Help for disabled pax

[simitra]

I have not posted on this forum before so would welcome some help/feedback from you experienced pax. My mother, who has a slight disability, will be travelling solo to the Middle East in a few weeks. She is not infirm or in a wheelchair but prolonged standing causes her to become exgausted and in pain. Usually I travel with her and try to get pre-assigned seats neat to where pax deplane so we can be first in any passport control crews. I have found the cabin crew to be very helpful if I explain the situation. Some European/US airlines have met us at the gate and escorted us through with a minimum of customs etc. formality and literally put us into a taxi. Also if I am with mum I am quite assertive at politely asking people at the head of long lines if they mind us going first, and so far no-one has objected. This time I cannot accompany mum. She is travelling overnight (Turkish Airlines) and has a 4 hr layover at Istanbul before arriving at Damascus at 1 am. She is not a very pushy person (unlike me) and would probably be reluctant to 'bother' the check in staff or cabin crew to express the fact that she has special needs because she does not 'appear' disabled.

My question is: is there anything I can do from the UK before she travels to ensure that she gets the help she needs? I can't accompany her to the airport (I will be away on business) to see that she isn't standing in a long check in line nor can I be there to ask the staff to pass on the fact that she needs help. Am I likely to get any support for her by contacting the airline in advance via their website or phone? Would appreciate any help or advice

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[simitra]

Forgot to add above that mum has only her disability pension so can only afford what many people disparigingly call 'cattle class'!

[Self Loading Freight]

Simitra--

I've asked around, and the best thing to do seems to be the simplest -- as you suggest, phone the airline beforehand and explain the situation (better than trying to email). It may be appropriate to offer to email or fax through your mother's itinerary, including flight details, once you've made contact with a human -- having bits of paper floating around the system seems beneficial.

If your mother presents herself to the airline desk in plenty of time, there are lots of things they can do to reduce her need to queue -- including letting the cabin crew know of her requirements. A good crew will make sure that she gets the attention and help she needs without making her feel bad about it. You might consider writing a letter explaining her situation for her present to people as and when: this can be less awkward. But that depends on her... unfortunately, if she isn't comfortable about letting people know there's not a lot that can be done after she gets off the plane at the far end.

My mother's in a similar situation, as she's had a hip operation and travels a lot. At first, she was very reluctant to be thought of as 'disabled'... but once she'd found out how much easier things are if she let the system take care of her, she's now firmly in favour of making the most of every break available! Another elderly aunt had a favoured car service, where the driver not only took her to the airport but looked after her until she was safely ensconsed in the system - this may or may not be an option.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific. Do let me know how it pans out: in one of my other lives, I have an interest in the experiences of disadvantaged consumers.

R

[simitra]

Self loading freight -

Thanks for your suggestions. I have been telling mum she should not feel reluctant to claim any kind of concession as able-bodied people travelling in groups are not going to resent a single female with special needs getting a bit of extra help or going in line before them. She belongs to a generation when it wasn't done to make a fuss but just keep a stiff upper lip and get on with it. My concern is that she doesn't get so stressed out and exhausted that she spends the first few days of her vacation having to recover. I will let you know the results of her trip eventually.