I hope he loses. From interviews on the BBC this afternoon, the airport did all they could to help him but he refused offers of a substitute wheelchair as it didn't suit him. He claimed he was afraid of "developing pressure sores". I wonder how his arse managed in that case, with an umpteen hundred yard scrape across the terminal floor?

Sue them for what, his own decision?
from the news story

" At the airport, staff offered to push him through the terminal on a high-backed wheelchair - an option he rejected as degrading." and "He asked if he could instead be transported in a motorised buggy. However, Luton does not have one."

Instead he decided to make his own way in what, by any standard, was a degrading manner and then have the termacity to complain.


Battle bowler on, awaiting incoming......................

Pressure sores take a while to develop. Justin was offered help: he chose not to use it. His choice.....
The airport had not lost his chair, they were trying to help him. In the circumstances, a little gratitude
might have been acceptable.
Seemed more intent on making a point rather than travelling from A to B.

I heard the interview on the radio and my first impression was 'what a self rightious and pompous dick'. However, on reflection, I do not know what trials he has had to go through in the past and his frustration may well be understandable. Pressure sores though? Really?

I have to side with those above. I'm of the opinion the airport offered him a more than suitable alternative. I'm afraid that 'self rightious and pompous dick' may well be apt in this instance.

Phew! When I posted my comment (#61) above, I was a tad nervous, thinking I may have had the JB equivalent of the boots kicking in the door!
I saw last night on the BBC web page a photo of the complainer dragging himself through the airport. He and others have commented that other passengers seemed unconcerned as they passed by him. Then who took the photo? And where was his baggage?

How did he get off the plane?
How did he get across the tarmac to the terminal?
How did he get to, and through, passport control?
How did he get to baggage reclaim, where he found his chair was missing?
Where was he sat while the special assistance team were running round like bluebottles trying to find his chair?

He was sat in a 'degrading' high back, industry approved, weapons grade construction, airport standard chair, 'strapped in' by a cross-lap safety belt.

My lady-love has spent many hours in identical chairs, and has never suffered 'pressure sores' yet.

Suggesting that the Special Assistance Teams are degrading to the people they assist is the real disgusting thing about this story.

He threw a strop after he was told that somebody had cocked-up at a different airport and declared "I'm not going anywhere in this effin chair!"

±1 on that.
However talented he may or may not be (I've never heard of him) IMO he took advantage of the situation for his own publicity. He clearly wasnt on his own - ''someone' took the many photos, ''someone' carried his baggage even if it was walk on bag, '''someone' got the luggage trolley. And he refused what help they COULD offer. Matyrdom? Compo? Fame? Pathetic?
A Set Up comes to mind.

....in order to try and make some money too perhaps? For me he's sailing very close to fraud!

With out knowing what went wrong here, My wife is confirmed to a wheelchair. The high backed chairs are uncomfortable and having to be strapped in is degrading.

Observations of recent travels and using PRM services

INV,ABZ,TLV,LPA great nothing was to much trouble.
LHR waited for ages to be taken of the a/c
LGW great staff obviously understaffed and struggling
FRA high tech equipment but arrogant staff
LTN just had their hands out for tips

Thanks for helping with balancing the books scr1.

Most of us don't know what this guy was guying through, most of us don't know the full circumstances and most of us aren't in a wheelchair. When I comment I generally try to make sure I actually know something about the subject so to be fair to the guy (and he's in a position none of us envy) there may well be circumstances we simply aren't aware of. He should be given the benefit of the doubt.

And then again, he may be wanting his 15 minutes of Fame.
I'd love to know where his wonderfully unhelpful travelling companions were and how THEY were helping, apart from taking photos and ringing the Press that is.
Cynical? Perhaps but i'll happily retract it on receipt of such information.
Was it SO "degrading' to be temporarily strapped to a wheely chair for his own Safety for a length of time that wouldn't have been very long - its not that big an airport - that he chose to 'drag himself' through the Arrivals Hall? And I read elsewhere that he was quite potty mouthed to the very people who were trying to assist him.
Still smells of Set Up to me.

This business of being strapped in a wheelchair being "degrading" sounds a bit off too. (Apologies to scr1). If you are in a wheelchair that is being driven by another, you have no control over how that journey will pan out. Maybe the airport should offer an indemnity form for the user to sign, disclaiming all potential claims against the airport in the event of careless wheelchair handling, resulting in the user being thrown out and possibly injured.
And how is this idea of "degrading" any different to dragging yourself across the airport on your arse? I wonder if the claimant is going to include claims that this activity was degrading as a part of his law suit?

Why do the media push these trivial stories? Is it because they are sympathetic or is it to start a fight? In terms of what else is going on, so what. Must say I am in less sympathetic corner.

I've just had to go through a process of explaining to colleagues how to position equipment so that wheelchair users can retain their independence, which, along with dignity is lost when people become paraplegic or quadriplegic. There seemed to be a lack of imagination about how to deal with the with - problem "oh, there will be someone to help", was the first response. This man, after his own wheelchair was "left behind on a flight", and finding that the airport didn't have a basic wheelchair that he could operate himself, opted to maintain his independence instead being strapped into a wheelchair and relying on someone else to wheel it through the airport, something that he felt was less dignified than getting there himself. Kudos to him for dealing with the airline and airport's service failures himself. Hopefully the publicity will improve service standards.

He didnt 'deal' with anything. He just self publisised. IMO he made himself look a fool.

From what I have read and the contribution from scr1, I think that the man did NOT look a fool to himself. It seems that he did what he felt was right for him. If he did not feel like a 'fool' then that is good for him. If others thiink him a fool, then that is their view.

And now the Luton whiner has dropped his court action. He says it is because Luton has now purchased 10 self-drive wheelchairs. Well, who am I to be sceptical???

I wonder on what grounds he would have based a legal case ? The airport efficiently offered a suitable alternative chair as a result of the airline (not the airport) losing his own chair. It was not to his preferred design but presumably complied in full with the relevant standards. Luton Airport have now acquired 10 wheelchairs that he deems acceptable. What happens when the next user objects to the colour ?

I also herniated a disc some years ago and was offered surgery. The surgeon commented that it would fix itself in about the same timescale post op so I decided to take that route. In the case of the complainant, he opted for surgery and it went wrong. I have some sympathy for the bloke but there was no reason for him to behave like a ****. At least the floor got a good polish.