You two have a wonderful outlook about airport travel. For myself, the thought makes me shudder ! Glad your safely back. You kids are swell as we used to say. :)
Hi, thank you very much for watching this video, I’m glad that you think that we have such a great outlook on the airport. LOL, sometimes it can be incredibly stressful, but lately we have had some pretty good experiences. We wanted to pass on some of the tips and tricks that we have learned to other people to help reduce stress at the airport and travel as a whole. Thanks again for watching this video! Talk to you again soon, Matt
If you are traveling by yourself in the US and you do not want an airport employee to escort you, you can get a guest pass at some airports that allows your family member or friend to take you to the gate. They can stay with you until you board the plane.
Hi, thank you so much for reaching out with this comment! Yes, you’re absolutely correct. That is something that is allowed. I have actually utilized this escort pass previously and had my father escort me to the gate. It was a nice perk at the time. When navigating through foreign airports, sometimes it is very nice to have an airport employee to do the escorting and help through all the steps. Hopefully other people watching and commenting on this video will also see your comment because this is also very helpful. Thanks again for watching this and for writing this in the comments. I’m sure other people will also find this very valuable. Thanks again, talk to you soon. Matt
Great Tips video, thanks a lot. I am 100% disable veteran and also low vision impaired using Cutches and the white cane. All those tips are very helpful to know. Again, thank you
True but not all destinations allow the use of a guide dog. Please remember that some countries allow them, but others don't. There are time I don't bring my dog and travel cane or sighted guide to those destinations.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video and for the comment, I’m glad this video was helpful and that your sister-in-law will use some of the tips and tricks that we explained in this video. I sincerely appreciate you reaching out to me with your feedback. Also, thank you for subscribing, it really means a lot to me to receive your support! I wish you and your sister-in-law the best on your upcoming flight! I would love to hear about how it goes :-) if your sister-in-law would find this video to be helpful, or any of my other videos, I would love to connect with her as well on this channel :-) thanks again, Matt
I do pretty much all of these things, I'm from the UK and we have an airline called Easyjet and they are great for helping me, I'm definitely going to use the bonus trip next time I fly
Hi, I’m glad that you’re already implementing all of these things when you’re traveling. I hope the bonus trick works for you in your country and with the airline that you like to fly. That’s really cool, I’m glad that I could help you out with this information! Thank you so much, I appreciate hearing from you and for all of your support. Matt
I have traveled alot on planes alone in the past and they have always been super helpful. They called it a meet and assist when i did it. That is where you not only get the escort to the gate they also meet you at the plane and help you to your final destination. Also if someone is picking you up from the airport and they have your information they can come further into the airport to meet you. The one downside ro the escort from the plane is that you have to wait for all other passengers to deplane first. I will say that if you are headed to a connecting flight and don't think you would have time to wait, they make sure you get to your next plane in time even if they have to radio the next gate and let them know you are coming. It is awesome. As for the wheelchair i think it is mainly for safety. I'll have to remember the secret tip lol. My husband will definitely appreciate it! Thanks for the video guys glad you had such a great time.
Hey Melissa! It is nice to hear from you again. Oh yes, that is great to hear that you have had such pleasant experiences with some of your airport and plane travel. Yes, I forgot to mention that in the video. A lot of times they will radio ahead to the final destination and alert them that someone on board is blind and needs assistance. Typically there is someone waiting with a wheelchair in the jetway immediately when we step off the plane. I agree, the wheelchair is more for safety versus mobility. I’m glad this video was helpful and that you can possibly implement some of the tips and tricks that we outlined in this video. Thanks again for watching it and for reaching out to me, I always enjoy hearing from you! Matt
This video was very informative. I learned a lot from this video, I haven't travel on a plane since I was medically discharged from boot camp. Thanks for all the tips.
Hey Chad! I’m glad this video could be helpful. Hopefully you can leave on a plane again sometime soon to travel somewhere fun! Hopefully use you can use some of the text tips and tricks in this video the next time you’re at the airport. Thanks again Chad, Matt
Thank you Matt and Cory, really appreciate a couple specific tips in this fun to watch video. You guys are great! I paid a lot of extra money to sit in the bulkhead seat with my husband on American Airlines recently. My husband is getting more comfortable with flying but definitely a nervous flyer. We allow flying! In the front of the plane! I enjoy watching you guys talk. I was also disappointed that the airlines are cutting down on movies and services because everyone brings their own tablets etc. I have definitely usedThe wheelchairAnd escort service before. So does my friend and my sister! Knowing how to ask for the bulk seat helps me.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video and for reaching out to us. Yes, I think we should on some very helpful tips in this video. I don’t think most people realize that the bulkhead seats are reserved for wheelchairs, Blind People with Guy dogs, or people with prosthetics. We can be upgraded to those seats for free which is a great feature. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the video and found it to be helpful, thank you so much for your feedback! I hope you’re doing well and I look forward to talking with you again soon! Thank you once again for being here, it truly means
While I definitely agree with asking for an escort, for those who are not familiar with this, most of the time those escorts will come with a wheelchair. You do not need the wheelchair, do not take the wheelchair, because someone else in the airport may need it more than you do, and they may try to be pushy with you. Use as much independence as possible. The more we can do this the better we represent other blind and visually impaired people. You will have to teach the escort how to effectively guide you if that is the message that you choose. You should take their arm just above the elbow. Do not ever allow them to grab you. You can also use your cane or have your dog follow the person. Having my dog follow is the path that I choose. If you are using your cane and following the person ahead of you, ask them to simply have a conversation with you so you can hear their voice and know who to follow in the airport.
Hi, thank you so much for watching this video and for the excellent comment I sincerely appreciate you writing this as it’s going to be valuable to other people reading through the comments. You have so many great points in this comment and I’m so happy that you wrote. You were absolutely correct. The escort always arrives with a wheelchair because that is standard protocol. But you’re absolutely correct once again, I completely agree with you we should walk and not except the wheelchair unless we absolutely need it. Instill independence and represent the blind and visually impaired community that we can still do our own navigating on our own feet, we just need a little assistance with the visual aspects. I also agree with you, from the escort we had he was very good, he did not grab my arm but rather held his arm out horizontally and allowed me to grab his arm instead. That was great. I can’t stand when people just grab me and try to navigate an escort me around, just like you mentioned that is not how it’s done. Anyway, thank you so much for writing this I’m sure other people reading through the comments will find this to be very helpful as well. Talk to you again soon, Matt
Good morning Laura! We started this channel and uploaded our very first video on April 7 of 2018, we’ve been uploading videos consistently ever cents, so a little over two years. It has certainly been a fun journey and we have met so many incredibly amazing people along the way, it is fun.
Hi my dear friend! A good morning, thank you so much for all of your very kind words as always. That means a lot to me :-) anytime we are on vacation and meet someone from Ohio, we always say oh wow Ohio, we have a friend that lives there :-) thanks again my friend, Matt
Now you’re giving me ideas. LOL. Although it’s been a few years since I am actually on an airplane, since when I travel, I can easily travel on Greyhound and don’t have to go through security, and all that stuff
Hey Ryan, what kind of it ideas am I giving you? I don’t understand what you’re saying, LOL. That is great that you are able to ride on a greyhound and not need to go through security. It is nice that you have found a method of travel that is suitable for you. Thanks again for watching this video! Talk to you again soon, Matt
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video and for leaving the comment, it is great to hear from you! Also I just need to say, I love your name! Macho hunter, that is a funny one! I enjoyed hearing my phone read your name to me :-) thanks again for watching this video and for all of your support toward me in this channel. I appreciate you watching and subscribing! I hope to hear from you again soon, Matt
Thanks so much for this video! I will definitely have to try getting an airport escort next time I fly. My husband often gets very overwhelmed guiding me through a busy airport, and it’s never a good start to our trip. Do you know if it is standard for all airports to provide that type of escort service?
