Q Will my father, who relies on a walker for mobility, be able to use the walker to get to his plane, or will he have to check it as baggage?

A Walkers are welcome at airports; your father should have no problem. Like all items that make it to the ticketed area, his walker will be screened at the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint. If it can't be folded and sent through the X-ray machine, an agent will manually inspect it. Some airlines have a designated location aboard the aircraft to stow items like walkers (provided they fold up). If not, the walker will be tagged and stowed in the baggage compartment of the aircraft during the flight, and will reappear at the airplane door as passengers disembark.