Virgin accused of discriminating against disabled passengers
 

From ABC online

Virgin Blue has faced action in the Federal Court in Sydney today over its policy on disabled passengers.

Wheelchair users Jackie May and Morris Corcoran were told they would have to pay for carers to travel with them, even though both live independently.

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre says it has been contacted by at least 100 other people across the country with similar concerns.

The centre's CEO Robin Banks says Virgin Blue is creating unlawful, discriminatory hurdles for people with disabilities.

"They get taken through a series of questions about can you put on an oxygen mask without assistance, can you put on a life jacket, can you get off the plane without assistance?" she said.

"They're being asked a range of questions that the rest of us don't have to answer and some people don't really know the answer to those questions.

"Until you're in an emergency, I don't think any of us can answer honestly how we're going to respond."

She also says Virgin Blue is making flying costs for disabled passengers too expensive.

The case is due to resume in September.

Personal opinion only.....so flak jacket on and into my bunker.
I do not think there is anything wrong with any airline asking these questions. If a passenger is, in the unlikely event of an emergency, not able to carry out the functions most fully able pax are expected to do, the airline needs to know about it.
Then the point is, maybe those pax (and maybe a limit per flight is needed) are seated near some cabin crew for the very little bit of extra assitance that may be required. Of course these days few CC's so less potential resources.
Is it not time to cut the "descrimination" cr@p and just be practical about such issues.
Really its BS, and ask every able bodied person if they objected to some silly amount like 10 cents from every ticket alloted to catering for the very few disabled pax......I reckon most would say, charge me 20c and look after them even better would you!
J:ok:

PS The court costs alone from this one case would most likely cover all "additional expense incurred for the next 10 years.....common sense did I say:ugh::ugh:

Totally agree J430,

About time we stop this "political correctness" crap and be realistic.

Harden up. :E

Funny that, cause on the news it said the gripe was about disabled people having to carry a carer with them and with Virgin, they need to buy the carers ticket, whereas in other airlines, they provide the seat free...

and yet, really FAT people can be charged for two seats. it is just plain business if you ask me. Whys hould anyone travel for free? it is not VIRGIN's fault that this person needs a carer. It is not up to virgin to provide free travel for everyone who needs a carer. What if I said I need a carer, but the carer is my wife? can she now travel for free? if so, then my holiday costs have just halved!
I do not wish to appear insensitive, but VB is a BUSINESS!!! they make money out of selling air travel. selling seats at two for one, willnot help their profits.
What is next ? the "carer" gets free mcdonalds? maybe the bank can buy a house for the carer? maybe the petrol bill can be split in half, and the carer not be charged? what about TAX... is Peter costello gonna not charge the carer tax, or GST? NO! Why should an airline be singled out for this. It is no different to any other case.

Wiggum hello, they are not saying that the carer should be allowed to travel free. They are saying that DJ will only allow them to travel if they bring and pay for a carer. Most likely because DJ don't want the OH&S issues of lifting people into and out of seats because they don't have the special equippment or more cynically wheel chair passengers take a fair time to load and DJ don't want it having an effect on depature stats due short turn arounds. Pesronally I think DJs attitude on this stinks.

solution
 

Easy solution - online booking - that seat is available - carer required - sorry we no longer have seats available at that price.:ok:

I don't believe all people requiring wheelchairs should have to take a carer with them. If those passengers need extra care or assistance during the flight eg with medication, feeding themselves or going to the loo then fair enough they should pay for a carer who can assist them - flight attendants cannot be expected to provide this kind of care. This is just common sense not any kind of discrimination.

The cost of a carer should not be borne by the airline, however I'm certain that in some cases State Governments may offer a subsidy or even reimbursement for this purpose, not sure about Centrelink.

The boarding of passengers in wheelchairs just requires co-ordination and organisation by ground staff. I've seen a lot of people travelling recently who are extremely able bodied but just happen to be travelling with a wheelchair. They can get themselves through security and to the boarding gate with a minimum of fuss but they do like staying in their own wheelchair for as long as possible so they can get themselves around to the cafe, gift shop, toilet just like the rest of us without another person having to assist them.

Okay, so a member of ground staff has to take their wheelchair from the boarding gate to oversize at minus 30, is that really too much to ask? I'm sure more time is spent searching for fail to board passengers who aren't in wheelchairs than it is for the above.

On a recent flight I saw 9 wheelchair athletes load themselves onto a domestic flight quite successfully, in fact all 230 pax were onboard the 767 15mins prior to the ETD.

To avoid any misunderstanding on what assistance is required to board just ask the pax what assistance they require when boarding eg can they self transfer from their wheelchair to the seat. A lot of delays could be avoided if ground staff ask these basic questions at check-in.

Of course it helps if you have experienced staff so for employers who include "no experience necessary" in their job descriptions you get what you pay for.

Capt_Snafu before you get your knickers in a knot, understand that this policy does not apply across the board to all wheelchair passengers - in fact the vast majority travel daily without a carer. Its called the Independant Travel Policy, and includes things like being able to administer own medication, use a seatbelt yourself, pull down an oxygen mask yourself etc. These are basic functions that the majority of wheelchair bound passengers have no problem with - infact I have had wheelchair bound pax on my flights who are significantly more athletically able than I am!

Political Correctness has gone far too far, however I agree that if it can be proven that a carer is required then perhaps a carer's fare could be introduced - similar to the way a lot of american carriers will charge oversize pax for 2 seats - one adult seat, and one child seat - and if the flight does not oversell (ie it dispatches with empty seats) then the charge for the child seat is refunded. Fair (fare) on both the pax and the carrier.

Simple...they can travel on the other airline...:ok: