,,, one of my hips has osteo arthritis. When I stand up it’s agony, when I get into my car, it’s the same but once I get rolling it’s easy enough to keep walking - not comfortable but I get to where I’m going. Some airports have the moving walkways that you stand on - the flat escalator. They’re a great help as you can hold the moving handrail as you’re transported. Now I know about the jetway scam I won’t be using wheelchairs even if they’re easily available.
But you would actually qualify!.............
Love those things ... stand right, walk left. They almost double my usual brisk pace.
I hope you don’t stop using wheelchairs when appropriate for you because someone might misjudge you.. And that you tip the person who brings you through security, etc.
Not all disabilities are visible and some(such as mine) are much more impacted by the standing involved in waiting in long lines than by sitting for several hours in the plane and then getting up briefly to deboard. Often when I am flying and need to change planes, there is no wheelchair waiting for me after the first flight even though there’s supposed to be one. Should I wait and miss risking my connecting flight? I have faced that dilemma many more times than just once or twice. And finally, I know that in some airports, I’m more likely than in others to need a wheelchair either to get to my gate, or after a flight to get to baggage claim. In Austin, getting to the gate can be very long and often involve lots of standing, but it’s easy to get to baggage claim. Cleveland is the opposite, I swear it’s a mile walk from the Southwest Gates.
Are there people who fake it ? Of course there are, its the same with service dogs. Please err on the side of kindness and grace, because you don’t actually know what that person’s needs are just because you can’t see them