Hi Kayla, thanks for watching this video and for the comment. As for your question, I am not sure if escort service is available in all airports, but I would be willing to guess that it is available in all airports in the United States. I’m sure they can come up with something to accommodate for your needs. As for other countries, that is a wildcard. The experience we had in the airport in Aruba was amazing. I think you and your husband should go to Aruba just so you can check out the airport escort service! :-) I hope this helps and thank you again for watching this video, I sincerely appreciate it. Have a great weekend, talk to you again soon! Matt
Hi guys well i wasn't aware that this service the escort or the wheelchair provided at the airport was not quite well known amongst the community i'm very surprised fortunately i have traveled like several times since i became blind and had the same service instantly without even having to ask or to inform them of anything but then again it's probably because here in the philippines we have a national id that states that you are a person with disability and what kind of disability you have so that actually gives us major discounts and also priority a service so i'm so glad that you have share this with a e1 because again it is actually the best experience being a person with visual impairment to travel like this we should enjoy the hurt that comes with it especially traveling and maneuvering airports kudos guys for tackling this topic kisses from manila
Hi, it is so nice to hear that you have it I had accommodations when it traveling with a wheelchair and priority boarding as well as other accommodations, that is so nice to hear! That is why the services are out there, especially being part of the blind and visually impaired community, we cannot feel bad about taking advantage of these accommodations. Thanks so much for watching this and for the comment, it’s over to hear from you as always! Matt
Yes, the bulkhead seats are amazing. I’m glad you were able to find this information valuable. Thanks again for watching this video and for the nice comment. :-) Matt
Hi guys great video. Glad you two had a great time. Good tips on the airport travel thank you. When I travel by myself I have always gotten a guide. When Vidar and I travel I have never thought of using a guide or sitting in the balk head seats. ( Now I know ) This would have made traveling in Iceland so much easer last year. That is the most congested airport I have ever see. I always put blind on my ticket that way the flight attendants know so they sill not try to hand me hot coffee the someone setting beside me:-) We are flying to London, Ireland and Norway this summer. I am going to put some of your tricks to the test. Have a wonderful day!!
Hi Penny! Thank you so much for watching and the nice comment. It’s great to hear from you again! I’m glad that you learned a couple tips and tricks from this video and will be implementing them this summer. I hope everything goes well! I would love to hear how your experience goes so please keep me updated after your travels. I’m glad that you also get an escort when at the airport until the flight attendants so that they are aware. It makes things so much easier when they are just aware from my experience, everybody at the airport and on the airplane are always very helpful and accommodating. Thanks again, I look forward to hearing about your experiences! Matt
Time is of the essence with airport employees. This is why they use the wheelchair, because it is way faster and cut through lines and get you to your gate. That way the employee is free to do other duties! Same thing with boarding airplanes to reduce boarding time they board everyone that needs help first. Yes it is a perk for disabled Travelers. However, it is all about time and efficiency for the airlines!
Hi, thanks for watching this video. I completely agree with you, they definitely want efficiency at the airport for everyone. And they do a great job with it too. Thanks for watching this video and for reaching out with your input and insights. I always appreciate hearing from you as you always have something insightful and intelligent to say! Thanks again, talk to you soon. Matt
Traveling by plane is a deep source of stress for me, and I look forward to it like I’d want a root canal. And trying to get someone to help can be so difficult! I’m in tears by the time I’m in my plane seat. (I usually travel alone) I preboard to reduce stress and anxiety. When I didn’t, despite using my white cane, I’ve had impatient passengers trying to shove me aside. Hey Matt and Corey! 🤗🙂
Hey Kia! It is so nice to hear from you again! :-) That is so sad and unfortunate to hear that traveling by plane is a deep-sea source of stress for you. I would highly recommend the next time you go to the airport to ask for an escort. That was the best experience I’ve ever had at an airport. It was so easy and stress-free free. He handled everything and allowed us to navigate through the airport quickly and efficiently and on harmed by other passengers. The next time you’re at the airport, go to the ticket counter and ask for an escort because you are blind. They will assign an airport employee to navigate you from the ticket counter all the way to your gate. From the gate, the gate agent can also assist you down the jetway to the plan where the flight attendants will help you from there. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to reach out with any questions that you may have. I would like to help you in anyway we can. Thanks again for the comment it is so nice to hear from you again! :-) Matt
Blind to Billionaire Yeah, I will try that option. Though I have some sight, trying to mentally process visual images that are fast paced and constantly changing can drive me to distraction. The less I have to worry about, the better. 😄
Hey Kia, I think you should definitely do that the next time you’re at the airport. I think you’ll find it is so much less stressful and makes your airport experience so much more enjoyable. I know that is hard to imagine right now, but I think it’ll be such a dramatic difference from what you have experienced in the past that you will really appreciate the escort. If you happen to use the service, please reach out to me and let me know how it goes. I would be interesting to hear your experience! Thanks again for reaching out to me, it is so nice to hear from you again! Matt
Most of the time when I travel by air, I go alone. After I have purchased the ticket online, or calling the airline I always schedule someone to meet me at the baggage check point set it they can guide me through security and straight to the gate. I don’t really have to wait in line it’s pretty much straightforward. Then when I land at the next airport there is always someone waiting for me at the gate to help me get to baggage claim. It’s fun but I would definitely like to travel with someone that can see where were going LOL
Hey Ryan! And that is great, I’m so happy to hear that you have an escort when you go to the airport to guide you to your gate. Also, it is nice to hear that someone picks you up when you disembark the plane at your destination. I forgot to add that point in, that someone is always waiting in the jetway at the arrival destination. Thanks again Ryan, Matt
You guys..not to sound stupid, I missed the shows as this one being one of them, I didn't know you were blind, you do your program in a way that you'd never know if you didn't tell...I didn't. I just thought by the title of your program that billionaires are blinded by what the rest of struggling non money people go through. I'm rambling now..but I just wanted to say I didn't know. Either way your terrific, you and your wife are lucky to have each other. Stay strong! God bless!
Hey Vincent! That would be so awesome! I hope that does happen for both of you. Just one little hint, I wouldn’t look into flights with JetBlue. They typically have some pretty good pricing out of the East Coast. Since we are located in Minnesota, all of the JetBlue flights connect in the East Coast before heading down to Aruba. But since you were over in that region you may find some good flights with JetBlue. Just a thought. Our last vacation to Aruba in December we flew JetBlue and loved it. They have the TVs in the back of the seat along with Wi-Fi which was really nice. We flew with Suncountry this time but they did not have the TVs or Wi-Fi. It was a very long flight. LOL. Thanks again for watching, talk to you soon. Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire I have a secret for you to know. And it has to do with JetBlue. I can fly free with JetBlue. Well, I have to pay $40 in taxes. Why do I get this amazing deal well it's because my brother is a manager for JetBlue. The only downfall is they're flying vouchers if the flight gets full I have to wait for the next flight. But rarely does that ever happen. I have never tried flying to Aruba or Hawaii or any other place other than Italy. So I have no clue how am I deal with my bro would go for Aruba but now I'm going to ask him. I will let you know if I end up getting a crazy deal I did not know I could get. The thought never even crossed my mind ask my brother as it did not know JetBlue even flew there.
Hey Vincent! Wow, wow! That is an amazing deal. If you’re interested in checking out how well that system works, I will happily volunteer myself to except a voucher and pay $40 to fly to Aruba. Let me know if you’re looking for a guinea pig to try this out. I will sacrifice my time and $40 to see if it works. :-) :-) :-) that is a really cool offer, I am so happy that you have that. Actually, a little bit jealous too. You should definitely take advantage of that opportunity! Let me know how it goes. Matt
Hi there Don from London England I watched yor vudeo from start to finish you guys are awesome I am planning to visit NYC for my belated 50th which was in 2019 I will defintly use your tips including the secret one I promise I wont tell anyone lol but thank yo again
Hi, thank you very much for watching this video and for reaching out to me with the comments and questions. The certificate of blindness is something that was issued to me by the retina specialist. It simply says my name, diagnosis, date of diagnosis, and that the diagnosis is consistent with legal blindness. I keep this document with me when I am traveling just in the event someone questions my vision and blindness. I like to be able to produce an official document in that situation. I have never been questioned, but I always want to have that with me just in the event I do get questions someday. As for your question about kids, if they are minor children, they will definitely be able to join you. If they are adult children, they may need to go through the general population lines. So if they are under the age of 18, they could probably certainly join you as a companion as you were escorted through the airport. I hope this information helps, please feel free to reach out to your retina specialist or your ophthalmologist and ask them for a certificate of blindness or some other type of formal document stating that you were legally blind. Thanks again, please feel free to ask any additional questions if you have them. Talk to you soon, Matt
Hello thank you for making this video I am traveling soon and I’m glad to know that I picked the right Company to travel with anyway I was wondering what is a legally blind certificate I think is what you called it is that something you get when you get a passport or how do you even get that that would be great to know thank you
Hi, thank you so much for watching and commenting on this video. It is nice to hear from you and meet you too! Oh that is great, I’m glad to hear that we gave you some helpful tips and tricks in this video. Hopefully you can implement them when you were traveling soon. The certificate that I referred to in the video was the certificate of legal blindness. It is actually something that was issued to me by my retina specialist. It is basically just a simple piece of paper that says my name and the diagnosis and the date I was diagnosed. It also states on the certificate that I am legally blind. They referred to it as a certificate of legal blindness. I would suggest possibly talking to your doctor and asking if they can issue some type of certificate or official document that you can have with you when you travel. I hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to me and I will do what I can to help you. Thanks again for watching this video and for all of your support by subscribing, watching the video, and reaching out to me. It means a lot to me! I hope to hear from you again soon, Matt
Also contact www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support this is your escort, it is TSA Cares. Contact them 72 hours prior to departure. A TSA person will meet you at the airport. They may not have this available at international airports returning.
