Tiger Airways refuses to board disabled passenger

[Gregm001]

Tiger Airways refuses to board disabled passenge

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20906607-421,00.html

"A NORTHERN Territory family's dream holiday has been left in tatters after not being allowed to board a Tiger Airways flight from Darwin to Singapore because their daughter is disabled....

The family had their travel agent contact Tiger Airways in Singapore in September and write a letter confirming that Anastasia could board the flight."

Don't think I will rushing out to fly Tiger if they are going to pull stunts like this, the family had confirmed that is was Ok for them fly with their disabled daughter. This decision was turned over by the Captain of the flight, surely this should have been fully sorted out went the booking was made.

[cunninglinguist]

:eek:
Oh no, the saviour of the poor Oz travelling public from those horrible Jet*, QF and VB scum, is not perfect after all :{

What next? you'll be telling me they charge for food on board, a ticket from ML to LAX is more than $9 :confused:

Welcome to Oz and the fine Aussie press Tiger airways :E

[Buster Hyman]

...And a big welcome to Gregm001 from...Sydney!:D Just joined us to post this gem.

And who do you work for Greg? PR dept. of a major airline perhaps?:rolleyes:

[sinala1]

Sounds like there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye - I would be interested to know specifically on what grounds the passenger was refused boarding. I have had to deny boarding to special needs pax on a couple of occasions for different reasons - NEVER an easy or pleasant decision to make :(

[Ndicho Moja]

Jetstar Asia doesn't allow passengers with disabilities either, at least that is the official stance. Works in Singapore/SE Asia. We all know that if they do that in Australia there is a good chance of a discrimination suite.
LCC's are not set up to cope and the cabin crew are not trained to deal with it.
You want a wheel chair to meet the aircraft on arrival in Singapore? Be ready to pay S$40 for the service. Oh and by the way, be prepared to wait.

[Ultralights]

for $9! what do you expect? a seat?

[Slezy9]

...And a big welcome to Gregm001 from...Sydney! Just joined us to post this gem.

And who do you work for Greg? PR dept. of a major airline perhaps?

Um, he has actually been a member for over a year.

[LME-400]

Um, he has actually been a member for over a year.

Well spotted.

[Buster Hyman]

Ooooh...a lurker!

Kinky....:E:ouch:

[hoss]

Sadly enough I've witnessed first hand the Captains decision to off load disabled passengers in both the QF and AN camps, Tiger are not unique on this one Gregm001.

ps. without starting a LCC sh!tfight I reckon it has even happened at JQ and DJ:oh: .

[Gregm001]

['...And a big welcome to Gregm001 from...Sydney!:D Just joined us to post this gem.

And who do you work for Greg? PR dept. of a major airline perhaps?:rolleyes:']

Thanks Buster for the warm welcomehttp://www.pprune.org/forums/images/icons/winksbuddie.gif, my apologies for posting about a rather dated articlehttp://www.pprune.org/forums/images/infopop/icons/icon11.gif.

['Jetstar Asia doesn't allow passengers with disabilities either, at least that is the official stance'] http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/infopop/icons/icon3.gifI guess in this case the family should have flown on a domestic flight to Perth then onto Singapore.
It would appear that Darwin is not the place to live if you are disabled and want travel on international routeshttp://www.pprune.org/forums/images/infopop/icons/icon4.gif.

['Sadly enough I've witnessed first hand the Captains decision to off load disabled passengers in both the QF and AN camps, Tiger are not unique on this one']
I would have thought that if a person was unfit to fly, then it should be sorted before they board, not leaving it to the Captain to make the tough call. In this case as sinala1 said, we would need to understand the whole story before being able to make a sensible comment, the news article may have driven by a lot of emotion.

[topend3]

Qantas handle Tiger Airways in Darwin

[Buster Hyman]

we would need to understand the whole story before being able to make a sensible comment

...and therein lies the problem with about 70% of the postings on Dunnunda!:rolleyes:

It is a rumour network I suppose....

[hoss]

Gregm001, sure its hard to pass judgement without the full story. With regard to the check-in scenario, only in a perfect world. It depends on the disability but perhaps the disabled person was 'fine' at check-in and had deteriorated by the boarding stage?

Mate, you'd be amazed at what gets past check-in these days, many times have I experienced the Captain block the final hole in the 'swiss cheese'.

[priapism]

Indeed, The full circumstances of the denial should be made known before criticism is dished out.
At Ansett I knew of an instance when a disabled passenger was refused at check in . The passenger concerned had a very severe disability which the staff were not made fully aware of by the pax at time of booking. He understated his disability to attempt to travel without an escort. The passenger's disablilty was one which required an escort and, as such, travel was denied until one could be organised. Ansett were pretty good with disabled passengers. In my time I encountered several -particularly the sporting wheelies and other paralympians who travelled with us as official carriers for the Sydney Olympics. ( including my next door neighbour)
I can also remember several delays as disabled pax were loaded/ unloaded , which I guess would be totally unacceptable to LCC's today.
I think Tiger will go well , but unfortunately more blood will be spilled in the race to the bottom.
Where will it all end?