BAA forced to accept 50% of Ross - Ryanair case
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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.
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.
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you do have a point.... but i would also like to add that i dont mind paying a little extra for the times i might need assistance. sorry i didnt make that clear..... on the whole, most people i meet at my limb centre wouldnt mind paying that bit extra to make life that little bit easier......
not at all....... i just didnt like the way he called us spongers.... and the way that his post reads is that we are in the wrong for being disabled.
again you are right........ so a small levy isnt a problem.... at the end of the day no-one likes to pay more than they have to... overweight, tall, stechered..... i dont know to much about the previous case in question but i dont thinkits was just the ££ charge was it?? i thought he was treated a bit \'not nice\' shall we say?? please dont shot me down for saying that because as i say im not sure of the facts 100%
Those criticising 055166K obviously feel that wheelchairs should 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?
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Remembering the first time this was aired, I found myself in the strange position of supporting Ryanair. I believe that it is the airports duty to get the passengers to the aircraft whether it's by 'bus, on foot or in a wheelchair.
No airport seems to have direct access to the gates, they all take you on a voyage of discovery that is in reality, a glorified shopping opportunity from which they benefit.
There are those who flagrantly abuse the wheelchair system. Perhaps the Blue badge parking scheme could be used to identify the disabled.
Those that do qualify should certainly receive every help, but expecting the airline to supply a ticket for £30 and throw in a free wheelchair at each end is being a bit unrealistic. It should come out of the airport budget as they have often created the need for transportation.
No airport seems to have direct access to the gates, they all take you on a voyage of discovery that is in reality, a glorified shopping opportunity from which they benefit.
There are those who flagrantly abuse the wheelchair system. Perhaps the Blue badge parking scheme could be used to identify the disabled.
Those that do qualify should certainly receive every help, but expecting the airline to supply a ticket for £30 and throw in a free wheelchair at each end is being a bit unrealistic. It should come out of the airport budget as they have often created the need for transportation.
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While being sympathetic to persons with a disbility, I don,t know much about the case in question so can anyone tell me what the person concerned did at either end of the journey without a wheelchair.
I would have thought that if they needed a wheelchair to get around the airport they would have needed one all the time. Disabled persons with their own wheelchair flying with Ryanair do not pay any more than able bodied passengers. It is BAA who apply the costs to the passengers using their facility and who require to be provided with a wheelchair.
I would have thought that if they needed a wheelchair to get around the airport they would have needed one all the time. Disabled persons with their own wheelchair flying with Ryanair do not pay any more than able bodied passengers. It is BAA who apply the costs to the passengers using their facility and who require to be provided with a wheelchair.
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ryanair case
Just a brief comment. I worked on the coal face underground,and obviously if someone was injured (and this was frequent),a stretcher would be required. I can tell you that many men refused to get on a stretcher,and would rather struggle,because the stretcher meant being carried by 4 mates.
I fully sympathise with Tony Norman,but the suggestion of following the car badges is riddled with fraud. We have all seen it. We also have the situation of very able bodied people using disabled slots at supermarkets etc. As has been said,a genuine person dislikes having to be "cossetted". I also believe costs should be bourne by the airport. In that way,we all make a contribution,as we do now in the real world. Nothing is really free.
I fully sympathise with Tony Norman,but the suggestion of following the car badges is riddled with fraud. We have all seen it. We also have the situation of very able bodied people using disabled slots at supermarkets etc. As has been said,a genuine person dislikes having to be "cossetted". I also believe costs should be bourne by the airport. In that way,we all make a contribution,as we do now in the real world. Nothing is really free.
N4790P
055166k,
You will also be ‘pleased’ to know that if you are a motorist you also subsidise my father (who is an amputee) to drive across the QE bridge on his way back from Stansted.
Life’s a bitch eh!!!
You will also be ‘pleased’ to know that if you are a motorist you also subsidise my father (who is an amputee) to drive across the QE bridge on his way back from Stansted.
Life’s a bitch eh!!!
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Tony Norman I have re-read 05166K's post, and I can't see what you can see
He doesn't use the word spongers, and I don't read it as criticising you for being disabled.