Hi! Thank you very much for the link, I will definitely check it out and see year what I can do. I am very excited! Thank you very much for sharing this resource! That is so cool that you’re a travel agent, it would be fun to talk to you about travel as we love to do it! We absolutely love traveling and live for it. Traveling is a very important part of our lives. As a travel agent, I’m sure you are very well educated on some of the best destinations and can probably give some very good advice! Thank you again for the link and the valuable resource! I look forward to looking into it :-) talk to you again soon :-) Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire Matt you and your readers can reach out on Facebook.com/Echevarriatravels or you can email me at reservations@echevarriatravel.com, where I can add you to my enewsletter. We offer Group Travel a few times a year for everyone, not just the blind, we want everyone to learn and enjoy life. We also specialize in Romance; Disney Destinations and more. We also love to cruise both River and Ocean.
Hi, thank you so much for watching this video and for reaching out to me through the comments. That sounds great, please let me know when you do that it would be interesting to hear your feedback. I sincerely appreciate you watching this video and for reaching out to me. It means a lot to me that you subscribe to this channel and are being so supportive. Thanks again, I look forward to connecting with you again sometime soon. Matt
Also, just one more thing. I think you might be the only person from Indonesia that I am aware of on this channel. Thank you so much for being the first! That is so cool that you are in Indonesia and following this channel. That is awesome, thank you so much for telling me. Talk to you again soon, Matt
What a beautiful couple. I never made the connection that you were the one that made those Social Security videos. As someone that is totally blind as well. I have to say that I am pretty nervous. I am going to be flying for the first time at the beginning of December in order to go see my fiancé and Bosnia. I have always had a fear of flying and I think that has majorly been because I have never done it. I will be traveling alone and just wondered is it at all scary and how? I am going to do my best to schedule assistance from all three of the airlines that I will be using. I really appreciate your video. I even love the sarcasm that is shared between the two of you. How did you guys meet? My fiancé is blind as well like me due to retinopathy prematurity. It’s really inspiring to see something like this from another blind couple. I hope to hear from you and wish you all the best.
Thanks. I just took a quick trip alone to Austin this past weekend and could've used these tips. I'll use them in the next trip I plan. I hate airports! Never would've thought of a priority line but I would probably have to have my cane with me. A lot of times when people see me without my cane, they just treat me like a normal person. I disagree about the wheelchair thing. I prefer a golf cart.
Hi Kristin! I’m glad to hear that this video helped you out and gave you some tips and tricks that you can use in the future. That would be great, I would love to hear how your future experiences go. Thanks again for watching this video and for reaching out to me. I’m excited for you to try these tactics to see how they go. Talk to you soon, Matt
Okay, I know this video is over a year old but I have some questions. Hopefully the users of this account still check here and will reply to this comment and then I will ask my questions.
Thanks you guys. I was specifically searching for this information on UA-cam. 5 Thumbs up!! Great information!! Would you say calling ahead to the airport they could provide a certificate of legal blindness? Or should I ask my local Disability Services for the Blind? Thanks!
Hi! Thanks so much for watching this video and for reaching out to us, it is great to hear from you. I would actually talk to your doctor regarding a certificate of blindness. They would be able to give you a signed legal official looking paper that would certify your legal blindness that you can display. I would always bring a copy with you anytime you travel or especially when you go to the airport, I have never need to display mine, but it’s always nice to have it in the event someone needs to see it or you need to provide proof. I hope that’s helpful, thanks so much for being here, I really appreciate your support :-) Matt
Great video guys. My wife and I travel a lot, mainly to Canada. I despise air travel now that my sight has decreased quite a bit. I think my wife only takes me so she can get on the plane first. ("Whip out that cane now!") Certificate of legal blindness? Where do I get one of these?
I am a blind guy and I HATE airports. I have never had the confidence to use an airport by myself. When I travel with my partner or family I get so stressed in the airport as there are just too many obstacles, noises, people and lights for me to cope with. I am sure I would just have a panic attack if I had to try to travel on my own, and that is my biggest fear that one day I won't have my partner to help me and I will not be able to use an airport.
Since the topic is assistance. I wanted to see if anybody on here knows of ways to get assistance at Major League Baseball games. We took my son last year and he wasn’t able to see much of the game-even with fairly good seats. I asked customer service about a month ago if they had preferential seating for visually impaired people. The only thing they had was for wheelchairs which is actually at the top. We could pay for even better seats but I feel like since the seats are needed for him to enjoy the game they should provide them for cheaper. I saw that he might be able to get a listening device, but he’s only 6 and I’m not sure that would help him be more engaged in the game. He’s still able to play baseball and he loves watching it on tv, so it was disappointing to go to the game and have him give up trying to watch.
Good morning Megan! Thank you for reaching out with this question, I do not know the answer to this one, but there may be some people on this channel who can answer this for you. That’s actually a great question and I’m glad you asked it. I will see if I can think of anyone who frequently attends baseball games and reach out to them directly to ask them your questions. Thanks Megan, I hope we can find some answers for you! Matt
Hi Matt hi Corey welcome back from Aruba and thanks for another wonderful video. Here are my takeaways, Matt does not like the Kardashian’s… LOL, secondly that’s a great tip to asked for a guide or a companion or somebody that can help you through the airport. The Aruba angel did a fantastic job of getting you around and through the airport and it sounds like he was great at being A great tour guide. Also I didn’t know about caring a blind certificate or a certificate stating your Biane. Is that something that is issued by your medical provider? And then the bonus tab was great, I will have to use that one next time to get the upgrade to the bulkhead seat. That’s nice. And what an amazing difference between how long it took you, half an hour as opposed to how long it took your parents, 2 1/2 hours to get to the gate. It sounds like he airport was just as much of an adventure as well as your vacation. Thanks again For the great video. Appreciate it
Hey Lenny! LOL, those are some great takeaways from the video. You were definitely paying attention and taking notes. LOL. I’m glad you learned a couple tips and tricks with this video. Yes, the certificate of blindness is something that was issued to me from the retina specialist. It simply states my name, diagnosis, and the date of diagnosis as well as saying that I am legally blind on the certificate. I like to carry this with me as proof just in the event someone questions thinking that I’m just trying to pull something and get to the front of the line. No one has ever question me, but I always want to have this with me in the event it ever does happen. You could probably go to your retina specialist and ask for some kind of form or certification signed by the doctor saying that you are legally blind. I hope this helps. Thanks again for watching this video! Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Matt
Sooooo im guessing the glasses didn't help??? Lol i thought that was so funny that you went out of your way to put them on just for the video. Your guys are great
Hey Jessie, LOL, no, the classes did not help. They were actually just some costume glasses that we wore for Halloween and I thought it would be funny to throw them on for the video. LOL, thanks for watching the video we’re so happy to know you and have you here on this channel! Thanks again my friend, have a great Thursday! Matt
Hi, you can discuss it with your doctor. Ask them to give you some type of certificate indicating your blindness. They should be able to give you some type of official paperwork that you can carry with you. I hope that helps!
I understand why the escort would cut in lines. It is not to get you to the gate faster it is to get his job accomplished quicker so that he may help other passengers. If you got to point B in half hour and it took your parents 2 more hours, think of how many passengers the escort helped in that 2 hours. This was very interesting and I enjoyed your video thank you.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video, for the nice comment, and for subscribing to this channel! It is so nice to hear from you and meet you! Yes, I completely agree with you. That escort was able to help and assist numerous other passengers in the same amount of time my parents were standing in line. It made our life so much easier and more efficient that we wanted to share it with this community so that other people can also take advantage of the services. Thank you again for watching this video and for reaching out to me, I hope to connect with you more on future videos! Talk to you again soon :-) Matt
Y’all are so cute! Thank you for this video filled with great tips! My 16yo son who is blind just traveled from Georgia to Vancouver, BC with his older brother. They travel together a lot, but this time they had some strange issues: first, at security, they were asked if his cane was a hiking pole...Then 2x agents took the cane from him and handed him a wooden walking cane to get through the scanner. The boys tried patiently to explain that he’s blind and didn’t need a walking cane! I am forwarding your video to my boys right now. Also, may I link to your video from my blog (navigatingblindness.com)? I’m planning to write a post about their most recent travel experience and I’d love to point to your video. My best to you both❤️
Hi, thank you so much for watching and commenting on this video. It is so nice to hear from you! Wow, that is so cool that the boys travel together and did so recently. It sounds like there was a little bit of confusion at the security line with the agents. It is nice that they spoke up and told them that it is not a walking cane, or a hiking stick, but rather a cane for mobility. Wow, thank you so much for that nice gesture. Yes, absolutely you are welcome to point to this video in your blog. That would be so nice of you! Thank you so much for doing that for me. You are welcome to. To any of my videos or the channel as a hole in your blog if you would like. I have numerous other videos so hopefully you and your blog readers are able to find value in other videos I have uploaded as well. It would be interesting to hear more about the boys airport experience. Thank you again for watching this video and for reaching out to me, it is so great to hear from you! I look forward to connecting with you again soon. Matt
Hi, thank you so much. That will be so interesting! I look forward to reading it! Thank you very much for doing this for me, I really appreciate it! Matt
Thanks for the info, I’m actually planning on taking a flight this summer and this information could be very helpful. You said this was in the Aruba airport, have you ever had any experiences like that in US airports? Because I’m planning on flying from North Carolina to Colorado. And also, this is a really odd question but if you’re sitting towards the front of the plane is it really hard to get to the restroom if you’re traveling alone? Because the restrooms are in the back of the plane right? Oh and one other thing, have y’all been having a hard time commenting under UA-cam videos? And this is really a question for Matt, has voiceover been giving you any trouble with UA-cam? I had to have my sister help me post this comment, because I couldn’t touch the send comment button. It wouldn’t let me.
