New member needs advice
Dec 1, 2009 | 12:39 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 28
New member needs advice
Wife traveling in 4 days from LAX to Dubai and further to Mumbai with 2 kids age 7 years and 4 months on economy. Today she sliped and fractured her right leg.She still insists on the travel.Any tips and possible sugestions for upgrade to buisness class.This is her first flight on emirates.Please advice.
Update
My wife and kids did travel today and were upgraded to buisness class.We reached LAX at about 2.40 PM and were in the last few at the airport. A very nice Indian lady was at the counter who looked at the passports and upon a simple request went and spoke to her manager and in a few minutes ordered a wheel chair and gave us the upgraded boarding pass for wife and the 7 year old.We had made up our mind to pay for the upgrade but it got done without money.Simply talking sweetly got us the upgrade.
Update
My wife and kids did travel today and were upgraded to buisness class.We reached LAX at about 2.40 PM and were in the last few at the airport. A very nice Indian lady was at the counter who looked at the passports and upon a simple request went and spoke to her manager and in a few minutes ordered a wheel chair and gave us the upgraded boarding pass for wife and the 7 year old.We had made up our mind to pay for the upgrade but it got done without money.Simply talking sweetly got us the upgrade.
Last edited by indianindian2006; Dec 5, 2009 at 1:49 am
Dec 1, 2009 | 1:31 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Don't take the kids?
Seriously, the chance of EK upgrading a family of three due to one broken leg seems minimal at best. She might be able to secure a bulkhead seat if she calls them in advance and explains, though.
Seriously, the chance of EK upgrading a family of three due to one broken leg seems minimal at best. She might be able to secure a bulkhead seat if she calls them in advance and explains, though.
Dec 1, 2009 | 2:29 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Pennsylvania
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Posts: 9,791
If she calls EK now,she should be able to secure a bulkhead seat. No chance for exit row though(kids+ unable passenger). I'd say chance of UG to C for free is slim to none but you might be able to pay the fare difference at checkin.
Cheers,
Cheers,
Dec 1, 2009 | 6:58 am
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lost in space
Programs: Skywards, KrisFlyer
Posts: 204
Has your wife phoned EK and explained her predicament? I would have thought that would be the obvious course of action rather than come on to FT to seek advice on upgrading, no doubt for free, travelling on EK for the first time. Get real! Sorry for any lack of sympathy.
Dec 1, 2009 | 8:05 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
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You've little hope of blagging a free upgrade with kids to business class because of a fractured leg, infact, as the injury is so recent there's a risk they may even ask for a Doctor's report to say she's fit to fly (depending on where in the US the flight originates) see: 7.3 here if you were to make too much of a fuss of it at check-in. . . 
Dec 1, 2009 | 10:15 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Dubai
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You've little hope of blagging a free upgrade with kids to business class because of a fractured leg, infact, as the injury is so recent there's a risk they may even ask for a Doctor's report to say she's fit to fly (depending on where in the US the flight originates) see: 7.3 here if you were to make too much of a fuss of it at check-in. . .
Dec 1, 2009 | 12:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Birmingham, UK.
Programs: SkyWards Ex Silver & BA
Posts: 295
I think the most important thing is, is your wife fit to fly, I am concerned that her injury my cause a thrombosis and the Airline is likely to ask for a doctors not saying she is fit to fly.
Dec 1, 2009 | 12:42 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: EK
Posts: 103
Wife traveling in 4 days from LAX to Dubai and further to Mumbai with 2 kids age 7 years and 4 months on economy. Today she sliped and fractured her right leg.She still insists on the travel.Any tips and possible sugestions for upgrade to buisness class.This is her first flight on emirates.Please advice.
i'll give you a 100% way to get into business class, take out your credit card and pay the biz class fare, problem solved, no need to ask for other tips. see how easy that was.
stop being cheap and expecting a free upgrade when you haven't even flown the airline before.
Dec 1, 2009 | 4:30 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Melbourne
Programs: QANTAS FF, SKYWARDS GOLD
Posts: 133
Excuse me - I must be dreaming.
Your wife is intending to present herself, a 7 year old and a 4 month babe in arms for an economy flight from the USA to India with a fractured leg????
I don't really see how she can carry a baby & manipulate crutches at the same time let alone the carry-on baggage necessary for herself & the kids.
