News and notes from around the interweb:
- When United Airlines looks like a Southwest Airlines boarding gate.
Giving GS a run for their money
byu/nabillionairee inunitedairlines - Customs officer: Is that 100 live snakes in your pants, or are you just happy to see me? (Narrator: it was 100 live snakes.)
- Alaska Mileage Plan up to 50% off partner redemptions in coach and premium economy to Guadalajara, Athens, Taipei, Rome, Delhi and Muscat when you book by July 31 for travel October 1 – January 31.
- IHG devalues their points again and they’re so devalued already it’s hard to care. The elite program is improved but the earn-burn program has only worsened.
- American Airlines is running targeted promotions, check your account and register by July 22 to earn on bookings made between registration and that date for August and October travel – e.g. one of 2,000 miles for 2 flights; 5,000 miles for 2 premium cabin flights; 6,000 miles for any 6 flights, etc.
- This may be what bothers me most about the elimination of single use toiletries – even more than that the bulk dispensers may be tampered with, often aren’t refilled, and are almost certainly never sanitized – is that we’re supposed to like it because hotels lie and say their cost-saving motives are altruistic.
Half the things hotels do that they pretend are altruistic are just screw the customer stuff under guise of progressivism. Yes, you don’t want to clean the towels and sheets to save the planet. Right. https://t.co/ZTl83MLyzO
— Clifford Asness (@CliffordAsness) July 11, 2024
- Clock ticking for owners of former Dearborn Hyatt after mortgage default
- Soul Plane.
That picture with the wheelchairs looks like Lima Peru
IHG is the Zimbabwean Dollar. For this stay you earn 1 Trillion points!!!
Are people misusing the wheelchairs or falsely claiming to be disabled? It appears that way.
Simple solution for United: people in wheelchairs board last (they have assigned seats) and, since they are disabled, they shouldn’t have carry-on luggage since someone else would have to life and take down. Gate check.
Perhaps people in wheelchairs can only be assigned window seats. If the person can’t walk, why should my life be put in jeopardy in case of an emergency by a “disabled” person unable to get out of an aisle or middle seat?
I have a promotion idea for American Airlines:
Stop issuing press releases, fire the rude incompetent staff, serve drinks and meals out of Philly, and make your executives fly economy on AA until shit improves. That “whoosh” sound when the cabin door releases is you sucking so bad nobody wants to fly your airline.
Promote that. Also here’s a suitcase of snakes to take home with you.
I fell over my cat running downstairs to catch an uber for a business trip and sprained my ankle. I made it to the gate, but by the time I sat down, my ankle was so swollen, I had to take my shoe off. Unfortunately, the swelling continued to the point I couldn’t put it back on. When I left for my flight home, I called ahead for a wheelchair to meet me at check in. I was so horrified by the thought that people would think I was one of the scammers, that I left my swollen, purple ankle out to show it off 🙂
Hopefully this wasn’t some kinda stunt done by SouthWest because if they did, then it will surely blow up in their face.Not mention ruin their reputation much worse
Really easy, you go down the jet way on a wheel chair, you come off the plane in one…..last.
I was surprised to see all those wheelchairs yet, I am not. I have heard more after.lately that more and more ask for chairs to board earlier and help getting from one gate to another but when the plan gets to final destination, only a few wait for help. As a handicapped person, my suggestion is to require a doctors not to verify the need. I myself will willing verify my need with no problem. I needed help years ago and gate agent told me she was closing the gate I needed to walk or miss my plane. I had to take my belongings and hang onto the wall to get there. Someone that was able to walk took the chair. This is just rude. Something needs to be done. If the attendant had not come back to get me, I would have still missed my flight. Again, certified doctor notes to use wheelchairs. Fewer people will take chairs that way. Give the help to people who really need it, not to the pathetic actors
Re the picture off all the wheelchairs lined up at United. The problem started when they stopped the golf cart rides.
I have severe psoriatic arthritis and several recent surgeries (doing better)
I can walk for short distances and loved when the carts are available it was much easier.
Now, with many connections going through large airports with short arrival and departure times- it’s too much.
