Where do you stand on this?

[mnrose]

I wanted to add that my daughter has a medical condition that makes it VITAL that she eat something every 3.5 hours, maximum. Obviously, plane travel can interfere with that. My solution is one of two things (and sometimes BOTH...just in case). I either buy a first class seat, where I can be reasonably assured that she will be fed, or I bring appropriate snacks with me to satisfy her requirements. I would never DREAM of demanding that the flight attendant bring me something that wasn't otherwise offered!

I don't get AT ALL the attitude that "other people" must bend their rules for me, as opposed to me taking personal responsibility for my child and her needs. Silly old me. To me, the reasonable accommodations requirement is that a business needs to do "reasonable" things IF the individual NEEDS those accommodations. If it's something you can EASILY do yourself (such as this mother and father bringing appropriate things with them...duh!), you don't need ANY accommodation. Period.

 

[sam_gordon]

Dear Shoutty Caps,

Are you not reading whom I'm responding to? Posters have said no one should be allowed to purchase first class meals, I said why not? I did not say, think or otherwise imply that in this instance a meal was not bought or otherwise provided.

There you go again. No one has said coach passengers SHOULDN'T be allowed to purchase first class meals, but that they CAN'T. As far why they can't, you'd have to ask the airlines. We can offer all the guesses we want, but the airline made a decision to not allow that, and a FA isn't going to change company policy. The FA did provide two meals from first class (presumably didn't charge the family), so it's a moot point and I don't understand why you keep bringing it up.

 

[Dawnlight]

The culture in the US is very accommodating to non-disabled, neuro typical people. The world is designed for that group. If you fall into that group, you have been accommodated since the day you were born.

Do you believe the majority of any group should have to make any and all accommodations for any minority group (disabled, religious, vegan, smokers, etc)?

This is the way the world works, sorry to inform you. You are responsible for YOU and YOUR child, no one else is. Maybe you feel like you were dealt a bad hand in life, maybe your life's circumstances are tough; that does not mean that every whim needs to be accommodated.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

Because it's part of the first class package.

What happens when 3 people in coach want extra food and there's only two meals? Why can't mum buy a first class ticket instead of trying to pay 1/8 of the cost for a single meal?

Some airlines do sell food to coach passengers on some routes. It used to be provided at no additional charge. While I have never said anyone was entitled to free food, I don't personally believe airlines selling available food to willing passengers is a crazy idea. Last time I flew Delta into LAX they were selling sandwiches and chips. While I did not partake, I did not think the idea was some crazy slippery slope.

 

[aaarcher86]

Some airlines do sell food to coach passengers on some routes. It used to be provided at no additional charge. While I have never said anyone was entitled to free food, I don't personally believe airlines selling available food to willing passengers is a crazy idea. Last time I flew Delta into LAX they were selling sandwiches and chips. While I did not partake, I did not think the idea was some crazy slippery slope.

Ok. Some stores let me return stuff without a receipt. Some don't.

This airline doesn't sell food a la carte to coach pax. If delta was selling stuff it's because they had enough and could accommodate everyone. Not just one person.

I think getting angry when someone doesn't make an exception is silly.

 

[NewRVLady]

Dear Shoutty Caps,(Thanks!)

Are you not reading whom I'm responding to?

Posters have said no one should be allowed to purchase first class meals, I said why not?
(Because they are busy in Coach doing the drink and snack cart. To stop that and go find an extra meal for this one or that one would take time...and would have to wait until the drink and snack service finished serving everyone in Coach.....this is probably why this service is not available)
Often they start picking up all the empties next-ask if anyone needs more snacks 9on longer flights_


I did not say, think or otherwise imply that in this instance a meal was not bought or otherwise provided.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

Do you believe the majority of any group should have to make any and all accommodations for any group (disabled, religious, vegan, smokers, etc)?

This is the way the world works, sorry to inform you. You are responsible for YOU and YOUR child, no one else is. Maybe you feel like you were dealt a bad hand in life, maybe your life's circumstances are tough; that does not mean that every whim needs to be accommodated.

I was a dealt a great hand in life through no effort of my own and I know it. That's why I don't get jealous when someone in an ECV gets on the bus before me or has a GAC at WDW. Other people are born on third place and go through life thinking they hit a triple.

 

[Dawnlight]

They do sell food and beverages. She didn't ask to buy one of their blankets.

And what if the daughter, or anyone else on the spectrum, falls in love with the blanket and starts a meltdown that endangers other people when told that she can not keep it?

What if the person kept kosher/hallal and the meals available weren't suitable to their religious dietary needs? Should the airline carry those meals onboard in the event some disabled person who follows dietary restrictions should meltdown?

What if an autistic child sees a toy that another child is playing with and goes into meltdown because he can't have it?

Tell me, what circumstance, if any should not be accommodated in your eyes? It doesn't seem that one exists.

 

[mnrose]

Some airlines do sell food to coach passengers on some routes. It used to be provided at no additional charge. While I have never said anyone was entitled to free food, I don't personally believe airlines selling available food to willing passengers is a crazy idea. Last time I flew Delta into LAX they were selling sandwiches and chips. While I did not partake, I did not think the idea was some crazy slippery slope.

As if this weren't obvious, but apparently, you are the master of not understanding the obvious. There's a HUGE difference between this mother being content with the offerings MADE to all coach passengers, and demanding/requesting that she be given some sort of special treatment by getting a first class meal designed and offered ONLY for that class of passenger.

Sheesh.