Perhaps with a wheelchair from check-in to boarding gate and a posse of FAs to get her seated but even then the inflight logistics would be horrific.
I find the scenario as depicted rather improbable and (as others have hinted) a bit self seeking.
If it is essential that she makes this trip you need to face up to flying back with her & the kids to look after them. If you do not choose to do so I think EK would be within it's rights to refuse to let her fly.
Dave
Your wife is intending to present herself, a 7 year old and a 4 month babe in arms for an economy flight from the USA to India with a fractured leg????
I don't really see how she can carry a baby & manipulate crutches at the same time let alone the carry-on baggage necessary for herself & the kids.
Perhaps with a wheelchair from check-in to boarding gate and a posse of FAs to get her seated but even then the inflight logistics would be horrific.
I find the scenario as depicted rather improbable and (as others have hinted) a bit self seeking.
If it is essential that she makes this trip you need to face up to flying back with her & the kids to look after them. If you do not choose to do so I think EK would be within it's rights to refuse to let her fly.
Dave
Dec 2, 2009 | 9:14 am
#12
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lost in space
Programs: Skywards, KrisFlyer
Posts: 204
WoW!
Even though OP posed a very stupid question. Dave, I hope you or your employer never has to face a lawsuit based on ADA... She may not be disabled but the law does have a lot of leeway.
Even though OP posed a very stupid question. Dave, I hope you or your employer never has to face a lawsuit based on ADA... She may not be disabled but the law does have a lot of leeway.
Dec 2, 2009 | 1:31 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: UK
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Posts: 169
WoW!
Even though OP posed a very stupid question. Dave, I hope you or your employer never has to face a lawsuit based on ADA... She may not be disabled but the law does have a lot of leeway.
Even though OP posed a very stupid question. Dave, I hope you or your employer never has to face a lawsuit based on ADA... She may not be disabled but the law does have a lot of leeway.
382.29 May a carrier require a passenger with a disability to travel with a safety assistant?
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, you must not require that a passenger with a disability travel with another person as a condition of being provided air transportation.
(b) You may require a passenger with a disability in one of the following categories to travel with a safety assistant as a condition of being provided air transportation, if you determine that a safety assistant is essential for safety:
(1) A passenger traveling in a stretcher or incubator. The safety assistant for such a person must be capable of attending to the passengers in-flight medical needs;
(2) A passenger who, because of a mental disability, is unable to comprehend or respond appropriately to safety instructions from carrier personnel, including the safety briefing required by 14 CFR 121.571(a)(3) and (a)(4) or 14 CFR 135.117(b) or the safety regulations of a foreign carriers government, as applicable;
(3) A passenger with a mobility impairment so severe that the person is unable to physically assist in his or her own evacuation of the aircraft
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, you must not require that a passenger with a disability travel with another person as a condition of being provided air transportation.
(b) You may require a passenger with a disability in one of the following categories to travel with a safety assistant as a condition of being provided air transportation, if you determine that a safety assistant is essential for safety:
(1) A passenger traveling in a stretcher or incubator. The safety assistant for such a person must be capable of attending to the passengers in-flight medical needs;
(2) A passenger who, because of a mental disability, is unable to comprehend or respond appropriately to safety instructions from carrier personnel, including the safety briefing required by 14 CFR 121.571(a)(3) and (a)(4) or 14 CFR 135.117(b) or the safety regulations of a foreign carriers government, as applicable;
(3) A passenger with a mobility impairment so severe that the person is unable to physically assist in his or her own evacuation of the aircraft
JGX
Dec 2, 2009 | 3:44 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lost in space
Programs: Skywards, KrisFlyer
Posts: 204
I note on the Singapore Air forum there is another flyer hoping to be upgraded because he has developed a bad back since purchasing his economy ticket. He has received similar feedback to that offered here to the unfortunate lady.
Dec 4, 2009 | 2:31 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: TK Elite, SK EB Gold
Posts: 1,280
unfortunate, I agree! But getting a free upgrade bcoz of this? u gotto be kidding me
next time i fly Emirates, I will develop bad back, or bad attitude, or bad this or bad that! I guess, I have just discovered a loop hole!
next time i fly Emirates, I will develop bad back, or bad attitude, or bad this or bad that! I guess, I have just discovered a loop hole!