So, I'm about to be taking my second time flying (VS001 on the 17th) since I've had to start using a wheelchair to get about, and the first time I've actually had to make the arrangements myself (first time was a work trip, so I didn't have any involvement in planning it)
I've got to say so far how impressed I am with the whole process (I've kept track of the names of everyone involved so far - a letter of thanks/praise will definitely be going to head office!), the special assistance team asked a lot of detailed questions about exactly what I needed, as well as asking how my previous flight went (Very well as far as the crew/handling went, but not well as far as pain/mobility in flight, I needed several doses of morphine en route
)
I'm somewhere between excited and terrified for this next flight - excited because I'm told it's scheduled to be on a 787-9 which I've been looking forward to seeing for ages, but also dreading it because of both pain in flight, and the embarrassment of needing to use the aisle-chair to move to and from the bathroom (or even just to move around the aircraft at all.)
As anyone who's read any of my older posts may know, I was a very nervous flyer in the past even when I was able-bodied although I'm a fair bit better now than I used to be, but I was always very reluctant to use my call-bell mid-flight to ask for things as I always feel a little guilty about distracting the crew from their work because I'm feeling freaked out and/or scared, and that's kind of carried across to using the bell to ask for help with the aisle-chair etc, I really genuinely feel worried that they'll feel I'm taking up an unfair/disproportionate amount of their time.
I'd be interested to know other people's thoughts/feelings on this, able bodied/chair-bound/staff/otherwise.
I've got to say so far how impressed I am with the whole process (I've kept track of the names of everyone involved so far - a letter of thanks/praise will definitely be going to head office!), the special assistance team asked a lot of detailed questions about exactly what I needed, as well as asking how my previous flight went (Very well as far as the crew/handling went, but not well as far as pain/mobility in flight, I needed several doses of morphine en route
)I'm somewhere between excited and terrified for this next flight - excited because I'm told it's scheduled to be on a 787-9 which I've been looking forward to seeing for ages, but also dreading it because of both pain in flight, and the embarrassment of needing to use the aisle-chair to move to and from the bathroom (or even just to move around the aircraft at all.)
As anyone who's read any of my older posts may know, I was a very nervous flyer in the past even when I was able-bodied although I'm a fair bit better now than I used to be, but I was always very reluctant to use my call-bell mid-flight to ask for things as I always feel a little guilty about distracting the crew from their work because I'm feeling freaked out and/or scared, and that's kind of carried across to using the bell to ask for help with the aisle-chair etc, I really genuinely feel worried that they'll feel I'm taking up an unfair/disproportionate amount of their time.
I'd be interested to know other people's thoughts/feelings on this, able bodied/chair-bound/staff/otherwise.
I am able bodied and rarely press the call bell (I can count the number of times I have on one hand and we fly quite a lot!), but my feeling is generally that there are people who need assistance much more than I do, and I'm more than happy for CC to be helping those who need it most. I'm glad you're armed with the knowledge from your previous flight that pain management is a necessity; hopefully it'll mean you're feeling more prepared physically and mentally, and that as far as possible you get to enjoy your first flight on a 787-9! 