Obviously, airlines are free to make whatever food and beverage options they choose to the various classes of passengers, but to demand that something destined for another class be offered to you, well, that isn't going to happen and it's not reasonable.

I will go back to another example. Let's suppose I have a medical condition where I cannot sit for long periods. It's better for me to lie down. Now, I opt to take an overseas flight of 14 hours. I'm cheap. I book coach. I can't possibly sit for 14 hours. I guess in your world it would be right for me to either demand a first class sleeper seat (to 'reasonably' accommodate my disability) OR be allowed to lie in an aisle...heck I'll even move when the carts come by. Surely, there isn't an issue with that right. I need it. It's available. Why not.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

I think getting angry when someone doesn't make an exception is silly.

I don't disagree. But if people stopped complaining about someone not making an exception for them, the number posts on the DIS would plummet! (joke)

 

[Dawnlight]

OR be allowed to lie in an aisle...heck I'll even move when the carts come by.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

There you go again. No one has said coach passengers SHOULDN'T be allowed to purchase first class meals, but that they CAN'T. As far why they can't, you'd have to ask the airlines. We can offer all the guesses we want, but the airline made a decision to not allow that, and a FA isn't going to change company policy. The FA did provide two meals from first class (presumably didn't charge the family), so it's a moot point and I don't understand why you keep bringing it up.

I am only replying back to those that replied to me. If I am talking about it, it's because someone else brought it up in a reply to me. Like you are doing right now.

For the last time:
I do not see anything wrong with an airline selling leftover meals. *If* there was leftover food, I see no harm in selling it to this family. I think slippery slope arguments are poor arguments.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

As if this weren't obvious, but apparently, you are the master of not understanding the obvious.
Sheesh.

The personal attack was rude and uncalled for. I have endured 50 replies of people disagreeing with my opinion and not gone to that level.

 

[SMD]

I am only replying back to those that replied to me. If I am talking about it, it's because someone else brought it up in a reply to me. Like you are doing right now.

For the last time:
I do not see anything wrong with an airline selling leftover meals. *If* there was leftover food, I see no harm in selling it to this family. I think slippery slope arguments are poor arguments.

But just because a third party sees nothing wrong with it doesn't mean that they have to make the exception or that they've done anything wrong by not making the exception.

The personal attack was rude and uncalled for. I have endured 50 replies of people disagreeing with my opinion and not gone to that level.

No, you're just making generalizations about anyone, attacking everyone who doesn't agree with you and putting words in people's mouths and then attacking unnamed posters for things no one said. Then you're hiding behind the excuse that you didn't quote anyone. Keeping stirring the pot, you're getting the responses you want.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

And what if the daughter, or anyone else on the spectrum, falls in love with the blanket and starts a meltdown that endangers other people when told that she can not keep it?

What if the person kept kosher/hallal and the meals available weren't suitable to their religious dietary needs? Should the airline carry those meals onboard in the event some disabled person who follows dietary restrictions should meltdown?

What if an autistic child sees a toy that another child is playing with and goes into meltdown because he can't have it?

Tell me, what circumstance, if any should not be accommodated in your eyes? It doesn't seem that one exists.

I have discussed one example, the one at hand. How does that equal any and all accommodations?

 

[mjkacmom]

I am only replying back to those that replied to me. If I am talking about it, it's because someone else brought it up in a reply to me. Like you are doing right now.

For the last time:
I do not see anything wrong with an airline selling leftover meals. *If* there was leftover food, I see no harm in selling it to this family. I think slippery slope arguments are poor arguments.

A FA can't change policy on the spot. If her employers have certain policies, she has to enforce them. It's pretty cut and dry. Doesn't the fact that not one person agrees with you cause you to think that your opinions might not be correct?

 

[Dawnlight]

I have discussed one example, the one at hand. How does that equal any and all accommodations?

Yes, and I'm asking you about the others. Why won't you answer?

What accommodations would not be reasonable?

 

[mnrose]

The personal attack was rude and uncalled for. I have endured 50 replies of people disagreeing with my opinion and not gone to that level.

You gave an example (a plane ride you were on where they were offering sandwiches for sale in coach) as if that were somehow relevant to this discussion...a parent demanding (or vehemently requesting if you prefer that) her child be given something NOT available in coach...a hot first class meal. There's a pretty huge difference between those two, but you seem not to understand that. So, I was stating the obvious. Oops.

Have a nice day!

 

[Magic Band Defender]

No, you're just making generalizations about anyone, attacking everyone who doesn't agree with you and putting words in people's mouths and then attacking unnamed posters for things no one said. Then you're hiding behind the excuse that you didn't quote anyone. Keeping stirring the pot, you're getting the responses you want.

I have not put words in anyone's mouth. Both times I was accused of doing so, it is easy to scroll to a different page and see exactly what I was referencing.

How exactly can I attack an unnamed poster while not listing the name of the thread, the poster, or using a direct quote? How else can I protect the poster?

I am clearly not attacking anyone who doesn't agree with me. There were 9 pages of posters who don't agree with me. I have not engaged any of them, only those that have direcyly engaged with me.

I don't need to stir the pot, there are plenty of posters who are doing a bang up job of that all by themselves.

 

[Magic Band Defender]

A FA can't change policy on the spot. If her employers have certain policies, she has to enforce them. It's pretty cut and dry. Doesn't the fact that not one person agrees with you cause you to think that your opinions might not be correct?

Nope. Being popular is not the same as being right.

We have no idea what the airline's policy is or how much flexibility the FA's have to make an exception.