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Re Gina and other travelers. Sorry Gina was so upset and had a difficult experience. It helps to get it out, but there is another side. Some of our travel experiences. My daughter in Rochester, Minnesota takes Ted for a couple of weeks when she feels I need a respite. We live in White Plains, NY. We get a flight out of Westchester airport (15 minutes from home). It goes to Minneapolis and then to Rochester. It used to be the same plane but now you have to change in Minneapolis. At any rate, Minneapolis is close enough to Rochester that our daughter could drive up if there was a problem. I ask for "meet and assist". So far they have taken very good care of him. In fact, on the last trip, they had a smaller plane from Rochester to Minneapolis and they were worried about getting him on and off (Northwest Airlines). They hired a handicapped stationwagon or limo that would take him in the electric wheelchair and drove him up to Minneapolis, taking our daughter to be with him. They barely made the connection …. Standing in line, an airline employee asked Gail (our daughter) where they were going, she looked at ticket and situation and said to Gail, "How fast can you run?" Ted had the electric chair so he went full speed and the airline attendant radioed the gate and ran with Gail and let her get Ted on the plane and situate him. When he goes alone with meet and assist (they know him at Westchester by now), I have a card in his wallet which I got off this list stating he has Parkinson’s, his symptons, his medications, my number and the children’s numbers as well as doctor’s numbers. In addition, I have a complete medical history with him so that in an emergency the doctors have a quick review. It also includes coverage and helps for checking into a hospital or whatever. WE have learned to have money available for tips for electric carts and/or wheelchairs. I have shown more airline employees how to fold his U-Step walker so they can put it in luggage. He now has an electric chair which they put in cargo. And it is good to have cookies, etc. packed. Also a soda or two works well. On another trip, both of us together were going from our daughter’s to our son in Detroit. Our granddaughter was to be in a dance recital and we had promised to be there. The weather turned bad and Northwest bused us to Minneapolis. On other occasions we would have stayed with Gail another day or two but a promise to a young child is very important to keep. So off we went on the bus. It was winter … by the time we got the Minneapolis the airport was closed. The airport was pandemonium …. But we were met by an airline representative who shepherded us to a quiet place, gave us a phone to use and coffee to drink. WE didn’t go for a hotel since we knew Gail would come to get us if we were stuck. The airline representative came a few hours later and got us, asked for our tickets …. Said a few planes were going out and she thought she could get us on a flight. We didn’t have to stand in line (they seemed a mile long). She got us on a plane scheduled for Germany, stopping at Detroit, which I suppose they gave priority to getting on its way. My poor daughter-in-law was waiting at the airport with communications to her less than optimum although I had gotten a message to her we would be on that flight. Of course, we were the very last ones off (we always are),and two anxious children were excited when they finally saw us. But we got there and considering the weather around the country at the time, I think the airline did the best they could. We have also had the times when the wheelchair was promised and didn’t show right away when we had a connection to make. On one occasion I was ready to push him one way or another and intercepted the wheelchair on its way to us ….. the guy started running so he could hold the plane for me and then a cart came along, asked if I needed help and got me there. Mostly people really are helpful. And I have learned to ask for help. It’s exhausting to travel when you are in the best of health and worse when you travel with a problem, but I agree a positive attitude helps. Our last trip ended with the Westchester airport closed as we were due to land due to a fuel spillage. Thought we could land and at the last minute sent us to Laguardia in NYCity wherewe circled for about an hour and then went from runway to runway (with planes taking off and landing) while they tried to find a place for us to light. (By then of course Westchester was open again.) Then they sent us to a couple of busses to take us back up to Westchester, a normal 45 minute trip unless traffic is a mess. Well the bus chugged along at about 35-40 miles an hour …. Took forever to get there and the driver stopped and dumped the suitcases in the middle of the road. I persuaded him to move ours to the curb. Tried to get a cab home, but because of the closure of the airport and the backup involved had to wait forever for that. Had to leave Ted with luggage so I could make a call, etc. The kind man at the taxi stand got the luggage for me (there were no sky caps) and I found a place for Ted to sit. Family was upset they had not heard from us. And yes, like Gina, right now I’m not anxious to go through that again, but most delays are for safety reasons, etc. And I’m not anxious to spend two days driving to a destination with all the attendant problems that go with that. Hope I’ve told both sides …. Sorry to be so long winded. Virginia Christiansen White Plains, NY [log in to unmask]