Disability Travel - You Can Be A Quad or a Frequent Traveler, But Not Both

Went to my doctor this week to pick up the application for a handicapped permit that I need to submit to the US Virgin Islands Police Department. The parking permit I brought with me from Virginia when we moved here five years ago finally expired, so this is my first experience with getting a USVI issued permit.

One of the first questions on the form after name and address states the following:

"If applicable, check ONE of the following (choose ONLY ONE):

* I am a frequent traveler.
* I am a quadriplegic."

Can't wait to see what happens when I turn in the form with BOTH boxes checked. Sure wish I had a "Gimp on the Go (http://www.gimponthego.com)" T-Shirt to wear for the occasion!

Whoever drew up the form was (select ONE only):
1) a troglodyte
2) imaginatively impaired
3) in need of a rectocapitectomy.

:D

Welcome to FlyerTalk and the Disabilities Travel Forum, thehipcrip!

This actually illustrates nicely a shift that needs to take place in the travel industry.

When I first started flying frequently|disabled, the idea was "oh, this poor disabled person - she obviously hardly ever gets out, let's see what we can do to make her travel easier".

The concept that a wheelchair user might actually be a business traveler | frequent flyer was barely graspable. I submitted an article to About.com's Business Travel section about it in the dark ages of the web (long gone by now).

Now I have problems like, I'm waiting for my upgrade to clear, they pre-board me into Economy, my upgrade clears, are they actually going to come back with the aisle chair and move me up to First? (So far the answer is 100% NO, but it's not a good statistical example cause upgrades clearing doesn't seem to be happening very often, sob.)

It's a brave new world out there.

I'm waiting for my upgrade to clear, they pre-board me into Economy, my upgrade clears, are they actually going to come back with the aisle chair and move me up to First?

Funny you mention that. I was preboarded in Y flying LAX-MIA after being assured that there was no chance of the upgrade (I was #1 on the list) and sure enough right before they close the door the GA comes back to me "Oh, Mr. Peo we've cleared your upgrade." Then she realized I needed an aisle chair to move a few rows, and while she was pondering her options and actually asking if we wanted her to go find the aisle chair, I just told her don't bother "it's only a 4 hr flight today" and I quite honestly didn't want to transfer again. Of course they then brought up the folks that were next on the list, then they announced that the plane was broke and we sat there for almost 3 hrs in LA before leaving!

Lesson: Never pass up the upgrade, and yes, you've earned it and you should demand they break out the aisle chair again.

Lesson: Never pass up the upgrade, and yes, you've earned it and you should demand they break out the aisle chair again.

+1

Went to my doctor this week to pick up the application for a handicapped permit that I need to submit to the US Virgin Islands Police Department. The parking permit I brought with me from Virginia when we moved here five years ago finally expired, so this is my first experience with getting a USVI issued permit.

One of the first questions on the form after name and address states the following:

"If applicable, check ONE of the following (choose ONLY ONE):

* I am a frequent traveler.
* I am a quadriplegic."

Can't wait to see what happens when I turn in the form with BOTH boxes checked. Sure wish I had a "Gimp on the Go (http://www.gimponthego.com)" T-Shirt to wear for the occasion!

This reminds me of when I book flights online. Most of the time I can only choose ONE thing.

I've been blind since birth
I've had Cerebral Palsy since birth
In 2004 I had a spinal cord injury (I'm a C6 complete quad.)
I have a guide/service dog

This usually requires checking at LEAST three boxes (sometimes 4 or 5).

I sometimes joke about how I will choose being blind on the way there and a quadriplegic on the way back lol!

Being a child is not the same thing as being disabled, but similar issues come up with children. Both my children were elite at 2 and 5 and plats later on. During IRROPS, we would receive service recovery packs with coupons giving $100 off the purchase price on tickets with fare $400 or more. But we would have to fight to use them in my kid's tickets as fare rules permitted only one discount, either child fare or the coupon. The argument I used was that the coupon was given as a compensation to my children for the inconvenience due to IRRROPs. If the airline did not allow them to use the coupon on a child fare, which is a published fare, the airline committed fraud when they handed the coupon to my children pretending that they were a form of monetary compensation. I am sure being an all around plat family helped too.
Often you see conditions that are designed to meet a certain requirement (protect revenue in case of the airline) or make things easier for dumbwit paper pushers, but create a problem for others.
Another silly example. My license plate fell off while driving. I had no idea where I lost them. In order to have it replaced, I had to file a report with the police and present a copy to the city hall so that they would issue me my new license plates. The police department gave me a form to fill out. The form asked me the exact location (the street name and the closest intersection) where I lost my license plates. :D

When my leg was badly injured I had over a year of heavy travel with the constant question 'how far can you walk?' Many people tried to answer for me.

Could I stand in line at the TSA?

Could I walk from the elevator to my room in a hotel?

Could I walk down a jetway that had some steep areas?

Airline and hotel employees would often try to answer for me.

Finally I realized that I had to be the one to answer and the answer was 'no'.

To the travel industry you either are or are not disabled. There is no gray area.

To the travel industry you either are or are not disabled. There is no gray area.

This is so true! I've counseled so many people who wanted to make things as easy as possible for the travel company by not asking for too many accommodations - eventually you realize the little details about being able to walk up 5 steps if there's a handrail but not 3 steps if there isn't are never going to be retained. Just say you can't do steps, and everybody's life will be much easier.

Katja, thanks. I've learned a great deal from you.

It took me a year of rehab to be able to climb up into a big bus. I have to use those at big meetings where they are used as shuttle buses.

I can now do one or 2 steps without a handrail but don't feel good about doing so.

I don't want to add an injury to an injury! That is a risk!

I also hate being referred to as 'she'. As in 'she said she could walk 20 feet'. Makes me furious!

I also hate being referred to as 'she'. As in 'she said she could walk 20 feet'. Makes me furious!

:-)

When I was in German school, our English teacher had a saying: "She is the cat's mother" that she trotted out whenever any of us referred to an adult woman as "she" rather than by name.

Katja, very well said!

I am not the cat's mother.