Hi Abby! It is so nice to hear from you :-) as for all of your questions it is actually very easy to access the restroom when on the airplane when sitting in the bulkhead seats the reason for that is that there is an restroom in the front of the plane just in front of first class. So, you are typically only about six or seven rows from the nearest restroom which is very convenient. As for UA-cam, I have not had any problems recently but I know what you’re talking about. I have had troubles writing comments and responding to comments in the past with the iPhone dictation and voiceover. It depends how I am accessing UA-cam whether it is on the UA-cam website, through the UA-cam app, or the UA-cam studio. Each one is a little bit different and sometimes they give me trouble but I find that the UA-cam studio app is the best. Although, I think that app is for you tubers with channels. Otherwise the UA-cam app is not all that great but that also works too. Sometimes I found that I just need to power my phone off then turn it back on and it’ll work a lot easier and better. Yes, you can get an escort in airports here in the United States as well. They are very good about it. If you would rather have a family member or friend be your escort versus an airport employee, they can get an escort pass at the check-in counter where they print your boarding pass. Just go there and tell them that you are blind and that you need an escort to the gate. Say that you have a family member or friend who will be accompanying you and you would like them to get a an escort pass. That person will need to display an ID and go through all of the steps just as you will throughout the airport such as going through security. But that person will be able to escort you from the check-in counter all the way to your gate. Typically what I have done when this is happened is when we get to the gate we typically talk to the gate agent and tell them that I am blind. When it is time to board, typically the gate agent will come over to me and escort me to the jetway and then from there they will escort me all the way to the plane or a flight attendant will meet me at the jetway and escort me all the way to my seat. This is very helpful too. I hope this information is helpful, please feel free to ask any additional questions if you have any. Thanks again Abby, Matt
Hi to you both, Great video, I've always had assistance at the airport when travelling alone but when I've been with my son and his Mum we have usually not requested any kind of assistance/escort but I did mention for our trip this year that perhaps it would be easier to request it as she doesn't need to concentrate on our son and trying to guide or ensure I'm ok. I must admit that I never knew about the bulkhead seating policy in all the years of travelling, even when I had a dog. You mentioned that it is only for you and a guide so what is the situation if you have a child, so essentially taking up 3 seats would they allow a couple with one child or is the rule really strict, because if there's any possibility of geting those seats then I will try to do that for our trip from London to California in the summer. Even without knowing about that I did once almost get myself and my wife at the time up graded from standard class to premier on an Aerlingus flight and although after some negotiating with the check in person they said they would try but also told us that it would be up to the senior cabin person on the plane when we got there, and sure enough we weren't placed in premier but you never know unless you try LOL.
Hey Martin! Thanks for watching this video and for the comment. As for the question about your son, I’m not sure how that would work. I’m not sure if they will allow you and your son or if they would allow all three of you to sit in the bulkhead seats. I’m just not sure. Considering your son is a minor child, I would be willing to guess that he would be allowed to sit there with your wife. I think getting an escort through the airport would be helpful even with your son and your wife there. It would make things a lot easier for you and allow your wife to watch your son and help him rather than trying to help both of you. I am very interested to hear how your experience goes through the airport with the escort as well as your flight. It’ll be really cool when you get to go to California this coming summer! I’m sure all of you are going to enjoy it and have such a fun time together. I’m sure we’ll be talking many more times between then, but I am excited to hear about your vacation! Thanks again Martin, please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help or questions I can answer. Talk to you again soon, Matt
Hi, thanks so much for watching this video. As for replacing the escort with A mobile app. I would probably say no. In some instances you could probably get away with using a mobile app something like be my eyes to help you through certain areas, but it would take so much longer trying to navigate independently using an app versus just asking for an escort. They know exactly where to go and they walk to the front of the line, so it makes it so much faster and easier. I would just recommend getting an escort, it is so much more time efficient to do it that way. I hope this helps answer your question. Thanks again for being here and for watching, I appreciate your support. Thanks so much for subscribing! MATT
Hi my friend, thank you very much for watching this video and for reaching out to us. That is very interesting, I never knew that. Thank you very much for sharing. Do you travel by bus or train in your country? I am just curious. Thank you very much, talk to you soon, Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire actually I usually travel by bus, sometime with my family private car and I had visited Vietnam by plane on 2017 and in India on 2018 for the global I T competition
Hi, thank you very much for the reply. That is so cool. I’m glad that you were still able to travel by different means other than air. It’s really cool to hear this. I’m glad you had the opportunity to do some traveling for different events. Thanks again for reaching out to me and for the prompt reply, it is always fun getting to know more about you. Matt
Hey Nicole, basically it is just a certificate from a doctor giving the official diagnosis of legal blindness. You don’t need it all that often, but it is nice to have in some situations. You can just ask your doctor for an official documentation of blindness
Hi, thank you very much for watching this video, I sincerely appreciate having you here on the channel. As for the certificate of blindness, that is something you should be able to ask your doctor for and about. They are different forms that this type of certificate or document is assigned, but either way, your doctor should be able to give you some type of document certifying your legal blindness that you can carry with you and display if ever needed. I hope this is helpful, thank you again for watching, I sincerely appreciate your support on this on this channel. Talk to you again soon. Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire Thanks for the info. And, thank you for the videos. You, and the other UA-camrs are a great support and help for all of those dealing with vision loss. Helps us feel that we're not alone and part of a community. I've gained confidence talking about my vision and using my cane by watching you and a few others. This is a great service to us all.
Hi, you are very welcome! I’m glad that you can find support and friendship here on this channel and through my videos, that is very rewarding for me to hear that feedback! Thank you very much, I am always here for you to offer support and friendship if you ever need it, never hesitate to reach out. Thanks again, I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend :-) Matt
This guy is a trip he has nothing to say about the fact he has been doing it for so long its one lie after another I've canceled my subscription for his channel the best ones to get the truth is meet Kevin and according to Vin
You two have a wonderful outlook about airport travel. For myself, the thought makes me shudder ! Glad your safely back. You kids are swell as we used to say. :)
Hi, thank you very much for watching this video, I’m glad that you think that we have such a great outlook on the airport. LOL, sometimes it can be incredibly stressful, but lately we have had some pretty good experiences. We wanted to pass on some of the tips and tricks that we have learned to other people to help reduce stress at the airport and travel as a whole. Thanks again for watching this video! Talk to you again soon, Matt
If you are traveling by yourself in the US and you do not want an airport employee to escort you, you can get a guest pass at some airports that allows your family member or friend to take you to the gate. They can stay with you until you board the plane.
Hi, thank you so much for reaching out with this comment! Yes, you’re absolutely correct. That is something that is allowed. I have actually utilized this escort pass previously and had my father escort me to the gate. It was a nice perk at the time. When navigating through foreign airports, sometimes it is very nice to have an airport employee to do the escorting and help through all the steps. Hopefully other people watching and commenting on this video will also see your comment because this is also very helpful. Thanks again for watching this and for writing this in the comments. I’m sure other people will also find this very valuable. Thanks again, talk to you soon. Matt
Great Tips video, thanks a lot. I am 100% disable veteran and also low vision impaired using Cutches and the white cane. All those tips are very helpful to know. Again, thank you
However, it is really fun traveling with a guide dog. You always have a buddy next to you, or in this case between your feet.
True but not all destinations allow the use of a guide dog. Please remember that some countries allow them, but others don't. There are time I don't bring my dog and travel cane or sighted guide to those destinations.
