News and notes from around the interweb:
- Miracle flights are real. Passengers request wheelchair assistance in the airport for the priority through security, early boarding, but when the flight is over they’ve been touched by an angel! No more assistance needed.
The problem is that requesting a wheelchair when you don’t actually need it denies one to someone that does.. or at a minimum makes them wait.
Another flight on @SouthwestAir, and I’m happy to report being witness to more miracles. These poor souls came seeking a flight, and instead were healed. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Always grateful for witnessing the miraculous healing power of flight. pic.twitter.com/7TCYn2T6BB
— Dave Ruminates (@dave_ruminates) April 5, 2023
- 20% off Virgin Atlantic economy awards between London Heathrow and LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Tel Aviv and Johannesburg. Book by April 27 for travel through May 31.
- At Philadelphia Airport, “checked 36 power ports and have only found two of them completely working” They call it Filthadelphia. Yet somehow the OTG iPads that sell you food seem to work.
- In 2017 American Airlines told me they were developing a program to test and repair non-working seat power outlets. They even had a special tool for the job. That program did not roll out, however, due to cost.
hello @AmericanAir the least you can do is have functioning outlets so we can charge our phones when you DONT have any TVs on this plane. Your flight attendants don’t know how to get the outlets to work. Why do we pay all this money again for your flights?! I’m on flight AA1530 pic.twitter.com/LwHFSdueBl
— Priyanka Naik | chefPriyanka 🌶️ (@chefPriyanka) April 5, 2023
- There’s surely better wordplay possible at Sioux City, Iowa; Pensacola, Florida; Fresno, California; Kochi, India; and Fukuoka, Japan.
What’s better? The “Have an LAX-ceptional day!” PA announcements at LAX, or this? pic.twitter.com/K7gcFIVk3V
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) April 6, 2023
- American AAdvantage status members earn Avis Preferred Plus status after 60,000 Loyalty Points and Avis Presidents Club status at 100,000 Loyalty Points. Well, Alaska Airlines MVP members earn Preferred Plus too, it seems, and 100K members receive Presidents Club. So it’s sort of a U.S. domestic oneworld thing. Remember when Hertz was joining SkyTeam?
Used to see the wheelchair thing every time flying AirTran.
I fly Southwest and see the miracle walk on just about every flight
My son uses a wheelchair. I wish he did not. For these people to fake needing a wheelchair is terrible. If my son could walk I would gladly wait the extra time. Maybe we need to fly the miracle Jesus airline as these people did.
SWA preboards should be forced to sit in the last few rows of the plane or be forced to deplane LAST. Bet the number of preboards drops precipitously.
If you need extra time to board then you obviously need extra time to deplane so let’s not be inconsiderate by forcing others to wait for you when they’re frequently in a hurry to make a connection.
An Easter miracle from Jetbridge Jesus
Such a short sighted post!
Some people have to use wheelchair not because they cannot walk, but because they should not walk or they should minimize walking for other reasons, such as acute asthma, heart attack or other heart problems, lung problems, etc.
“Why do we pay all this money again for your flights?” – To get from Point A to Point B safely and quickly, in a feat of engineering and logistics that most of us can’t even begin to understand.
Honestly, just go to Amazon and spend $20 on a power bank and carry it with you.
I’ve been flying SWA more over the last couple of years. I wouldn’t say this is on every flight.
However, there’s a MASSIVE case of it when flying out of Puerto Rico, for whatever reason. I saw at least 20+ passengers do this, which is nuts.
This happens all the time at the “delhi express” flight vancouver to london on BA
All the indian grandmas wrapped in their costumes roll down on wheelchairs just to board first
I live in a senior community, and my 90+ friends here request wheelchairs because it’s hard for them to stand in long security lines and walk long distances in the airport. They can walk one block and want to be independent. They check their bags, so no one here cares about early boarding.
