| Taking to the
Skies with Mobility Equipment
Each year, more and more travelers are choosing
air travel as their primary mode of transportation. The benefits
easily outweigh most other traditional forms of travel; from
increased safety and security, a wide selection of flight
times across multiple carriers, and best of all, reaching
one’s destination in the quickest manner possible.
As the amount of passengers increase --
the FAA projects that air travel is scheduled to double in
the next 20 years reaching the one billion passengers per
year mark by 2021 -- so does the likelihood of passengers
traveling with personal mobility equipment. As the mobility
equipment industry reacts to a demand by "new seniors"
or the "new-aged" as they are being labeled, manufacturers
are being asked to produce a more adaptable, portable set
of devices that allow a more robust and mobile lifestyle.
With air carriers experiencing the higher
volumes of traveling mobility equipment, it is inevitable
that equipment damage in transit will also increase exponentially.
There is now a growing demand to provide a service for addressing
the repair of this equipment while still meeting the special
needs of the disabled customer.
This has created both a challenge and an
opportunity for progressive air carriers.
 Enter
the Scootaround
Optimum Service Program (SOS)
Launched in 2008, this program and its team of mobility equipment
specialists, now support more than 25 carriers worldwide.
SOS, the first program of its kind anywhere, is designed to
serve the equipment claim requirements of both the traveling
public and the airline industry. Scootaround initially had
come to be known as the primary national service for individual
traveling customers who required mobility equipment rentals
at their point of destination. From that beginning Scootaround's
scope grew to include specialized mobility rental services
at the major convention centers and primary venues throughout
the United States. When the service of equipment damaged in
transit began to become a more profound requirement, Scootaround
was the company of choice to embrace this service. The results
have been positive with Scootaround now actively engaged in
providing the services for a variety of airlines including
Delta/Northwest with whom they first initiated the service.
Services for the Air Carrier
– For those travelers disadvantaged by personal mobility
equipment damage in transit, Scootaround has been actively
involved in working towards an expedient and efficient means
of addressing the traveler's requirement to be provided with
an interim equipment solution to allow the continuation of
their travel needs. They also provide a complete assessment
and repair solution for the damaged equipment. Through their
established nationwide network of repair depots, SOS is now
able to handle claims involving all types of mobility equipment
(e.g. mobility scooters, power chairs, wheelchairs, rollators,
etc.).
Delta Airlines has used the SOS program
for a number of years and has looked to Scootaround for both
claims support and for assistance in enhancing their mobility
equipment handing procedures. After employing the services
of the SOS program, David S. Martin, Manager for Delta Airlines
Disabilities Program said "I have every confidence in
the work Scootaround has done and will do for Delta and our
customers -- so much so that we have contracted with them
to handle all of Delta’s claims for North America".
That confidence has encouraged the SOS team to continue their
ground-breaking services and to help work towards better solutions
for damage occurrences.
Services for the Individual Traveler - For
individuals who require a mobility device repair for equipment
damaged in transit, the SOS team will step in to handle the
claim on their behalf. The traveler need only place a call
to the Scootaround's One-Call System and an SOS team member
will initiate the repair process and deal with the airline
directly. The SOS service has grown to include a series of
team members that have helped many travelers receive their
mobility equipment back with the least amount of disruption.
From a simple joystick repair to a more
profound repair of specialized or custom equipment, the SOS
team continually demonstrates the expertise required to get
the mobility device up and running as soon as possible. This
is not always an easy task given today's ever-changing mobility
equipment market. The team is constantly exposed to claims
involving highly-customized equipment, older, antiquated models
and even current models that are be hot off the assembly line.
Another available service for travelers
is to leave their mobility equipment at home and have a rental
unit delivered and waiting for them at their point of destination.
With more than 1500 locations nationwide, Scootaround can
be called upon to deliver mobility equipment rentals to businesses,
hotels, resorts, convention centers, outdoor venues and almost
anywhere travelers require mobility assistance. With thousands
of rental customers served each month, Scootaround has the
experience to supply the best rental equipment option.
What's Next?
As the SOS team continues to stay in touch with the industry
changes, Scootaround Inc. continues to support ongoing efforts
for service and industry enhancements while continuing to
provide the traveling community with the support needed for
their equipment needs.
Gerald Adams,
Manager, Online Services
Scootaround Inc.
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