I am visually impaired and my wife and I hope to travel to Europe this fall. Thanks for the tips.
You explain this so well ! Thank you so much ! This is going to help my sister in law so much on her airport trip coming up.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video and for the comment, I’m glad this video was helpful and that your sister-in-law will use some of the tips and tricks that we explained in this video. I sincerely appreciate you reaching out to me with your feedback. Also, thank you for subscribing, it really means a lot to me to receive your support! I wish you and your sister-in-law the best on your upcoming flight! I would love to hear about how it goes :-) if your sister-in-law would find this video to be helpful, or any of my other videos, I would love to connect with her as well on this channel :-) thanks again, Matt
I do pretty much all of these things, I'm from the UK and we have an airline called Easyjet and they are great for helping me, I'm definitely going to use the bonus trip next time I fly
Hi, I’m glad that you’re already implementing all of these things when you’re traveling. I hope the bonus trick works for you in your country and with the airline that you like to fly. That’s really cool, I’m glad that I could help you out with this information! Thank you so much, I appreciate hearing from you and for all of your support. Matt
I have traveled alot on planes alone in the past and they have always been super helpful. They called it a meet and assist when i did it. That is where you not only get the escort to the gate they also meet you at the plane and help you to your final destination. Also if someone is picking you up from the airport and they have your information they can come further into the airport to meet you. The one downside ro the escort from the plane is that you have to wait for all other passengers to deplane first. I will say that if you are headed to a connecting flight and don't think you would have time to wait, they make sure you get to your next plane in time even if they have to radio the next gate and let them know you are coming. It is awesome.
As for the wheelchair i think it is mainly for safety.
I'll have to remember the secret tip lol. My husband will definitely appreciate it!
Thanks for the video guys glad you had such a great time.
Hey Melissa! It is nice to hear from you again. Oh yes, that is great to hear that you have had such pleasant experiences with some of your airport and plane travel. Yes, I forgot to mention that in the video. A lot of times they will radio ahead to the final destination and alert them that someone on board is blind and needs assistance. Typically there is someone waiting with a wheelchair in the jetway immediately when we step off the plane. I agree, the wheelchair is more for safety versus mobility. I’m glad this video was helpful and that you can possibly implement some of the tips and tricks that we outlined in this video. Thanks again for watching it and for reaching out to me, I always enjoy hearing from you! Matt
This video was very informative. I learned a lot from this video, I haven't travel on a plane since I was medically discharged from boot camp. Thanks for all the tips.
Hey Chad! I’m glad this video could be helpful. Hopefully you can leave on a plane again sometime soon to travel somewhere fun! Hopefully use you can use some of the text tips and tricks in this video the next time you’re at the airport. Thanks again Chad, Matt
Very amazing video well done and keep up the great work
Thank you Richard, that is way too nice of you. The same goes for you, keep up all of the great work on your channel! Matt
Thank you Matt and Cory, really appreciate a couple specific tips in this fun to watch video. You guys are great! I paid a lot of extra money to sit in the bulkhead seat with my husband on American Airlines recently.
My husband is getting more comfortable with flying but definitely a nervous flyer. We allow flying! In the front of the plane! I enjoy watching you guys talk. I was also disappointed that the airlines are cutting down on movies and services because everyone brings their own tablets etc. I have definitely usedThe wheelchairAnd escort service before. So does my friend and my sister! Knowing how to ask for the bulk seat helps me.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video and for reaching out to us. Yes, I think we should on some very helpful tips in this video. I don’t think most people realize that the bulkhead seats are reserved for wheelchairs, Blind People with Guy dogs, or people with prosthetics. We can be upgraded to those seats for free which is a great feature. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the video and found it to be helpful, thank you so much for your feedback! I hope you’re doing well and I look forward to talking with you again soon! Thank you once again for being here, it truly means
Thank you so much for this video. I believe this will help me a lot.
Hi matt its Kylie I use my cane in airports Thanks for the helpful tips from Kylie
Hi Kylie! That’s so great that you use your cane. I know it makes it so much easier. Thank you! Matt
While I definitely agree with asking for an escort, for those who are not familiar with this, most of the time those escorts will come with a wheelchair. You do not need the wheelchair, do not take the wheelchair, because someone else in the airport may need it more than you do, and they may try to be pushy with you. Use as much independence as possible. The more we can do this the better we represent other blind and visually impaired people. You will have to teach the escort how to effectively guide you if that is the message that you choose. You should take their arm just above the elbow. Do not ever allow them to grab you. You can also use your cane or have your dog follow the person. Having my dog follow is the path that I choose. If you are using your cane and following the person ahead of you, ask them to simply have a conversation with you so you can hear their voice and know who to follow in the airport.
Hi, thank you so much for watching this video and for the excellent comment I sincerely appreciate you writing this as it’s going to be valuable to other people reading through the comments. You have so many great points in this comment and I’m so happy that you wrote. You were absolutely correct. The escort always arrives with a wheelchair because that is standard protocol. But you’re absolutely correct once again, I completely agree with you we should walk and not except the wheelchair unless we absolutely need it. Instill independence and represent the blind and visually impaired community that we can still do our own navigating on our own feet, we just need a little assistance with the visual aspects. I also agree with you, from the escort we had he was very good, he did not grab my arm but rather held his arm out horizontally and allowed me to grab his arm instead. That was great. I can’t stand when people just grab me and try to navigate an escort me around, just like you mentioned that is not how it’s done. Anyway, thank you so much for writing this I’m sure other people reading through the comments will find this to be very helpful as well. Talk to you again soon, Matt
Good morning Laura! We started this channel and uploaded our very first video on April 7 of 2018, we’ve been uploading videos consistently ever cents, so a little over two years. It has certainly been a fun journey and we have met so many incredibly amazing people along the way, it is fun.
Thank you that is nice of you. We’ve been married for just a little over three years
That's a good point. Whenever i'm at the airport, i've always declined the wheelchair.
Thanks for sharing your tips and experiences
You’re welcome, and thank you to you for watching this video! Thanks Thomas, you’re such a great friend. Matt
Great video x Thank you for sharing your experience and tips 😊
Hi Tony! I’m glad that you enjoyed the video :-) thank you for watching it and for the nice comment. Talk to you again soon :-) Matt
Hi Matt Hi Corey Welcome back nice to see you thank you for great tips and advice Wish you the best and more Success.
Hi my dear friend! A good morning, thank you so much for all of your very kind words as always. That means a lot to me :-) anytime we are on vacation and meet someone from Ohio, we always say oh wow Ohio, we have a friend that lives there :-) thanks again my friend, Matt
Now you’re giving me ideas. LOL. Although it’s been a few years since I am actually on an airplane, since when I travel, I can easily travel on Greyhound and don’t have to go through security, and all that stuff
Hey Ryan, what kind of it ideas am I giving you? I don’t understand what you’re saying, LOL. That is great that you are able to ride on a greyhound and not need to go through security. It is nice that you have found a method of travel that is suitable for you. Thanks again for watching this video! Talk to you again soon, Matt
thanks for your suggestions
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video and for leaving the comment, it is great to hear from you! Also I just need to say, I love your name! Macho hunter, that is a funny one! I enjoyed hearing my phone read your name to me :-) thanks again for watching this video and for all of your support toward me in this channel. I appreciate you watching and subscribing! I hope to hear from you again soon, Matt
Thanks so much for this video! I will definitely have to try getting an airport escort next time I fly. My husband often gets very overwhelmed guiding me through a busy airport, and it’s never a good start to our trip. Do you know if it is standard for all airports to provide that type of escort service?
Hi Kayla, thanks for watching this video and for the comment. As for your question, I am not sure if escort service is available in all airports, but I would be willing to guess that it is available in all airports in the United States. I’m sure they can come up with something to accommodate for your needs. As for other countries, that is a wildcard. The experience we had in the airport in Aruba was amazing. I think you and your husband should go to Aruba just so you can check out the airport escort service! :-) I hope this helps and thank you again for watching this video, I sincerely appreciate it. Have a great weekend, talk to you again soon! Matt
Hi guys well i wasn't aware that this service the escort or the wheelchair provided at the airport was not quite well known amongst the community i'm very surprised fortunately i have traveled like several times since i became blind and had the same service instantly without even having to ask or to inform them of anything but then again it's probably because here in the philippines we have a national id that states that you are a person with disability and what kind of disability you have so that actually gives us major discounts and also priority a service so i'm so glad that you have share this with a e1 because again it is actually the best experience being a person with visual impairment to travel like this we should enjoy the hurt that comes with it especially traveling and maneuvering airports kudos guys for tackling this topic kisses from manila
Hi, it is so nice to hear that you have it I had accommodations when it traveling with a wheelchair and priority boarding as well as other accommodations, that is so nice to hear! That is why the services are out there, especially being part of the blind and visually impaired community, we cannot feel bad about taking advantage of these accommodations. Thanks so much for watching this and for the comment, it’s over to hear from you as always! Matt
hmmm... interesting about the bulkhead seats. will give it a try.
