AIRPORT ASSISTANCE: Flying with a Disability - easyJet vs Flybe ♿
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Lots of you have asked me to create a video showing the airport assistance that's available to disabled or elderly passengers. I've made this video to show the experience of flying with a disability in the UK, comparing two of the UK's biggest airlines - easyJet and Flybe.
#noelphilips #inflightvideo #disabledtravel
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Im an international check-in agent in Australia and regularly aid travellers that depend on mobility assistance services. This video has been a useful tool in understanding the challenges of flying specifically with Rachel’s condition, and has given me great insight on what I can do in the future guests (with fibromyalgia) to ensure assistance is personalised best to their needs. Thanks you Noel and Rachel
Thank you for commenting and thank you for watching. Travelling with hidden disabilities can be very difficult, I’m so very grateful this video might help others - Rach
I have to respect your wife a lot for allowing you to record this, and I also respect how honest she is with it. Also I believe that your wife should not feel ashamed or like she is in the way as she is not in the way, and she deserves to be on the flight as much as everyone else, and she shouldn’t have to suffer when flying, as flying should always be a fun experience
Those Thomas Cook planes though 😭
Yeah :(
Turkish Airlines Fan hi
rip Thomas Cook
What's Thomas cook lol
ClawJimblob a very respected British holiday airline which recently stopped operations.
Thank you both for shedding light on the dilemmas the disabled have to deal with whilst travelling. As a stroke patient, though somewhat mobile, with arthritis in the lower back and hips, I have to arrange assistance through the airlines with airport staff in order to get through airport security to the gate and as far the plane, and in changing gates when in transition. Quite often I travel alone and rarely have a chance to get a coffee or go to the toilet after being taken to the gate. Although I am mobile, trekking long distances through airports will do me in for several days unless I should have assistance. Unfortunately, at times I do not have assistance to go through an airport to get to a connecting flight, even after having made prior arrangements for assistance. Also, I take advantage of pre-boarding in order to board the flight and settle before the general boarding begins. You should contact the airline you are travelling on to arrange for pre-boarding to avoid the congestion in the aisle. Noel, you made the comment that Rachel was looked at as though there was no sign of disability. What a lot of people do not realise is that there are any number of disabilities that are not openly visible, such as Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Heart issues, Joint Replacement, etc. Rachel, keep do what you can when you can, you are fighting a good fight. Slàinte
Not all disabilities can be seen. Hearing loss makes travel challenging. The last time I flew a low cost airline in the US, I was put in a wheelchair upon arriving at the airport. This allowed the airline staff to know I could need assistance as I have trouble hearing flight announcements. Also if one has hearing challenges, be sure to advise the front desk at your hotel so that in an emergency you can be assisted.
Thats an awesome and extraordinary report. I appreciate you guys being so open about the disability and helping others. All the thumbs up 👍👍👍
I like how you and your wife really personalized the experience of flying.
Great teamwork there! Your wife is lovely. I think that there should have a dedicated coffee bar and someone to look out for disabled passengers in disabled areas. Imagine not being able to go to the bathroom when traveling alone.
I have much sympathy with Rachel. I have had ME/CFS (very similar to Fibromyalgia) for many years. So far I've just about managed to cope at airports without assistance, mainly through luck rather than anything else, but it's good to know that it's available for conditions such as ours. Just because our limbs are not in plaster etc. doesn't mean we don't need help from time to time, but some people are just so ignorant. I wish Rachel very well.
I think the reason they didn't use the lift for the FlyBe flight was due to how low the plane is. Q400's are really small and low aircraft, compared to an A320 anyway.
But what about it the person can barely lift their legs or can't walk?
That is certainly true but, technically a lift can still be employed however low the stairs are, so that passengers who cannot climb stairs of any description can get on the aircraft.
At some airports a ramp is attached to the back door of the dash 8 so that passengers can be pushed to the aircraft door if necessary
There is a ramp some of the time, but at manchester, they do use the lift.
The lift is used and all dash aircraft the simple fact was that she did not require it
I am both a disabled person and a travel agent and from my experience the airlines' treatment of disabled passengers can vary greatly, not only from airline to airline but from flight to flight. I have had great experiences on Delta, American and Cathay Pacific and a not great experience on United. Probably the worst for me was Spirit, who really made me feel like they did not want my business. Never again!!! Keep up the great work and please post more of these types of videos, they are of great service to the disabled flying public.
Noel, Your wife is a beautiful person, lucky man, thanks to her for helping in the making of the video, God bless you and your family.