The way I see it, "someone" needs "special handling" for any reason, and expects the cost to be borne by the airline. Ok, where doe sthe airline get that money from? Simple answer - the other passengers, so if an airline charges a levy, or covers the cost in the ordinary ticket prices all the other passengers are subsidising those that need special handling. There, no mention of disability. I think you will find that he was merely puting an alternative point of view.
Newsflash - low cost airlines don't provide full services that you might expect from the full cost carriers....
not at all....... i just didnt like the way he called us spongers.... and the way that his post reads is that we are in the wrong for being disabled.
The way I see it, "someone" needs "special handling" for any reason, and expects the cost to be borne by the airline. Ok, where doe sthe airline get that money from? Simple answer - the other passengers, so if an airline charges a levy, or covers the cost in the ordinary ticket prices all the other passengers are subsidising those that need special handling. There, no mention of disability. I think you will find that he was merely puting an alternative point of view.
Newsflash - low cost airlines don't provide full services that you might expect from the full cost carriers....
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terrywilcox
I take the point re locos. If a person is taking a cheap flight,say £10,and they have to provide any facility,which costs them £18,it just seems inequitable. They are,in effect,paying the passenger £8 to fly. The point is,someone obviously has to provide the facility,and someone has to pay. It is unfair for the loco to carry the cost,but if they do,it is again obvious that the charge must be passed on in some way to the passengers. Mainline carriers have a comfortable profit margin,which could cover the cost,but again,all passengers pay. I question the cost of £18. Why don't airports keep a number of wheelchairs at the airport,as do hospitals. Indeed many supermarkets provide electric wheelchairs,free of charge,which make the disabled person completely independent. I see no need to contract services in,and most disabled people do not travel alone,hence no need for another person to be employed to push it. As I said previously,nothing is free. We all pay taxes to provide these,and other facilities,and I for one don't mind. I just feelk very fortunate to be able bodied,and incidentally would not mind pushing a wheelchair myself anywhere,for anyone. Few people would if they were aware of the need for help. Problem with this is the disabled people I know are very reluctant to ask for help. They feel it takes away their independence. I apologise for the long message,and hope my points are not misunderstood. A very happy xmas to all of you.
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Can of Worms?
A goodly selection of responses...I think we can say with some clarity that to abandon a wheelchair user at an airline check-in desk and then disclaim all further responsibility is downright despicable.
The majority of you have made the case against BAA crystal clear.
Out of the last £25 total charge that I paid, RYR got less than £1.....they are virtually tax collectors for second and third parties.
I couldn't afford to fly anywhere before the LoCo's came along, and now they're under attack I feel some sympathy.....do you seriously consider that they don't have a point?
The majority of you have made the case against BAA crystal clear.
Out of the last £25 total charge that I paid, RYR got less than £1.....they are virtually tax collectors for second and third parties.
I couldn't afford to fly anywhere before the LoCo's came along, and now they're under attack I feel some sympathy.....do you seriously consider that they don't have a point?
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I would question how much of the £24 in taxes and charges actually gets passed on, yes APD if you have travelled but not if you haven't, airport charges - well it depends on the deal Ryanair have with the airport, as for the wheelchair levy it just goes into the bank along with the other money.....
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Mr Chips
Thank you for your considered interpretation of what I actually wrote, my intention was to stimulate informed debate.
I have received heavy flak from all around....and I am absolutely genuine in my wish to apologise to any reader who took offence; I do not single out disabled persons for special apology because I do not consider disabled persons to be in some sort of separate sub-category of humanity that would require such....rather I consider a disabled person as a person first and foremost.....anything else being thus irrelevant.
This whole wheelchair thing has only ever been about responsibility....I am appalled at the lengths a BRITISH company will go to in order to divest itself of its humanitarian responsibility towards those requiring a wheelchair.
Merry Christmas!
I have received heavy flak from all around....and I am absolutely genuine in my wish to apologise to any reader who took offence; I do not single out disabled persons for special apology because I do not consider disabled persons to be in some sort of separate sub-category of humanity that would require such....rather I consider a disabled person as a person first and foremost.....anything else being thus irrelevant.
This whole wheelchair thing has only ever been about responsibility....I am appalled at the lengths a BRITISH company will go to in order to divest itself of its humanitarian responsibility towards those requiring a wheelchair.
Merry Christmas!
