Originally Posted by
Katja
While I respect this viewpoint, let me offer another perspective. I should not have to jump through multiple hoops that other frequent flyers do not have to jump through in order to get the same service. Since the airline chooses not to link its knowledge of my disability (in my profile and my PNR) to the seats it makes available to me online, I do have to take extra steps that a non-disabled passenger does not have to take.
Well, that's my point. You have special needs, so you have to take special steps. As I indicated, I'm not going to make an issue over switching seats for a disabled passenger -- I always do that for the reasons I mentioned in my other post.
My focus is on other "special need" pax, e.g. couples that want to sit next to each other, parents that want to sit with their children, people who want a window seat, etc. It doesn't matter to me whether people in these circumstances failed to plan ahead, took whatever was available assuming others would switch, or did everything right but the airline messed up the seating anyway. It's not anyone else's problem but the person with the special need.
For example, I need to have a window seat when I fly. Despite being a 20+ year frequent flier, I'm slightly flying-phobic, and having a window seat is one of the things that makes the experience bearable for me. This is my special need, so it's my responsibility to ensure that I get a window seat. I pick flights (and even airlines) based on the availability of a window seat on a specific flight. In irregular op situations, I've waited for later flights with window availability, rather than fly in an aisle seat on what the airline booked me. I would
never book an aisle because that was all that was available on a specific flight and assume I could talk someone into switching with me. I would never board a flight in which the airline assigned me an aisle seat by mistake.
The current crop of lawsuits against online service providers like hotels.com illustrates this principle. I cannot book an accessible hotel room online through hotels.com, I have to make a phone call. I can't reserve an accessible seat at the Buell Theatre in Denver, I have to make a phone call. I (sometimes) can't choose an airline seat online that I can physically access. It is the airline's responsibility to set up its systems so that I can get the same service a non-disabled person can get online.
As a disabled person, the airlines, Buell Theatre, hotels and businesses have a legal obligation to make reasonable accommodations for you. You should get
better service than a non-disabled person as a matter of law.
I agree the airline may not bounce that responsibility to random strangers.
That's my only point.