When I requested a wheelchair- I told them I only needed at at Charlotte+ I could walk the smaller airports. No can do. Must book for entire trip or not at all.
It has become the norm for non English speakers to ask for wheelchair assistance since they have no idea where to go. Usually they have 200 family members dropping them off but since they aren’t allowed to go to the gate area without an actual ticket a wheelchair is requested. (All ages). This is no secret. We see it all day long. Then they get up and walk on the plane.
There are people who need wheel chairs then there are others who take advantage. A member of our walking group uses wheel hair boarding after walking five miles. Disgusting
All those “handicapped’ people in wheelchairs should’ve been told they could not board and would have to be accommodated on later flights – and not more than 2-3 handicapped’ persons per flight – which would take a looong time to accommodate all of them – because more than that could endanger everyone if they had to evacuate the plane.
I wonder how many would’ve sprung up from those wheelchairs to get on that original flight if told that? Praise the Lord! May miracles never cease!
You know I would be that guy……….with the prosthetic leg and uses a cane for balance that would stand next to those people. Even though I can’t stand for very long, I would do it.
If what the photo says is true, the airlines should make them produce the number on their handicapped placard when booking. That can easily be checked through the DMV and then they can call out the few names of the people who are actually handicapped, since there won’t be many, for boarding early.
Have all the handicapped passengers board with the second group / family boarding (or last) as they take more time to board we want the plane to fully board as efficiently as possible and there is no law or regulation requiring disabled folks to be first in line… it is just a convention adopted by airlines years ago.
As someone who has had the need for a wheelchair, I have the solution. Board the wheelchair individuals first, into the designated section. The designated section should be at the rest of the plane close to the rear emergency exit. If there is an emergency exciting issue it would be better to have those that need help all in one location and in one section. Since those who need wheelchair are slower, it also makes since that they not be near the front slowing everyone’s off boarding down. Too many fakers pretend to need a wheelchair so they can pick front seats to deboard quicker at the next destination
Are you sure thats not the walker brigade boarding Southwest using United wheelchairs?
Geez, a nation of grifters we’ve become. Someone start up an airline for the “handicapped.”
I have been on at least 2 dozen United flight over the past 18 months. Each flight has more and more wheelchair bound customers. I’d say the average I’ve seen is 8.
Although I’m sure there are many people that actually need wheelchairs to board, I can also tell you, that since I always book an aisle seat, and also have a good memory for faces, a good percentage of these customers have mo problem waltzing down the aisle to go to the rest rooms.
Now that the baby boomers are 65 and older more people flying cannot walk the long distances required at airports. The only real thing that the airlines do for seniors is the wheel chair service. Some of us can walk on and off the planes, but have pain and endurance issues. The last time I flew I thought I was going to fall over at the airport before I got to my my destination.
I’m an old guy with all the aches and pains of aging. I’ve had a couple back surgeries and still in pain. I could ask for a wheelchair but I’m not a lazy faker. Almost anyone can walk down a jetway with minimal assistance. If they can’t, they should consider driving or hiring a private aircraft.
The lazy and fakers are ruining travel for honest people.
We recently returned from London to Toronto flight and there were 42 people in wheelchairs requesting assistance for the flight. After landing, only 12 wheelchairs were requested to assist deplaning passengers. The agent stated that it was a popular scam for certain groups.
@jsm All you have to do if you are in a window seat and the disabled person is in the middle or aisle is get up and go around them. Problem solved.
@Donna .. you have this exactly right. I’m dizzy; have had 3 heart procedures and can walk short distances… but certainly not long concourses or security lines without risk of falling or worse, of a further heart issue (no stamina). I used a wheelchair twice; at MCO and at JFK and was embarrassed but it was essential… Terminal 4 JFK is incredible and nowhere did I see the golf cart service, or that would have sufficed. So SkyClub arranged it. I am traveling internationally soon, and purposed got a nonstop flight on an airline i don’t normally take, to avoid hassle and impossible time walking and standing in either Atlanta or New York; and I’m sure Charlotte is about the same.
