Try before you fly day (Gatwick Airport)
As part of our Travel with Confidence project, we were invited to attend Gatwick Airport’s ‘Try Before You Fly’ day.
Organised by Gatwick’s accessibility manager Anna-Ruth Cockerham, the day offers disabled passengers the chance to understand and experience the process of getting through an airport and onto a plane before they fly for real. Here, our staff (Harry Langley and Frances Moya) share their thoughts on the experience.
What is the overarching aim of the Try Before You Fly scheme?
It’s to give disabled passengers the chance to experience what assistance is available at Gatwick Airport, the process for booking assistance, what mobility aids are available and to try these out to see which option works best for them, prior to taking a real flight. The idea is to ease any concerns a person might have about the practicalities of taking a flight as well as to understand what assistance will be available to them on the day.
How does someone book onto the scheme?
People can either book direct through Gatwick Airport Special Assistance or via their travel provider.
What did we gain from using the service?
It gave us a chance to see the process, find out what assistance is available, what mobility aids are available and to talk to the staff in advance about our needs and to ask questions. It allowed us a chance to find all of these things out before a day of real travel which really helped us feel confident about what would happen on the day itself. They invited us to try out the different types of hoists and slings. They then showed us through to the transporter vehicle, which we were able to access in our wheelchairs, giving us direct access to board the plane. There was also someone from security attending the day, answering questions about taking medication on board and whether batteries on wheelchairs needed to be removed or discharged.
What worked well?
The staff were very friendly and helpful, and it was good to know what would or wouldn’t work for each individual – for example one user tried both hoist options and liked the automated hoist, which he said felt very safe. A second user also tried the automated hoist but due to her body length and the height of her wheelchair, she was unable to comfortably clear the bar at the top, so decided this wouldn’t work for her. It’s really helpful to understand all of this in advance. The staff were really nice and supportive; you have their full attention, so you do not feel rushed when trying out the equipment. They were friendly and more than happy to answer any of the questions that we had. They also shared with us the plans they have in place for if things were to go wrong, which was very encouraging.
What didn’t work so well?
The only downside was that you couldn’t book the equipment in advance and would have to request it on the day of real travel.
Is this service only available at Gatwick?
Several airports are offering Try Before You Fly days including Manchester and Luton. Gatwick are hoping more airports will follow. One thing to note is that the airports don’t necessarily share information with each other so passengers would need to check with the airport they are planning to travel with.
How much does the service cost?
The service is free of charge.
What would you say to someone thinking about using the service?
I would highly recommend it to individuals, whether they are anxious flyers or not. The programme offers valuable insights into the airport arrival process, boarding procedures, the locations of special assistance desk, and other useful information. It provides a valuable educational experience on safe and efficient travel practices and has transformed my perspective on airport travel, instilling excitement rather than apprehension when I next go on holiday!
This article was featured in the Autumn 2024 edition of Forward magazine.
