Flying today is no Picnic
 

I have a daughter-in -law in a wheelchair.

Her and my son have been vacationing for many years between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

They pack at least 3-4 large suitcases and until the last couple years, they had plenty of friendly help at the airport.

Now the last couple times they traveled there's no help with my daughter-in-law
and their luggage anywhere.

My son asks what was going on, and they said besides the lack of help, they also said people are buying wheelchairs just to get to the front on the TSA line.

Now how sick is that?

So much for the disability act.

The problem is that our laws are not enforced. So, if you are in a wheelchair, nobody believes that you are disabled. You can pass all the laws you want, but, if you don't enforce them, you may as well not have a law at all.

Sad that people would do that.

This is nothing new. Have you ever flown Southwest? No assigned seats. Twenty people need wheelchairs to get on the plane, only two need wheelchairs to get off.

Disney sells out the electric carts fast. Mostly lazy people that don’t want to walk. Airport pushers get paid dirt and hope for tips . A rotten job. It’s outsourced and has nothing to do with airlines

Flying these days sucks for many other reasons including frequent delays and cancellations, reduced schedules, long lines and lousy service, Covid risk, inflated prices, etc…. Fondly remembering the flying experience pre Covid and especially pre 9/11.

Fake News.

Sad this was posted.

I flew a Southwest flight from Albany, NY to BWI this week. 48 people entered the plane via the pre-board line. In one instance, the boarding agent allowed a family to board with Grandma in her wheelchair. My boarding pass was A5. Given the pre-boarders and I assume others that were flying through with the plane, I was 2 rows from being almost mid-plane before I could get a window seat.

Traveling sucks!

When I flew a lot, I always wanted a reserved seat, and I actually preferred the rear of the plane. Never flew on Southwest for that reason. And, when a flight attendant asked me to change seats, I would almost always refuse unless they moved me to first class. I think it is wrong to ask someone to move from a seat that they reserved in advance.

That's why we call it: "The Miracle Flight." Many arrive by wheelchair and then sprint off the plane first. Why would anyone want to pretend to need a wheelchair. I bet the ones who really need them wish they didn't

sign of the times. Same ethic at work when someone cuts in front of you in a line, parks their car with the wheels straddling the white lines instead of inside them, or staking out a lounge chair by the pool on a cruise ship by putting towels on it and then not showing up for hours.

"Its all about MEEEEEEEEEE". Far too many people these days don't care who they step on in order to get what they want.

Kind of like fake Servive dogs, does a real disservice to the real deal.

Appropriate punishment for these @rseh0l3$: Handcuff both their legs to the wheelchair and let them lead the life of those that they fraudulently imitated to be first in line for say 3 months. Doubt anyone would ever try it again.

Bet over 90% of service dogs are fake. Brother had a real service dog. Dog had to have certain temprament, longevity and 18 months of training. Most so called service dogs appear to be for social purposes.

Again, like someone mention, a lot of rules and regulations out there but no one enforces them.

I like the idea.

Service dogs, not "emotional support" dogs, should have license on their collar that is numbered and registered by the state. Anyone caught faking it does hard time and fines. Any company caught selling fake licenses is fined big and shut down with ceos getting prison.

For myself, I would be in favor of drawing and quartering, but...

And a stern talking to.

The problem is that they already do that with handicapped parking permits, but they allow any doctor to issue a permit. In my opinion, doctors do not do a good job of screening out those who don't need a permit.

I agree with you, but it is just so messy. Eww😠

Doctor's role is to diagnose and treat, as well as prevent illness. It is NOT to "issue permits"---put some petty bureaucrat in charge of that.

Funny, I've never ""issued a permit"...

I've filled out permit requests with the appropriate diagnosis for the patient which may or may not be approved by the local MVA...

"May or may not be approved?" If you are referring to a handicapped parking permit, the permit is issued by the state. But, they depend entirely on a doctor signing the application form. I don't think that any applications, signed by a doctor, are ever denied.

