AA: video & record shows “abandoned” wheelchair passenger was not
Dec 4, 2018, 12:35 pm
#16
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Why are the <deleted> defending this? It doesn’t matter what the circumstance, once a passenger who needs additional help is entrusted to AA staff, that’s it. The end.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
Last edited by JDiver; Dec 5, 2018 at 12:06 pm Reason: Edit quoted post
Dec 4, 2018, 12:47 pm
#17
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If you want BAD wheelchair assistance try going through Heathrow, myself i have gotten only perfect service going through numerous American airports.
Dec 4, 2018, 12:54 pm
#18
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...a timeline released by the airline shows that a representative from the contractor assigned to take care of Warsaw spoke with Coltea (the son) at least twice. Airline officials said records show that Coltea rebooked his mother on a flight leaving Saturday afternoon and that he said he would send someone to pick her up at the airport.
AA said that after a review of closed-circuit television footage it determined that: “Ms. Warsaw was dropped off in the terminal at 12:30 a.m. CT on Dec. 1, and a family member arrived at the airport to pick her up at 1:13 a.m. CT.”
According to the airline’s timeline, Warsaw was escorted to a wheelchair waiting area located on the upper level of the airport. Once there, video footage shows Warsaw twice using a walker to go outside to smoke a cigarette before being met by a woman. The woman pushes Warsaw toward the door but then stops to take a cellphone picture of Warsaw sitting in the wheelchair. The woman then walks away and returns two minutes later. The video shows she flagged down a police officer, with whom she spoke briefly. The woman then wheeled Warsaw to a waiting SUV, where a man is waiting. The group then left the airport.
AA said that after a review of closed-circuit television footage it determined that: “Ms. Warsaw was dropped off in the terminal at 12:30 a.m. CT on Dec. 1, and a family member arrived at the airport to pick her up at 1:13 a.m. CT.”
According to the airline’s timeline, Warsaw was escorted to a wheelchair waiting area located on the upper level of the airport. Once there, video footage shows Warsaw twice using a walker to go outside to smoke a cigarette before being met by a woman. The woman pushes Warsaw toward the door but then stops to take a cellphone picture of Warsaw sitting in the wheelchair. The woman then walks away and returns two minutes later. The video shows she flagged down a police officer, with whom she spoke briefly. The woman then wheeled Warsaw to a waiting SUV, where a man is waiting. The group then left the airport.
Dec 4, 2018, 12:59 pm
#19
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Womp womp.
Dec 4, 2018, 1:04 pm
#20
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Wow. It also sounds like one of the family members filed a false police report too.
I'm glad AA investigated this and was able to find the relevant airport video footage.
I'm glad AA investigated this and was able to find the relevant airport video footage.
Dec 4, 2018, 1:21 pm
#21
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I get aguilty pleasure from reading the DailyMail, but here is the story from them.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...overnight.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...overnight.html
American Airlines contradicts family's claim that their wheelchair-bound mother, 67, was left stranded overnight at O'Hare airport and says she was picked up by relatives within 45 minutes after twice using a walker to go outside and smoke
Olimpia Warsaw, who has Parkinson's disease and diabetes, was due to fly out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Friday night
Her flight to Detroit was later canceled during to Midwest blizzard warnings
Warsaw's son claimed an airport porter assigned to take care of her left her stranded for five hours because his shift had ended
American Airlines initially apologized to the family, refunded Warsaw's ticket and vowed to investigate
After reviewing surveillance and multiple call records, the airline released a detailed timeline of events that contradict the family's initial story
Footage shows Warsaw using a walker to go outside the terminal twice to smoke while she waited for 45 minutes to be picked up by relatives
The family had also claimed they didn't know Warsaw was stranded until she failed to arrive in Detroit
But records show her son was contacted twice and that he re-booked her flight
Olimpia Warsaw, who has Parkinson's disease and diabetes, was due to fly out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on Friday night
Her flight to Detroit was later canceled during to Midwest blizzard warnings
Warsaw's son claimed an airport porter assigned to take care of her left her stranded for five hours because his shift had ended
American Airlines initially apologized to the family, refunded Warsaw's ticket and vowed to investigate
After reviewing surveillance and multiple call records, the airline released a detailed timeline of events that contradict the family's initial story
Footage shows Warsaw using a walker to go outside the terminal twice to smoke while she waited for 45 minutes to be picked up by relatives
The family had also claimed they didn't know Warsaw was stranded until she failed to arrive in Detroit
But records show her son was contacted twice and that he re-booked her flight
Dec 4, 2018, 1:38 pm
#22
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Care to follow up on your post?
