Passenger: Airline said I'm 'too disabled' to fly alone

192.168.0.0 · 10-15-2010, 10:53 PM

Passenger: Airline said I'm 'too disabled' to fly alone

By Marnie Hunter, CNN
October 15, 2010 9:06 p.m. EDT

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/15...ex.html?hpt=T2

I know that there may be two sides to every story . . . but this is something that I hope I will never have to deal with.

Delta Airline is all that I've used so far, and at this point will exclusively continue to be.

canuck · 10-17-2010, 12:17 AM

Some posts on aircraft forum about this

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/4956252/

Patton57 · 10-17-2010, 02:14 AM

The airline's argument about not letting disabled customers board a plane unattended if they can't get off a plane safely by themselves is flawed in one major respect.

In the case of emergencies it is highly likely that AB customers will be unable to safely exit a plane by themselves if they are severely injured. If US Airways is smart they'll think this through a little better. Having to travel with an attendant could easily double or triple the costs of flying for wheelchair bound customers.

SCI-Nurse · 10-17-2010, 03:24 AM

According to the regulations in the USA, the airline is allowed to determine that you be required to fly with an attendant, but if they do so, they are also required to provide not only a free seat for the attendant, but the attendant themselves. This is generally an off-duty cabin attendant, not a nurse, and the person is not required or allowed to do things like bowel and bladder care, but can assist with meals, etc.

Unfortunately if it is YOU that decides you need an attendant, and not the airlines, they are not required to provide a free seat, or even a discount for the attendant, and they are not required to provide the attendant either.

(KLD)

Patton57 · 10-17-2010, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

According to the regulations in the USA, the airline is allowed to determine that you be required to fly with an attendant, but if they do so, they are also required to provide not only a free seat for the attendant, but the attendant themselves. This is generally an off-duty cabin attendant, not a nurse, and the person is not required or allowed to do things like bowel and bladder care, but can assist with meals, etc.

Thanks for clarifying.

I had an off-duty pilot come up to me one time and say I'm here for you man if you need help in an emergency. I wasn't aware that he was probably following protocol of some sort. I thought he was just being nice.

cass · 10-17-2010, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCI-Nurse

According to the regulations in the USA, the airline is allowed to determine that you be required to fly with an attendant, but if they do so, they are also required to provide not only a free seat for the attendant, but the attendant themselves. This is generally an off-duty cabin attendant, not a nurse, and the person is not required or allowed to do things like bowel and bladder care, but can assist with meals, etc.

Unfortunately if it is YOU that decides you need an attendant, and not the airlines, they are not required to provide a free seat, or even a discount for the attendant, and they are not required to provide the attendant either.

(KLD)

didn't you contradict youself or i read it wrong.

according to ACAA law (not ADA as i read earlier today in this news story, ADA does not govern airlines), the airlines has a very loose ability to do this but then they pay for attendant help. i guarantee us airways will be sued. big time.

hey, young kids fly by themselves. this is bs. i have flown by myself lots. am writing us airlines. they are in clear violation of ACAA.

http://www.disabilitytravel.com/airl...ct.htm#summary

" Carriers may not require a person with a disability to travel with an attendant, except in certain limited circumstances specified in the rule. If the person with the disability and the carrier disagree about the need for an attendant, the airline can require the attendant, but cannot charge for the transportation of the attendant."

in addition, the ACAA clearly states safety of the flight (not the individual). this newstory needs an informed writer.

cass · 10-17-2010, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patton57

The airline's argument about not letting disabled customers board a plane unattended if they can't get off a plane safely by themselves is flawed in one major respect.

yeah, it's illegal. ref ACAA.

lynnifer · 10-17-2010, 05:05 AM

Read the comments in that forum Canuck posted. It'll be enough to deflate your day.

More and more I'm reading extremely negative comments from people on news sites when it comes to disability. It's extremely worrying. If I go by what every jerk with an internet connection says, I'm a libelous parking hog who expects the world to cater to me.

