British Airways and Disability Discrimination!!

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

So someone who is disabled and suffering from dwarfism is more deserving of extra legroom than someone who simply has very bad and painful arthritis?

strangely it is always the shortest people who jump up and down and make the most noise about 'needing' extra leg room...small man syndrome and all that!

donny_osmonds_mad_fan

hammy_the_hammer wrote: »

iyour whole argument revolves around your opinion that they should have been given two bulkhead seats or upgraded FOC. as i posted many moons ago if you supplied proof that your BiL was at high risk of DVT if he didn't get extra legroom they probably wouldn't have been able to take him unless he quote]

lol you would be shocked how many people come to a check in desk say I have a bad leg I need to stretch/I am at risk of dvt etc etc I need an emergency exit row, when you explain sorry that their problem automatically means they can't have an emergency exit row they suddenly have a miraculous recovery.....check in agents should be hailed as heros for the amount of miraculous recoveries we assist with, with one sentence! but on a serious note, it is this behaviour that makes it very very difficult to judge those with proper need and as you said if you have a doctors note saying they are at increased risk of dvt not only does it make you wonder why they are taking such chances on their health and possibly life for a holiday to a far away destination and they would be at a risk of the airline not wishing to take that responsibilty for fear of being sued etc

Poppy9

Re moving seats. Just wondered if you like being asked to move/give up seats.

If I have taken the trouble and expense to pre-book seats to ensure I'm sitting with my family on a flight I would be reluctant to move away from them to accommodate a person who hasn't pre-booked. My reluctance goes back years when the family sitting in front of me were asked to give up their child's seat to a group of people who were on standby. The child was under 2 but the parents had booked and paid for a seat for their child. The aircraft staff asked loudly and made a big deal that if they said no one member of the group would be stranded in a foriegn country etc. so they gave up the seat. When the meals came there was no food or drink for the child as the airline staff said the food went with the seat. They wouldn't back down and the greedy cow in the seat ate it.

Bottom line is if you have specific requirements you have to book early and pay the extra for your needs. So many people have disabilities, hidden or otherwise. My sister has been criticised loudly for using a disabled toilet. The fact she has a radar key seems irrelevant. The fact she has a stoma and catheter is also hidden.

budgetflyer

Sam_Bee wrote: »

Yeh, but what if they're a dwarf?

They should have extra small seats for them, so they feel just as cramped as tall people in economy, just to make it fair. If dwarfs want to sit in a normal economy seat then they should be charged a premium, because it is in effect like them sitting in business class. Also their meals should be smaller. Because surely they cant eat as much as tall people

*jobags*

Can I be a bit thick and ask what a bulkhead seat is?

I'm flying to Miami on 22nd May with my 13 month old twins and terminally ill 5 year old son
Would a bulkhead seat be better? (wherever that is)

We've been told he should get a window seat as he needs Oxygen (we have to pay £100 each way for that - not complaining but just wanted to ward off anyone complaining about us getting special treatment)

If you're planning to fly to Miami with BA on that date you may wish to reconsider - the twins are very active and have just learned shouting, the boy can fart for England

Return from Miami looks daunting - I had until now thought the rudest airline staff in the world were based in San Francisco.

I have warned BA about our impending flight but keep getting strange emails from a man who doesn't seem to read my questions....PCMU are quite helpful though but don't seem to communicate with the rest of the organisation

Tojo_Ralph

*jobags* wrote: »

Can I be a bit thick and ask what a bulkhead seat is?

A seat that faces the bulkhead, or the wall of the galley or toilet area. The seat is likely to have more legroom and allows for a bassinet (baby crib) to be attached to the bulkhead.

IvanOpinion

I can sympathise with the OP on this. DW has a chronic back condition which means that it is very uncomfortable for her to sit back in a seat. She often has to sit forard, however if there is a seat reclining in front of her she can not do this.

The problem is that the airline has already heard it all before with every Tom-!!!!!!-and-Harry wanting extra leg room making up every excuse under the sun(personally I wish they would take a few rows out, give more legroom and put the prices up accodingly). I always get a note from DWs consultant and send that to the airline giving details of the booking etc. and explaining the situation to them. Most airlines have been agreeable .... never trust a phone call.

Contrary to some houghts though I don't necessarily consider bulkhead seats to be 'cream of the crop'. On long haul flights the TVs slide in and out of the seat and can take up quite a bit of space making the seats much smaller ... and on others they are outside the loos, which can be very aromatic and people gather there for conversations (elbows in the head etc.). Yes and it sometimes means you have a screaming sprog beside you the whole flight.

Ivan

Incapuppy

I too have health problems which means that flying can be at the least uncomfortable and at the most painful.

The way I see it I have three options:

1. Pay for an upgraded seat to give me more room so that I am less uncomfortable
2. Dose up on anti-inflammatories and painkillers and make the best of the flight knowing that it is only a small part of what will be an enjoyable and relaxing holiday once I get there
3. Choose not to fly

I do fly and it is my choice to do so, I would certainly never expect anything in the way of preferential treatment. Yes we all wish economy seating was more generous but it's not. We all have freedom of choice - no-one is forcing anyone to do anything.

Just my thoughts on the matter ;0)

rose28454

and puffing about how important the bulkhead seat was, there was then a seat swap to get a working video screen?[/quote]
I did not say that at all. Surely you cant take issue with the fact that he swapped seats with my sister ( the seats were next to each other!!) in order to watch the tv. They never heard anything from BA abnout their complaint but no surprise there!!!
To change the subject slightly he has just got his driving licence back after being disqualified 10 years ago for a drink driving offence and 1 year after applying he was assesed as fit to drive with his disability and has just got a specially adapted car and is really happy. However he has to pay £22.00 to have the Drink Driving removed from his licence even though it was 10 years ago and he only lost it for 2 years.
He is a wonderful man and I have just seperated from my husband and he came the other day and gave me £500 ( from a premium bind win of £5000) so that I would have an emergency fund to fall back on. He also came and rewired all my tv and sattelite systems even though he can only use one hand!! People who criticise disabled people should not be so selfish as a stroke can happen to anyone.

dmg24

I wasn't allowed an exit row seat with Delta yesterday because I was on my own ... discrimination anyone?

I DEMAND an upgrade! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: