Hoyer Lift or alternative at Florida Airports

My friend wants to cruise next April. He is in a power wheelchair. He cannot stand or move himself without assistance. He will be flying from Toronto. At Toronto, the airport has a lift that will move him from his wheelchair to the transfer wheelchair and then the lift will go onto the plane to move him from the transfer wheelchair to his seat. He has researched Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach and Orlando airports. They do not have such a lift. The airlines (Air Canada and WestJet) have assured him that when he lands in Florida there will be grounds crew that will lift him from his seat on the plane onto the transfer wheelchair and then once outside the plane from the transfer wheelchair onto his own wheelchair.

Has anyone had any experience with this or knows someone that has had such an experience? Obviously he wants to go on this cruise but is concerned about the arrival and departure in Florida.

Thank You

? Was this the same question?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2469167&highlight=Lift+fll

Yes CruiseForme it is the same question. I was hoping that perhaps someone who had not been on Cruise Critic for a long time caught the question and had some additional information.

My friend wants to cruise next April. He is in a power wheelchair. He cannot stand or move himself without assistance. He will be flying from Toronto. At Toronto, the airport has a lift that will move him from his wheelchair to the transfer wheelchair and then the lift will go onto the plane to move him from the transfer wheelchair to his seat. He has researched Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach and Orlando airports. They do not have such a lift. The airlines (Air Canada and WestJet) have assured him that when he lands in Florida there will be grounds crew that will lift him from his seat on the plane onto the transfer wheelchair and then once outside the plane from the transfer wheelchair onto his own wheelchair.

 

Has anyone had any experience with this or knows someone that has had such an experience? Obviously he wants to go on this cruise but is concerned about the arrival and departure in Florida.

 

Thank You

USA airports as a general rule do not provide Hoyer lifts nor are the airports required to provide it under ADA law. In fact when it comes to air travel embarking or disembarking from the USA the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA, 14 CFR 382) takes precedent. Under the ACAA, all domestic and international flights with the US as its destination or origination are required to provide certain accommodations, free of charge, to people with disabilities in a way consistent with providing safe travel for all passengers. As such the airlines will assist in transferring the individual to the aisle wheelchair and than onto an aisle seat. Every airline has some seats that the aisle arm rest folds down to facilitate the transfer. Being that most airlines do not allow it's personnel to actually lift a passenger the transfer is generally accomplished with the assistance of a slide board . Something you're friend is probably familiar with and has most likely used. On a side note he should plan to bring a transfer slide board with him as the cruise lines do not provide such an item.

Both airlines have advised your friend correctly. However it needs to be stressed that his ticket should not be done on-line as it's important that he speaks directly to an agent to maker certain his file is noted accordingly and that the appropriate seat is assigned to accomplish the transfer.