Useful Tips
Customers are encouraged to consider the below list of useful tips to ensure a seamless travelling experience.
Reservations:
- Start to plan their trip early and well in advance.
- If you are travelling long distances and not sure whether you will be able to sustain long hours then it may be recommended flights be broken up into segments more suitable.
- Become informed about various travel services and resources to meet any special needs both locally and overseas.
- Arrange for a wheelchair, wheelchair accessible hotel rooms, wheelchair car rental, enquire about lift equipped accessible vans or vehicles.
- Check with hotels or places of stay for inner and outer door widths to accommodate wheelchair access and approved bathtubs, grab bars and roll in showers.
- Consider national companies offering travel nurses, companions or assistants to accompany customers with medical concerns.
At least two weeks to one month before flight:
- Organise passport, visa compliance, validity and copy of documentation and immunisation requirements prior to departure.
- Organise travel and/or auto insurance.
- Arrange for extra supplies of medication or prescriptions, letter from a doctor or specialist. Learn the names of any medications.
- Ensure eyeglasses, contacts, dental work and physical/health check are performed.
- Check your destination city local health and medical services and associations well prior to departure.
- Talk to anxious family members or friends about airline service measures and measures in place to facilitate your journey at your arrival destinations.
- Remember that an assistance dog may subject to quarantine, safety, airline policy and other regulatory requirements.
- Obtain travel books, audio enabled books, access guides and travel experiences of how customers with special needs have travelled in various locations.
- If you are travelling with special equipment, have knowledge of type, type of power, etc. and notify the airline prior to departure.
- Ensure your wheelchair is locked and stabilised, torso and feet are secure.
At least 48 hours before flight:
- Double check any arrangements made.
- Make a list of phone numbers of those who could assist at your destination.
- Take any medical cards, discount cards, insurance policies, phone numbers, airline tickets, confirmations, credit cards, debit cards, driver’s license and passport with you and pack prior to departure.
- Consider any products for urine drainage and storage if necessary prior to flight.
- Label wheelchairs.
At the airport:
- Arrive early at the airport to discuss any special assistance information with staff.
- Minimise delays by providing all necessary medical documentation to Singapore Airlines which is treated in confidence.
- Look for elevators and lifts at airports.
- Arrive at the boarding gates ahead of the boarding time to discuss any special assistance information with staff.
Inflight:
- Communicate with the crew in the air for any special assistance required in flight.
- Remember the airline will take an individual approach and not make assumptions each time customers travel on board.
- Remember the airline will endeavour to assist and address your concerns for a safe and enjoyable journey.
- Performing gentle exercise (if possible) is encouraged in the air.
- Drinking plenty of fluids and fruit to encourage salivation.
- Using eye drops or ointment if required.
- Using ear drops if required.
- Using suitable skin moisturiser or emollients cream if required.
- Wearing light weight clothing.
- Using necessary personal amenities.
- Establishing a toilet routine, feeding routine if required.
- Using reminders if required.
- Having knowledge of turbulence, a common and unavoidable factor in flight.
After Flight:
- Check with staff when a wheelchair will be available once off a flight.