I am very happy that you made this video, as a disabled person I understand how you and your wife feel with the difficulties that come up which taking planes and getting through the airport. I am glad that you decided to make this video and enjoyed watching it very much.
As a frequent flyer and being in a wheelchair permanent i'v had mixed experiences and most airlines will board me first. When i am boarded they use a specially built aisle wheelchair to get me to my seat.
Surprised they didn’t let her go first. On all Australian airlines the procedure would be to send your wife before priority/general boarding began or in some rare cases last after everyone is on (This is only regarding the Easyjey flight).
Couldn’t agree more, my wife has a hidden disability and she finds asking for the assistance to be hit or miss, usually great within the UK, but outside sometimes never arrives. Great to see this video.
Do you ask for assistance immediately when you book the flight? Because I do and I have never had a problem
Personally I've found the reverse. One particular airport in the UK is really bad for "disabled assistance". They forgot me on several occasions despite the airlines and pilot reminding them. They've even refused permission to use my own wheelchair as "nobody else has ever done so"!!!
By comparison, European and Canadian airports are fantastic in my experience
It's so important to make people aware of fibromyalgia I suffer with this and the outside they think I'm well but you cant see the pain from the inside xx
Your wife is simply adorable! Nice informative video.
Thank you so much for making this video, this topic is so important! I have peripheral neuropathy and thus difficulty walking. Last summer my boyfriend and I flew from San Francisco to Zurich, and both airports were extremely helpful. Their friendly assistance staff picked me up with a wheelchair, speeded me through security and wheeled me right onto the plane. The flight crew (United) was very friendly too, they smiled, we could go right to our seats, and upon arrival a wheelchair was right there at the door to pick me up again.
With this new point-of-view, when I travel and see a person traveling that may have a disability, I will make sure to stop by and ask how I can help. This is especially true if they are solo traveling. There is no need to feel as if you are "dropped off" while society moves past. No more when I have a chance to close this gap.
THANK YOU BOTH, and ESPECIALLY RACH, for bravery in bringing this to my attention. I make a promise to you to help things get better.
This channel has so much quality content that I turn of my adblocker and watch the whole ads everytime. You deserve every penny.
You can sit through the repetitive one about Vietnam.
Good luck on those 3 min ads lol
I have yt premium so there aren't any ads
Same here
P.s. I have been looking all over the internet for videos on traveling with disabilities...this is the first informational one I have found...please do more.....on this subject.
Informative program! The first time that I flew disabled(severe pain in feet, could walk a short distance but quite painful) I wasn't aware that in the USA a passenger is expected to tip! The attendant at the first airport seemed quite disgruntled when he realized I wasn't tipping him. On my flight back I had a connection in Charlotte NC. They changed my gate 3 times and I requested a wheelchair each time. They used the little electric carts at that airport. At my departure gate the agent noticed that I had been assigned the last row in Economy Class and told me that he thought that was unreasonable and upgraded me to the first row in First Class! They just happened to have a seat available. I was quite impressed with that kind of service and must thank American Airlines for that! It seems like a no brainer to assign disabled passengers seats near the front of the cabin. Even the first row of regular Economy Class would be better than what you and your wife were given. Would like to know if tipping the assistant is common in other countries. Take care and Happy Travels!
Hi Noel, I've been watching your videos for a while now and hadn't realised your wife has fibro. My wife also has fibro and watching this video was very familiar to the issue we face went trying to do similar outings. My wife ends up feeling in the way which will then cause her depression grow. Which all in all means we tend not to go out on big excursion. This is very hard on our two children who tend to miss out a bit on these sort of experiences. I'd like to thank you and your wife for putting yourselves through this on camera to show it is possible and some of the pit falls to watch out for.
I have fibro too and know how hard it can be. I am always surprised how much it can be affected by mental overload, as well as physical. I’ve never used assistance. It is something I will consider in the future because I definitely pay for it after I travel and I should probably make use of it as a proactive measure
Taking the Mrs to do flight reviews. Couple goals right there boys.
Love this video! It’s nice to see traveling with disabilities featured. I’ve got fibromyalgia and moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, so traveling is never easy and I don’t do much of it. When I have been able to travel, I’ve found that the assistance that you get is different with airports. The greatest assistance I’ve ever gotten was at MCO (Orlando Intl Airport) on Southwest and the worst assistance is my hometown airport, STL (Lambert- St. Louis Intl Airport) flying in on Alaska Airlines from Seattle. Of course, I’m sure it varies from day to day and with staff as well. I’m flying out this December on Southwest to MIA (Miami Intl Airport), so we’ll see how that goes. At least this time I’m flying into Miami with my dad, so I won’t be alone which is sure to make things much easier.
