Vets Angered by Delta Airlines Treatment
#76
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
Programs: DL PM UA PSilver Marriott Lifetime Plat, AMEX Platinum, Avis PC, UA MPPPlus
Posts: 961
This applies more than 24 hours before the flight. Within 24 hours the special seating is not required by law although airlines have their own procedures for various circumstances.
I'm going to assume this is the process for day of flight reseating, and whether or not the other bulkhead customers were Medallions of equal or greater status, or non Elites, I don't mind doing this when the need is obvious.
#77
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
I would imagine that it would be hard to maintain one's dignity while being trundled down the aisle like an errant food cart.
#78
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
#79
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
I don't have time to find the citation but brush up on FAA regulations (in Part 121) for seating of certain persons with a disability. The airline must set aside seats for them and have a written plan if they allow those seats to be selected by others (this latter usually means they can kick passengers out of the special seats if a valid disabled person wants it).
This applies more than 24 hours before the flight. Within 24 hours the special seating is not required by law although airlines have their own procedures for various circumstances.
This applies more than 24 hours before the flight. Within 24 hours the special seating is not required by law although airlines have their own procedures for various circumstances.
#80
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: DL FO, UA, AA, AsiaMiles, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 7,982
The few times in my life I've had a fever that high I sure wasn't thinking straight. I could barely function. That is right at the line where one ought to get to the hospital. 106 and up can kill.
Last edited by HongKonger; Dec 15, 2012 at 9:48 am
#81
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BWI
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 768
Most young amputees desperately want to maintain a semblance of independence or normalcy in their lives. Military folks, doubly so. Being wheeled down the aisle of a plane like an invalid was probably a pretty humiliating experience. Combined with a 104 fever (which WILL alter mental status), the tears.
Wasn't there, so I'm not saying if DL acted poorly (honestly, it doesn't sound like the air crew were at fault). I do agree with the other doc who posted that with a wound infection, and a temp of 104, the marine should have been admitted as an inpatient on IV antibiotics.
#83
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: DEN
Posts: 1,962
Since then I have grown a much tougher skin. I still don't particularly like it, but I don't feel like crying anymore.
#84
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 570
Can't believe some of the insensitive comments in this thread.
DL is entirely at fault here. The gate agent ,and if not them the FA should have noticed where the guy was sitting and arranged for someone nearer the front of the aircraft to swap seats with him before wheeling him all the way to the back.
As someone who became paralysed when I was 40, I can assure you that the last thing you want, as someone newly disabled is a plane load of people staring at you as you move through an aisle.
Given this man's youth, the way he came by his disability and the fact he was unwell, no wonder he was upset!!!!
What this story screams out is that no one asked the young man concerned how he wanted to be treated or what his needs were.
DL is entirely at fault here. The gate agent ,and if not them the FA should have noticed where the guy was sitting and arranged for someone nearer the front of the aircraft to swap seats with him before wheeling him all the way to the back.
As someone who became paralysed when I was 40, I can assure you that the last thing you want, as someone newly disabled is a plane load of people staring at you as you move through an aisle.
Given this man's youth, the way he came by his disability and the fact he was unwell, no wonder he was upset!!!!
What this story screams out is that no one asked the young man concerned how he wanted to be treated or what his needs were.
#86
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 185
As found on: http://blog.delta.com/
An internal review is already underway to understand what occurred and take appropriate action. What is clear is that we did not care for this customer the way we should have. This incident.doesn’t.reflect the care with which Delta people serve our customers every day, and it.doesn’t.reflect the high regard we hold for those who do and have served our country.
Just send your paycheck to your local USO and we'll call it even.
An internal review is already underway to understand what occurred and take appropriate action. What is clear is that we did not care for this customer the way we should have. This incident.doesn’t.reflect the care with which Delta people serve our customers every day, and it.doesn’t.reflect the high regard we hold for those who do and have served our country.
Just send your paycheck to your local USO and we'll call it even.
It's easier for DL to stand up and apologize and it really does them no good to contradict anything that's being said. Just apologize and let things blow over.
The first couple of times I was boarded after everyone else, I was close to tears (no fever required). I did not want all those people to see me being dragged down the aisle like a parcel. I especially for some reason was upset about being taken through the first class cabin on my way 37B.
If the fellow was late for boarding because he took a bit too long going through the hassles of the TSA and getting to his gate at ATL, it's plausible that the airport experience had him pretty exhausted already (and with a fever to boot). It sounds to me like being carried down to his seat on an already full airplane could have been the last straw on the camel's back.
Though the situation sounds unfortunate, making DL out to be the big bad villain here seems like a stretch to me.
#87
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 115
Can't believe some of the insensitive comments in this thread.
DL is entirely at fault here. The gate agent ,and if not them the FA should have noticed where the guy was sitting and arranged for someone nearer the front of the aircraft to swap seats with him before wheeling him all the way to the back.
As someone who became paralysed when I was 40, I can assure you that the last thing you want, as someone newly disabled is a plane load of people staring at you as you move through an aisle.
Given this man's youth, the way he came by his disability and the fact he was unwell, no wonder he was upset!!!!
What this story screams out is that no one asked the young man concerned how he wanted to be treated or what his needs were.
DL is entirely at fault here. The gate agent ,and if not them the FA should have noticed where the guy was sitting and arranged for someone nearer the front of the aircraft to swap seats with him before wheeling him all the way to the back.
As someone who became paralysed when I was 40, I can assure you that the last thing you want, as someone newly disabled is a plane load of people staring at you as you move through an aisle.
Given this man's youth, the way he came by his disability and the fact he was unwell, no wonder he was upset!!!!
What this story screams out is that no one asked the young man concerned how he wanted to be treated or what his needs were.
How do you know Delta didn't ask him what his needs were. For all you know he is still agonizing over the loss of his limbs, and a certain percentage of freedom that comes with it. Being wheeled down the isle could only reinforce these feelings. Unfortunately this is the only way he's going to get to his seat. I suppose Delta could have asked others to move seats for him, but if the consensus here is correct and he was crying because he was noticed, having people shuffle for him would have made it worse.
I fail to see how pointing this out is insensitive.
#88
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: Delta TDK(or care)WIA, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,869
#89
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: DEN
Posts: 1,962
For those who have never seen one, here is a picture of an aisle chair (also called a "straightback"):
Note that it is about 15 inches wide, in order to fit down an economy class aisle. If you are even slightly wider than the average person, you will hit against the armrests (and people's elbows) as you go down the aisle. There are two shoulder straps and a leg strap. The person boarding you pulls you backwards down the aisle so that you will be facing in the right direction when you get to your seat (no room to turn in an airplane aisle).
It really is much more like being hand trucked like a UPS delivery than being pushed in a wheelchair.
Note that it is about 15 inches wide, in order to fit down an economy class aisle. If you are even slightly wider than the average person, you will hit against the armrests (and people's elbows) as you go down the aisle. There are two shoulder straps and a leg strap. The person boarding you pulls you backwards down the aisle so that you will be facing in the right direction when you get to your seat (no room to turn in an airplane aisle).
It really is much more like being hand trucked like a UPS delivery than being pushed in a wheelchair.
#90
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: AVL/GSP
Programs: DL DM, AA EP
Posts: 28
An update from the Washington Post, but few, if any new details about the actual incident, just reaction since then:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...right/?hpid=z5
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...right/?hpid=z5