Jetstar forces wheelchair passenger to crawl across tarmac
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Home
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In recognition of this tool's suffering, on this day every year all JetScar crew should be made to crawl to and from their aircraft. Wheely-bags trailing behind them with rope.
That would've been quite a job from the floor.
took off on his own to the John
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If I only had a dollar for every time I have sent an ACARS to QF dispatch saying "pax whlchr in bulk hold...pls bring to dr". Translation for the bloody ignorant: "we have a passenger's personal wheelchair loaded in the bulk hold. Could you please unload immediately on arrival and bring to aircraft door at aerobridge".
WH/CH 02 UN/MNR 00
1 AISLE CHAIR PLS. AL
SO INF ENG THE LEAK I
N F GALLEY NEED ATN
---------------------
WHLCHR 06 / MED
ASST MINORS PEJ
SICK N
SI GOOD A/C
6 WCH IN HOLD
---------------------
WHLCHR 02 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI 1 AISLE WCR. BOTH PAX
HAVE WCHR IN HOLD.
---------------------
HI ADL 01 AISLE Cl`hR
NEEDED PLSE + 1 WLCHR
IN HOLD. C YOU SOON
---------------------
WH/CH 01 UN/MNR 00
GDAY. 1 AISLE CHR AND
PAX CHR IN HOLD PLS.
ALSO GND PWR AND AIR
---------------------
WHLCHR 01 /00MED
ASST 00MINORS 00PAX
SICK N
SI GDAY. AISLE CHAIR PLS
AND PAX WCHR IN HOLD.
THANKS
---------------------
ARI
SYD ETAB 06:10
WH/CH 02 UN/MNR 01
HOLDING... DOH...
---------------------
WHLCHR 03 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI 1 PEOPLE MOVER
1NWC
2 WC 1 IN HOLD
A/C OK
---------------------
WHLCHR 03 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI 1/W/C PAX NEEDS AISLE
W/C AND OWN W/C FROM
HOLD
---------------------
WHLCHR 02 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI REQ AISLE CHAIRS
---------------------
WHLCHR 02 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI 1 ISLE CHAIR PLS
---------------------
NEED 1 ISLE CHAIR. ALS
K10Y/P.
NOW DELAYED ETA 0 20
NOW NEED M/A
---------------------
WHEEL CHAIR IN HOLD PLEA
SE BRING UP TO GATE
---------------------
WHLCHR 01 /00MED
ASST 00MINORS 00PAX
SICK N
SI GDAY. AISLE CHAIR PLS
AND PAX WCHR IN HOLD.
THANKS
---------------------
/WCHR /UMNR /MAAS N
HI AGAIN.CE HAVE AN AIS
LE CHAIR ON BOARD.
THANKS
---------------------
ASST MINORS PAX
SICK N
SI PLS HAVE AISLE CHAIR AND
WLCHR FROM HOLD. TKS
---------------------
WHLCHR 02 /00lED
ASST 00MINORS 00PAX
SICc N
SI ONE CHAIR IN BULK HOLD
PLS BRING TO FRONT DOOR.
THANKS
---------------------
BNE ETAB 20:30
WH/CH 01 UN/MNR 00
HI AISLE CHAIR PLS
---------------------
WHLCHR 02 / MED
ASST MINORS PAX
Sici N
SI01 AISLE CHAIR. OTHER CAN
WALK TO DOOR. THANKS
---------------------
WHLCHR 01 /00MED
ASST 00MINORS 00PAX
SICK N
SI CHAIR 2 DOOR + PXLE
Last edited by p.j.m; 25th Nov 2009 at 04:39.
p.j.m
Not all airlines use ACARS for MAA. At my airline it’s all done from IOC in HK. All we need to know as cockpit crew is that we have them on board.
By the way there is a difference between a paraplegic and someone who is old. One god forbid hopefully will never happen to any of us, the other eventually will.
zube
If that’s trying to be humorous it has fallen flat. I can’t believe some of you actually work in this industry. It makes me sick.
Not all airlines use ACARS for MAA. At my airline it’s all done from IOC in HK. All we need to know as cockpit crew is that we have them on board.