My sister has it and I understand where your lovely wife is coming from. When she goes on holiday it can knock her out for days on end and because it’s still very new, it’s still quite unknown. Also because you can’t see it, people can sometimes have very little understanding it what your going through.
I’ve also done assistance at Manchester, Luton, Barcelona and USA and all were great. All though Luton we were placed at a gate miles away and I was really worried they had forgot us. My friend who can not walk was very well looked after with easy jet and virgin on board. I could not recommend them both enough. But Fantastic video. I’m so grateful to you both because this needs to be shown more. I hope you wife recovered ok and thank you for showing it. Keep up the great videos. Thanks.
I love birmingham airport. and the final call voice etc. is just satisfying for me lol
Thank you for sharing your experience, my wife has a walking disability which is not evident by looking at her. It means that all the walking at airports is exhausting for her. We have considered assistance , but surprised to see that even with assistance the experience appears challenging and exhausting.
It can be, yes. And the wheelchairs aren't very comfortable.
This is an exceptional video. You give incredible information. The video style is superior. I live in the states. My 83 year old mobility challenged mother will be moving in with me and we will be traveling. I now know what issues I need to be aware of and what services to ask for to accommodate her needs. Thank you so much!
Hi Noel& Rachel! i've been binge watching your channel for the last couple of days since finding it and this video was particularly close to home for me as i myself am a disabled person (spina bifida) i have zero use of my legs . I won't lie watching how much really both airlines made you struggle infuriated me but kudo's to you Rachel for letting the process be filmed and shared online ANNNNDDD for not blowing up especially with Flybe not providing an ambi lift in the rain! i myself have struggled many times especially on the longer flights i have taken to Dubai years ago. mainly on the Dubai side, which was surprising being as i come from Malta. Even more so now as i've gotten older and my body has grown, due to my condition my knees don't bend they are locked in a slightly bent position (maybe 20* ) so i have to book front front row of the air craft for the extra room which is a real struggle. Anywho thank you for sharing !
We want more happy couple vibe video's like this! You two are adorable together
I'm getting caught up with your videos, and this was next. You and your your wife did an excellent job doing some real-time accessibility assessment without hype but pointing out some of the obvious flaws in the system. Still, I also appreciate your dedication to your family and to your job of informing us about your observations and your dedication to fairness and the reality of commercial flying.
This is very informative- very nice to see as someone who has disabilities and has plans to travel in the future. I have CP, I walk with a cane and I have a hearing loss as well- I may be behind the times because I only discovered your channel not even a few weeks ago- so this was very informative for me! I have really enjoyed your travels and experiences and all. Thank you for posting this video.
Thank you so much to you and your wife for such an excellent video! I have Cerebral Palsy and enjoy traveling solo here in the US and as well as to Dublin. The mobility assistance staff in Dublin and LHR have been so kind and understanding. Cannot wait to return in the near future. Thanks again, our visibility is life changing for the better!
I love watching you two traveling together
Brilliant of both of you to do this, so useful for people
I suffer from fybromyalgia too, hard for people to understand how it makes us feel. Was upset for you both when some passengers were giving you and Rachel death stares.
Really insightful look at how airlines and airports handle person's with disabilities!
Coops in the USA I’m sorry for the pain you have to deal with. The flight crew certainly could have given the rest of the passengers a heads up that customers who needed assistance were boarding from the opposite direction OR boarded them before or after everyone else boarded.
There are a number of options they have to make the experience better for everyone.
I fly United weekly for work and they board those needing extra assistance before everyone...just makes sense to me. It doesn’t need to be chaos.
Does it get better some day ?
Poor you :( and her I feel sorry for the pain you experience.
There are people right now working on changing these problems. Airlines have in their rules that they can't descriminate anyone. They are supposed to be,getting it where people in wheelchairs can be strapped in on their personal wheelchair on flights. They also need to work on bathrooms also
I have fibromyalgia and arthritis. I don’t consider it a disability tbh...
9:08 That’s what Ryanair wish they could achieve
So much respect for both of you!
I’ve got severe ME/CFS and ended up marrying a man from India which required multiple 18-20 hour flights plus airport time the past few years. Ending up on disability cost me my first marriage so I have so much shame about it, I go to great lengths to keep it hidden from people.
