Giving Up Your Seat for a Passenger in a Wheelchair
Oct 15, 2019, 3:41 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: AC E35K, NEXUS
Posts: 4,368
I'd take a better seat but otherwise I'd say, "no thanks, I chose this seat because I planned ahead to secure a suitable seat for my condition. Ask 7D and 7F."
(I recently did a long flight trapped in behind an infant in a bassinet in front of what should have been Mr. M.T. Seat but Ms. I. Didn't Plannahead wheedled an upgrade to the bulkhead. I would have LMU'd if I had expected Mr. M.T. Seat to be relocated.)
(I recently did a long flight trapped in behind an infant in a bassinet in front of what should have been Mr. M.T. Seat but Ms. I. Didn't Plannahead wheedled an upgrade to the bulkhead. I would have LMU'd if I had expected Mr. M.T. Seat to be relocated.)
Oct 15, 2019, 4:34 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: AAdvantage Executive Platinum, Delta Silver Medallion, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 14,072
I kind of put this into a "lack of planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part" situation. I've had to travel a few times with a wheelchair companion and have always taken it upon myself to make sure the situation is as well in hand as can be before getting to the airport, booking first or business class, buying extra seats and noting the reservation.
Oct 15, 2019, 4:38 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100K, Bonvoy Platinum Elite, IHG Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 2,132
Am I imagining the part where I pick a seat and AC tells me they reserve the right to remove me if it is required for a disabled passenger?
I want to pat myself on the back and tell myself that I'd give up my seat in a heartbeat. I imagine if actually faced with this though...
If it's a short flight, sure. Anything over 4 hours and I'm likely to put up a fight. I guess I'm a jerk.
I want to pat myself on the back and tell myself that I'd give up my seat in a heartbeat. I imagine if actually faced with this though...
If it's a short flight, sure. Anything over 4 hours and I'm likely to put up a fight. I guess I'm a jerk.
Oct 15, 2019, 8:48 pm
#35
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: YYT
Programs: M-Bonvoy Platinum Elite, Aeroplan 50K, DragonPass, AMEX MR, NEXUS
Posts: 1,715
I would most certainly say no...
A little while ago on a Jazz flight, the FA acted very inappropriately when asking me to change seats. A rather large man was sitting in an aisle seat in row one on the DH4, and it was quite obvious the armrests were a little restrictive for him. I had paid for a comfort fare when booking the flight, and so I was entitled to a preferred seat (window seat in row two).
The FA thought it would be a good idea to very loudly ask me in front of this man if I would change seats with him because I had the two seats to myself. It was beyond embarrassing because she put me in a position where I could not really say no. A simple solution would have been to quietly ask me if I could, to which I would have replied no thank you, but unfortunately this was not the case with her.
I am still considering writing AC about this, but it may not be worth my time.
A little while ago on a Jazz flight, the FA acted very inappropriately when asking me to change seats. A rather large man was sitting in an aisle seat in row one on the DH4, and it was quite obvious the armrests were a little restrictive for him. I had paid for a comfort fare when booking the flight, and so I was entitled to a preferred seat (window seat in row two).
The FA thought it would be a good idea to very loudly ask me in front of this man if I would change seats with him because I had the two seats to myself. It was beyond embarrassing because she put me in a position where I could not really say no. A simple solution would have been to quietly ask me if I could, to which I would have replied no thank you, but unfortunately this was not the case with her.
I am still considering writing AC about this, but it may not be worth my time.
Oct 16, 2019, 7:47 am
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,369
I would most certainly say no...
A little while ago on a Jazz flight, the FA acted very inappropriately when asking me to change seats. A rather large man was sitting in an aisle seat in row one on the DH4, and it was quite obvious the armrests were a little restrictive for him. I had paid for a comfort fare when booking the flight, and so I was entitled to a preferred seat (window seat in row two).
The FA thought it would be a good idea to very loudly ask me in front of this man if I would change seats with him because I had the two seats to myself. It was beyond embarrassing because she put me in a position where I could not really say no. A simple solution would have been to quietly ask me if I could, to which I would have replied no thank you, but unfortunately this was not the case with her.
I am still considering writing AC about this, but it may not be worth my time.
A little while ago on a Jazz flight, the FA acted very inappropriately when asking me to change seats. A rather large man was sitting in an aisle seat in row one on the DH4, and it was quite obvious the armrests were a little restrictive for him. I had paid for a comfort fare when booking the flight, and so I was entitled to a preferred seat (window seat in row two).
The FA thought it would be a good idea to very loudly ask me in front of this man if I would change seats with him because I had the two seats to myself. It was beyond embarrassing because she put me in a position where I could not really say no. A simple solution would have been to quietly ask me if I could, to which I would have replied no thank you, but unfortunately this was not the case with her.
I am still considering writing AC about this, but it may not be worth my time.
Oct 16, 2019, 11:54 am
#38
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 302
I don't think this is any different than a non-SE customer choosing and paying for a preferred seat when they book, which may or may not be available. Either way that's the deal when you pay for your ticket. It's just that with SE you've paid enough already that we're back to square one.
