Airline passenger news and views
19 May 2012 | Sign In
Aircraft and space restrictions for the disabled traveller
Negotiating seating on an aircraft for the disabled passenger can prove impossible.
|
Kayte Platts Tuesday 5 October 2010 |
I have written previously about travelling as a disabled passenger, the toilets on board and within the airport, and the provision of special assistance. I now have another question. How does the disabled passenger cope when they finally reach and board the aircraft?
As far as I am aware, there are no actual ‘disabled’ seats other than ones with extra leg room at the front of the plane. You can request these seats when booking, but they are not reserved exclusively for disabled passengers.
Getting in and out of a seat must be a very difficult pursuit. The issue was raised by a colleague of mine who described how difficult it was for her sister, who is registered disabled due to a hip replacement.
She said that her sister found the whole process difficult with virtually no room to manoeuvre.
It must be especially hard when travelling on a ‘low-budget airline’. Disabled people have to rely on the goodwill of other passengers to give up their isle seat in order to be even remotely comfortable.
I am sure more can be done to accommodate the disabled passenger and the airlines once again seem to be overlooking this issue. Why can they not provide specific seating for the disabled passenger? Why do the disabled have to endure the embarrassment and predicament of asking others to move just so as they can sit down?
These are tough questions for any commercial company seeking to make a profit. We cannot expect any one airline to take unilateral action. This is one area where anti-discrimination law has its place and needs to be implemented effectively.
| Comments | Post a comment |
The young and fit do not really understand the difficulties of the elderly and disabled. Sadly, time brings this to all of us. | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
Adrian, England 2 December 2010, 02:23PM | |
I think that on all aircrafts there should be seats that can be pre booked and set aside for the disabled. This would surely make boarding and leaving the aircraft far more comfortable. | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
Katy, Blackpool 3 December 2010, 01:03PM | |
I agree with Adrian. I commonly see disabled people trying to sit comfortably in the middle or window seat, if they are in the same aisle as me i will always offer to swap seats to ensure that they will be comfortable and in case of emergancy they can leave their seats easily. | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
Phil, Market Drayton 17 June 2011, 11:18AM | |
I've just flown with my disabled partner with Jet2. They told me at check-in and also by one of the stewardesses on the plane that regulations insisted that 'disabled passengers had to have a window seat so that they do not trap other passengers in the event of an emergency' | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
jane burke 10 October 2011, 05:48PM | |
i am so disappointed that it seems i cant take my daughter abroad as she is not allowed to sit in her wheelchair on the plane.she has cerebral palsy and cannot sit on a seat that has not support to help her sit.holidays abroad have now been accessible for disabled people but you cannot get there as the aeroplanes have not accommodated for people in wheelchairs. | |
| Rating (0) | |
|
stan bradshaw, leicester 5 November 2011, 01:46PM | |
my last experience at EMA airport plane loaded from front and rear doors we were hoisted up and used rear door opposite could not move as people totally ignored steward to wait while we got seated,we were refused leg room near doors as in emergency we would not be able to open the door so who can then? no one is shown how to open door by cabin crew no i believe its so we the disabled do not impede others in escaping so stick us at the back out of the way. | |
| Rating (0) | |
