A tip for travel if you are disabled and use a wheelchair:

DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WHEELCHAIR UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE MINUTE!!!

Having traveled extensively with a power wheelchair, most damage done to wheelchairs/power chairs are because of lack of supervision and accountability. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Because of having your own wheelchair, you can be a bit demanding when it comes to checking in. If anyone gives you a hard time about trying to check in at the first-class line if you are checking luggage, just say you were told to go to that line.

On the check-in note, if your airport allows, use the curbside bag check and tip the guy a couple bucks. If you get to the airport early enough, you shouldn't have a problem.

If you are asked during luggage check-in if you are checking your wheelchair, say no, that it will be gate checked (because it will).

Most manual wheelchairs can be stored right onboard the plane. If you use a power wheelchair, it will need to go under the plane with the luggage. This is where you can minimize potential problems (although you might come off as a bit of a pain for doing it, it's your chair and your mobility).

If you have a power wheelchair, go to the gate check-in early and as soon as one of the gate staff comes to the check-in desk, approach him/her and tell them that you need to make arrangements to have your chair gate checked.
Be prepared with information they need to know - generally it's that you have gel cell batteries (also known as dry cell) and quick disconnect. Most modern power wheelchairs have these features.

Inform the gate staff that you will NOT give up possession of your chair until you speak with the ramp manager. Do NOT let them try to pass you off to one of their lackeys (generally 3rd party hired assistance staff).

Once the "ramp guy" comes up, let him or her know what needs to be done with your chair and that you will help to instruct how to do the quick disconnect, etc JUST PRIOR to getting onto the plane.

Make it very clear to ramp guy that you want to know who will be bringing the chair down to the plane belly. If it is not ramp guy (which it should be) have them call up the responsible party and repeat everything in front of that person
You will be able to 'pre-board' because of the extra time required. However, do not leave your wheelchair until the person responsible for bringing the chair down to the plane belly is present.

If at all possible, have the responsible party push your chair manually. They will try to tell you that they will use the power to get it to the elevator or whatever and then they will disconnect it. Refuse that option.

Once you are on the plane and the chair is taken by the responsible person (which should be *immediately* after you are taken out of your chair), ask the flight attendants to have the pilot check to make sure the chair is on the plane before you leave the gate. Sometimes the flight attendants try to blow you off with a pat answer, but be insistent.

If you do not receive confirmation that your chair is on the plane before it looks like you are leaving, ASK AGAIN AND AGAIN until you receive confirmation that the chair is on the plane.

Also, before you hand over the chair, make sure you have proper gate check tags. If you have to change planes (which, if you use a power chair, I would advise against unless absolutely necessary), insist on receiving your chair between flights. It's the best way to ensure that there is no damage, and if there is, you'll know where it occurred.

Just before the plane lands, ask the flight attendant to have the pilot call the gate to advise that you have a power wheelchair due to come up as quickly as possible. Your chair should be waiting for you AT THE GATE no more than 20 minutes after landing. The more time that goes by without your chair, the more you complain.

Above all, be as pleasant as possible, but be firm. Tell everyone along the way that you know it's not them personally, but that you have to do everything you can to protect your mobility. In general flight attendants and pilots are pretty sensitive about your needs, and I've had many a pilot personally help track down my wheelchair.

Do NOT let the airline staff try to tell you that you can pick up your chair in baggage claim or anywhere that is not at the gate...that absolves them of any real responsibility and can make for a huge mess. Also, even if you are traveling with a 'walkie' - that person is your partner/spouse/relative/friend/whatever, not your personal assistant. You want the airline staff to do everything for you with disconnecting and reconnecting the chair because if there is damage they are liable.

A final suggestion is to provide prominent, laminated directions for connecting and disconnecting the chair on the back of the seat. Write (or type) in large type and use simple words...it might also be helpful to put colored stickers on parts which need to be moved/touched to help guide with directions. Many airline staff workers in the ramp area are not native English speakers, and this is another way to prevent problems. Include your name, address, and cell phone number (and if you are a wheelchair user and don't have a cell phone - get one) for identification purposes. I also realize you won't want to walk around with a big sign on your back, so you might want to use ribbon to tie it to the chair but it can be removed when you are at your destination.

I realize that this can make you sound quite arrogant, but sometimes that is what is required.