Oct 16, 2019, 12:46 pm
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,502
I declined, largely because I didn’t think they gave me the information I needed to make a good decision in a split second. The gate agent immediately accepted that and moved on, which I appreciated. Had she been able to express how or why this person would have benefited from the seat upgrade, I probably would have been willing. In general, that’s the kind of thing I tend to do—as do most of you, I’m sure. Having been at the gate, I had seen a couple of people in wheelchairs, but both were holding canes—an indication that they were perhaps having difficulty walking, but not that they were significantly disabled or would benefit much from a few extra inches of legroom. And, indeed, in my experience that accounts for many, perhaps even the majority, of people who need extra time or assistance to board the plane.
So I declined, but felt a little guilty about it, and still do. That’s especially true because after I went aboard I saw that the passenger in question did have a significant disability. (Though it still isn’t clear to me how the extra legroom would have benefitted him). At that point I could not offer to swap, though, because as far as I could tell he would not have been able to move from seat-to-seat without significant assistance.
Long story short, next time I would probably press for a little more information. If they were unwilling to give it, I’d probably decline again, trusting that Air Canada has mechanisms and procedures to ensure people with disabilities and other needs are adequately taken care of.
Oct 16, 2019, 1:40 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
Fair enough.
I declined, largely because I didn’t think they gave me the information I needed to make a good decision in a split second. The gate agent immediately accepted that and moved on, which I appreciated. Had she been able to express how or why this person would have benefited from the seat upgrade, I probably would have been willing. In general, that’s the kind of thing I tend to do—as do most of you, I’m sure. Having been at the gate, I had seen a couple of people in wheelchairs, but both were holding canes—an indication that they were perhaps having difficulty walking, but not that they were significantly disabled or would benefit much from a few extra inches of legroom. And, indeed, in my experience that accounts for many, perhaps even the majority, of people who need extra time or assistance to board the plane.
So I declined, but felt a little guilty about it, and still do. That’s especially true because after I went aboard I saw that the passenger in question did have a significant disability. (Though it still isn’t clear to me how the extra legroom would have benefitted him). At that point I could not offer to swap, though, because as far as I could tell he would not have been able to move from seat-to-seat without significant assistance.
Long story short, next time I would probably press for a little more information. If they were unwilling to give it, I’d probably decline again, trusting that Air Canada has mechanisms and procedures to ensure people with disabilities and other needs are adequately taken care of.
I declined, largely because I didn’t think they gave me the information I needed to make a good decision in a split second. The gate agent immediately accepted that and moved on, which I appreciated. Had she been able to express how or why this person would have benefited from the seat upgrade, I probably would have been willing. In general, that’s the kind of thing I tend to do—as do most of you, I’m sure. Having been at the gate, I had seen a couple of people in wheelchairs, but both were holding canes—an indication that they were perhaps having difficulty walking, but not that they were significantly disabled or would benefit much from a few extra inches of legroom. And, indeed, in my experience that accounts for many, perhaps even the majority, of people who need extra time or assistance to board the plane.
So I declined, but felt a little guilty about it, and still do. That’s especially true because after I went aboard I saw that the passenger in question did have a significant disability. (Though it still isn’t clear to me how the extra legroom would have benefitted him). At that point I could not offer to swap, though, because as far as I could tell he would not have been able to move from seat-to-seat without significant assistance.
Long story short, next time I would probably press for a little more information. If they were unwilling to give it, I’d probably decline again, trusting that Air Canada has mechanisms and procedures to ensure people with disabilities and other needs are adequately taken care of.
Oct 16, 2019, 1:42 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
I don't think this is any different than a non-SE customer choosing and paying for a preferred seat when they book, which may or may not be available. Either way that's the deal when you pay for your ticket. It's just that with SE you've paid enough already that we're back to square one.
Oct 16, 2019, 2:07 pm
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 1,502
Was it because of the extra legroom or was it because of the armrest. On newer aircraft usually all the arm armrests have a button towards the back that permits it to be lifted up and a passanger can slide across from in an-aircraft chair. On older aircraft that may only be a feature on certain rows.
Oct 16, 2019, 9:28 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Vancouver
Programs: Aeroplan, Mileage Plus, WestJet Gold, AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,026
The armrests are fixed on both sides in this row (since the hold the tray tables). So from what I can see, it would have been more difficult to get into and out of, not less. The armrests in all the other rows can raise and lower both at the aisle and between the seats.
Did the gate agents comes across as being otherwise competent.
Oct 16, 2019, 9:47 pm
#45
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Aadvantage Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 73
As a general question:
a lot of attention is given to keeping rows clear during take off and landing so people can evacuate easily and quickly in case of an emergency.
how are mobility impaired passengers handled? Wouldn’t they pose a risk in an emergency if they sit in a middle or aisle seat (and thus potentially block window passengers)? Are they allowed in those seats?
how are mobility impaired passengers evacuated?
a lot of attention is given to keeping rows clear during take off and landing so people can evacuate easily and quickly in case of an emergency.
how are mobility impaired passengers handled? Wouldn’t they pose a risk in an emergency if they sit in a middle or aisle seat (and thus potentially block window passengers)? Are they allowed in those seats?
how are mobility impaired passengers evacuated?
