This post is brought to you by Reedman Toll.
Fabgrandpa and I decided to take a short trip to Richmond, Virginia, to visit our daughter, Becca. We talked about driving, but we did not want to spend two days driving there and two more days driving back. Next, I looked into taking Amtrak, but the price was just too high. Then, I found a good price on round trip tickets on Delta, so we took our first trip by plan together since 1992.
We started off the trip by parking at Wally Park, which is on Herschel Road, just outside of the Atlanta Airport. I found a half price deal for parking there on Groupon, which made parking for five days only $35. We did have a little bit of a problem with that, because neither the groupon page or the company’s website made it clear that if you use Groupon codes for parking, you do NOT have to make a reservation on the company website. Wally Park also had incorrect information on their website, offering a complete carwash/detail service for a fee while you were gone. Because of what I saw on their website, I made the reservation and paid for the car wash service online, for a total of $91.25, which was charged to my credit card. When we arrived at the parking lot for our departure is when I found out the car wash service was no longer offered. Wally Park DID give us a complete refund after we got back home, but I had to call them on the phone, fill out some paperwork that they emailed to me, and wait four or five days for the refund to process. However, since I did get the refund, it only cost me $35 to park for five days, and that was paid for by giving them the Groupon codes I bought. I DO recommend using Wally Park with the Groupon codes, though because it was a good deal.
When I flew to New York last summer, I did not know that there was complimentary wheelchair service at the airport. I walked the entire way to the gate and wound up exhausted by the time I boarded the flight. This time, I was standing in line to check in, when a Delta Customer Service person approached me. She asked me if she could help me, and I told her that I needed to check in but that I had some questions. She said she could answer my questions, and I could check in at the self serve kiosk, and not have to stand in line. When I asked if there were wheelchairs available for rent, she said, “No, but we do have free wheelchair service.” So, Fabgrandpa and both were able to get the service, and had attendants who wheeled us all the way from the wheelchair service area, which is right by the check in kiosks, to our gate. The wheelchairs have a space underneath them where the attendant places your carry on luggage. I can not tell you how much more pleasant this service made our trip.
Because we had used the complimentary wheelchair service, we did not have to wait in the long long security checkpoint line. The Delta empoyees who were assisting us were able to go to the front of the line. We also did NOT have to remove our shoes or take my computer out of my suitcase. Fabgrandpa did have to remove his belt though, because his belt buckle triggered an alarm going through the scanner.
The wheelchair attendants were so cheerful and pleasant! They asked us several times if we wanted to stop at any of the shops, or if we needed to use the restroom. When we got to our departure gate, they “parked” us in the front near the check in desk. We sat there in our wheelchairs until time board. When the gate attendant arrived, I was first in line to ask about an upgrade, and we were able to get our seats upgraded to comfort seating for no additional charge. It is not first class by any means, but you do have a little bit more room in those seats.
When it was time to board, we were boarded first (along with other wheelchair passengers) and wheeled all the way to the door of the plane. I know I said it before, but I can not tell you enough how courteous, helpful, and cheerful all of the Delta employees we encountered were. Delta, and other airlines who offer complimentary wheelchair services, are getting it right and making travel for people with disabilities so much easier.
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