(Note: On a 2004 trip to Colorado, we discovered the Denver airport had a special baggage checkin area for "large items". Instead of standing in the long zigzagging checkin line, we went to the large item checkin counter, and were in and out in a few minutes. So, always look for that option. If you HAVE to stand in the long line, ask for permission to put the person in the wheelchair at the front of the line, with the luggage, and have that person wait there, while the caregiver stands in line and zigzags.)
This is one thing we didn't think through, enough, before travelling. In retrospect, I recommend having a third person along. There are just too many times where it's too hard to handle luggage, the strokee, AND the car or your own needs. BUT, we managed. Arriving at the departure area, we drove up and I got Mom into the wheelchair. We denied helpful offers from the baggage handlers because we didn't want to check the bags at the curb, and we didn't want to tip them. Too cheap for our own good, I know. So, I had Mom wheel herself inside the sliding glass doors and I wheeled in the suitcases. I told her to just wait there, until I got the car to the off-airport lot, and returned. We'd left PLENTY of time. BUT, the airport has strick rules that you are not to leave your car unattended in the departure/unloading area. In the 2 minutes that it took to wheel Mom and the luggage inside, there was already a policeman at my car. He hadn't gotten out of HIS car, yet, however...so I went right up to him...stood in front of his door so he couldn't get out (tee hee) and just started talking a 100mph. I said something like, "WOW! I can't believe how difficult it is to manage a woman in a wheelchair AND all the luggage! I wasn't sure whether to leave HER alone or leave the car or risk the luggage being stolen. I just KNOW you don't want me to leave my car here, so I RAN in there and RUSHEd back. Frankly, I'd like to go check the baggage and get her settled, but I'll just bet you don't want me to leave this car here, so i'm just going to move it RIGHT NOW! Is that okay with you?" He was so mixed up with my craziness, that he just said, "Yes Mam...just move the car." LOL
Next time, I'm going to handle that a little differently. I believe my husband was right when he said that the airport has to provide for the handicap and I shouldn't have had to panic like that. I should have just FOUND that policeman and explained my situation and told him I needed a place where I could calmly unload Mom and take care of business. My husband says they are so concerned about law suits or not complying with handicap laws, that even a hint that you'd create trouble for them, will get you lots of understanding in a hurry. OUR plan was to NOT cause trouble and to be as unneedy as possible, but I think my husband was right, in that to some extent, we need to help others realize that handicap needs aren't always being met by some of their rules...like not leaving a car unattended for even a few minutes. I had more problems when we returned home. See section 13.
