I fully agree with you. Until O'Leary meddled with aviation, airlines looked after their disabled passengers in a reasonably civilised manner. The service was not always ideal, and soetimes during staff shortages or busy periods, our disabled customers were kept waiting rather a long time.

But.............

To my knowledge, a British Airways aircraft never left without its "assistance" passengers. If the "wheelie" men were late to the gate, we apologised to the other passengers and accepted a delay. Now, we're told "The wheelchairs are going to be late. We're going without!" Most of the "wheelies'" staff had no issues with helping those in their care (in fact, many of the old "wheelies" staff had a relative at home for whom they were caring, some were retired and keeping a little part-time job going (as well as doing a "Hospital Car Service" in their spare time or driving the "Variety Club" coach to the seaside for handicapped children.) Most of the "wheelies" staff were friendly, caring, honest people - if you came across a surly individual, it was because someone had upset him!

I think airlines, coach operators, train operating companies, hotels, shops etc should accept the responsibility for the disabled in their care without any charge to the disabled customer. Any cost involved can be covered, as it used to be, by a couple of quid on the ticket face value for everyone. We should be moving forwards, not back, nd the government, IMO, made a huge mistake in announcing the airport operator should look after the disabled customers.