@Miz @Brooke right, we all know the made-up things that people who aren’t really handicapped say to excuse abusing wheelchairs, the point of this post is, since those things are made-up, the people who invoke them should be ashamed of themselves and the airlines need to do more to prevent abuse of the process
Jetway Jesus is alive and well on SW flights in South Florida and Puerto Rico. I have quite a few pics
James – what a stupid self absorbed comment! I hardly think you would make people with disabilities at the back of the plane if were YOU!
My husband has heart issues and yes he could probably walk to the back and out the aircraft if he had to but why would you put anyone that has a true disability at the furthest point from the door? Because you’re all about me me me!
There are plenty of people who have true disability. You don’t know what that disability is and frankly it’s none of your business. Think about someone beside you and realize most people with disabilities would give anything not to be in that position!
People who fake disabilities for personal benefit are scum.
The Delhi express comment is so true!
To make sure granny does fly home, the travel agent in India offers the PRM service – only they make a charge (region of $20 per granny). As we know this service is free to the passenger, but Indian travel agents are making a fortune off the back of it.
I was in t5 PRM area back on 3 march. Their were 3 Indian women (all from same family) all in wheelchairs, but able to walk to the bathrooms, bend to use charging sockets, and walking to the desk with no help to demand as to why they had not been taken to their boarding gate!
The attitude and behavior was a disgrace.
.. . and emotional support animals. Arg…
To Hashi
If booking PRM services on Wizzair, their system automatically books wheelchair/PRM passengers in rows towards the back of the aircraft. This is because the ambilift goes to the rear aircraft doors for Wizzair.
If you wish to choose any other seat, then Wizzair will charge you for seat allocation
While I’m sure many of the wheelchair only on boarding people are faking it there are legitimate reasons for it. My mother in law used to be that way–she could usually handle the walk if there were no time pressure. She couldn’t handle standing in the security line, nor could she handle the metal detector (why couldn’t you have assistance? It’s not going to miss metal because there’s an assistant.)
You can basically assume anyone in an airport wheelchair can walk, the only question is how fast, how far, and under what conditions (my mother in law needed someone with her for balance.) People who are truly incapable of standing on their feet will have their own chairs.
The comments about the Indian women are pure racism. “Costumes?” Indian clothes are some of the most beautiful clothing you will ever see.
Some people need wheelchairs because they cannot walk for extended periods through long spaces (hmm, airport terminals), but can still walk ok for a limited amount of time (down a jetbridge or from the luggage claim to the car).
I was on an AA transcon flight with Diana Ross a couple of years ago. I was not traveling with her (lol) but she was 2 rows ahead of me. She walked just fine between her seat and the galley area, but when the plane landed, she had a wheelchair waiting for her. I walked out right behind her, as he was wheeled through the terminal, watching dozens of people say hi to her, and she could not have been nicer to her fans, and for that matter, to the flight attendants.
She performs on stage all over the world, and albeit with slow movements across the stage, she can walk.
Jr – Wizz has more problems that putting disabled people on their aircraft. They are the UKs answer to our Spirit. Their safety record keeps them from flying here – thankfully!
The comment from Doug about “delhi express” – the reason many Indian grandmas take wheelchair is not for early boarding, their issue is airport transfer in London/Europe – they don’t understand english very well and always get lost/delayed when traveling alone. Best option for them is to opt for wheel chair
I just saw about 50 Indians in wheelchairs awaiting transfer at SFO Customs. It was bizarre. Now I understand.
Most likely, it is wheelchair abuse and the passenger is faking. However, there is a small window that fraud is not intended. That is the case if someone has a bad knee, for example, and can walk a little. After the flight, they don’t want to wait so they are willing to chance it. You can tell it’s a genuine problem if they chance it but then have to sit down after walking the length of a few gates after getting off the plane. However, if they walk quickly after the flight, that possibility is remote.
I’m certainly not for the practice of requesting a wheelchair when not necessary, but how would this prevent someone else with the need from receiving the service? Isn’t the airline responsible for providing the service to all passengers making the request?
