At CPH thursday, there were about 10 wheelchairs with people waiting to board flight to IAD. However, I was the only one that needed assistance to get to seat. All of the others were able to walk to seat. Is this a scam to getg pre-boarded or what?

No.

For instance, in Australia, something around 30% of the population over the age of 50 has a mobility problem, of these, a large number probably can't walk very far.

I can shuffle around on crutches and walk about 20 or 30 m. unassisted.

To go anywhere further, I use either a manual or electric wheelchair.

Fairly obviously I can get from the aircraft door to a seat, but there would be very few airports where I could get from check-in to the aircraft door . In fact, at SYD I can't even get from a taxi to check-in, so I have to use my own chair.

QF in SYD at Domestic now let you take your own chair to the lounge (which saves them staff and means I have to go through the regular security queue.)

A couple of BTWs -

1) I am now unable to travel in WHY, which means that I forced to pay more to go anywhere (and means that I can, where possible use a train instead.)
So jumping a queue in a chair is not exactly compensation for the extra cost.

2) Does the training course for airport security personnel always go-

Session 1 - How to find the body cavities.

Session 2 - Compulsory viewing of the "Day of the Jackal" so that they NEVER forget to shove my stock standard crutches through the X-ray machine - and the only terrorists I vaguely resemble would be the PIRA!

Tony Bailey

This reminds me of the old disabled parking permit argument.

As tony said many people have mobility problems and are okay for short distances but need a chair for long ones. I am also one of them. I have used a chair right to the door of the plane but can get to my seat okay. I have also checked my chair in as luggage, a lot depends on the day and the pain factor that day. Considering the costs of chairs these days (mine was close to three grand) I would rather have it with me as long as possible.

People see me get out of my car and give me weird looks if I park in a disabled space, but they aren't there to see me crawling back to my car. They also aren't with me in the mall to see me stopping and sitting every five minutes or so.

We can all be so judgemental at times without stopping to think of the bigger picture.

Phoebe

ps..what's the point in pre-boarding. It's no fun being the first one on the plane and the last one off. I would much rather be last on and first off :)

I can see now that it isn't a scam. It was just weird seeing so many at once.

I like pre-boarding. I was once the last one on and I didn't like everyone staring.

PBI is in the heart of Florida's retirement area. On a recent flight out I was shocked to see how many people were in wheelchairs.

I didn't think for a moment that they were involved in a scam but it did give me pause to think that I may well be joining them in the next 10 or 20 years. :(

I learned a very long time ago not to question why someone is in a wheelchair or uses a disabled parking permit. I was out shopping with a friend with MS. (She looks absolutely fine to those who are not familiar with her or her disease. Unfortunately, there are times when walking 20 feet for her is like walking 3 miles uphill for me. ) Some busybody came up to us and wanted to know why we were taking a disabled spot from people who " really" need it. My friend very calmly said " i have multiple sclerosis. it is hard for me to walk very far." I wish I could have taped the " um oh" response and embarassed look .

You never know !! and in Florida there are lots of folks who might be older and easily confused walking around a strange airport. I am grateful to be mobile and I hope most people wouldn't use a wheelchair unless it was legit.

but it did give me pause to think that I may well be joining them in the next 10 or 20 years. :(

If only a lot of other people could realise the same thing!

Tony Bailey