Disabled Travellers, BA gets you to the plane and then abandons you.
Aug 1, 2010, 5:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 1
Disabled Travellers, BA gets you to the plane and then abandons you.
BA is really good at getting disabled travellers to the plane but once they're onboard they are practically abandoned and their disabilities are not considered.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
Aug 1, 2010, 6:02 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: Mixed Fleet CSM
Posts: 153
BA is really good at getting disabled travellers to the plane but once they're onboard they are practically abandoned and their disabilities are not considered.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
Aug 1, 2010, 6:04 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,257
Agree that more details are needed. As far as onboard service goes, disabled customers that need assistance on board such as going to the loo, feed themselves etc., must travel with a carer. Crew are neither trained nor have the time to perform these duties I'm afraid.
Aug 1, 2010, 6:08 am
#5
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: London
Programs: BA
Posts: 2,368
BA is really good at getting disabled travellers to the plane but once they're onboard they are practically abandoned and their disabilities are not considered.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
This of course is a second hand story, so scant in detail that it is impossible to comment or 'get feedback' as the OP asks for.
Edit - Have just read the OP's username. Perhaps adds some context to the 'story'.
Last edited by baggageinhall; Aug 1, 2010 at 6:10 am Reason: See above
Aug 1, 2010, 6:26 am
#6
Join Date: May 2003
Location: TLL
Programs: OZ Diamond, BA Gold, Bonvoy Ambassador, HH Gold
Posts: 4,410
Aug 1, 2010, 6:27 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC Gold
Posts: 9,236
Alright, sure, since you ask.
You're going to need to provide a lot more details if you want to get any sort of meaningful assistance or sympathy on this one. I know you're angry but in order to determine if your anger is justified (totally or partially) it would be really useful to know exactly what you think should have happened and what actually did and did not happen.
You're going to need to provide a lot more details if you want to get any sort of meaningful assistance or sympathy on this one. I know you're angry but in order to determine if your anger is justified (totally or partially) it would be really useful to know exactly what you think should have happened and what actually did and did not happen.
Aug 1, 2010, 6:32 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Programs: Too many...
Posts: 536
Speaking personally, when travelling with my disabled father the assistance given to me by BA prior to travel (through the call centre) and on board has been superb. The transport from check in and pick up from plane provided by BAA's service provider, not so good... Hence when we travel to YVR next month I will be very happily travelling with BA but taking my fathers own travel wheelchair and pushing it myself!
Aug 1, 2010, 7:11 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Programs: BA gold
Posts: 3,902
Personal experience on-board is completely the opposite of the OP's, so much so, I wondered if OP was writing about another airline.
The devil's in the details and I am really intrigued now.
The devil's in the details and I am really intrigued now.
Aug 1, 2010, 7:16 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: AA Lifetime PLT , BA Silver , BD RIP , HH Gold, SPG / Marriott PLT , EF Subscriber
Posts: 6,700
BA is really good at getting disabled travellers to the plane but once they're onboard they are practically abandoned and their disabilities are not considered.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
My friends parents were travelling from South Africa to England. In preparing for the journey they needed to book specific seats in accordance with Mrs Moore's disability and BA couldn't guarantee anything. They could however safely get them to the plane doors.
An eight hour flight with a woman only able to use one arm and a foot in a cast knows she has requirements. They were flying to their daughter's wedding at the time.
They tried contact BA staff and were lead a merry dance. In the end they just had to go to the airport and hope a stewardess would be kind enough to accommodate them.
This is something that needs to be reviewed. The flights reserved for babies were given priority over a disabled woman. How does that work.
Would be interested to get feedback on this one.
And is your Friend also too disabled to post this thread themselves. Sorry a Friend of a Friend of Parents and a Negative First Time poster...
Aug 1, 2010, 7:21 am
#11
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,774
Speaking personally, when travelling with my disabled father the assistance given to me by BA prior to travel (through the call centre) and on board has been superb. The transport from check in and pick up from plane provided by BAA's service provider, not so good... Hence when we travel to YVR next month I will be very happily travelling with BA but taking my fathers own travel wheelchair and pushing it myself!
Omniserve seem very on the ball and will also be introducing a new type of chair which is already used by them in many US airports and is the standard one in US hospitals (apparently). We are all very hopeful that the level of service delivered in the terminals will be satisfactory with this new provider.
As for the OP, I find it hard to believe that any crews would simply leave someone sat in a seat with no assistance! Certainly more details are needed to understand the complaint as it makes little sense as it is.
Aug 1, 2010, 7:39 am
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
Posts: 40,199
ba.com has some information for the disabled traveller when on board.
Companions providing assistance will be required if you are unable to independently:
* lift yourself
* reach an emergency exit unaided
* communicate with the crew on safety matters
* unfasten a seat belt
* retrieve and fit a life jacket
* fit an oxygen mask
The crew cannot assist you with breathing apparatus, eating, medication or going to the toilet, although they will help you get to and from the toilet when there is an on-board wheelchair available.
Facilities on board the aircraft
* On-board wheelchairs are available on all flights over 5 hours.
* Adapted toilets with handrails on Boeing 747 aircraft. There are no adapted toilets or on-board wheelchairs on flights of less than 5 hours.
* A number of seats with lifting armrests for ease of access.
* We will do our best to allocate you a seat that is most suitable to your needs. We will not be able to seat you in an emergency exit or cross aisles which form part of an emergency exit, due to safety regulations.
* lift yourself
* reach an emergency exit unaided
* communicate with the crew on safety matters
* unfasten a seat belt
* retrieve and fit a life jacket
* fit an oxygen mask
The crew cannot assist you with breathing apparatus, eating, medication or going to the toilet, although they will help you get to and from the toilet when there is an on-board wheelchair available.
Facilities on board the aircraft
* On-board wheelchairs are available on all flights over 5 hours.
* Adapted toilets with handrails on Boeing 747 aircraft. There are no adapted toilets or on-board wheelchairs on flights of less than 5 hours.
* A number of seats with lifting armrests for ease of access.
* We will do our best to allocate you a seat that is most suitable to your needs. We will not be able to seat you in an emergency exit or cross aisles which form part of an emergency exit, due to safety regulations.
Aug 1, 2010, 7:55 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 172
They "abandoned" her???
Did they not allow her to travel in the seat she paid for? Did they refuse her drink and food service? Tell everyone else not to talk to her?
Perhaps this is a case of someone discovering the world (and flight) did not revolve around them (and I will admit that I get irritated as can be when that happens to me too.).
Did they not allow her to travel in the seat she paid for? Did they refuse her drink and food service? Tell everyone else not to talk to her?
Perhaps this is a case of someone discovering the world (and flight) did not revolve around them (and I will admit that I get irritated as can be when that happens to me too.).
Aug 1, 2010, 8:08 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,046
Interesting one that. I dare say that from time to time BA have passengers on board who speak neither English nor the language of any of the crew on board. But presumably BA can carry these passengers so what is the difference with disabled people not being able to communicate?