Some people are ambulatory for a few steps slowly but can’t walk long distances through the airport or with their luggage due to Lung capacity impairment or other not apparent maladies, caused by such things as long COVID — wheelchairs aren’t just for paralyzed or impaired walkers who have visible disabilities. They help people with real problems. As with anything there’s scammers, but just because you see someone walk a few steps doesn’t mean they are lazy. Maybe worry about yourself and don’t be judgmental of others without knowing their story
To all of you who think there is no grey area between being able to walk quickly and having to use a wheelchair, shame on you. I curse you to realize your error too late. Enjoy your Rollators!
Some “miracle walks” may not be “miracle walks”.
It’s possible to have an injury or other medical condition whereby a person may be able to walk just fine or well enough at times but at other times end up in pain or end up having other health conditions triggered —.more so if standing up too long on their feet, if quickly moving on their own feet at a critical time for the trips, or carrying along too much weight.
Foĺing 3 spine operations iver 20 years and with 19 bolts holding 4 rods onto my spine and 3 knee ops, yes, I am proud to be able to walk. That said, walking a km or more in an airport and standing in queue is quite painful.
My colleagues are surprised to learn I am 62 and that my husband is 74.
Are we not allowed to avail ourselves of wheelchairs to make flying a pleasant experience?
Certainly there are many people who need wheelchairs or at least it helps those with mobility issues. The problems arise when they are used for personal gain. Search “Disney fake disabilities” to see how selfish our society has become. I personally don’t believe in Karma but, using a wheelchair when not needed or faking a disability, that’s tempting fate for sure!
Not all disabilities are visible. I have Parkinsons disease and walking several blocks or up 2 flights of steps is very difficult. Perhaps not sure the worst of people?
Not all disabilities are visible. I have Parkinsons disease and walking several blocks or up 2 flights of steps is very difficult. Perhaps not assume the worst of people?
Walking into and out of a plane is completely different than walking from one corner to the other of London Heathrow! My grandparents have knee problems where pain increases with lot of walking but small amounts of steps are fine.
Not only do the grandma’s board early but they insist that their husband, 6 kids, 25 grandkids, sisters, brothers and everyone else board with them and their 100 carryon bags. All talking LOUDLY
Limit wheelchair assistance boarding to ONE person to assist. The rest of the family has to wait like everyone else.
I suspect if each wheelchair passenger was denoted with a red tag at their seat and told they had to deplane LAST, there’d be more miracles on the way fown.
I believe this is very much a SWA phenomenon….another angle to their “survival of the fittest” boarding procedure. As air travel gets more and more crowded, SWA pitting passenger against passenger for seat selection breeds this kind of thing.
The larger problem is passengers who need wheelchairs rarely get them or they are treated poorly.
Frequent flyer fool; Your cannot tell from looking at many people that they cannot walk the long distances that are frequently required to get to a gate. They would trade their handicap gladly for your healthy body.
It sucks paying $100 extra for a business extra ticket, getting a boarding pass A1-5 and then getting on the plane to find the first 10 rows and overhead bins are full by perfectly healthy people that had to preboard. It happens a lot. I said something to the flight attendant about it last night on a flight from San Diego (it is worse in CA always) and she just smiled and said something friendly. On those flights, A1 is A26 in reality (at best). Very frustrating.
Oh and your poodle is not a service dog….
As someone left with mobility issues after long covid, sometimes I have the stamina to walk and others I don’t. Not every disability is black and white. There’s also more urgency to board a flight. Getting off of the plane can be done at your own pace. I can assurev you there is nothing convenient about requesting wheelchair assistance, and you know you are getting judged if your don’t “look” disabled enough.
@Patti When my wheelchair bound son and I have flown I believe that is how it was. The wheelchair person and one person accompanying them could board first and any remaining family/friends had to wait. My son and I get on the plane first and off last.
