Easy jet Allocated Seats

PSp_2

New to this forum but wondered if anyone has more information on this.

Booked a flight at the end of June for myself & my wife who is disabled.

We asked for someone to phone back so we could give them info re my wife being diabled.
They did ring & we informed them we would be bringing own wheelchair & walking frame, told that was okay & they sent email with ref number re special need,

Last week we were informed that they are now allocating seats.
So we went into our booking & found seats allocated 6 rows up next to window & middle seat.
We then emailed & told them this was totally unacceptable.
They phoned & we explained my wife's complicated disabilities & asked if as what has been done in the past be allocated the bulk head seats.
We were told could only have them if we paid extra. Also seats 2 to 5 are extra paid seats now.
Tried to explain that due to circulatory disorder my wife needs to be able to move her left leg, which is paralysed from knee downwards & wears a caliper type support. She also needs easy access tothe toilet & therefore needs my help as walking frame cannot go in the cabin.

Eventually did manage a change to row 4 but either side of the aisle on way out then together on same row back.
We have indicated to them that this practice is a disgusting way to treat disabled passengers & we are not happy even with the new allocation of seats.

We have found this experience very distressing, I am 74 my wife 67.

This week we look at our flight itinerary only to find they hadn't even put down anything about taking a wheelchair or walking frame. So we then completed the Tick Boxes for wheelchair but there was no space for adding walking frame.
So what use was it explaining everything for them when we have to check to see if it has been noted?

Before anyone says we shouldn't be travelling, this is our first flight in 6 years & probably our last.
We were brought up to treat people as people with respect but seems as though we're just tick boxes now who have to do all the work & then have to pay extra for anything to do with our needs!!

So people please be aware of these charges (we could not afford the extra & think it wrong to expect us to do so); there are no warning when booking where a disabled person will be placed.

Thank you for reading this.

ankspon

I am grateful for your post,being disabled myself and not having been on holiday for 8 years we was considering trying to save for one and we was discussing the seating arrangements yesterday.

tanith

Not sure if you have seen Easy Jet info about Passengers with specific requirements it seems pretty comprehensive.. although I agree you shouldn't have to keep explaining your requirements if you have informed them

http://www.easyjet.com/en/planning/specific/index.html

Poppie68

Thomsons dont allow disabled or elderly passengers to sit in bulk head seats as these are allocated near emergency exits and the passengers need to have enough mobility and strength to open the exits if needed. I presume all airlines have these rules.

L0RRY

in our experience, most shorthaul airlines wont allocate bulkhead seats to disabled anyway because you need to be fully fit to be able to assist with opening doors & helping evacuate if there was an emergency. we flew easyjet this year and because we'd paid for speedy boarding, we were able to sit in the front row bulkhead opposite the door, which didnt really have much more legroom but at least we didnt have to struggle down the aisle.

make sure you ask for assistance as soon as you get in the airport (both sides) and they may take you to the front of all the queues.

also if you need to use your own chair right up to the plane rather than an airport one, you need to tell them at check in and remind the cabin crew as you board that you need it the otherside, otherwise it'll just go in the hold with all the other luggage and youll have to wait for it on the carousel.

L0RRY

crossposted with poppie68, yes thats our experience too but easyjet allowed anyone to sit in the window & middle seats of the front row opposite the door because theres no emergency exit as youre blocked in by a wall in front of you dividing the main cabin from the crews work area.

sizzler1893

My experience with EasyJet has always been that disabled couldnt sit in the bulkhead seats also.

Try Whizz Air - They dont allow disabled persons sit in Aisle seats!!!

PSp_2

Thanks for your comments & to lorry thanks for confirming the front bulk head seat are not by the emergency doors.

That is why most airlines did allocate these for the disabled. They do have a bit more room to be able to move you legs & also access the toilet better. At least there's a wall to help rather than annoying the person in front in trying to get hold of something for a bit of stability.

We had already paid quite a high price for the flights & to pay the extra is just not within our budget.

Easyjet had stated that they would allocate seats "by the end of November" not in the middle of it.

Yes it does show a clear plan now re seating for people doing their booking now; but we booked at the end of June.

WE thought it states that EU rules must indicate clearly all 'Extra Charges' before you finalise your booking.

There is no mention that a disabled person will be placed further away from a facility which they may need.

Why are we just ignored? Is the main reason that airlines don't want disabled people to travel.?
They are in our eyes just pandering to those who dont care about cost or service & are quite happy to be treated as a Tick Box.

Whilst people just through their money at these airlines the airlines will never consider you as a person. All of which we know is why there is so much disrepect about.

I worked with "Special Needs" & the disabled & its Care & understanding that they need.

Greed not need plays too much part in society today.

Thanks once again for yor replies.

tim7273384

EasyJet are penalising customers who have already purchased Speedy boarding. I purchased easy boarding for £8 pp per flight to Egypt. A new customer purchasing a extra leg room will pay £11.50. However, as a customer who unwittingly purchased Speedy boarding, before easyJet changed its policy on seat booking, i had to pay a total of £13.50.

This means, that easyJet is penalising customers who have already purchased Speedy boarding by 2 pounds per person per flight

EasyJet should ensure that customers who purchased Speedy boarding before they chose to change their boarding policy, pay the same amount as new customers. This is either profiteering by easyJet or they have made a mistake. Either way, it is totally unfair And they should fix it

I raised this problem with the customer contact centre. Neither the first person nor their supervisor was able to offer me the £8 refund.

I use easyJet in preference to Ryanair because I have found them to be fairer and more upfront. But this is making me think again

GlasweJen

It depends on the type of plane you're on. We paid to upgrade to premium economy to help with transfers and the airline accidentally placed me over the wing so I had to be moved as I can't stand up never mind help people get off a plane.

Airlines don't have to do anything in terms of seating for disabled customers. By law they have to transport disability aids free of charge, provide assistance to board the plane and things like that but you can't demand the dear seats for the standard cost - that's playing the disabled card a bit!

In terms of wheelchairs, mine was tagged and I was able to use it to the plane door, I was helped up and "walked" to my chair and then when we arrived the chair miraculously appeared at the plane door again (after everyone else was off).