By the way there is a difference between a paraplegic and someone who is old. One god forbid hopefully will never happen to any of us, the other eventually will.
zube
If that’s trying to be humorous it has fallen flat. I can’t believe some of you actually work in this industry. It makes me sick.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: gold coast QLD australia
Age: 86
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All the bloke needed was a set of wheels to get him to the aircraft. He was offered a set when his own went into the hold, he refused. The bloke is probably more used to international flights as he competes in marathons the world over, and as we all know the turnaround on international flights is far different to domestic.The staff at Jetstar knew who the bloke was and tried to accomodate him, he in turn acted like a turkey, and spat his dummy, and started dragging himself around the airport, which distressed the staff who were only following the airline regulations, which make sense to me, to assist turnaround. In all my years of flying I saw them come on in splints, stroke victims, people with kidney machines, accident cases, and most only cared about going home, and didnt' care if you lowered them thru a window, as long as they were on the aircraft and going home. You can betcha this bloke is now hitched up to Harry M Miller and is looking for publicity good or bad. Sorry 404 add me to your bad books.
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Lisbon
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whinge Whinge Whinge
I won't disect all the comments in this thread, however Mr Fearnely is out of line, and out of touch with society.
Firstly,Mr Fearnely should stick to what he understands - and that sure doesn't invove anything about airline operations. There are several factors involved here which have been stated already:
1) Pax wheelchairs don't fit down the aircraft isles, and they don't fit inside DPL's ( Disabled Passenger Lifters which for the laymen are like an elevator which lift's the pax from the ground and almost into the aircraft door and avoids the steps). This occurs frequently with LCC's because they don't always use aerobridges due to flying to cheap ass airports that dont have aerobridges, and boarding is and disembarkation is done across the tarmac and up and down stairs. And yes, some of the airports designs are absolute crap, however the LCC's in their thirst for a quick buck at any expense choose to purposely operate this way.....aagh if only the general population knew !
2) The pax personal wheelchair has to be loaded into the aircrafts container hold, therefore taking the wheelchair at the check-in counter and transferring the pax into the airline's wheelchair creates a smoother and more timely boarding process for ALL passengers.
3) Staff are trained to assist wheelchair pax to the best of the staff's ability. What has yet to be mentioned is that staff are 'damned if they do and damned if they don't' meaning that if you ask the wheelchair pax if they would like assistance, they yell at you and say that you are treating them like a second rate human, or they say you are making out that they are different, or incapable. Then if you don't ask them if they need assistance they yell abuse at you saying that you are discrimatory, that you are uncaring and even prejudice.
So perhaps wheelchair pax could spare a thought for the genuine people out there who are simply trying to assist you, without knowing what it is that you want. Being disbaled certainly doesnt make a person any less of a human being than somebody who can walk, so disability aside,people like Mr Fearnely need to stop acting like complete a#*holes which is what he is for such an outburst. This bloke has a chip on his shoulder that needs removing. Wheelchair or no wheelchair, he is a complete tool.
I have dealt with many gracious, caring,thoughtful and understanding wheelchair pax in my time, and I give credit to all of them who are inconvenienced when they fly simply due to the required logistics involved. It's a pity Mr Fearnely wasn't more like them.
4) This comment is aimed at the LCC's, particularly Senior Management. You have no idea the level of abuse that ground staff receive due to having to work with third rate procedures, third rate equipment, third rate airports so that you can bleed as much money out of the public as possible. You provide the wheelchair pax some basic understanding of what will be required, but you dont outlay the true picture to them. Well now finally, if only for a few days, the true picture is revealed and the negative publicity you are receiving is rightly so, years to late.It is simply that a tool like Mr Fearnely has been the one to bring attention to it.
I reiterate that my comments are not made 'against wheelchair pax', considering one of my closest friends is disabled. My disgust is aimed at the Airlines who dont tell the wheelchair pax the true processes of flying with them while leaving frontline staff to cop abuse day in and day out from the pax, their families and friends. As for Mr Fearnely, again he needs to understand their are two sides to this story and perhaps 'vent' in a more diplomatic and proactive fashion rather than 'simply assuming' that the whole aviation world is against him.
Firstly,Mr Fearnely should stick to what he understands - and that sure doesn't invove anything about airline operations. There are several factors involved here which have been stated already:
1) Pax wheelchairs don't fit down the aircraft isles, and they don't fit inside DPL's ( Disabled Passenger Lifters which for the laymen are like an elevator which lift's the pax from the ground and almost into the aircraft door and avoids the steps). This occurs frequently with LCC's because they don't always use aerobridges due to flying to cheap ass airports that dont have aerobridges, and boarding is and disembarkation is done across the tarmac and up and down stairs. And yes, some of the airports designs are absolute crap, however the LCC's in their thirst for a quick buck at any expense choose to purposely operate this way.....aagh if only the general population knew !