After a 3 year visa process my hubby is here in the US finally but to give people an idea what international round trip flights and week in India can do to those of us with ME, I brought my hubby home on June 9, 2022 and it’s August 24th 22 when I’m writing this and I’m still sick and bed bound most of the time from the wear and tear on my body & blood clots from that trip. I raised my daughter on just my disability income so anything other than the cheap plane seats is outta the question. I’m not sure if ever be able to have the courage to use the assistance services cuz of the personal shame I’ve got about my disabilities but I commend you so much @Rachel for having the ability to take care of yourself when you need to and so much respect for you @Noel for loving & helping your wife the way you do!!!
The ambulance truck took me back when I catered airplanes back in the 80's and 90's in Tampa.
Noel, it was great to see you travel with your better half. I am disabled and feel uncomfortable with the idea of getting on/off airplanes. I live in the states and have never noticed a lift like that.
Thank you for all your videos.
Cheers!
Thank you for making this video!! My mom also has fibro, and faces these challenges. Just a heads up: if you call these airlines and ask for a bulkhead seat (or one close to the front), they'll give it to you free of charge if you have wheelchair service ordered.
This vlog vwasa really helpful, as I am a wheelchair user, thank you.
You and your wife are lovely people and your kids are cutie pies. A wholesome UA-camr with an honest and refreshing feel to their channel. Much respect to your wife for being so open about this condition and you make a wonderful couple!
I thoroughly enjoy watching your video and wish you and your family all the best!
Thank you so much! @firstclassRach and the kids are the best to travel with I am very lucky
thank you noel for having the courage and thoughtfulnes to post a video like this they are so hard to find
I am so thankful that you have made this video. I applaud the both of you. I have fibromyalgia as well as a progressive back condition. This year will be the first time I'll have to use wheelchair support at the airport for my trip. I'll definitely watch this again to build up my courage. Thanks again Noel and Rachel :)
Wonderful video and well done to you both !! A very close look at how people such as your lovely wife have to cope with modern day flying. I have been in the special assistance lounge at Heathrow which is near the Emirates lounge...it was full of passengers who needed help to either get to the gate or help to board the aircraft. It was fascinating to watch people being loaded into chairs or carts to be taken to the boarding gate...and appeared to run like a well oiled machine !! Thanks again to you both...a most fascinating look at another side of air travel.!! 10 out of 10!
Can I just say. You guys are couple goals.
Amazing video guys never actually given this much thought tbh really insightful.
I hope this video gets 10 million views! Awareness is key. Thank you for sharing something personal, I’m sure it wasn’t easy. 👏🏻👍🏻
Think many people missed the point, this video is to highlight issues disabled people face when they fly, its a collaboration between airlines and ground service providers, which was clearly highlighted. Hats off to the staff involved (was not just guys pushing the wheelchairs btw) Massive thanks to Rach for sharing her personal experience with us. It shows how service levels between airlines can vary, Easyjet Ambulift standard - Flybe " we can get you one if you REALLY need it" This video is groundbreaking, congratulations ...... to all airlines and airports, take note please.
Disabled folk need more of this type of video. Very informative - thanks for upload 👍
Awesome Vlog Noel really interesting getting an insight into travel assistance big thank you to Rachel in particular easyJet should give front seats to a disabled passenger and Flybe need to completely rethink their strategy
Me and my girlfriend flew with.......Thomas cook!!! On the 19th September just gone and we had a very good service with them free allocated seats and special assistance to and from airport and aircraft.........just a shame we couldn’t fly back with them
I count myself pretty lucky when it comes to airport assistance. I fly twice a year from Pensacola Florida to Missouri (there are 3 different airports a few hours from where I lived there). Every time I have flown the assistants have gone out of their way to get me anything I needed and not once have I felt like an inconvenience. They have been great about working around my disabilitied and making sure I get to my gate on time. Also I have a travel agent make the reservation and they call the airline the day before I guess as a reminder. We were leary of me flying at first but so far it has been great.
I've flown as a healthy person and as a disabled person. I, too, have fibromyalgia, in addition to lupus and more. It's terrible. I was wheeled across some large airports (such as Atlanta!) and remember feeling that isolated feeling. Tell Rachel (sp?) I love the pink in her hair! She's a trooper. :)
Thank You for your flight reports, I really like them!
41 GBP to 24 hours of parking in the airport - It's insane!
In Israel (Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion airport) You'll pay 80 ILS per day maximum (something like 20-21 Euro) for the parking near to Terminal 3, for Terminal 1 You'll pay 40 ILS per day.
