Originally Posted by
oaken
I am posting this in the AA section because I was on an American Airlines operated flight into LAX from HND and it is my understanding that it is the airline which is responsible for wheelchair assistance, not the airport.
On May 23, 2016 I arrived from HND into LAX. There were several lines and those with special assistance for customs and immigration. Those who had special wheelchair assistance were wheeled into a sitting area where they waited until a new wheelchair person came by to assist them through customs and immigration. It took about an hour for 2 of the 7 or 8 sitting in that area to get a wheelchair and longer for others. Finally, an old man, speaking in a foreign language got on his knees to beg the wheelchair coordinator to get a wheelchair so they could get to their next flight! That's an all time low for American Airlines. I wish I had filmed it as I could have given it to the media to shame AA into giving better service.
Why do you assume the delay was the fault of AA?
Was the "wheelchair coordinator" wearing an AA uniform? Did you ask why there was such a delay?
Other than take video, what did you do to help the old man?
"An inbound international flight scheduled to land at LAX with 20 wheelchair requests may see that number balloon to 50 requests at the last minute, officials said. "
"Abuse adds as much as 20 minutes to the wait for a wheelchair for some disabled passengers at LAX, disability advocates say. The wait at the Tom Bradley International Terminal averages 30 minutes."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014...16110013488332