2) The pax personal wheelchair has to be loaded into the aircrafts container hold, therefore taking the wheelchair at the check-in counter and transferring the pax into the airline's wheelchair creates a smoother and more timely boarding process for ALL passengers.
3) Staff are trained to assist wheelchair pax to the best of the staff's ability. What has yet to be mentioned is that staff are 'damned if they do and damned if they don't' meaning that if you ask the wheelchair pax if they would like assistance, they yell at you and say that you are treating them like a second rate human, or they say you are making out that they are different, or incapable. Then if you don't ask them if they need assistance they yell abuse at you saying that you are discrimatory, that you are uncaring and even prejudice.
So perhaps wheelchair pax could spare a thought for the genuine people out there who are simply trying to assist you, without knowing what it is that you want. Being disbaled certainly doesnt make a person any less of a human being than somebody who can walk, so disability aside,people like Mr Fearnely need to stop acting like complete a#*holes which is what he is for such an outburst. This bloke has a chip on his shoulder that needs removing. Wheelchair or no wheelchair, he is a complete tool.
I have dealt with many gracious, caring,thoughtful and understanding wheelchair pax in my time, and I give credit to all of them who are inconvenienced when they fly simply due to the required logistics involved. It's a pity Mr Fearnely wasn't more like them.
4) This comment is aimed at the LCC's, particularly Senior Management. You have no idea the level of abuse that ground staff receive due to having to work with third rate procedures, third rate equipment, third rate airports so that you can bleed as much money out of the public as possible. You provide the wheelchair pax some basic understanding of what will be required, but you dont outlay the true picture to them. Well now finally, if only for a few days, the true picture is revealed and the negative publicity you are receiving is rightly so, years to late.It is simply that a tool like Mr Fearnely has been the one to bring attention to it.
I reiterate that my comments are not made 'against wheelchair pax', considering one of my closest friends is disabled. My disgust is aimed at the Airlines who dont tell the wheelchair pax the true processes of flying with them while leaving frontline staff to cop abuse day in and day out from the pax, their families and friends. As for Mr Fearnely, again he needs to understand their are two sides to this story and perhaps 'vent' in a more diplomatic and proactive fashion rather than 'simply assuming' that the whole aviation world is against him.
There appears to be two sides of the story...only one side got aired in a very public very national forum in front of the PM, his missus and a lot of parliamentary heavyweights....on that reqard....there is a time and a place to make a compliant and a national award presentation speach is not the right forum....right or wrong, the deathstar was painted into a very tight corner.
The guy is an outstanding person....right up to the point he aired his complaint in front of a crowd of dignitaries. After that? I lost all interest in the guy.
The guy is an outstanding person....right up to the point he aired his complaint in front of a crowd of dignitaries. After that? I lost all interest in the guy.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One of the newspapers reported his brother was there and that at one stage his brother carried him on his back ... So all this jazz about not being able to control the provided wheelchair is nonsense when his brother could of easily pushed him around!
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sydney
Age: 58
Posts: 269
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mr Fearnely made no complaints about the staff whatsoever.
My understanding is that he was most complimentary about the way he was treated by the ground staff.
Those who can't [won't?] see that his issue is with management and their bloody minded Jetstar policy and nothing more, really can't see the wood for the trees.
Those who bag him for taking a stand about having his "legs" [read wheelchair] taken from him before it was necessary have an obvious inability to see life beyond their own experiences.
Quite sad really.
My understanding is that he was most complimentary about the way he was treated by the ground staff.
Those who can't [won't?] see that his issue is with management and their bloody minded Jetstar policy and nothing more, really can't see the wood for the trees.
Those who bag him for taking a stand about having his "legs" [read wheelchair] taken from him before it was necessary have an obvious inability to see life beyond their own experiences.
Quite sad really.
Cactusjack
I suggest you do. No one is disputing that a personal wheelchair won’t fit down an aircraft aisle or lifter. The point here is that most airlines allow wheelchair bound pax to use their own wheelchair to at least the gate and in some cases the aircraft door. It is only Jetstar and Tiger that are so bloody minded that they make these pax check their wheelchairs in at check in and use a chair that requires someone else to propel them around for the next hour or two. If you can’t see that to some this is incredibly demeaning then you are incredibly ignorant of paraplegics and there passionate desire for independence. Just like what they use to have and we ably bodied all take for granted.