Dor s i know it ridiculous I would walk miles to avoid pay that money
@@liamg5845 It's legitimate, but even the far parking isn't cheap, 12 GBP, equivalent to 51 ILS. It's more expensive than the long term parking in TLV airport, which accessible from \ to terminal 3 (and maybe also for terminal 1) by free bus shuttle.
Thank you Noel for all your wonderful work, I have followed you for a while I guess but lockdown has me picking out my favorite AV Geek people and you are amazing ! I will always go back to enjoying the reviews of the business/first class experience because who doesn’t ?!!! However I watched you do the Milk Runs, I saw you in a helicopter in Nepal, Ive been amazed at your endurance flights and touched by your flights with your wife and kids.
I was 20 when I came to the US from the UK 30 years ago, I just turned 50 and still live here. I live 20 miles N of NYC and my husband is a Police Officer. I and he were planning to travel this year ALOT ! I was so looking forward to it, to go somewhere new and come back across the pond a few times. Your videos have been have been such a joy in these sad times.
I hope you stay safe, I’m happy you are still flying though because we all want to know what its like out there. Stay well
The US has such stringent laws about this that it is hard to fathom wheat they went through. BUT, yes it is still at the mercy of the airports and because they pay these guys a pittance we are all short staffed.
Good to see the UK has ANY assistance lifts in transport and other since I lived there in the 80s
Another great video! I love seeing the trips you and your family/wife take especially! Very informative video (:
Should make more videos like this it's nice to see the reality of flying with a disability or with someone with a disability I thought travelling by train with a disability was difficult enough
Why didn't they the staff got your wife seated first before letting everyone board there aircraft knowing there steads where up front must airlines down our way do
Because it’s a low budget airline and they have very little turn around time and as she is able to walk short distances that’s probably why
And it’s not like the states where handicapped people board first.
@@taroneg5377 Jet2 have 8 mins to turn around
@@Pius-XI no they don’t they have like an hour
Don’t they hoard people who need assistance first? They do in the US. (I’m referring to the Easyjet flight)
Depends on the circumstances the passengers is, what type of aircraft it is and what airport they go into or flying from.
Normally its any assistance passengers come on first if they need full assist from the airport staff e.g. Wheelchair bound or limited walking distance however passenger who want assistant just to the aircraft but can walk up the stairs and to there sits tend to come with the gerenal passengers.. Again this is totally down to the airport they are flying from.
I work as crew on two different types of aircraft and both are same wheelchair bound come on first before gerenal passengers come on board
@@duranduran20133 i would guess if the plane has first and biz class space they go on first then the assist and then the rest. Unless offcourse a assist would book first or biz right.
I was also wheel chair assisted from Pisa-Doha-Manila and back as I have difficulty walking due to both knees problem. Good service.
Kudos to Rach for going with a disability. Some disabilities are invisible. Just because you look well doesn't mean you are well physically. Really proud of her for pushing through it and it's great she has Noel there to help guide her as well and go on trips with! His solo trips are wonderful too but its even more fun when his wife is with him! She is brutally honest about everything and I really appreciate that! Thanks for what you both do and continue to do it for everyone! I need to learn to be more patient with those with invisible disabilities. I have a friend who has fibro, and it's a dibilitating illness! Sometimes she finds it difficult managing to get out of bed. She has a wonderful family though who is with her through it all. I feel for those with disabilities and illnesses that are invisible.
Rach & I thank you for your kind words.
Having flown with my disabled wife, for many years, generally we have found disabled assistance in this country is poor e.g. having to wait for my wife's chair in baggage reclaim, being "abandoned" there whilst someone was coming to help (they didn't !!) etc. Over the past 12 years we have been on holiday in Cyprus where the disabled assistance is SUPERB - they could show some UK airports a thing or two !!
Thank you for showing this, another really good video
There is this great lady on youtube as well who travels with a disability, Wheelsnoheels - Gem Hubbard
In my experience, this has more to do with the airport than the airline. I have frequently had great assistance at Barcelona. My worst experience was at Stansted.
Thanks for this video it highlights all the problems faced for us who need assistance when travelling ,especially solo.
I personally have been left at the boarding area and no assistant returned to take me through.
Then upon arrival taken through to arrivals to a sub area at Stanstead and pushed in ,
left unattended to make my own way through.
So much so I am now put off from flying .
Nice to see you in Northern Ireland!
I was a little disappointed that Easyjet didn't pause loading the passengers from the rear door until Rachel had got to her seat, but compared to that other shower, they were positively angels!
