some sweet deal for Hobby or whatever, it's not a godawful place to figure your way around.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2015 04:18
|
|
|
Noted. Not like it matters though. GF broke up with me last night. No reason to head out there now. Bulk of the trip was going to be to meet her. *shrugs*
|
|
#
?
Mar 1, 2015 20:27
|
|
|
Bummer  Hope you find a reason to travel again soon.
|
|
#
?
Mar 1, 2015 20:33
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 24, 2024 23:59 |
|
|
Sorry to hear that. Ask for a chair at check in and an airline will take care of you. If you want to call ahead and have them note your disability in your ticket that will help. You're not meant to have to do this stuff alone. Also go see your parents.
|
|
#
?
Mar 3, 2015 18:00
|
|