Yes, the bulkhead seats are amazing. I’m glad you were able to find this information valuable. Thanks again for watching this video and for the nice comment. :-) Matt
Hi guys great video. Glad you two had a great time. Good tips on the airport travel thank you. When I travel by myself I have always gotten a guide. When Vidar and I travel I have never thought of using a guide or sitting in the balk head seats. ( Now I know ) This would have made traveling in Iceland so much easer last year. That is the most congested airport I have ever see. I always put blind on my ticket that way the flight attendants know so they sill not try to hand me hot coffee the someone setting beside me:-) We are flying to London, Ireland and Norway this summer. I am going to put some of your tricks to the test. Have a wonderful day!!
Hi Penny! Thank you so much for watching and the nice comment. It’s great to hear from you again! I’m glad that you learned a couple tips and tricks from this video and will be implementing them this summer. I hope everything goes well! I would love to hear how your experience goes so please keep me updated after your travels. I’m glad that you also get an escort when at the airport until the flight attendants so that they are aware. It makes things so much easier when they are just aware from my experience, everybody at the airport and on the airplane are always very helpful and accommodating. Thanks again, I look forward to hearing about your experiences! Matt
Time is of the essence with airport employees. This is why they use the wheelchair, because it is way faster and cut through lines and get you to your gate. That way the employee is free to do other duties! Same thing with boarding airplanes to reduce boarding time they board everyone that needs help first. Yes it is a perk for disabled Travelers. However, it is all about time and efficiency for the airlines!
Hi, thanks for watching this video. I completely agree with you, they definitely want efficiency at the airport for everyone. And they do a great job with it too. Thanks for watching this video and for reaching out with your input and insights. I always appreciate hearing from you as you always have something insightful and intelligent to say! Thanks again, talk to you soon. Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire thank you Matt for the compliment it is greatly appreciated!
You are absolutely welcome! :-) Matt
Traveling by plane is a deep source of stress for me, and I look forward to it like I’d want a root canal. And trying to get someone to help can be so difficult! I’m in tears by the time I’m in my plane seat. (I usually travel alone) I preboard to reduce stress and anxiety. When I didn’t, despite using my white cane, I’ve had impatient passengers trying to shove me aside.
Hey Matt and Corey! 🤗🙂
Hey Kia! It is so nice to hear from you again! :-) That is so sad and unfortunate to hear that traveling by plane is a deep-sea source of stress for you. I would highly recommend the next time you go to the airport to ask for an escort. That was the best experience I’ve ever had at an airport. It was so easy and stress-free free. He handled everything and allowed us to navigate through the airport quickly and efficiently and on harmed by other passengers. The next time you’re at the airport, go to the ticket counter and ask for an escort because you are blind. They will assign an airport employee to navigate you from the ticket counter all the way to your gate. From the gate, the gate agent can also assist you down the jetway to the plan where the flight attendants will help you from there. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to reach out with any questions that you may have. I would like to help you in anyway we can. Thanks again for the comment it is so nice to hear from you again! :-) Matt
Blind to Billionaire Yeah, I will try that option. Though I have some sight, trying to mentally process visual images that are fast paced and constantly changing can drive me to distraction. The less I have to worry about, the better. 😄
Hey Kia, I think you should definitely do that the next time you’re at the airport. I think you’ll find it is so much less stressful and makes your airport experience so much more enjoyable. I know that is hard to imagine right now, but I think it’ll be such a dramatic difference from what you have experienced in the past that you will really appreciate the escort. If you happen to use the service, please reach out to me and let me know how it goes. I would be interesting to hear your experience! Thanks again for reaching out to me, it is so nice to hear from you again! Matt
Most of the time when I travel by air, I go alone. After I have purchased the ticket online, or calling the airline I always schedule someone to meet me at the baggage check point set it they can guide me through security and straight to the gate. I don’t really have to wait in line it’s pretty much straightforward. Then when I land at the next airport there is always someone waiting for me at the gate to help me get to baggage claim. It’s fun but I would definitely like to travel with someone that can see where were going LOL
Hey Ryan! And that is great, I’m so happy to hear that you have an escort when you go to the airport to guide you to your gate. Also, it is nice to hear that someone picks you up when you disembark the plane at your destination. I forgot to add that point in, that someone is always waiting in the jetway at the arrival destination. Thanks again Ryan, Matt
Thanks, interesting
You guys..not to sound stupid, I missed the shows as this one being one of them, I didn't know you were blind, you do your program in a way that you'd never know if you didn't tell...I didn't. I just thought by the title of your program that billionaires are blinded by what the rest of struggling non money people go through. I'm rambling now..but I just wanted to say I didn't know. Either way your terrific, you and your wife are lucky to have each other. Stay strong! God bless!
Thank you for letting me know ahead of time. Hopefully my wife and I trip to Aruba will be a nice comfortable quick one.
Great video guys.
Hey Vincent! That would be so awesome! I hope that does happen for both of you. Just one little hint, I wouldn’t look into flights with JetBlue. They typically have some pretty good pricing out of the East Coast. Since we are located in Minnesota, all of the JetBlue flights connect in the East Coast before heading down to Aruba. But since you were over in that region you may find some good flights with JetBlue. Just a thought. Our last vacation to Aruba in December we flew JetBlue and loved it. They have the TVs in the back of the seat along with Wi-Fi which was really nice. We flew with Suncountry this time but they did not have the TVs or Wi-Fi. It was a very long flight. LOL. Thanks again for watching, talk to you soon. Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire I have a secret for you to know. And it has to do with JetBlue.
I can fly free with JetBlue. Well, I have to pay $40 in taxes. Why do I get this amazing deal well it's because my brother is a manager for JetBlue.
The only downfall is they're flying vouchers if the flight gets full I have to wait for the next flight. But rarely does that ever happen.
I have never tried flying to Aruba or Hawaii or any other place other than Italy. So I have no clue how am I deal with my bro would go for Aruba but now I'm going to ask him. I will let you know if I end up getting a crazy deal I did not know I could get. The thought never even crossed my mind ask my brother as it did not know JetBlue even flew there.
Hey Vincent! Wow, wow! That is an amazing deal. If you’re interested in checking out how well that system works, I will happily volunteer myself to except a voucher and pay $40 to fly to Aruba. Let me know if you’re looking for a guinea pig to try this out. I will sacrifice my time and $40 to see if it works. :-) :-) :-) that is a really cool offer, I am so happy that you have that. Actually, a little bit jealous too. You should definitely take advantage of that opportunity! Let me know how it goes. Matt
Thanks - I will try it... Just concerned about the prebooked seats :(
Hi there Don from London England I watched yor vudeo from start to finish you guys are awesome I am planning to visit NYC for my belated 50th which was in 2019
I will defintly use your tips including the secret one I promise I wont tell anyone lol but thank yo again
What is a certificate of blindness? Also what if you have kids, would they let them go in line with you?
Hi, thank you very much for watching this video and for reaching out to me with the comments and questions. The certificate of blindness is something that was issued to me by the retina specialist. It simply says my name, diagnosis, date of diagnosis, and that the diagnosis is consistent with legal blindness. I keep this document with me when I am traveling just in the event someone questions my vision and blindness. I like to be able to produce an official document in that situation. I have never been questioned, but I always want to have that with me just in the event I do get questions someday. As for your question about kids, if they are minor children, they will definitely be able to join you. If they are adult children, they may need to go through the general population lines. So if they are under the age of 18, they could probably certainly join you as a companion as you were escorted through the airport. I hope this information helps, please feel free to reach out to your retina specialist or your ophthalmologist and ask them for a certificate of blindness or some other type of formal document stating that you were legally blind. Thanks again, please feel free to ask any additional questions if you have them. Talk to you soon, Matt
Hello thank you for making this video I am traveling soon and I’m glad to know that I picked the right Company to travel with anyway I was wondering what is a legally blind certificate I think is what you called it is that something you get when you get a passport or how do you even get that that would be great to know thank you
Hi, thank you so much for watching and commenting on this video. It is nice to hear from you and meet you too! Oh that is great, I’m glad to hear that we gave you some helpful tips and tricks in this video. Hopefully you can implement them when you were traveling soon. The certificate that I referred to in the video was the certificate of legal blindness. It is actually something that was issued to me by my retina specialist. It is basically just a simple piece of paper that says my name and the diagnosis and the date I was diagnosed. It also states on the certificate that I am legally blind. They referred to it as a certificate of legal blindness. I would suggest possibly talking to your doctor and asking if they can issue some type of certificate or official document that you can have with you when you travel. I hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to me and I will do what I can to help you. Thanks again for watching this video and for all of your support by subscribing, watching the video, and reaching out to me. It means a lot to me! I hope to hear from you again soon, Matt
Also contact www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support this is your escort, it is TSA Cares. Contact them 72 hours prior to departure. A TSA person will meet you at the airport. They may not have this available at international airports returning.
