Disability Travel - Bad Wheelchair Experience in ATL with Delta

On Saturday 9/19/10 I missed a connection in Atlanta by minutes because the people at the Delta wheelchair transfer point in Terminal D let me sit there for 30 minutes despite my repeated attempts to get them to get someone to take me to my gate before I missed my plane. They kept assuring me "the bus is coming" and that I had plenty of time. Someone finally listened to me and pushed me to my gate, but I missed the plane by minutes.

This is the third time I have been left sitting in a wheelchair at a Delta transfer point in Atlanta. Fortunately the other two times were just annoying rather than causing me to miss a connection.

Elise

Call Delta on your cell phone while you're waiting. It might not do any good, but you never know.

That is disgusting as you are totally at their mercy especially if your hand luggage is a bit bulky or the wheelchair they use is one that you cannot propel yourself even if you had the strength in your upper body to propel between gates. Once tried that and bitterly regretted it the next day.

Hope you can get it sorted before your next trip.

Unbelievable. You should definitely write a letter of complaint to Delta. At the very minimum they should give you a travel voucher worth $200-300. And the next time you're left hanging at a transfer point, raise your voice and start yelling.

This happened to me once in Atlanta. I did not know what to do or who to contact so I dialed the Medallion number for Delta and told them where I was and what I needed. Within minutes there were people from Delta and people representing the company with the wheelchair concession all crowded around me and prepared to take action. I was taken to the plane immediately.

I never go anywhere without my cell phone, and I now have numbers for direct lines to disability managers. Do not sit passively and let something happen to you. Be forceful and proactive and prevent yourself from missing your flight.

Thanks for the suggestions. Delta eventually did respond with a $125 voucher as an apology.

Part of this situation was, unfortunately, due to my uncharacteristic passivity -- I didn't begin yelling until it was too late. And I didn't think about calling the Medallion number. Next time -- if there ever is a next time -- I'll call.

Elise

I am glad that you received some compensation for this event, even though I do not think $125 voucher is sufficient for what you endured.

I have this theory about wheelchairs. When I sit in one I am shorter than the people around me, and it is almost impossible for me to make eye contact with them. It is much easier for them to ignore me because they can look right over the top of me.

For that reason I am probably more active and assertive in my wheelchair than I ever was out of it. I try not to be a grouchy old crippled lady, but I know what my rights are, and I am going to require that no one deny me those rights.

Carry you cell phone......wave your cane in the air......don't let them ignore you simply because it is physically easy to do that.

Frankfurt airport is always a nightmare. Long wait, not enough staff. Sometimes even rude.

Frankfurt airport is always a nightmare. Long wait, not enough staff. Sometimes even rude.

Thanks. It is always good to know which places to avoid when possible.

Thanks. It is always good to know which places to avoid when possible.

I don't know. FRA was okay when I went through there.

I don't know. FRA was okay when I went through there.

Good for you. Maybe you were just lucky, maybe you were in transit (on a short conex). When FRA is your final destination the staff couldn't care less.

Last time I arrived early in the morning with TG. On board 6 pax with special needs. FRACARE, that's the company that handles all special needs pax for all airlines, only sent 2 staff members. Of course they focused on the ones in transit. I was almost forgotten and when I tried to mention the fact that my driver curb side has severe problems with parking I only got a "just a little moment". Well, that's their favourite line. Oh, I was travelling on a business class ticket (rev).

Another time, out bound, I was park somewhere in security area for eternity. The ugly trick is that one cart or wheel chair takes you only to security and another one from there. So it's twice the problem.
So no lounge visit and no pre boarding because we came too late to the gate. Also on a business class ticket.

The fun starts right after check-in. The agent phones for the service, hangs up and tells me: "They are all busy right now. I can take 30 mins." Well, of course it takes more than that and anybody who is familiar with the check-in area at FRA knows that all the chairs and seats are gone long time ago.

These are only samples, but it always goes like this or similar.

On the flip side there is Thailand where air travel is a breeze. My home airport CNX (Chiangmai) is awesome and BKK is also very good. The service is provided by young boys and EVERY "customer" has a personal care taker (or even two).

One time I had to use another door to the check-in area (CNX). I can walk slowly pushing a baggage cart. When I arrived at my heck-in counter, the wheel chair boy was already there waiting for me. He must have spotted me from the distance and he even remembered the right counter I use.