RadioGirl

This is a very poor article with superficial and contradictory analysis. On the one hand the author uses emotive terms ("the woman suddenly sprang from her wheelchair" "two huge carry-on bags" "plopped back in the wheelchair" "a nod to the person pushing her") to imply fraudulent behavior. (And again later: "customers in wheelchairs carried giant carry-on bags on their laps").

Now first, presumably these "huge" or "giant" carry-ons were nevertheless within airline limits. So why use such pejorative terms to imply that the passengers are taking advantage? Is it a requirement that someone with a disability is only allowed a tiny carry-on?

Secondly, the LHR wheelchair passengers carried their bags on their laps. Where would you expect them to carry them? On their heads? Or expect the wheelchair pusher to handle the carry-on as well? Is the inability to walk for long distances, stand in long lines or climb stairs equivalent to the inability to hold a bag in one's lap whilst seated?

So she "plopped" back in the chair. So what? And she nodded to the pusher. So what? This is simply hyperbole to make the passenger sound like she's up to something.

On the other hand, the author acknowledges that not all disabilities are visible; for example, some who can walk short distances cannot stand in long lines. Maybe she could reconsider her observations in light of that fact. Possibly someone who cannot walk long distances and stand for long periods has a problem with their feet, legs, knees or hips but has good upper body strength and can lift bags on and off the x-ray or carry a bag in their lap.
For someone who has difficulty standing in lines, on a domestic trip the need is greater before the flight (standing in lines for check-in, for security, for boarding) than it is afterwards (only the wait for baggage claim, and sometimes there are chairs there). I can easily understand why someone may need assistance before the flight but be able to walk off the flight and leave the airport on their own power. (For int'l there may be a line for immigration on arrival which may be difficult for some.)

Some years ago prior to hip replacement surgery I did two int'l trips (10 flights in total) with wheelchair assistance and it was a real eye opener. I could stand, I could walk and I could lift my own bag over my head (it was my hip, not my back or arms!) but I was in agony if I had to walk more than 100 feet or stand for more than 15 minutes at a time. I was a lot younger than the average hip replacement candidate and so I know people thought I was a fraud in the wheelchair. I didn't care; I knew I needed it.

In my 10 flights, I was always told to wait until everyone had left and there would be a chair waiting for me. I didn't mind the wait, I had plenty of time and so I was the last one off. Twice, I got to the jetway and there was no chair, no airline staff, and the FA just said "Oh, well, wait here" and walked off. In one case, the chair arrived a few minutes later; in the other I eventually walked into the terminal and there was a buggy "waiting" for me which no one had mentioned. At FRA () the 747 parked at a remote stand, I had to navigate a step down of about 16 inches (which put very painful stress on my hip) and then the rest of the stairs to the tarmac, a standing bus ride to the terminal, an escalator, and THEN there was a chair waiting. Yeah, it's a real scam!

Here's a point someone made on the Disability Forum at the time which helped me, and should be made repeatedly when this claim of fraud comes up:

People who absolutely need a wheelchair, who are completely unable to walk or stand, HAVE THEIR OWN WHEELCHAIRS (and usually propel it themselves.) They gate check their chairs and use a special narrow chair to get to their seat on the plane. People who are using the airport chairs are therefore those who simply need some assistance in the airport environment. It should not be surprising, therefore, to see them pick up a bag, walk to the restroom on their own, or walk onto the plane.