So some of you don’t like how he made a big deal of it in front of the media and the Prime Minister. Get over it. He used the loudest megaphone he had and by doing so he made Jetstar management sit up and take notice. Do you thing for one minute the policy would have changed if he hadn’t done what he did? Of course not.
ditch handle
Thank you.
I won't disect all the comments in this thread
So some of you don’t like how he made a big deal of it in front of the media and the Prime Minister. Get over it. He used the loudest megaphone he had and by doing so he made Jetstar management sit up and take notice. Do you thing for one minute the policy would have changed if he hadn’t done what he did? Of course not.
ditch handle
Thank you.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: australia
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cactus Jack
Most of what you have written is garbage. 1 point I agree on. This clowns actions.
In future try and write a little less. I fell asleep reading through it. Crapy airports. So what they are cheap and as for LCC terms and conditions. They are spelt out. 1 to 200 hundred dollar airfares and making a quick buck. You got to be kidding me.
Actually one word sums up your posting
BORING
Most of what you have written is garbage. 1 point I agree on. This clowns actions.
In future try and write a little less. I fell asleep reading through it. Crapy airports. So what they are cheap and as for LCC terms and conditions. They are spelt out. 1 to 200 hundred dollar airfares and making a quick buck. You got to be kidding me.
Actually one word sums up your posting
BORING
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sydney
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I note the comments re he had no complaints about the staff, but more JQs policy - which operates as an LCC
Perhaps Mr Fearnley would like 2 or 3 staff scanning boarding passes rather than 1,
and five minutes before gate close (ignoring closing gate procedures checking and double counting), 1 staff member gives him a shoulder massage while the other 1 transfers him into the specially designed, padded and silk lined chair for on boarding, whilst the other staff personally take his wheelchair down to the ramp, wrap it in cotton wool and gently place it in the hold.
Then at the other end ...
Perhaps Mr Fearnley would like 2 or 3 staff scanning boarding passes rather than 1,
and five minutes before gate close (ignoring closing gate procedures checking and double counting), 1 staff member gives him a shoulder massage while the other 1 transfers him into the specially designed, padded and silk lined chair for on boarding, whilst the other staff personally take his wheelchair down to the ramp, wrap it in cotton wool and gently place it in the hold.
Then at the other end ...
moa999
So what. If the two largest LCC’s in the world can let a disabled passenger take their own wheelchair to the gate or aircraft why can’t Jetstar? Even their competition Virgin Blue allows is.
So what. If the two largest LCC’s in the world can let a disabled passenger take their own wheelchair to the gate or aircraft why can’t Jetstar? Even their competition Virgin Blue allows is.
Ryanair
Q: Can I bring my own wheelchair/mobility scooter or walking frame?
________________________________________
At the majority of airports you will be permitted to travel to the steps of the aircraft in your own wheelchair, however, some airports such at Girona in Spain do not permit passenger travelling with a battery operated wheelchair to take their own chair to the aircraft and as such it must be checked in and the passenger will be transported to the boarding gate via an airport wheelchair.
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking frames are carried free of charge The 32kg maximum single item weight does not apply to mobility equipment. Restrictions apply to the transportation of battery-operated wheelchairs. Electric Wheelchairs can only be accepted on the basis that the battery is a dry or gel cell and the dimension of the wheelchair when collapsed will not be greater than the combined dimensions of more than 81cms (height), 119cms (width) and 119cms (depth). The passenger must show how the battery power is to be isolated and ensure that exposed terminals will be protected from short circuiting. The battery must also be securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility device.
Wheelchairs or mobility devices with spillable batteries cannot be carried. Segways cannot be carried.
Q: Can I bring my own wheelchair/mobility scooter or walking frame?
________________________________________
At the majority of airports you will be permitted to travel to the steps of the aircraft in your own wheelchair, however, some airports such at Girona in Spain do not permit passenger travelling with a battery operated wheelchair to take their own chair to the aircraft and as such it must be checked in and the passenger will be transported to the boarding gate via an airport wheelchair.
Wheelchairs, mobility scooters and walking frames are carried free of charge The 32kg maximum single item weight does not apply to mobility equipment. Restrictions apply to the transportation of battery-operated wheelchairs. Electric Wheelchairs can only be accepted on the basis that the battery is a dry or gel cell and the dimension of the wheelchair when collapsed will not be greater than the combined dimensions of more than 81cms (height), 119cms (width) and 119cms (depth). The passenger must show how the battery power is to be isolated and ensure that exposed terminals will be protected from short circuiting. The battery must also be securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility device.
