Disabled person shuttle from Mumbai domestic to international

venkat_pillay

Hi,

Does anyone know if a disabled person (unable to climb steps) can take shuttle from domestic to international airport at Mumbai? Whom can I contact for making arrangement for this?

capt_mahajan

Indian public places offer very poor facilities for disabled people.

A wheelchair is possible at the airport. The shuttle itself will have a few steps. A person who cannot climb steps will have to be lifted in (with or without wheelchair), I think.

On the flip side, there will be many people who will come forward to assist in this.

__________________
.
Outside the machine

venkat_pillay

Thanks Captain.

I guess another choice would be to take taxi or auto rickshaw where there is no need to climb.

capt_mahajan

I would ask the airlines for a wheelchair at the airport and take a taxi if I could

Getting a taxi at the domestic terminal in Mumbai for short distances can be murder. Be prepared to offer more, or take an autorickshaw if possible.

venkat_pillay

Thanks a bunch. Will try for auto rickshaw, I will post the experience next month.

venkat_pillay

I am done the journey and it was overall good experience taking a disabled person on domestic flight.

1. Chennai domestic airport has construction going on but we had our wheel chair that we pushed till Jet airways check-in counter. Jet airways staff was quite helpful, they brought their wheel chair that has handle in the front and back to lift it if needed. They scanned our personal wheel chair as well but CISF wanted the see the scan themselves. the wheel chair was lifted to bus and 4 people lifted it up all the way through the steps to take it inside the plane. Luckily our seats were the last seats so she had to walk just 2 steps (using crutches). Some showed how to open the handle of the aisle seat (in some plane it is not possible. I wanted to tip the wheel chair guy but he disappeared. (some one please suggest tip amount that I could use in future)

2. At Mumbai, jet airways people brought the wheel chair (I think the person's name was Joshi. They took it down the steps and put it on the bus waiting. We waited one hour for the international transit bus and then decided to take auto instead. Joshi was very nice guy and took the wheel chair to the auto stand. Unfortunately, I had only 40 rupees of change left for tipping rest were 1000 and one 100 that I wanted to keep for auto guy. The guy (Joshi) didn't say anything but I had a feeling that he probably expected more. (BTW, what would be the right money to tip, he waited one hour with us for the transit bus?). The auto guy had meter showing 4.80 (not sure what this means) but he demanded 100 rupees. I am sure it costs less than that. I was totally exhausted and no change so I gave him. Someone please suggest what would be the right fare that I can use as a guideline in future.

Thanks
Venkat