Being a travel agent, who happens to be blind, I have learned by experience over 10 years
Hi! Thank you very much for the link, I will definitely check it out and see year what I can do. I am very excited! Thank you very much for sharing this resource! That is so cool that you’re a travel agent, it would be fun to talk to you about travel as we love to do it! We absolutely love traveling and live for it. Traveling is a very important part of our lives. As a travel agent, I’m sure you are very well educated on some of the best destinations and can probably give some very good advice! Thank you again for the link and the valuable resource! I look forward to looking into it :-) talk to you again soon :-) Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire Matt you and your readers can reach out on Facebook.com/Echevarriatravels or you can email me at reservations@echevarriatravel.com, where I can add you to my enewsletter. We offer Group Travel a few times a year for everyone, not just the blind, we want everyone to learn and enjoy life. We also specialize in Romance; Disney Destinations and more. We also love to cruise both River and Ocean.
Great tips! I don't know the service quality here in Indonesia but I'll try it next time I go to my hometown.
Hi, thank you so much for watching this video and for reaching out to me through the comments. That sounds great, please let me know when you do that it would be interesting to hear your feedback. I sincerely appreciate you watching this video and for reaching out to me. It means a lot to me that you subscribe to this channel and are being so supportive. Thanks again, I look forward to connecting with you again sometime soon. Matt
Also, just one more thing. I think you might be the only person from Indonesia that I am aware of on this channel. Thank you so much for being the first! That is so cool that you are in Indonesia and following this channel. That is awesome, thank you so much for telling me. Talk to you again soon, Matt
What a beautiful couple. I never made the connection that you were the one that made those Social Security videos. As someone that is totally blind as well. I have to say that I am pretty nervous. I am going to be flying for the first time at the beginning of December in order to go see my fiancé and Bosnia. I have always had a fear of flying and I think that has majorly been because I have never done it. I will be traveling alone and just wondered is it at all scary and how? I am going to do my best to schedule assistance from all three of the airlines that I will be using. I really appreciate your video. I even love the sarcasm that is shared between the two of you. How did you guys meet? My fiancé is blind as well like me due to retinopathy prematurity. It’s really inspiring to see something like this from another blind couple. I hope to hear from you and wish you all the best.
Thanks. I just took a quick trip alone to Austin this past weekend and could've used these tips. I'll use them in the next trip I plan. I hate airports! Never would've thought of a priority line but I would probably have to have my cane with me. A lot of times when people see me without my cane, they just treat me like a normal person. I disagree about the wheelchair thing. I prefer a golf cart.
Hi Kristin! I’m glad to hear that this video helped you out and gave you some tips and tricks that you can use in the future. That would be great, I would love to hear how your future experiences go. Thanks again for watching this video and for reaching out to me. I’m excited for you to try these tactics to see how they go. Talk to you soon, Matt
Okay, I know this video is over a year old but I have some questions. Hopefully the users of this account still check here and will reply to this comment and then I will ask my questions.
Thanks you guys. I was specifically searching for this information on UA-cam. 5 Thumbs up!!
Great information!! Would you say calling ahead to the airport they could provide a certificate of legal blindness? Or should I ask my local Disability Services for the Blind? Thanks!
Hi! Thanks so much for watching this video and for reaching out to us, it is great to hear from you. I would actually talk to your doctor regarding a certificate of blindness. They would be able to give you a signed legal official looking paper that would certify your legal blindness that you can display. I would always bring a copy with you anytime you travel or especially when you go to the airport, I have never need to display mine, but it’s always nice to have it in the event someone needs to see it or you need to provide proof. I hope that’s helpful, thanks so much for being here, I really appreciate your support :-) Matt
Great video guys. My wife and I travel a lot, mainly to Canada. I despise air travel now that my sight has decreased quite a bit. I think my wife only takes me so she can get on the plane first. ("Whip out that cane now!") Certificate of legal blindness? Where do I get one of these?
I am a blind guy and I HATE airports. I have never had the confidence to use an airport by myself. When I travel with my partner or family I get so stressed in the airport as there are just too many obstacles, noises, people and lights for me to cope with. I am sure I would just have a panic attack if I had to try to travel on my own, and that is my biggest fear that one day I won't have my partner to help me and I will not be able to use an airport.
Since the topic is assistance. I wanted to see if anybody on here knows of ways to get assistance at Major League Baseball games.
We took my son last year and he wasn’t able to see much of the game-even with fairly good seats. I asked customer service about a month ago if they had preferential seating for visually impaired people. The only thing they had was for wheelchairs which is actually at the top. We could pay for even better seats but I feel like since the seats are needed for him to enjoy the game they should provide them for cheaper. I saw that he might be able to get a listening device, but he’s only 6 and I’m not sure that would help him be more engaged in the game.
He’s still able to play baseball and he loves watching it on tv, so it was disappointing to go to the game and have him give up trying to watch.
Good morning Megan! Thank you for reaching out with this question, I do not know the answer to this one, but there may be some people on this channel who can answer this for you. That’s actually a great question and I’m glad you asked it. I will see if I can think of anyone who frequently attends baseball games and reach out to them directly to ask them your questions. Thanks Megan, I hope we can find some answers for you! Matt
Does your escort put everything through security for you
i would like to ask if its possible for a visually impaired person toto travel alone under SSI adn dependant on a representative payee?
Hi Matt hi Corey welcome back from Aruba and thanks for another wonderful video. Here are my takeaways, Matt does not like the Kardashian’s… LOL, secondly that’s a great tip to asked for a guide or a companion or somebody that can help you through the airport. The Aruba angel did a fantastic job of getting you around and through the airport and it sounds like he was great at being A great tour guide. Also I didn’t know about caring a blind certificate or a certificate stating your Biane. Is that something that is issued by your medical provider? And then the bonus tab was great, I will have to use that one next time to get the upgrade to the bulkhead seat. That’s nice. And what an amazing difference between how long it took you, half an hour as opposed to how long it took your parents, 2 1/2 hours to get to the gate. It sounds like he airport was just as much of an adventure as well as your vacation. Thanks again For the great video. Appreciate it
Hey Lenny! LOL, those are some great takeaways from the video. You were definitely paying attention and taking notes. LOL. I’m glad you learned a couple tips and tricks with this video. Yes, the certificate of blindness is something that was issued to me from the retina specialist. It simply states my name, diagnosis, and the date of diagnosis as well as saying that I am legally blind on the certificate. I like to carry this with me as proof just in the event someone questions thinking that I’m just trying to pull something and get to the front of the line. No one has ever question me, but I always want to have this with me in the event it ever does happen. You could probably go to your retina specialist and ask for some kind of form or certification signed by the doctor saying that you are legally blind. I hope this helps. Thanks again for watching this video! Let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Matt
Blind to Billionaire Move to your right move the right, move the right move to your right……… LOL
LOL, that is exactly what it sounded like. LOL
Sooooo im guessing the glasses didn't help??? Lol i thought that was so funny that you went out of your way to put them on just for the video. Your guys are great
Hey Jessie, LOL, no, the classes did not help. They were actually just some costume glasses that we wore for Halloween and I thought it would be funny to throw them on for the video. LOL, thanks for watching the video we’re so happy to know you and have you here on this channel! Thanks again my friend, have a great Thursday! Matt
Where do you get a certificate of legal blindness?
As far as the escort goes are you supposed to tip them money and what if you only have a $20 bill
How do you about getting a certificate of blindness?
Hi, you can discuss it with your doctor. Ask them to give you some type of certificate indicating your blindness. They should be able to give you some type of official paperwork that you can carry with you. I hope that helps!
I understand why the escort would cut in lines. It is not to get you to the gate faster it is to get his job accomplished quicker so that he may help other passengers. If you got to point B in half hour and it took your parents 2 more hours, think of how many passengers the escort helped in that 2 hours. This was very interesting and I enjoyed your video thank you.