Wheelchairs or mobility devices with spillable batteries cannot be carried. Segways cannot be carried.
Southwest Airlines
Manual and Power Wheelchairs
Southwest will stow wheelchairs in the aircraft cabin as long as they can be stowed in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines. Each aircraft is equipped with a specially designed wheelchair storage compartment to allow in-cabin stowage of at least one standard-size adult collapsible wheelchair. The wheelchair compartment is located in the rear of the aircraft and is available for Customer use on a first-come, first-served basis.
Manual and Power Wheelchairs
Southwest will stow wheelchairs in the aircraft cabin as long as they can be stowed in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines. Each aircraft is equipped with a specially designed wheelchair storage compartment to allow in-cabin stowage of at least one standard-size adult collapsible wheelchair. The wheelchair compartment is located in the rear of the aircraft and is available for Customer use on a first-come, first-served basis.
Virgin Blue
Travelling with a Manual Wheelchair: You can either check-in your manual wheelchair and we will provide you with an airport aisle wheelchair or self-propelled wheelchair for use within the airport or, where possible, you can choose to take your own manual wheelchair to the boarding gate. Your wheelchair will then be stowed in the aircraft hold.
Travelling with a Manual Wheelchair: You can either check-in your manual wheelchair and we will provide you with an airport aisle wheelchair or self-propelled wheelchair for use within the airport or, where possible, you can choose to take your own manual wheelchair to the boarding gate. Your wheelchair will then be stowed in the aircraft hold.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wherever the work is!
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This discussion has become quite heated, which isnt in itself a problem, but the attacks are getting a bit personal over peoples opinions, which like ar$eholes, everyone has and not everyone will agree with them.
Right or Wrong, Policy or OH&S the fact of the matter is that he made an absolute tool of himself by causing a scene which was not necessary, and then to go on stage later on and accept an award, then proceed to blast Jetstar again was absolute horsesh!t just to get some more media attention!
NOONE forced him to crawl through a toilet, NOONE forced him to crawl to the aircraft, HE made that decision himself!
Right or Wrong, Policy or OH&S the fact of the matter is that he made an absolute tool of himself by causing a scene which was not necessary, and then to go on stage later on and accept an award, then proceed to blast Jetstar again was absolute horsesh!t just to get some more media attention!
NOONE forced him to crawl through a toilet, NOONE forced him to crawl to the aircraft, HE made that decision himself!
777WakeTurbz
You just don’t get it. If you want to see how passionate paraplegics are about their independence go and visit one of the many charities that look after their interests. Mr Fearnely hasn’t got to where he is by just sitting back and accepting he is a paraplegic and will never walk again. He has fought for his independence and obviously excels at it. His achievements speak for themselves. If you can’t see how humiliating it is for someone like him to have that independence taken away from them then you are ignorant to their plight. The embarrassment he may have caused himself by crawling through the terminal is nothing to the humiliation of loosing his independence.
You just don’t get it. If you want to see how passionate paraplegics are about their independence go and visit one of the many charities that look after their interests. Mr Fearnely hasn’t got to where he is by just sitting back and accepting he is a paraplegic and will never walk again. He has fought for his independence and obviously excels at it. His achievements speak for themselves. If you can’t see how humiliating it is for someone like him to have that independence taken away from them then you are ignorant to their plight. The embarrassment he may have caused himself by crawling through the terminal is nothing to the humiliation of loosing his independence.
Jetstar publishes their wheelchair policy.
It is available for every one to read.
Certainly someone in a wheel chair could be expected to make enquiries at the time of booking.
If Jetstar's wheelchair policy was not acceptable to Mr Fearnley he should have either booked with another carrier, or, at the time of booking, attempted to negotiate a suitable arrangement for himself.
To behave the way he did is unacceptable and just demeans him.
Not only that but he will have caused unnecessary distress to the Jetstar staff who were following their company policy and more than likely embarrassed a large number of other passengers and staff who had to witness his performance.
To say that this was taking away his independence is probably true to a limited point, however there are some limitations that have to be accepted when one becomes disabled for any reason. Since he chose to fly Jetstar this was one of them.
If he feels that Jetstar's policy is discriminatory or demeaning then,by all means, he should try to have it changed. This was not an appropriate way.
By the way, I do not like some of Jetstar's policies so I do not and will not fly with them. Should I ever decide to do so I will be acknowledging the policies and accepting them. To subsequently try to have them changed at the check in counter in just not on.
