8 replies to this topic

[KarenFerguson]

I don't want to scare any travelers out there. Normally I have great travel experiences. This is just a story I wanted to share because frankly it just shows how incompetent an airport can be (I will not even begin to touch on isle chair mishaps).

Hubby (my boyfriend at the time) and I were coming back from China. We were flying into San Francisco and then flying home to San Diego. To San Francisco was like a 14 hour flight, the time difference alone can make anyone crack up. I also couldn't use the facilities (I have complete bowel and bladder) so, my only choice was to hold it & be uncomfortable. This is the only time I've envied my hubby's leg bag. I tried to limit my drink intake, but when those drink carts come around it's like a party on the plane so I couldn't help myself many times.

So, we land in San Francisco. Everyone files out the plane and I'm just holding it scowling at fellow passengers as they take their sweet time getting their bags. Finally the isle chairs! I hop into it, tuck my elbows in and belt myself. The isle chair people are amazed and I'm like COME ON! Okay, I can see my chair looming in the distance, but not my hubby's chair. Hmmm, strange. I bounce in my chair and not wanting to leave hubby, I wait ... and wait. I analyze my surroundings again and realize they have brought my hubby a clunky metal airport chair, not his Quickie. Just when my brain comprehends what's going on hubby arrives and says "Whoa, I'm not transfering onto that thing! Where the F is my chair!". I stare at him with sad eyes and he says "Sweetheart, you can go to the bathroom." I race up the jet way and find the nearest ladies room.

Upon entering the ladies room there I see it. My husband's wheelchair! My brain is blitzed and all I can think of is peeing so I yell "THAT'S MY BOYFRIEND'S CHAIR! WHAT THE HELL!" The old woman standing next to it looks perplexed. She explains to me that this is the chair they gave her when she got off the plane, she also asks if I need help. I shake my head with utter annoyance and proceed to pee in the handicapped stall (thank god it's open). When I come out I explain once more that this is my boyfriend's chair and I have to take it. I grab the chair and race out of the restroom. Meanwhile, hubby is still sitting on the isle chair in the jet way.

Karen to the rescue! Hubby's eyes light up as he sees his chair emerge around the corner and he transfers into it. The stewardesses are silent and the isle chair guys are silent too. We just leave with out a word.

Rushing to catch our flight to San Diego (it's on the complete other side of the airport, the other passengers got to take a shuttle and are probably already at the gate reading their books) I explain to hubby his chair was in the ladies room. We have a good laugh but really our blood is boiling inside at the incompetence of it all.

We finally catch our flight to San Diego & get home in one piece. Whew!

So, do any of you have any travel horror stories? I have a few more but I don't want to scare you. Muhahaha.

Edited by KarenFerguson, 10 September 2007 - 03:58 PM.

[wheels5894]

That sounds a nightmare! With two of you needing wheelchairs you would think they could manage to sort things.

I am pleased to ay that travelling with my AB wife has been done with no real problems at all. Everyone has been vary helpful.

Oh, and a 2ltr night bag concealed in a carrier is great for draining on long flights!

[knowthill]

Always a crap shoot when I travel.

Hotel with a curb cut out that doubles as a parking space.

Bathroom door is to small for my wheel chair.

Going to local sites and left at the hotel because it is to much a hassle to take me along.

[russ1]

My worst experience - while ago now and been on here before but new members might be interested

[KarenFerguson]

Oh my! That's horrible! What finally happened? Did you get a reply back?

Hubby & I have flown many times by ourselves (whether alone or with a group of other wheelchair using people for rugby tournaments), and chaos always ensues. We never board early enough and passengers are always mad. The isle chair guys are totally incompetent as to how to do transfers ...etc. And, I don't see why the don't have isle chairs on the plane so I can use the bathroom (I don't cath myself). I can easily transfer on to an isle chair and all someone needs to do is push me. For god sake! I can crawl to the bathroom but an isle chair might be a bit more dignified. There just needs to be a better system and standard protocol.

russ1, on Sep 12 2007, 02:18 AM, said:

My worst experience - while ago now and been on here before but new members might be interested

[russ1]

KarenFerguson, on Sep 12 2007, 04:36 PM, said:

Oh my! That's horrible! What finally happened? Did you get a reply back?

Hubby & I have flown many times by ourselves (whether alone or with a group of other wheelchair using people for rugby tournaments), and chaos always ensues. We never board early enough and passengers are always mad. The isle chair guys are totally incompetent as to how to do transfers ...etc. And, I don't see why the don't have isle chairs on the plane so I can use the bathroom (I don't cath myself). I can easily transfer on to an isle chair and all someone needs to do is push me. For god sake! I can crawl to the bathroom but an isle chair might be a bit more dignified. There just needs to be a better system and standard protocol.

We did get a reply, eventually, full apology along with 2 x £200 vouchers.

BA and Virgin atlantic at least have disabled policies that state they will use an isle chair and will assist a disabled passenger between their seat and the toilet. Never seen it happen but I know at least one person who flies with a letter signed by the CEO of BA stating that this is BA policy as she does do exactly that on long haul flights and has met significant resistance in the past.

[cate]

O they are horror stories. I have just come back from Las Vegas with my daughter who is c5/.6 but lucky for us she is able to walk with crutches, We flew Virgin both ways and they were very helpful. we did have a problem with seating going out, although we had told them exactly what was needed, and we had a bulk head, but my daughter cannot bend her right leg very much and could not fit in or even have the leg out past the bulk head, so we had to be in different seats, but the Virgin airline made sure we had the correct seating on the return flight, we we had a short bulkhead, so her bottom part of her leg/foot travelled in the premium class and the rest in the econmy part, but the journey was not too bad.
What I would like to ask, has anybody on crutches discovered a way to get onto escalotors and travelators successfully, this my daughter could not manage, and sometimes, there were no lifts available, and in one case where there was a travelotors, no walk way, and we were stuck for sometime, evenutally 2 very kind gentlemen, helped us, I am sure there must be a safe way, but also nerve needed, as holding on to the hand rails not a help and putting the crutches on first no help because of the timing.
I would add I also walk with a stick as I have had both hips replaced, so in some cases not a lot of help, it was a special holiday for us both, as it was my daughters 40th birthday and my very old birthday. We did have a very good time, so was worth while, The staff on Virgin Airline were so helpful, and that makes a big difference.
Cate

[kashley]

I love your story. I always laugh at the dirty looks when my husband does not stand up to let someone sit on the inside seat on the plane. And when the woman demand he help her get something out of the over head. It is always interesting!

Kathryn

[kjm465]

KarenFerguson, on Sep 12 2007, 09:36 AM, said:

Oh my! That's horrible! What finally happened? Did you get a reply back?

Hubby & I have flown many times by ourselves (whether alone or with a group of other wheelchair using people for rugby tournaments), and chaos always ensues. We never board early enough and passengers are always mad. The isle chair guys are totally incompetent as to how to do transfers ...etc. And, I don't see why the don't have isle chairs on the plane so I can use the bathroom (I don't cath myself). I can easily transfer on to an isle chair and all someone needs to do is push me. For god sake! I can crawl to the bathroom but an isle chair might be a bit more dignified. There just needs to be a better system and standard protocol.

russ1, on Sep 12 2007, 02:18 AM, said:

My worst experience - while ago now and been on here before but new members might be interested

-------

Hi Karen,

Interestingly enough, they do have an onboard wheelchair. I worked as a Flight Attendant for a number of years and no one EVER asked for it....nor has my husband ever bothered during all our travels, although he uses a leg bag and can't be bothered.

Good luck!

K