There is a simple solution you must show a state issued handicapped letter or sticker from your state to use it to board . If you need it for distance you will be taken to boarding area only and get on with your group on your ticket . Problem solved . I use it have a handicap sticker and would gladly show it and we who really need it use it both ways !
My wife can walk short distance so having a wheel chair gate to gate works. We fly premium economy or above so boar head of most of the plane. The same at arrival, can get up the jet way with my help and a cane but need gate to gate or gate to front help.
Simple fix. If you are in a wheel chair, you can board first. But here’s the catch, you will be sitting in the back of the plane not the front. 1st ones on, last ones off.
I hate that the whole party with the disabled person get to board at the same time. You have no disability.wait your turn. Sometimes I’ve seen up to ten board.
I agree, 1st on, last off. The extra delay in the beginning is made up for the others at the end….and seated in the back by an exit. In an emergency who wants to remember where extra needs fliers are seated?! It might save a life!!
It is important to recognize that not all disabilities are apparent, and they can affect individuals of all ages. In my case, I have undergone multiple back surgeries and now have titanium rods, screws, brackets, and spacers. As a result, I am unable to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time. If airlines begin requesting proof of disabilities, this could potentially lead to legal challenges, and I would be prepared to take action if necessary.
Everyone has an excuse. If you can only walk short distances start out earlier. What did people do before wheel chair service? If you don’t have a medical note then you should pay for the service. If you walk off the plane you should get a fine like parking in a handicap spot. Be grateful you can walk . Airlines suck but you shouldn’t suck more.
Really simple. Need special assistance? show us your handicap registration with your state DMV at check in. Eazy peezy.
Some of you suck. My husband is on oxygen. When he’s seated his O2 level is in the 90s; when he’s walking it drops down into the low 80s. So no you can’t see his disability—other than his O2 generator—but he sure AF has one. And he doesn’t have a disabled placard. And I’d be happy to board in a different group, but I’m the one who has to put his carryon into the overhead. So leave your privilege at home, please; you’re not all-knowing and all-seeing. You have no idea what’s going on with others.
If I ever needed to be reminded of how virulently ableist the vast majority of people are, I can read this comment thread. Not like the world would ever let us forget that, though.
While I understand freedom of speech, I work this wheelchair service. People use this service as an escorts, they use it because their bodies hurt them to walk a long distance because of being over weight and Some even use it because they are used to servant’s. I have seen ot all. But what gets me is not wanting to release the chair so we can help someone else. And then the disrespect No Tip. This is a service folks!
Hard work !!!
We walk sometimes a mile and a half from start to finish. These folks say thank you. That probably would be fine if they paid us contractors a descent wage none of us work directly for the airlines, I do this to supplement my wonderful SS income. There is more to pushing a wheel chair then folks know. Please understand I see it all..
The rule is only one family member can accompany the person in the wheel chair but folks take advantage. I wish they did require proof but they can’t. I personally wouldn’t want to travel on a plane that has more than 5 wheelchairs think about this if an emergency arises us walking people would need to help those folks first.
Please have some civility. Many people can walk with a cane short distances but not the long distances in the really large airports or stand for long periods of time without great pain and discomfort. Many of us would love to be physically able to walk or run to a gate or through an airport but sadly can’t. It’s actually very demeaning to be corraled that way. So please have compassion before condemning those you don’t know.
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One word…Karma.
As someone in a wheelchair full time, I keep waiting for my “mifaculous healing” while in the air. I have yet to meet Jetway Jesus.
Every flight I have to wait until everyone is off the plane so an aisle chair can come get me to bring me to my personal wheelchair. It angers me to see everyone using wheelchair privilege to board first, and then watch them run off the plane when it lands.
Personally, idc if I’m in the front or back. It takes me the same amount of time to load and unload either way. Oh, and for the record. I’d trade being in a wheelchair for the ability to board the plane last as a walking passenger any day. Those of you faking really suck.
I agree with the comment on needing to show a handicapp placard. I have many health issues and when I fly and get a wheelchair I makes sure my placard is showing in fron of me. All airlines need to have that as a rule
Regarding the single use toiletries: besides all the reasons you mentioned, another problem is when traveling with children who can’t reach the dispensers that are installed too high for them to reach.