JustBeingCP

A year before the pandemic started I flew to Orlando, Florida to visit Disney.

Flying as a wheelchair user isn’t always easy and this was a classic example of that.

As we arrived at the gate to board the aircraft I was sat waiting to board for nearly an hour because of the lack of a Passenger Assistance available.

I finally was boarded last after the head stewardess stepped in to sure that I actually was able to make the flight to Orlando.

The entire planeload of passengers then watched the Passenger Assistance team wheel myself on the aisle chair to my seat.

As a result of the mess that the airport passenger assistance team made I was treated like royalty along with my family whilst we flew to Orlando.

This should never happen to disabled passengers and something needs to be done to ensure that it doesn’t happen as regularly as it currently does.

I haven’t flown since this incident and wouldn’t say that air travel is my preferred method of travel because of all the issues that come with it.

I was offered an upgrade as a result of this incident but because the passenger assistance team had already left the aircraft I was unable to take this very kind offer up.

If I could give a message to the passenger assistance team at London Gatwick airport then it would be this, I found your level of service both disappointing and upsetting and I wouldn’t choose to travel though your airport again.

I am also incredibly angry that the other passengers onboard that aircraft felt it necessary to watch staff assist me on to the flight.

I’m not an alien for god sake, there’s no need to watch.

I would also like to urge every wheelchair user who travels though UK airports to call these issues out so they aren’t allowed to happen as often as they currently do.

I know that this is another very short blog but I wanted to take the opportunity to share my experiences of what it was like flying as a wheelchair user.

I would as like to end by thanking both my readers and followers for taking the time out of your busy schedules to read my latest blog.

Cam