It is available for every one to read.
Certainly someone in a wheel chair could be expected to make enquiries at the time of booking.
If Jetstar's wheelchair policy was not acceptable to Mr Fearnley he should have either booked with another carrier, or, at the time of booking, attempted to negotiate a suitable arrangement for himself.
To behave the way he did is unacceptable and just demeans him.
Not only that but he will have caused unnecessary distress to the Jetstar staff who were following their company policy and more than likely embarrassed a large number of other passengers and staff who had to witness his performance.
To say that this was taking away his independence is probably true to a limited point, however there are some limitations that have to be accepted when one becomes disabled for any reason. Since he chose to fly Jetstar this was one of them.
If he feels that Jetstar's policy is discriminatory or demeaning then,by all means, he should try to have it changed. This was not an appropriate way.
By the way, I do not like some of Jetstar's policies so I do not and will not fly with them. Should I ever decide to do so I will be acknowledging the policies and accepting them. To subsequently try to have them changed at the check in counter in just not on.
Some of you just don't get it.
Anything that makes life easier for those who don't enjoy the full use of their faculties and facilities (mind and body) deserve all the help in the world. We live in a civilised society (I think) so we should treat our fellow men as we ourselves would like to be treated. In this case, why wasn't "Qantas Group policy" followed like Jet* claim in other instances that make the public arena?
As I understand it, the fellow is neither a tool nor a fool: he has suffered a major disability since birth. Let's see how his critics fare if they had to rely on a wheelchair and the uncaring attitude of many.
Anything that makes life easier for those who don't enjoy the full use of their faculties and facilities (mind and body) deserve all the help in the world. We live in a civilised society (I think) so we should treat our fellow men as we ourselves would like to be treated. In this case, why wasn't "Qantas Group policy" followed like Jet* claim in other instances that make the public arena?
As I understand it, the fellow is neither a tool nor a fool: he has suffered a major disability since birth. Let's see how his critics fare if they had to rely on a wheelchair and the uncaring attitude of many.
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Oz
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The point here is that most airlines allow wheelchair bound pax to use their own wheelchair to at least the gate
I'm not saying JQ's policy was correct, but at the time Mr Fearney travelled the policy said 'at check-in'- so why complain that JQ were not following policy? I don't understand- I know several people in wheelchairs and they have said to me they prefer to transfer at check-in rather than be 'on the spot' at the gate in front of everyone else. I know each case is different but it seems to me that this man could have brought up his issues with the policy in a better way. Instead, they've taken the 'cheap shot' by targeting Jetstar for something that isn't their fault- his choice.
Sure you say they should be accommodating- they were. They offered an alternative, he chose not to use it. At the end of the day JQ are still a business and given that people want to fly on cheap fares, there are shorter turnarounds which mean less time to do things like take pax chairs at the gate. Maybe that's the reason for the policy of taking chairs at check-in?
We have a free choice when we travel and it's up to us to choose the best carrier to meet our needs. I hate being cramped up in a tiny seat and like some decent service so I pay more to fly Qantas or Singapore rather than use Tiger or Air Asia. That's my choice. If I flew Air Asia and got what was in the T&C's, I'd have no fallback to complain, even if it didn't meet 'my' standards.
Maybe the JQ policy should be changed, end of the story is they had nothing to apologise for if they followed their policy which was IN PLACE AT THE TIME and NOTED ON THE T&C's. Mr Fearnley admits the staff were fine, the resulting 'humiliation' was created by his own actions. I understand that wchr pax are dependent on their chairs... but we all are humans and we all need to accept help from others at some point in our lives. I think an apology should have gone both ways. Mr Fearnley could have raised his issues in a more civilised manner and I'm sure would have gained far more respect & attention for his cause for it.
pcx
That is one of the dumbest thinks I have ever heard anyone say and speaks volumes to your incredible lack of compassion. I think it’s about time some of you volunteered some of your time and go and work in a work shelter for the disabled. When you have then you can come back here and lecture us.
I couldn’t give a flying f*ck that the conditions of wheelchairs was freely available. The point is the policy is wrong and it was brought to Jetstar’s attention in the only way that they would take notice and do something about it.
To say that this was taking away his independence is probably true to a limited point, however there are some limitations that have to be accepted when one becomes disabled for any reason.
I couldn’t give a flying f*ck that the conditions of wheelchairs was freely available. The point is the policy is wrong and it was brought to Jetstar’s attention in the only way that they would take notice and do something about it.