simitra
5th Sep 2000, 15:26
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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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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