Last edited by CPRich; Dec 4, 2018 at 1:44 pm
Dec 4, 2018, 1:42 pm
#23
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Yes, I contemplated adding "and then monitoring the flight to be sure it arrives". I'd still leave the gate once it was wheels up - by the time I was at parking and ready to depart, assuming it was on course, the odds of returning to the origin are very slim. But I'd still monitor progress to landing.
But, to be honest, I'm not sure I'd allow someone in that condition to fly alone anyway. I got nervous every time my grandmother flew by herself (non-stop to Chicago to visit her son). She did that until she was at least 95.
But, to be honest, I'm not sure I'd allow someone in that condition to fly alone anyway. I got nervous every time my grandmother flew by herself (non-stop to Chicago to visit her son). She did that until she was at least 95.
Last edited by CPRich; Dec 5, 2018 at 6:33 pm Reason: kant tipe
Dec 4, 2018, 4:50 pm
#24
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 33
Rather than showing a system failure, the detailed timeline records the airline and handicap support personnel performing to expectations. Lesson learned: have a phone number of a relative/friend who can provide local support. Not much of a requirement. I am not at all sure which services AA/contractor are legally required to provide. The Americans with Disabilities Act likely provides the legal framework. Clearly shows the detailed evidence that can be mounted; some unskilled crooks involved.
Dec 4, 2018, 5:50 pm
#25
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,313
Why are some defending this? It doesn’t matter what the circumstance, once a passenger who needs additional help is entrusted to AA staff, that’s it. The end.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
Dec 4, 2018, 7:45 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 245
The only question I have is what her relative did for half an hour between parking near 3B, where she should have seen Mrs. Warsaw outside smoking at 3D, and meeting her inside.
Regardless, she was wasn't let alone until the attendant knew a ride was on the way, and nearly nothing about the original claim was true.
(See the WGN timeline at https://wgntv.com/2018/12/04/america...oned-at-ohare/) for this extra delay).
Regardless, she was wasn't let alone until the attendant knew a ride was on the way, and nearly nothing about the original claim was true.
(See the WGN timeline at https://wgntv.com/2018/12/04/america...oned-at-ohare/) for this extra delay).
Last edited by mauve; Dec 4, 2018 at 7:50 pm
Dec 4, 2018, 8:00 pm
#27
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Ah, so AA only likes videos/photos when it shows them in a good light. If it doesn't, they claim it's "illegal" and "not allowed". 
Dec 4, 2018, 8:19 pm
#28
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Why are some defending this? It doesn’t matter what the circumstance, once a passenger who needs additional help is entrusted to AA staff, that’s it. The end.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
I would also point out this individual managed to use a walker to take 2 smoke breaks while she was waiting for family to pick her up. If this person really was someone who could not take care of herself without a caretakers, she should not be traveling alone. "Unless they don't want to accept this type of passenger".... They do not knowingly take passengers who are not capable of handling traveling alone. Providing wheelchair assistance between the curb and the plane is not the same thing as accepting people who need a caretaker. There responsibility is to get them on the plane and get them off. They are caretakers.
Dec 4, 2018, 8:22 pm
#29
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Dec 4, 2018, 8:30 pm
#30
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Why are some defending this? It doesn’t matter what the circumstance, once a passenger who needs additional help is entrusted to AA staff, that’s it. The end.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
There is no way to blame anyone but AA staff for this AA blunder. Not the family, not the wages that the unscrupulous subcontractor pays, there is no excuse. Unless they don’t want to accept these customers. In that case, good luck making that case to the flying public.
AA needs to own this blunder and make good on its commitment to help passengers with special needs. Full stop. No blaming family or subcontractors or any other lame excuse.
Where is the son in all of this? Where is the son's responsibility? Where is the son's filial duty? Where is the son's accountability? How can ANYONE choose to blame anyone and everything BUT the son?
Is there anyone here, seated safely behind a keyboard and a monitor, and hiding in the cocoon of anonymity, that would admit that they would do exactly what the son did to his mother?
IMHO-The son, not AA (and I am NO AApologist these days) needs to own this blunder. The REAL end.
Last edited by Dallas49er; Dec 4, 2018 at 8:38 pm