Hi! Thank you so much for watching this video, for the nice comment, and for subscribing to this channel! It is so nice to hear from you and meet you! Yes, I completely agree with you. That escort was able to help and assist numerous other passengers in the same amount of time my parents were standing in line. It made our life so much easier and more efficient that we wanted to share it with this community so that other people can also take advantage of the services. Thank you again for watching this video and for reaching out to me, I hope to connect with you more on future videos! Talk to you again soon :-) Matt
Y’all are so cute! Thank you for this video filled with great tips! My 16yo son who is blind just traveled from Georgia to Vancouver, BC with his older brother. They travel together a lot, but this time they had some strange issues: first, at security, they were asked if his cane was a hiking pole...Then 2x agents took the cane from him and handed him a wooden walking cane to get through the scanner. The boys tried patiently to explain that he’s blind and didn’t need a walking cane! I am forwarding your video to my boys right now. Also, may I link to your video from my blog (navigatingblindness.com)? I’m planning to write a post about their most recent travel experience and I’d love to point to your video. My best to you both❤️
Hi, thank you so much for watching and commenting on this video. It is so nice to hear from you! Wow, that is so cool that the boys travel together and did so recently. It sounds like there was a little bit of confusion at the security line with the agents. It is nice that they spoke up and told them that it is not a walking cane, or a hiking stick, but rather a cane for mobility. Wow, thank you so much for that nice gesture. Yes, absolutely you are welcome to point to this video in your blog. That would be so nice of you! Thank you so much for doing that for me. You are welcome to. To any of my videos or the channel as a hole in your blog if you would like. I have numerous other videos so hopefully you and your blog readers are able to find value in other videos I have uploaded as well. It would be interesting to hear more about the boys airport experience. Thank you again for watching this video and for reaching out to me, it is so great to hear from you! I look forward to connecting with you again soon. Matt
Blind to Billionaire you’re welcome and thank you! I’ll be sure to tag you on Instagram when the blog post is live.
Hi, thank you so much. That will be so interesting! I look forward to reading it! Thank you very much for doing this for me, I really appreciate it! Matt
Thanks for the info, I’m actually planning on taking a flight this summer and this information could be very helpful. You said this was in the Aruba airport, have you ever had any experiences like that in US airports? Because I’m planning on flying from North Carolina to Colorado. And also, this is a really odd question but if you’re sitting towards the front of the plane is it really hard to get to the restroom if you’re traveling alone? Because the restrooms are in the back of the plane right? Oh and one other thing, have y’all been having a hard time commenting under UA-cam videos? And this is really a question for Matt, has voiceover been giving you any trouble with UA-cam? I had to have my sister help me post this comment, because I couldn’t touch the send comment button. It wouldn’t let me.
Hi Abby! It is so nice to hear from you :-) as for all of your questions it is actually very easy to access the restroom when on the airplane when sitting in the bulkhead seats the reason for that is that there is an restroom in the front of the plane just in front of first class. So, you are typically only about six or seven rows from the nearest restroom which is very convenient. As for UA-cam, I have not had any problems recently but I know what you’re talking about. I have had troubles writing comments and responding to comments in the past with the iPhone dictation and voiceover. It depends how I am accessing UA-cam whether it is on the UA-cam website, through the UA-cam app, or the UA-cam studio. Each one is a little bit different and sometimes they give me trouble but I find that the UA-cam studio app is the best. Although, I think that app is for you tubers with channels. Otherwise the UA-cam app is not all that great but that also works too. Sometimes I found that I just need to power my phone off then turn it back on and it’ll work a lot easier and better. Yes, you can get an escort in airports here in the United States as well. They are very good about it. If you would rather have a family member or friend be your escort versus an airport employee, they can get an escort pass at the check-in counter where they print your boarding pass. Just go there and tell them that you are blind and that you need an escort to the gate. Say that you have a family member or friend who will be accompanying you and you would like them to get a an escort pass. That person will need to display an ID and go through all of the steps just as you will throughout the airport such as going through security. But that person will be able to escort you from the check-in counter all the way to your gate. Typically what I have done when this is happened is when we get to the gate we typically talk to the gate agent and tell them that I am blind. When it is time to board, typically the gate agent will come over to me and escort me to the jetway and then from there they will escort me all the way to the plane or a flight attendant will meet me at the jetway and escort me all the way to my seat. This is very helpful too. I hope this information is helpful, please feel free to ask any additional questions if you have any. Thanks again Abby, Matt
Thank you so much.
Hi to you both,
Great video, I've always had assistance at the airport when travelling alone but when I've been with my son and his Mum we have usually not requested any kind of assistance/escort but I did mention for our trip this year that perhaps it would be easier to request it as she doesn't need to concentrate on our son and trying to guide or ensure I'm ok. I must admit that I never knew about the bulkhead seating policy in all the years of travelling, even when I had a dog. You mentioned that it is only for you and a guide so what is the situation if you have a child, so essentially taking up 3 seats would they allow a couple with one child or is the rule really strict, because if there's any possibility of geting those seats then I will try to do that for our trip from London to California in the summer. Even without knowing about that I did once almost get myself and my wife at the time up graded from standard class to premier on an Aerlingus flight and although after some negotiating with the check in person they said they would try but also told us that it would be up to the senior cabin person on the plane when we got there, and sure enough we weren't placed in premier but you never know unless you try LOL.
Hey Martin! Thanks for watching this video and for the comment. As for the question about your son, I’m not sure how that would work. I’m not sure if they will allow you and your son or if they would allow all three of you to sit in the bulkhead seats. I’m just not sure. Considering your son is a minor child, I would be willing to guess that he would be allowed to sit there with your wife. I think getting an escort through the airport would be helpful even with your son and your wife there. It would make things a lot easier for you and allow your wife to watch your son and help him rather than trying to help both of you. I am very interested to hear how your experience goes through the airport with the escort as well as your flight. It’ll be really cool when you get to go to California this coming summer! I’m sure all of you are going to enjoy it and have such a fun time together. I’m sure we’ll be talking many more times between then, but I am excited to hear about your vacation! Thanks again Martin, please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help or questions I can answer. Talk to you again soon, Matt
Do you think that you can replace the escort by a mobile app?
Hi, thanks so much for watching this video. As for replacing the escort with A mobile app. I would probably say no. In some instances you could probably get away with using a mobile app something like be my eyes to help you through certain areas, but it would take so much longer trying to navigate independently using an app versus just asking for an escort. They know exactly where to go and they walk to the front of the line, so it makes it so much faster and easier. I would just recommend getting an escort, it is so much more time efficient to do it that way. I hope this helps answer your question. Thanks again for being here and for watching, I appreciate your support. Thanks so much for subscribing! MATT
I have a statement of blindness for taxes should work for the plane also?
Hi, yes I think that should be sufficient. Thank you for the question and for watching the video
How do you get a legally blind certificate
Just for the information we don't have accessible airport in Nepal
Hi my friend, thank you very much for watching this video and for reaching out to us. That is very interesting, I never knew that. Thank you very much for sharing. Do you travel by bus or train in your country? I am just curious. Thank you very much, talk to you soon, Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire actually I usually travel by bus, sometime with my family private car and I had visited Vietnam by plane on 2017 and in India on 2018 for the global I T competition
Hi, thank you very much for the reply. That is so cool. I’m glad that you were still able to travel by different means other than air. It’s really cool to hear this. I’m glad you had the opportunity to do some traveling for different events. Thanks again for reaching out to me and for the prompt reply, it is always fun getting to know more about you. Matt
What is a certificate of blindness never heard of it before
Hey Nicole, basically it is just a certificate from a doctor giving the official diagnosis of legal blindness. You don’t need it all that often, but it is nice to have in some situations. You can just ask your doctor for an official documentation of blindness
💚💚💚💚
Certificate of legal blindness? How do you get such a thing?
Hi, thank you very much for watching this video, I sincerely appreciate having you here on the channel. As for the certificate of blindness, that is something you should be able to ask your doctor for and about. They are different forms that this type of certificate or document is assigned, but either way, your doctor should be able to give you some type of document certifying your legal blindness that you can carry with you and display if ever needed. I hope this is helpful, thank you again for watching, I sincerely appreciate your support on this on this channel. Talk to you again soon. Matt
@@BlindtoBillionaire Thanks for the info. And, thank you for the videos. You, and the other UA-camrs are a great support and help for all of those dealing with vision loss. Helps us feel that we're not alone and part of a community. I've gained confidence talking about my vision and using my cane by watching you and a few others. This is a great service to us all.
Hi, you are very welcome! I’m glad that you can find support and friendship here on this channel and through my videos, that is very rewarding for me to hear that feedback! Thank you very much, I am always here for you to offer support and friendship if you ever need it, never hesitate to reach out. Thanks again, I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend :-) Matt
I've rp and if I fly I'll be flying blind..lol!
🥰
Hi guy's, my Comment Is on a different link, anyways Remember Jesus
: )💕
This guy is a trip he has nothing to say about the fact he has been doing it for so long its one lie after another I've canceled my subscription for his channel the best ones to get the truth is meet Kevin and according to Vin