And have you heard of anyone getting fined for parking in a handicap parking space??

I think they will ticket and fine you if you don't have a permit. But, the problem is that there is no enforcement for someone who has a permit, but doesn't need one. They assume that, if a doctor signed the application, that the person needs to park in a handicapped space. With some exceptions, most people who have a medical condition are encouraged to walk more and not to park in a handicapped space. In those cases, why don't doctors refuse to sign the application?

Because it takes 10 seconds to sign it and 15 minutes to argue with a patient that you won't. Which is why you cannot put doctors in charge of this process. It doesn't take a medical education to figure out who qualifies for a handicap permit and who doesn't.

And yes, I have in the past refused to sign them, but rest assured, it never worked out well.

So much for people now days. It's only going to get worse.
 

So much for people now days. It's only going to get worse.

Dunno - does Mexico and/or the DR have a disability act?

Yes I have, an easy ticket for a parking enforcement operator who can argue they are not guilty?

A former girlfriend in CA had some very serious issues over ten years ago. She is ok today. Back then her physician issued her a "permanent" handicapped parking permit which she still uses to get up close parking to this day.

My orthopedic guy, who removed a bunch of bone chips/spurs from my arthritic elbow, was kind enough to fill out the medical need part of the special permit application so I can legally hunt with a crossbow in Massachusetts.

What are you hunting? Squirrels can be rather tasty I am told

Grrr....:swear:

You are probably correct: I understand that official-looking "Service Dog" sweaters can be purchased online with no authorization required. Highly unfair to the real service dogs and their owners.

So not everybody who Uses a wheelchair at an airport needs one full-time. My mom uses I wheelchair to get to the airport strictly because she cannot get to one in from the other walking. She’s more than capable of walking 50 feet but not a couple miles from one end of the airport to the other. It doesn’t mean she’s faking it to get in the front of the line she just needs help. And not everybody who is handicap has a physical element that is physically visible from the outside. And yes you will always have somebody taking advantage of a situation. I heard you can even rent a handicap person to go to the theme parks cost you a couple hundred bucks +3rd ticket but you get to go to the front of the line all the time because of the handicap access at least you used to be able to a few years ago.

It's great that your mom can get out and travel, and only needs assistance in a wheelchair for the long distances within the airport.
That being said, may we all assume that once she gets to the gate she loses the wheelchair and gets in the regular boarding line?????

It’s a jungle out there…..it’s a gift and a curse…..monk hates airplanes…

We haven't traveled in 4 years due to health issues, then adding the Covid thing. We opted to not travel this summer mostly because of the "if-y" of air-lines cancelling flights, the expense and much/much more. Probably six years ago or so, I began to utilize the wheelchair service in airports....because I have mobility issues. If you saw me just sitting in a chair or whatever you might think, "they don't 'look' handicapped!" But I'd challenge anyone to follow me around for just a day or so---and maybe you'd change that. Unless you walk in someone's shoes, don't judge!! The last time we traveled---4 years ago, we'd signed up for this service. Typically you'd be met curb-side with a chair. Someone would assist with the luggage. Well, 4 years ago---nada, nothing!! My S.O. had to do a search for a chair and we struggled getting the 2 suitcases and the chair. Noone jumped to help--NOT ONE!! I saw a lot of employees from the curb to the boarding desk. Maybe now it's due to a lack of help....I don't know. We'd decided it just isn't worth it to put ourselves through that stress again. Do people abuse services? Most likely!! That's a sad commentary to how low our culture is sinking. For people like me, or in worse shape, we're the ones affected.

***** When doing the wheelchair you do get a "preferrential treatment". Boarding first but also told to go to the rear of the plane. THEN we were last to get off so didn't do "sprints" as someone indicated on here. IF I could....I'm too old to sprint but having my health issues, makes it a moot subject too.

Deer

I use a wheelchair . Never a problem . If they need help , hire a driver, they will carry the bags . Simple solution.