Those criticising 055166K obviously feel that wheelchairs should be provided free of charge, although that presumably means spread evenly across the whole operation and therefore shared by all passengers, but a few questions spring to mind.
For many years most, but not all airlines, charge extra for pre-booked oxygen if needed in flight by passengers with lung disease, there has been no uproar over this, but how is someone with one leg different from someone with emphysema, should they not be treated equally?
Airlines charge extra if a passenger with a leg in plaster requires two seats to return from his skiing holiday, yet if another passenger has twins or is elderly they will supply a meet and assist service to escort them through the terminal free of charge, why?
Tall passengers often ask for a seat with extra legroom and get indignant when the charter airlines now put a surcharge on the front seats with the extra leg room. Should this be provided free since they cannot help their height any more than a disabled person can help being disabled?
What about the overweight, whilst this is often self inflicted should a wider business class seat be provided without extra cost?
Then we come to those who are so disabled that they need a stretcher and an ambulance and nine seats removing for the stretcher kit, should this be provided free of charge?
Doesn't disability allowance include an element to cover the extra costs involved in travel, such as needing a taxy rather than taking the bus, should this be taken into account?
I have no strong views either way but it is very difficult to deal with discrimination against one group without being unfair to another, but the current situation does seem to be inconsistent with the way it treats these matters.