Flying on a plane can be stressful for anyone. But especially for passengers who are already navigating life with a disability, it’s important for airline staff to do everything they can to ensure a safe and smooth trip is had.
Unfortunately, however, that doesn’t always happen. After one woman and her husband had a terrible time flying home from a trip, they decided to detail the experience on Reddit to find out if they should have done anything differently. Below, you’ll find thefull story, as well as some of the replies readers have left.
Traveling with a disability often comes with additional challenges
Image credits:Gustavo Fring / Pexels (not the actual photo)
So when this couple was finally comfortable in their seats, no amount of pressure from a flight attendant was going to get them to move
Image credits:Andrew Kuchling / Flickr (not the actual photo)
Image credits:Lukas Souza / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Image credits:MadisonCrescent
Later, the woman responded to a few readers and provided more information on the situation
Image credits:Marcus Aurelius / Pexels (not the actual photo)
About 1 in 6 people in the world have a significant disability
It’s easy to get caught up in your own little world while traveling. When you’re stuck in a long line at the security checkpoint, it can feel like you’re theonlypassenger who’s at risk of missing their flight, and it can feel like a personal attack when you board the plane to find no overhead space left. But we should really be looking out for one another when we travel, especially those of us who might need a little bit extra assistance.
According to theWorld Health Organization, approximately 1.3 billion people on the planet experience a significant disability, and inaccessible and unaffordable transportation can be 15 times more difficult for those with disabilities than for those without. The most common types of disabilities are mobility and cognition, theCDCreports, and adults with disabilities are more likely to have obesity, smoke, have heart disease and have diabetes.
Despite the difficulties that those with disabilities face in their day to day lives, they often face systemic issues as well. ThePew Research Centerreports that Americans with disabilities tend to earn less than those without, and many can find it challenging to get a job at all.
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Airlines still have a long way to go in improving their accessibility
While having a disability undoubtedly comes with some challenges, it in no way means that a person should be limited to where they can travel. As long as airlines make accommodations, passengers should be able to go wherever they’d like, regardless of any disabilities. But apparently, many airlines still have a long way to go in terms of accessibility.
The experience of being on a plane can also be much less than enjoyable for those with disabilities. Going to the bathroom, for example, becomes a significant challenge when travelers need a mobility aid to get around, so many actually dehydrate themselves prior to flying to ensure that they won’t need to make a trip to the toilet. Transferring on and off the aircraft can also cause problems, asDisability Horizonsnotes that only 6 airline companies across the globe actually have suitable transferring equipment.
Image credits:Thirdman / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Many travelers with disabilities choose to avoid the stress and hassle of flying at all
Boston resident Suzanne Costas says that flying while disabled is a nightmare. “I have to give up bodily autonomy. Risk being treated like a side of ham,” she writes for theLos Angeles Times. “Airline personnel — strangers with vague and questionable training — will lift me out of the Quantum and transfer me into the ‘aisle chair,’ a diminutive wheelchair used for boarding and deplaning.”
But Costas notes that flying with disabilities should not be a lost cause; solutions do exist. “At a minimum, airlines could be required to use universal storage cases to protect power wheelchairs and mobility scooters, or tie-down straps to secure these expensive devices in the cargo hold,” she notes. “But what would really make me feel included would be to stay in my own chair, to roll down the jetway and on to the aircraft, lock down in the cabin and relax.”
According toReader’s Digest, the three best airlines for disabled travelers are United, Southwest and Delta. Meanwhile, Spirit and JetBlue were noted as some of the worst, mishandling wheelchairs more than 5% of the time.
Readers shared their reactions and assured the woman that she handled the situation appropriately
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