Jetstar forces wheelchair passenger to crawl across tarmac

[Jabawocky]

If he is that good......... he could have walked to NTL

Why do the media give idiots like this the time of day

[Exceptional]

He's an idiot.

Never let the facts get in the way of a bloody good story.

Mr and Mrs Today Tonight viewer will enjoy this one for sure.

[beaver_rotate]

What a nob! Disabled or not

[b_sta]

Total drama queen, sad considering his other achievements.

[Jet-A-One]

Maybe he expects the porters to carry his wheelchair down the rickety stairs on the aerobridge. Against OH&S rules and at the risk of another person injuring themselves and ending up disabled.

[eye_in_the_sky]

ahhhh yes, in these wonderous times of political correctness, it would be refreshing to see a company come out and say exactly what every reasonable person is thinking -- "you were offered assistance, you declined and behaved like a goose, pull your head in."\

blah blah blah.....

[Angle of Attack]

With all due respect what is all this nonsense about OH&S? Jetstars policy as is QF's as is DJ's is pax can go to the door of the aircraft with their own wheelchair and then make their way to the seat either assisted or with an Aisle Wheelchair. Obviously if he had an electric Wheelchair fair enough but this fact has not come out yet. They need to be checked in according to Dangerous Goods guidelines. I am not sure but looking at the pics in the media his chair appears to be a normal one (ie not electric). If that is the case Jetstar stuffed up by making him check in the chair when it is policy not to. Where did this OH&S stuff come from all airlines do it! (cary wheelchair from aerobridge to hold)
I stand to be corrected but my opinion to many fools are commenting on something they have no idea about. As a sidenote Jetstar have admitted the staff in BNE did not follow their policy and they are investigating, sheez!



From ABC News

The airline is now trying to clarify why Fearnley was prevented from using his own wheelchair after checking in at Brisbane Airport.

Normally disabled passengers are allowed to take their own wheelchairs to the gate before being transferred to the airline's wheelchair for boarding

Jetstar's head of corporate relations, Simon Westaway, says the processing of the chair was done at the check-in rather than at the gate.

[ditch handle]

Angle of Attack has hit the nail on the head.

[missing link]

Whatever - the guy is a tool just looking for more publisity

[Angle of Attack]

Missing Link, I am not normally a spelling Nazi but please..not only your post but check your location in your profile lol!

[p.j.m]

Seems some reporter must have an axe to grind with Jetstar.

I saw the interview with the guy and as others have said, he is a tool, just after publicity.

He was offered a Jetstar wheelchair, but decided to throw a tantrum because he wanted to use his own wheelchair (which actually looked more like a skateboard on steroids, than a wheelchair).

Rather than use the supplied wheelchair, he decided to crawl to the seat on his own and make a huge scene, and whinge that he wasn't able to do whatever he wanted to do, and was forced to follow the rules!

If it was me, I'd have banned him from the flight altogether as he is obviously a troublemaker.

I saw the statistics, but I can't remember the actual number, they said they carry something like 700 wheelchair passengers a week, and this guy is the only one to have any issues.

[Angle of Attack]

p.j.m

you can't be serious?
Jetstar didn't follow policy with this pax's situation and he is a tool?

If it was me, I'd have banned him from the flight altogether as he is obviously a troublemaker.

If I was a moderator I would banish you from these forums for such a factually incorrect post!

He was offered a Jetstar wheelchair, but decided to throw a tantrum because he wanted to use his own wheelchair (which actually looked more like a skateboard on steroids, than a wheelchair).

Because as previously stated Jetstar stuffed up! They should have allowed him to keep his wheelchair to the gate just like ALL other airlines. Again I need to

[Jet-A-One]

From Jet* Terms And Conditions

"Jetstar provides customers with a wheelchair in which to transfer at check-in"

If he read the terms and conditions there would have been NO confusion.

[p.j.m]

Because as previously stated Jetstar stuffed up! They should have allowed him to keep his wheelchair to the gate just like ALL other airlines.

Seems some people are too easily fooled by a media beatup!

I don't know the full story, but from what I saw of the PAX making a fool of himself in the interview and what I did glean from the news (not from the media beatup) the airline did not do anything wrong, however the PAX took exception to not being allowed to have his own way, and use his own "special design" wheelchair.

He's probably used to getting everything he wants due to his condition, and when he was set straight, he had a tantrum.

Media having a slow day, think "airline vs cripple" = good headlines.

[wirgin blew]

Angle at least someone around here has some common sense.
As for the other fools, the wheelchair that he sits in when he is not in bed is a part of him not just a mode of transport. That chair which probably cost him a pretty penny means that he doesn't need even an aisle chair to get on board as he can probably self transfer from his chair to an aircraft seat anyway. Most aircraft doors are wide enough for any wheelchair to fit through. Especially the 737, a320 size ones.
Possibly a similar fool like the ones here have taken his chair from him well before required by procedure whether that be anti-discrimination, OH&S or other.
As for an evacuation chances are he would be off just as fast as the rest but he wouldn't be clutching his Gucci handbag as he went down the slide.
As for the 700 wheelchairs per week 95% of those are elderly and probably have no trouble walking to the buffet if required but when they get to the airport its suddenly to far to walk.
Some of you so called "professionals" need to get out in the real world from time to time.

[ditch handle]

Perhaps I shouldn't be but I have to admit to being a little stunned at the number of small minded idiots around here.

[emal140]

in your shoes....

p.j.m

Perhaps one day when you have some unfortunate accident or some other cause that restricts you in life to permanent use of a wheelchair, you may want to reread your post and see if you still agree with your 'considered opinion' . A wheelchair is a persons personal independence and mobility freedom.

Grow up....

[p.j.m]

A wheelchair is a persons personal independence and mobility freedom

Very strange how hundreds of wheelchair passengers fly every day/week without drama, yet when one prima donna gets on his high horse, because he doesn't want to follow the rules, so many people automatically jump to defend him just because he's a cripple.

This guys is obviously far more mobile than your average wheelchair user, in fact he even dragged himself along the Kokoda track under his own steam (NOT using a wheelchair) just to prove a point.

He was offered an airline wheelchair - which is standard practice, but he chose to make a scene, and demand he get his own way, and do what he wanted.

Sorry all you bleeding hearts, this guy is nothing more than a whinging troublemaker, and if I owned Jetstar I'd permanently ban him from flying on the airline ever again.

[sunnySA]

I know of a passenger who advised Jetstar that they would need a wheel chair (broken foot). Jetstar said "sorry you can't travel on that flight because the quota of wheelchair passengers would be exceeded" - solution, travel the next day and pay the fare difference!!

[Silverado]

Was he given a conventional wheelchair to get to the gate or one specific for aircraft aisle's?

Ideally he would have been given a conventional wheelchair at check-in, which he could have then wheeled himself around the terminal and to the airbridge, then transfered to the aircraft wheelchair, which has no means to self-propel and are not as stable.