Originally Posted by
2MMKid
I need to use wheelchair from time to time and use this contracted service at LHR which is hit and miss at times...more miss to be honest. What I believe they could improve upon as a GCH is having a priority service to deplane. After flying 22 hours from Sydney I really don't feel like waiting for another 30-45 minutes.
I really don't like the assumption that MCT is sufficient for wheelchair passengers, or the associated assumption that if they leave us waiting too long, the airlines will just rebook us. It should be up to me whether I want to be in a hurry or not, and the staff take it upon themselves to decide I should be early, therefore I cannot go to the lounge or duty free or basically anywhere besides the toilet, or the opposite, they can take their time, handing me off at empty stations, and I can just miss my next flight.
LHR is one of the worst airports for this. I wonder if tipping is a factor--I've missed the most flights at DFW, LHR second most, two places where pushers don't linger for tips. The nightmare known as JFK? Zero missed flights, lingering pushers.
For the record, I'm in the 'why should the disabled need to pay more than the abled' camp.