United Airlines left mom in wheelchair stranded in New Jersey
Sep 16, 2017, 5:07 pm
#91
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: none
Posts: 1,668
I thought airlines couldn't give out info if a passenger boarded a flight or not? My friend was coming to see me around 2012, just lost his phone the night before but was able to send me a quick email. I think it was AA I call but they said they can't give out that type of info even though I had his conf # and all other info (I booked the flight).
Sep 16, 2017, 5:17 pm
#93
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
One simple response would be that if you request a wheelchair, you have to represent whether or not you need an assistant and if you answer "no", you agree the airline is not liable for anything related to not having an assistant. The one time I arranged for a wheelchair for an elderly relative a couple of years ago, on UA, I don't recall having to do that. But I also put that relative on a direct flight in first with another family member.
As it is, it would appear in this case, so long as they checked up on her every half hour, UA met what was required. It remains that it is foolish not to have a family member accompany someone not capable of taking care of themself.
As it is, it would appear in this case, so long as they checked up on her every half hour, UA met what was required. It remains that it is foolish not to have a family member accompany someone not capable of taking care of themself.
There are fully competent people in wheelchairs -- teenagers with a broken leg -- and people bordering on incompetent who are physically fine.
This was a totally avoidable scene solely caused by OP's son. T
People ask what more could be done. The answer is simple. Don't book people who get "confused" onto international connections without having arrangements for assistance. Sure, OP's son saved a few bucks and maybe those few bucks mattered to him. But, it is still the passenger's responsibility.
Sep 16, 2017, 5:42 pm
#97
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,907
Most media is suspect. Look how many media outlets have been caught fabricating stories, or only giving half truths about stories. I trust very little media. I try and go to many sources and then gleen my own idea of the story. Don't believe everything you read just because it came from the media.
Sep 16, 2017, 6:12 pm
#98
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
If a media report is simply reporting what a person has said then the report is no more trustworthy than the person whom they are quoting. I'm sure the son believed he was reporting the facts accurately but much of it was hearsay by that point. He really didn't know. That's why a journalist is supposed to fact check and get multiple sources.
Of course, this really isn't much of a story in the news world so don't know how much effort a reporter is going to put into verifying statements. That leaves it up to the reader to apply a bit of common sense.
Of course, this really isn't much of a story in the news world so don't know how much effort a reporter is going to put into verifying statements. That leaves it up to the reader to apply a bit of common sense.
Sep 16, 2017, 8:59 pm
#99
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
If UA had a legal problem here, that might possibly be useful. But I don't think they do, they have perhaps a PR problem. No amount of forms is going to shed their heartless image.