Just wanted to let everyone know of a possible problem with airlines that are using the smaller CRJ type planes and taking an electric wheelchair. My daughters wheelchair is pretty hefty at around 250 pounds. It has an electric joystick and lots of cables.

We left on our trip on Dec 2nd to Dec 12, Delta airlines from Wichita to Atlanta. We unlocked the wheels to make it easy for the airline to load, however due to how tall it is they had issues getting it on the plane. Long story short, when unloading the chair the handlers broke off her mini joystick, tore the back off (it just slides off and is held on by metal fasteners) and had to carry the chair to us due to the handlers at Wichita locking the wheels. Despite repeated attempts at telling them how to unlock the wheels, they refused. We had a larger plane from Atlanta to Orlando.

One the way back, leg from Houston to Wichita, Continental airlines, we did our best to educate the airline on the wheelchair so we would not have the same issue again. This time the airline found it necessary to take the back off completely, using hex head tools so they really had to work at it. While doing this, they managed to cut a few of the wires completely.

Both airlines have agreed to pay for the damages they caused. Just wanted everyone to know there may be issues with the larger chairs and smaller planes!