Another moan .... airlines

luckybug

I recently went to Benidorm with Jet2 from Blackpool, I asked for wheelchair assistance as I did not know how big Alicante Airport was, anyway the staff were great until I got seated....in the middle of a row, now I am stiff as a board and always like to sit in the isle on the right side of the plane so I can lift the arm and swivel round to stand up for loo or to stretch my legs. When i asked for wheelchair assistance on the booking form online, that stopped me from choosing my own seat, and when I asked the girls onboard they said disabled passengers have to sit either near window or centre seat.... I was livid, the only way I could get round it was to buy another ticket for 20 euros on the way back. Last time I will ask for wheelchair assistance I would rather struggle and sit somewhere I choose. And god forbid if ever the plane was to go down, I would never be able to get my life jacket or stick that silly mask over my gob, as my arms are locked at 90 degrees. mind you I'm not a bad swimmer.

dorcas

hate to be the one to tell you this.......but disabled passengers are the LAST ones to get off the plane!
My niece who works for Air New Zealand told me this! so being able to swim is the least of your worries! Dorcas x

woodbon

As someone who can't swim, I think I'd rather stay on board and go down with the plane. Thats if I'm still able to care!!! I HATE flying, I'm always convinced that however many people travel and are perfectly safe, the plane I'm on will be the one to crash!

Hope you had a lovely holiday. Love Sue

page35

Glad i havent booked a holiday

luckybug

I was saying that tongue in cheek you know..... I love flying, it just does not love me or my ankles, but hey gotta be better than sitting in a coach for 24 hours.

trisher

Hi Ladybug

I was just reading your post about the airlines. There is no way you should have been treated like that.

I'm confined to a wheelchair......cannot walk at all. I don't like to say this too much on here but I have to have oxygen all the time.
When I'm well enough I like to go abroard mostly to florida because it is nice and warm.

When we book, we tell them I'm disabled, usually there is a disablity section, either you ring when you book. They sort out enough cylinders of oxygen, I take my pick of seats and favour a window seat, so we can sit on our own, and I get up to use the loo. They get the chair out and then hubby pushes me there and one of the aircrew come with us......they have even held the curtain shut if we cannot get the door shut. hubby waits outside.

When you are outbound or inbound you should go on first and taken to your seat. The downside is the getting off last because of your comfort, also having a wheelchair bought to the plane.

If the plane went down, rest assured you would have your lifejacket fiited by a member of staff.

The only stipulations are....the staff on the plane cannot lift you at all for example like me they are not covered by insurance incase they hurt themselves I assume.

You can have porters if you have requested this when you book.Alrways ring (disabled section of company you booked with) check everything out yorself.

I find that Virgin, are experts at this. I always wanted to go to Australlia, one day I will

love trisher xx

sharmaine

Hi
We went to Sweden last year and I found the queuing hard. I wasn't using my stick then, but those of you who have OA in the knees etc will appreciate how hard it is to stand in one place. There were no chairs near the booking in desk... it was agony.

It puts me off going anywhere. I really think the airlines should have some areas for disabled people to sit or rest. It would be nice to be able to get on the aircraft before other passengers. We're slower and it takes us time to settle. Unfortunately, you have to be rich to enjoy such priveleges.

I suppose the answer would be for us to campaign to get the airlines to change and improve the services they provide to arthritis sufferers. Is arthritis classed as a disability? It's not something that gets better so it must come under some category?

Sharmaine

luckybug wrote:

I recently went to Benidorm with Jet2 from Blackpool, I asked for wheelchair assistance as I did not know how big Alicante Airport was, anyway the staff were great until I got seated....in the middle of a row, now I am stiff as a board and always like to sit in the isle on the right side of the plane so I can lift the arm and swivel round to stand up for loo or to stretch my legs. When i asked for wheelchair assistance on the booking form online, that stopped me from choosing my own seat, and when I asked the girls onboard they said disabled passengers have to sit either near window or centre seat.... I was livid, the only way I could get round it was to buy another ticket for 20 euros on the way back. Last time I will ask for wheelchair assistance I would rather struggle and sit somewhere I choose. And god forbid if ever the plane was to go down, I would never be able to get my life jacket or stick that silly mask over my gob, as my arms are locked at 90 degrees. mind you I'm not a bad swimmer.