Wheelchair Assistance when you don't need Wheelchair!

[MadFairlane]

If you think this is bad. You should see the rort that is the wheelchair access lines for attractions in Disney.

 

[Shelf]

It could be tricky because of anti-discrimination laws, but perhaps a $100 service fee after the first few spots are taken ('over capacity wheelchair fee'?) - that way late bookings in genuine cases can still fly with only a mild penalty while the real fakers will balk and turn it down. I could see it producing ugly PR though, so I can appreciate why they would keep the status quo.

I believe that would be unlawful.

 

[jono88888]

I actually think its quite harsh calling someone the lowest form of life for doing something such as this.

I can't speak for yourself, but if I was to picture myself faking it and getting wheeled up to an aircraft in a wheelchair, it would make me cringe in embarrassment. It would be a pretty low act.

Anybody who fakes something like this in order to push in front of other folk deserves all the flak they get.

Lowest ? Well that's just rhetoric, but very low.

 

[MrJetset]

The OP doesn't know the pax's medical issue, or situation. Sorry, but I don't think you can make judgment based on the above.

We all know seating is not guaranteed. To be fuming over being reseated on a SYD-MEL sector is a waste of energy, IMHO.

 

[medhead]

My wife's grandmother needs wheelchair assistance. Not because she can't walk but because she can't walk long distances. So she can walk slowly off an aircraft to a wheelchair waiting on the aerobridge.

I also read about someone on crutches or something like that, who could get around the airport ok, but couldn't get down an aircraft aisle. An example of someone who needs assistance via wheelchair to get to a seat.

I think a key point is that these are not necessarily wheelchair confined people but people who need assistance to travel. In this case, we can't be sure what factors were involved, what assistance was required. Perhaps they could walk to the front door but then got into a wheelchair.

 

[freepyjamas]

No flaming from me either.

I have a daughter with paraplegia, and it's terrible to hear of able-bods taking advantage of such things. Such acts of extreme selfishness will only encourage airlines to crack down, and the ultimate losers will be people with genuine disabilities. Genuinely shameful behaviour, and I don't think I'd be able to hold my tongue if I saw it occur.

There is a simple solution as far as I'm concerned. Because we have to wait for our daughter's wheelchair to be brought up from the baggage hold and delivered to the plane, we are always last off the aircraft. Way last. Often having to wait 10 minutes after everyone else has exited. No problem there, it's just the way it is.

But I don't see why anyone who has ticked a box as a 'wheelchair' passenger isn't then required to stay in their seat until all other pax have exited the plane, so the proper assistance can be offered to them. That might discourage these a-holes from scamming the system.

I would also allow FA to conduct a simple test on suspect pax, by stabbing them in the thigh with a fork. But that's just me.

As an aside, every time she wheels up to the gate, she is asked whether she can walk. When she says 'no... completely paralysed' it's pretty clear that this is a rare occurrence, and the majority of wheelchair pax can indeed walk, but simply prefer the chair. This is especially so in the US... the land of disabled parking stickers and motorised wheelchairs for the overweight.

 

[mannej]

I can't speak for yourself, but if I was to picture myself faking it and getting wheeled up to an aircraft in a wheelchair, it would make me cringe in embarrassment. It would be a pretty low act.

Anybody who fakes something like this in order to push in front of other folk deserves all the flak they get.

Lowest ? Well that's just rhetoric, but very low.

All I can see from the OP is assumptions in regards to the situation. The call someone the lowest of low and a scammer based on (perhaps biased due to the seat change) assumption and conjecture from the ground agent IMO is quite harsh. The OP does not know the full facts, and as such I would be replying as such if I was dealing with the feedback.

As others have stated, reasons for use of a wheelchair are not black and white, and whilst the OP is free to judge, he is not qualified to a factual statement as to her requirements.

 

[medhead]

But I don't see why anyone who has ticked a box as a 'wheelchair' passenger isn't then required to stay in their seat until all other pax have exited the plane,

As an aside, every time she wheels up to the gate, she is asked whether she can walk. When she says 'no... completely paralysed' it's pretty clear that this is a rare occurrence, and the majority of wheelchair pax can indeed walk, but simply prefer the chair. This is especially so in the US... the land of disabled parking stickers and motorised wheelchairs for the overweight.

