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Was this woman running a "wheelchair scam?"

Was this woman running a "wheelchair scam?"

Old Oct 8, 2012, 1:13 pm
  #46  
 
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how is this different from the people that pay use magical melissa at disneyworld to bypass every line there for families who pay $500 per day. she flashes her handicap badge and a perfectly healthy family of 6 goes directly to the front of the line for every ride.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 1:13 pm
  #47  
 
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I remember as a kid playing around in a wheelchair at a hospital. I was given a tongue lashing about how lucky I was to not really need one and how I shouldn't tempt fate.

I'll gladly wait in line.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 1:30 pm
  #48  
 
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Originally Posted by Ascii
I think it has to do with the attendant who is being paid hourly to escort the passenger to their gate. Airlines don't want to pay them to wait in line, and generally need them back ASAP to assist the next customer.
+1

and it's that many fewer people pushing chairs that you need and that many fewer chairs etc.

Bob H
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 2:03 pm
  #49  
 
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My Father, who suffered from a stroke so was clearly disabled, joined us on a family vacation to Florida. We had booked a wheelchair in advance and also paid for First so he wouldn't have to navigate down the aisle and be next to lav. I saw first-hand the "magical healing power of flight" when he was one of five wheelchairs boarding and the only wheelchair deplaning.

The best part of the journey was when they lined up the wheelchair passengers to pre-board in LGA and the gate agent when down the line to check boarding passes. When the gate agent got to my Father she pulled him out of line to board ahead of the others (we were originally in fourth). Number One asked why he's going ahead and the GA replied "He's in First." The look on Number One's face was priceless.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 3:46 pm
  #50  
 
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FLy to MNL frequently, when connecting in JFK and especially in NRT for the flight tpo MNL, its amazing to see the number fo people needing a whell chair to clear lines and board early, for the main purpose of snagging as much over head bin space as they can manage. For some unknown reason they always seem to let the other 4 or 5 people traveling with them board early also. I can see may be one person, but why all the others?

Funny thing is some where over the South China Sea they all get cured, and when the bell dings to deplane in MNL they all jump up, grab their carry -ons, and make a mad dash off the plane without the need for the wheel chair any longer.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 3:51 pm
  #51  
 
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There are legitimate reasons to be in those chairs that are not apparent without a full history or an x-ray machine. My wife broke her leg. Although it is "healed" in one sense of the word, she cannot stand for very long, walk very far and cannot walk very fast. In ATL that generally means you miss your flight. She does use a chair or cart to go long disances and deal with short lay-overs. Last month we had to go from MSP F-8 to B-10 in 40 minutes. We took the cart to the top of the escalator at C-23. She will often opt to walk to the top of the jetbridge to avoid jamming up the rest of the PAX. Is that a "miricle?" No. But if you want her to delay your departure from the plane, I will ask her to get the chair brought right to the aircraft door in the future.

Perhaps all of you judgemental non-medical people (I know that at least two of you will now unroll your medical credentials) should tend to getting yourselves on and off the aircraft and stop diagnosing the people around you.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 3:55 pm
  #52  
 
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Originally Posted by craig44485
FLy to MNL frequently, when connecting in JFK and especially in NRT for the flight tpo MNL, its amazing to see the number fo people needing a whell chair to clear lines and board early, for the main purpose of snagging as much over head bin space as they can manage. For some unknown reason they always seem to let the other 4 or 5 people traveling with them board early also. I can see may be one person, but why all the others?

Funny thing is some where over the South China Sea they all get cured, and when the bell dings to deplane in MNL they all jump up, grab their carry -ons, and make a mad dash off the plane without the need for the wheel chair any longer.
Happens all the time to and from MCO. Miracle flights indeed!

I also do not understand why the person's entire extended family needs to board as well. Send one person with them. The others should wait.

Also, I witnessed this today in MCO.... Wheelchair boards, family to follow brought on way more than the allotted carry on. GA questioned it, but did not pursue the checking.....
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 3:58 pm
  #53  
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Those using the wheelchairs frivolously will suffer a comeuppance at some point; there can be nothing more pathetic. Can't think of a worse dose of bad karma.

One of the worst things they could accomplish is making all of us suspicious about the people who really need the assistance. We can't let that happen. I have made up my mind to just assume anyone who uses the wheelchairs actually needs them.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 4:11 pm
  #54  
 
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Originally Posted by jimg20
But if you want her to delay your departure from the plane, I will ask her to get the chair brought right to the aircraft door in the future.
Actually, passengers requiring wheelchair assistance are deplaned last.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 4:15 pm
  #55  
 
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F on L off

I have the solution: Make wheelchairs "first on, last off". No exceptions.

Lead flight attendant should collect the connecting boarding pass/baggage claim check/ID of anyone wishing to use a wheelchair to pre-board LAST MINUTE. Establish a "wheelchair registry" as a part of the Delta profile of anyone who regularly/predictably needs one. Legal connection time for "registered" members goes up to >1 hour. This creates no conflict for "registered" connecting passengers having to deplane last & discourages people from having "miracle flights".

Alternative: A "red-flag" system for passengers who intermittently request a last-minute wheelchair for personal gain...much like what happens when you want to buy a last minute one-way international ticket with cash. (or pay for a ticket to a fraud plagued country with a credit card online.)

PPP
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 4:20 pm
  #56  
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Cool

I suspect there is far too little real abuse of the wheelchair loophole to require any significant changes. I rarely see more than 1 wheelchair person on a flight, and nearly all of those really truly look like they need the help.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 4:25 pm
  #57  
 
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I get annoyed at people who use a wheelchair to get to the plane and then sit in an exit row.

Either you are disabled or you're not.

I saw this happen on a flight but the FA wouldn't do anything about it.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 4:42 pm
  #58  
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Originally Posted by popppa
I have the solution: Make wheelchairs "first on, last off". No exceptions.
That's how it is I thought. That's why people prefer to have a miracle cure than wait for their wheel chairs. Sometimes you see dozens of wheel chairs lined up on one side of the jetway and beyond. and no takers, as they have all been cured.

Originally Posted by popppa
Lead flight attendant should collect the connecting boarding pass/baggage claim check/ID of anyone wishing to use a wheelchair to pre-board LAST MINUTE. Establish a "wheelchair registry" as a part of the Delta profile of anyone who regularly/predictably needs one. Legal connection time for "registered" members goes up to >1 hour. This creates no conflict for "registered" connecting passengers having to deplane last & discourages people from having "miracle flights".
Alternative: A "red-flag" system for passengers who intermittently request a last-minute wheelchair for personal gain...much like what happens when you want to buy a last minute one-way international ticket with cash. (or pay for a ticket to a fraud plagued country with a credit card online.)
PPP
A person using a wheel chair intermittently does not prove that they are scamming.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 4:43 pm
  #59  
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Originally Posted by Doc Savage
I suspect there is far too little real abuse of the wheelchair loophole to require any significant changes. I rarely see more than 1 wheelchair person on a flight, and nearly all of those really truly look like they need the help.
Get on a flight to some Asian destinations.
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Old Oct 8, 2012, 7:42 pm
  #60  
 
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About 5 years ago, when she was about 77, my mom's knees were really bad. She had an arthroscopic surgery on one of them, but was still hobbled. So I got her a wheelchair on her transit at Heathrow, even though she imagined she could have suffered through without it. She said it was amazing. They were whisked from the plane, through back doors, quickly though transit lines - - it was fast and fantastic. I've offered her this again, but her knees have improved, and she doesn't just want to try to fake it.
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