Signal Boost: United Airlines FAIL
This is the story of Rachel a.k.a. evilpuppy - a young woman with an 'invisible' disability treated in what can only be described as a despicable manner by every employee of United Airlines she came in contact with on a US domestic flight.
twistedchick has posted some general links regarding the ADA and how it applies in this situation, and who to take complaints to.
I'm horrified that any person thinks this is an acceptable way to treat any human being. The whole story makes the United Airlines staff involved look like uncharitable tossers with no sense of human decency or compassion. I'm particularly appalled by 'Dina' in this complaint. Her statement:
"I won't apologize for her actions and I'm not sorry for what happened to you. It's not in our contract to assist passengers with their luggage and we reserve the right to refuse assistance to anyone. If that's what you need, then perhaps in the future, you should make other travel arrangements."
I don't even...seriously?!?!?! Because when I worked as a hostess many moons ago for National Express, we were made aware that, as a crew, we were responsible for all on board the bus - their safety, any requirements for disabled/elderly people... I'd have never dreamed of refusing to help someone with their bags - and not because it was my job, but because I consider myself to be a decent person who will help others.
If the idea of this is to discourage disabled people from using them as an airline, they're succeeding - I won't dirty Winston's wheels by going on one of their planes until they resolve the problems they obviously have with carrying disabled passengers.
(Not that I need to - KLM have always been pretty awesome with my needs as a disabled person when I've travelled with them. And every airline I've ever travelled on - including Ryanair, who I loathe as a company - has had cabin crew who have been only too happy to help. I probably shouldn't have said that - the next time I fly I'll have a problem...)
twistedchick has posted some general links regarding the ADA and how it applies in this situation, and who to take complaints to.
I'm horrified that any person thinks this is an acceptable way to treat any human being. The whole story makes the United Airlines staff involved look like uncharitable tossers with no sense of human decency or compassion. I'm particularly appalled by 'Dina' in this complaint. Her statement:
"I won't apologize for her actions and I'm not sorry for what happened to you. It's not in our contract to assist passengers with their luggage and we reserve the right to refuse assistance to anyone. If that's what you need, then perhaps in the future, you should make other travel arrangements."
I don't even...seriously?!?!?! Because when I worked as a hostess many moons ago for National Express, we were made aware that, as a crew, we were responsible for all on board the bus - their safety, any requirements for disabled/elderly people... I'd have never dreamed of refusing to help someone with their bags - and not because it was my job, but because I consider myself to be a decent person who will help others.
If the idea of this is to discourage disabled people from using them as an airline, they're succeeding - I won't dirty Winston's wheels by going on one of their planes until they resolve the problems they obviously have with carrying disabled passengers.
(Not that I need to - KLM have always been pretty awesome with my needs as a disabled person when I've travelled with them. And every airline I've ever travelled on - including Ryanair, who I loathe as a company - has had cabin crew who have been only too happy to help. I probably shouldn't have said that - the next time I fly I'll have a problem...)