The sad part is that I suspect it's the 'not really disabled' people that have given us that tag.

Disability needs to be defined in North America .. it's an extremely gray area.

cass · 10-17-2010, 05:17 AM

aiding in his/her evac is not the issue, caN A CHILD? SO THEY CAN'T FLY ALONE? SORRY FOR CAPS, MY STICKY KEYS MESSED UP. IT IS ILLEGAL BY ACAA WHAT WAS DONE TO THIS MAN.

brianboru · 10-18-2010, 12:49 PM

Look everyone this is a issue that will only get worse! Already Easyjet has brought in the same rule. It's only a matter of time before all the other airlines introduce this foolish policy. The term "Health and Safety" is being abused by the airlines.

We need to go higher than the airlines!

Does anyone know of any authorities??? that can say to ALL airlines this has to stop!

You can't be worried about whether connecting airlines are not going to allow you to board somewhere else across the world.

10-15-2010, 10:53 PM	#1
192.168.0.0 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3	Passenger: Airline said I'm 'too disabled' to fly alone Passenger: Airline said I'm 'too disabled' to fly alone By Marnie Hunter, CNN October 15, 2010 9:06 p.m. EDT http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/10/15...ex.html?hpt=T2 I know that there may be two sides to every story . . . but this is something that I hope I will never have to deal with. Delta Airline is all that I've used so far, and at this point will exclusively continue to be.

10-18-2010, 12:49 PM	#10
brianboru Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1	Stop the snowball!!!! Look everyone this is a issue that will only get worse! Already Easyjet has brought in the same rule. It's only a matter of time before all the other airlines introduce this foolish policy. The term "Health and Safety" is being abused by the airlines. We need to go higher than the airlines! Does anyone know of any authorities??? that can say to ALL airlines this has to stop! You can't be worried about whether connecting airlines are not going to allow you to board somewhere else across the world.

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10-17-2010, 12:17 AM	#2
canuck Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: BC Canada Posts: 2,575	Some posts on aircraft forum about this http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/4956252/

10-17-2010, 02:14 AM	#3
Patton57 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,370	The airline's argument about not letting disabled customers board a plane unattended if they can't get off a plane safely by themselves is flawed in one major respect. In the case of emergencies it is highly likely that AB customers will be unable to safely exit a plane by themselves if they are severely injured. If US Airways is smart they'll think this through a little better. Having to travel with an attendant could easily double or triple the costs of flying for wheelchair bound customers.

10-17-2010, 03:24 AM	#4
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,335	According to the regulations in the USA, the airline is allowed to determine that you be required to fly with an attendant, but if they do so, they are also required to provide not only a free seat for the attendant, but the attendant themselves. This is generally an off-duty cabin attendant, not a nurse, and the person is not required or allowed to do things like bowel and bladder care, but can assist with meals, etc. Unfortunately if it is YOU that decides you need an attendant, and not the airlines, they are not required to provide a free seat, or even a discount for the attendant, and they are not required to provide the attendant either. (KLD)

10-17-2010, 05:05 AM	#8
lynnifer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Windsor ON Canada Posts: 15,310	Read the comments in that forum Canuck posted. It'll be enough to deflate your day. More and more I'm reading extremely negative comments from people on news sites when it comes to disability. It's extremely worrying. If I go by what every jerk with an internet connection says, I'm a libelous parking hog who expects the world to cater to me. The sad part is that I suspect it's the 'not really disabled' people that have given us that tag. Disability needs to be defined in North America .. it's an extremely gray area.

10-17-2010, 05:17 AM	#9
cass Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: WA Posts: 5,710	aiding in his/her evac is not the issue, caN A CHILD? SO THEY CAN'T FLY ALONE? SORRY FOR CAPS, MY STICKY KEYS MESSED UP. IT IS ILLEGAL BY ACAA WHAT WAS DONE TO THIS MAN.