I think you're missing the point. They don't ticket a 'wheelchair' box, they tick an assistance box. The assistance needed is going to vary depending on the person. I don't think it is fair to judge by the standards of your situation. some people can walk but may also need assistance. I am painfully aware of this having flown through the air on a bus this week. Yes, I vaguely walk properly, but I have a condition that means I probably do need assistance on things like buses. My response to the judgemental response of people who clearly think there is nothing wrong with me made a fairly big contribution to me ending up on the floor in the door of the bus 3 meters from where I was standing.

Edit: I'm not blaming anyone except myself for what happened (well the driver in the car that cut in front of the bus) I make my choices.

 

[drron]

All I can see from the OP is assumptions in regards to the situation. The call someone the lowest of low and a scammer based on (perhaps biased due to the seat change) assumption and conjecture from the ground agent IMO is quite harsh. The OP does not know the full facts, and as such I would be replying as such if I was dealing with the feedback.

As others have stated, reasons for use of a wheelchair are not black and white, and whilst the OP is free to judge, he is not qualified to a factual statement as to her requirements.

I have re read the OP 3 times and i can not see where there is mention of the lowest of low and a scammer .
Apparently you are also making assumptions.

 

[mannej]

I have re read the OP 3 times and i can not see where there is mention of the lowest of low and a scammer .
Apparently you are also making assumptions.

He calls her the lowest form of life in the first post and he says that she was clearly scamming. It is not me making assumptions. Perhaps an eye check is in order?

 

[dk4]

I find it interesting that post 11

Hard to see what the airlines can do about it...

Has been liked by

ozbeachbabe, under the radar and TheInsider like this.

Perhaps there is real problem for the airlines, relevant to the OP's situation.

 

[medhead]

it's here...

but in my eyes she is one of the lowest forms of life).

 

[markis10]

He calls her the lowest form of life in the first post and he says that she was clearly scamming. It is not me making assumptions. Perhaps an eye check is in order?

You mis quoted, one of the lowest is not a definitive lowest:

(Please do not lose me here but there are other explanations but in my eyes she is one of the lowest forms of life).

 

[Paddy55]

If you think this is bad. You should see the rort that is the wheelchair access lines for attractions in Disney.

Just spent a week in Disney World and you are dead right!
Seen the same on internal flights in US in past couple of weeks too

What really ticks me off is that these people are taking proper resources and priority from the genuinely disabled, and I share others' opinions who think that makes them a low form of life! Bit like parking in disabled zones when you're not disabled.

 

[medhead]

You mis quoted, one of the lowest is not a definitive lowest:

The lowest is the lowest. Being one of many that are equally low does not mean they are all not the lowest individually.

See all depends on interpretation of a pretty open statement.

 

[medhead]

What really ticks me off is that these people are taking proper resources and priority from the genuinely disabled, and I share others' opinions who think that makes them a low form of life! Bit like parking in disabled zones when you're not disabled.

Define "not disabled"

 

[drron]

He calls her the lowest form of life in the first post and he says that she was clearly scamming. It is not me making assumptions. Perhaps an eye check is in order?

As has been pointed out he didn't call her the lowest but one of.
I can find stunt but not scam.He repeats stunt in post 12.Please point me to scam if you can see it.
I have worn glasses for 50 years so do have them regularly checked.

And I believe this is a common occurrence.As I have said before like medhead I have mobility problems with a knee that needs surgery,spinal canal stenosis plus an unrelated peripheral neuropathy.Balance can sometimes be a problem.None of these things are visible so i know not to judge a book by it's cover.However I am often quite sure that people often try it on without a good reason.
Many times flying SYD or MEL-MCY I have seen people wheeled on to a JQ or DJ flight getting pre boarding and sitting near the front.Yet on arrival at MCY they can deplane down the stairs and when on the flat go a lot faster than I can.As in all things in life if regulations are brought in to stop this it will be the genuine cases that will be inconvenienced and those putting it on will more than likely continue to get away with it.

 

[medhead]

Being one of the group that is the lowest does not make one any less low.

 

[samh004]

Simple, tell them they must wait for a wheelchair to collect them at the other end, if they leave, then black mark them banning them from selecting a wheelchair

Leaves a bit of an issue when they actually do need one, but something like this. It's like the boy who cried wolf, you fool the system too much and the system isn't going to be on your side. Hard to see how the system should act though.

Simple answer perhaps would be just including a clause in the T&C whereby deception like that is rewarded with forfeiture of points/SC for the flight. Doesn't stop the once a year fliers though.

 

[mannej]

Being one of the group that is the lowest does not make one any less low.

I'm still trying to figure that out myself