Disability & Politics

Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 7:17 PM

Posted by: Disabled Politico Posts: 420

I just blogged about this lawsuit: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080414/NEWS02/80414030/1004

Have you ever experienced discrimination because of your disability while traveling on an airplane? Got a good story to share about an airline that provides great customer service? What do you all think of this lawsuit? How about the part where they're not seeking any monetary damages- interesting, isn't it!

Blog is here

Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 7:36 PM

Posted by: Whitney Posts: 692

I don't fly much but all the instances I have had have been generally good.  I was even bumped to first class once because the attendants felt it would be easier to get me to the restroom and attend to my needs.   I've never flow NW airlines though.  My only complaint has been the length of time it seems to take some employees to get my wheelchair from the baggage area to the terminal.  I remember flying once where I sat waiting for almost 15 minutes after everyone else had gotten off and after several calls from the attendants for it to show up.  That was at DFW if I remember.  The attitude of the guy that eventually showed up with my chair clearly screamed "I don't get paid enough to care."  And so I got to wait.  Didn't matter that my husband was standing in the terminal waiting area for me or that we had a connecting flight to catch.

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Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 8:37 PM

Posted by: TriDog Posts: 2,763

I fly a few times a year. Both for work and recreation.  I've never really had a problem.  Everything from letting me board early to stowing both my everyday chair and my racing chair down below.  They've always let me bring my racer right up the jetway and they then take it out the side and put in below.  Many times the airlines have even offered to upgrade me and my wife to 1st class. 

I have to admit, that outside of a plan breaking down and making us miss a connection, the Airlines have been pretty easy to deal with.   I even fly manytimes on smaller puddle jumper planes (twin engine proper planes).

Posted on: Mon, Apr 14 2008 8:56 PM

Posted by: Lieslmcq Posts: 2,305

Not so much discrimination as annoyance. They wouldn't let me on the plane until everyone else was on after finding out I had planned to walk on. This was, to say the least, a very bad idea. I ended up falling into several people's laps, inadvertently hitting people as I went down and taking about 15 minutes to get to my seat. Good times.