New rules issued for travelers with disabilites

[disney david]

http://t.nbcnews.com/travel/us-airways-fined-lapses-disabilities-aid-8C11529125

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Link is bad. Try this:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/t/st...ssengers-20779792?ref=https://www.google.com/

Edited - never mind, got it to work.

 

[disney david]

Link is bad.

It works for me

 

[Bete]

http://t.nbcnews.com/travel/us-airways-fined-lapses-disabilities-aid-8C11529125

Thanks for the info.

 

[disney david]

Thanks for the info.

Your welcome

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Not a good thing for me . I travel with a dialysis machine that is put in a closet near the front. I wonder now where it will find a home. It needs to be carried in the passenger are --not below in baggage. I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks for the info.

 

[DvcDoc]

I also travel with a dialysis machine, but mine fits in the overhead. I've never been able to put it in the front closet.

 

[tigger&tigerlover]

On a related topic, the article mentions requiring airlines to provide free wheelchair assistance at airports.

I've been wondering and have been meaning to ask this, so I'll ask it here in hopes that someone has an answer.

Do you tip the people providing the wheelchair assistance at airports?

Thanks!

 

[Piper]

I always have. Most of the time, I have my own, but a few times, my sister didn't want to "mess with" taking mine. Then I needed assistance at the airport and rented at WDW.

 

[curemyreed]

Thanks for the link.

 

[ttintagel]

Yes, we've always tipped the people providing wheelchair assistance. Maybe we've always gotten lucky, but they've always been great people who went above and beyond.

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Wheelchairs having priority over all other baggage for the cabins on a plane is not a new rule. Some airlines are so strict about it that they won't even put folding walkers in (between my wheelchair and my walker, I'd far prefer to have my walker in the cabin since it's far less sturdy than the wheelchair, but was not allowed to the one time I've flown with both). The new part regarding wheelchair storage is that they can now store two folding wheelchairs in the cabin with one strapped across a row of seats. I don't really see how they'll be able to do that often since airlines try to really only run full flights when possible, but it's nice to give that option on flights where there are two people with folding manual wheelchairs and the space. I'm sure it helps everyone with getting all the passengers off the plane faster.

ETA: As far as tipping goes, I tip if someone from the assistance company (most airlines/airports actually contract out to a private company) has pushed me the entire way or otherwise gone above and beyond. Depending on service it's been anywhere from $2-10. The $10 was when someone helped me all the way out to a taxi (not just the stand, but to the actual taxi) and if it had been a longer distance or I'd had more than just me and one bag, I'd have tipped more. I usually only have assistance from the gate waiting area to the actual door of the plane (and back up to the gate area on arrival), though, and for that I don't tip since it's short and I'm usually helping with the process anyway.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If I am flying and not taking my ECV I will definitely tip the chair pusher. Usually $5-$10.

 

[MVC1225]

We are so happy US Airways got fined. On our trip a few weeks ago my GF flew US airways from Hunstville to Orlando connecting in Charlotte both ways. She requested WC assitance from gate to gate (she can get on the plane without assitance) on her reservation. She confirmed it when checking in at her home airport. She arrives at her connection at Charlotte and she had to de-plane via the stairways - noone offerred her assitance or even asked if she needed assitance even though she uses a cane so it is a visible disability. Once she manages to get off the plane, there was no WC provided. They told her to just flag down an electric cart going her way. There were none going her way so she had to walk and since she had a short connection time she had to walk quickly. She told me what happened once she arrived at her gate. I called US Airways and strongly but politely explained to them what happened and that she needed a WC in Orlando -- again no wheelchair and she had to walk. On the return flight, they did offer her a WC in Orlando and Charlotte after I called again and less politely this time made sure they flagged her reservation.

Never again are we flying US Airways or connecting in Charlotte.