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Airport Wheelchairs
Continental has available wheelchairs for use at each of its locations. Most stations will start their day with several wheelchairs at curbside and replenish these throughout the day. If no wheelchairs are in view upon arrival, a verbal request should be made to the skycap or agent who will secure one as soon as possible. The standard width of these wheelchairs is nineteen inches (19").
Electric carts are also available at Cleveland, Houston, Newark and several other airports. These carts are for use by our semi-ambulatory customers when walking longer distances is a problem. These carts will pick up and drop off several customers throughout the terminal.
Aisle Wheelchairs
Continental has a newly designed wheelchair for our non-ambulatory customers use in reaching their seat when boarding and deplaning our aircraft. We sought the help of the experts at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in Houston, which provided us with valuable feedback. The chair features four swivel wheels, a low curved bar on the back for easier handling, a full back bar brake system, movable armrests, strategically located belt buckles to ensure a safe and secure transport and a lower seat for easier transfers to and from a customers' personal wheelchair. Most stations have these chairs available in each jetway where the transfer from a customer's personal chair can be made.
Onboard Wheelchairs
Every Continental aircraft with more than 60 seats has an onboard wheelchair. These wheelchairs are specially designed to fit the aisle of our aircraft and may be used by our semi-ambulatory customers to move to and from the lavatory. Our inflight personnel are trained in the use of this wheelchair and will assist you. This chair is not used outside the aircraft and will always remain onboard since our fleet cannot takeoff without this equipment.
Accessible Boarding
Some Continental and Continental Express domestic cities may not have jet-bridges available. In these stations, a Passenger Assist Lift (PAL), or mechanical lift, will be available for boarding and deplaning customers that require assistance.
Some Continental and Continental Express international cities may not have jet-bridges available. In these stations, either a Passenger Assist Lift (PAL) or a stair chair physically carried by airline personnel will be utilized for boarding and deplaning customers that require assistance.
Electric Cart (E-cart) Service
Continental's domestic hub facilities in Cleveland, Ohio - Hopkins International Airport, Houston, TX - Bush Intercontinental Airport and Newark International Airport, NJ, and various facilities throughout our system all provide electric carts within the terminals for semi-ambulatory customers who need assistance with distance transportation.
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