@Chris T. I agree that it’s not good to be judgmental. And I didn’t mean to be by my original comment. If someone needs a wheelchair by all means go for it. I just meant it was terrible for people to fake it. It’s difficult to tell who actually needs a wheelchair. Only God and the people claiming they need a wheelchair know for sure. God will judge accordingly.
@AndrewDTX. My son has his own wheelchair. Again, I’m not trying to judge but it looks like if the mobility issue is severe/frequent enough the person would have their own wheelchair. A lot of places do have wheelchair availability though.
There are 2 ways to handle that.
1) make the use of a wheelchair a paying service, like $25 each time. So the cheap entitled jerks stop it, but that will not be fair for the persons that really need one.
2) board wheelchair users last, they deplane last, and they can board last too. Their seat is reserved so it is not an issue (except on SW)
Lord have mercy….. and all this on Good Friday! so much for Christian charity.
Yes, not all disabilities are visible. Some folk who may not *look* disabled do, in fact, need help. I have been that soldier at some points in my life.
Sorry, comments about Indians are not racist, but they may be culturist. Indians know full well how to game the system and they are better at it than the rest of us. @Doug’s comments about the “Delhi Express” comport with my experiences, regardless of what others may say and think.
All that said, @Gary is correct. Too many folk use wheelchairs as a way to get on first. Wish it weren’t so, but it’s true. Try flying into RSW from ATL — my high count was 24 chairs, yet all were ambulatory on arrival.
My wife’s favorite story relates to a significantly obese lady on one of her flights. (No fat shaming here, I’m a big guy) Had to be wheeled everywhere. The flight was delayed, and a sandwich cart was brought out. It’s a miracle, fat lady was quite deft on her feet and into the sammiches.
I rest Gary’s case.
Happy Easter to all. Let’s not attack fellow posters on the Holiest weekend of the year.
My wife can walk just fine for a bit, from from the ticket counter to the gate, no way. Glad so many people are experts on mobility impairment. I bet you stand out in the supermarket parking lot calling people with handicap parking passes liars because you don’t see their disability.
Personally, I find it frustrating & stressful upon arrival to know we that require wheelchairs r being left last to be wheeled to connecting gate. I’m sorry so many abuse the system
This is super prevalent on flight to/from the Philippines and Hawaii. Between these people and the people with kids under 12 years old, 2/3 of the flight will board before Business Class.
lol, “mobility issues after long covid,” add that to the list of “thanks for your example of a fake made-up thing that you use to game the system and get on the flight earlier”
The number of people with so-called “invisible disabilities” that *require a wheelchair* but *don’t actually require a wheelchair at any time other than when it gets them on a plane quicker* is near-zero. It certainly is not “1 person out of 4” at any place in the world besides the gate to the plane. And for some reason the carriers and destinations that attract the scumbag population also have a 10x increase in “invisible disabilities.” It’s a mystery of medical science, someone should write it up in a journal.
I had the recent displeasure of flying out of PHL for the first time last week. The layout is horrendous and of course none of the outlets at the table near gate C25 worked.
Charge a $35 fee for wheelchair assistance and watch the frauds-on-wheels go away.
@ResponsibleForMyActions – and punish someone who is disabled that has enough problems dealing with life’s minor problems on a daily basis so you can find out who really “needs” a wheelchair?? What a ridiculous remark!
It already costs a disabled person $10 in tips getting to the plane and another $10 at their destination for the privilege of having someone push them to the baggage carousel (if they have) and out of the terminal. Those wheelchairs aren’t “free”. It costs even more if there are connections, or international flights where immigration is involved. To say nothing about the embarrassment they feel knowing people already look down on them because they hear people talk about “what a bother these wheelchair people are”.
Your empathy for someone who can’t do those things and would give anything to be able to, speaks volumes about the self involved person you are. I just hope you never have to end up in a wheelchair some day so you can see it’s not fun – nor funny – to wind up with a disability.
That said, I’d like to see all airlines only allow the wheelchair person and ONE other to board early because a person with a true disability often needs extra time and help. Many cannot walk from the door to a seat let alone get situated with a their carryon.