Lovely video of the two of you! Thanks for sharing!
Ground crew here in Norway usually manually lifts the passenger while the passenger sits in the chair, if they're flying the Dash 8 Q200 or something similar. Airports have narrow wheelchairs to accomodate the entrance of the aircrafts.
Flew to Cairns and back over Christmas and New Years this year with Jetstar and used their assistance services as I'm visually impaired with a bad leg. Thankfully didn't have to pay for seat selection and was provided wheelchair assistance at both ends. Staff were friendly and helpful even though they were short staffed at the time.
Noel, it’s frightening to see some of the issues I’ve experienced aren’t isolated or just affecting one airline / airport. I’ve flown BA and Virgin Atlantic out of both Heathrow, Gatwick and London city to Milan, New York, St Lucia, dublin and Orlando. Despite booking ahead on all occasions, it was totally forgotten at London city (on the way back, I was helped by the cabin crew and flight crew who were finishing their duty day and heading off home), same in Miami. In Gatwick, was told to go find passenger assistance myself - I’m visually impaired, was using my white stick.... go figure. Nearly every time I’ve landed at Heathrow, I’ve had to wait 20 minutes plus, on two occasions I’d been flying business class. Thank heavens I’d made a friend over a night cap on board who said he was using rail air coach too so we walked together!
Also, as you said they are super keen to dump you in isolated spots preferably at gate. Once, flying business with ba, they kept me waiting so long at the initial reception, it became apparent they’d be taking me to the gate rather than lounge so I took my white stick, got them to walk me in the direction of fast track security, and on the other side, I threw myself at the mercy of the staff in the first class ba lounge who got me into business lounge, and ensured assistance collected me from there.
On talking to cabin crew, they say all uk airports are terrible and Heathrow and Gatwick amongst the worst. Generally, the big American airports are better - they at least ask about your needs
Daniel He
I can SO sympathise with you that BA are not exactly disabled
friendly either, and they're not even a budget airline. I'm in a wheelchair and I pretty certain that the airlines don't like wheelchair passengers. Certainly BA. Have got the Art of forgetting about disabled passengers and out of sight, out of mind down to the finest possible degree. I'm so sorry that you were treatedv as badly as you were.
Thank you so Much for this video, my partner suffers from the same horrible condition as your good lady and we plan to travel to Orlando in September and weren’t sure about how all this worked.
I wish all airports were also built to assume everyone has disabilities, so have no steps, ramps everywhere, wheelchairs for everyone to use, clever designs from check-in, security to boarding. I often see so many things that can be improved upon, surprises me that they don't - but it's probably because most of these architects/designers are healthy, not in constant pain.
My dads an amputee he flys from Yorkshire down to Cornwall to visit and he’s always said that Flybe are great with him 😊
Kind of beside the point but you and your wife are so nice and precious! She is adorable as well, it's so nice to see videos of you two and the family together. Thank you so much for the insightful video
I flew with copa airline this summer from Peru to Panama and I had problem with my knee and the lady at check in desk gave me extra legroom for free, and I was lucky enough not to have any neighbour passenger so i had the row for myself for 3 hours in an overall booked flight. I sleept well for 3 hours .... Thx Copa!
Thanks to both of you for this insight. I fly once a year on an organised disabled group from either Doncaster or East Midlands assistance people are great especially Doncaster usually all volunteers but the one thing you learn as a disabled passenger is patience and just go with the flow. Don't think I would ever go solo. Rachel did really well with the stairs and getting to the furthest away seats...how awful no wonder she was tired. A really useful video!
Good report. I have a disabled family member and travel is always a worry. I also like the brief interlude between airports in Belfast. It helps to put travel in a place rather than just look-alike airports. Thank you
Love it! Thank You. It can happen to anyone at anytime!
Yes fibro warrior! Well done Rach and thank you for representing for us all.
Thank you for such a video , as a fellow handicapped person I appreciate the efforts and hope this makes a change for us at airports worldwide
Shout-out to you Noel and Rach👏👏
liverpool and easy jet were great with my dad and in fact great with all of us...whisked us all through assisted/speedy boarding process, even those who hadnt paid the extra, to avoid splitting up the family
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it. I am a powered wheelchair user, who can walk short distances. My last experience of flying with EastJet about 15 years ago wasn't great and I am dreading using them again this coming November flying from Gatwick to Gran Canaria. However, prepared to be open minded and hope things have improved.....
I try to avoid budget airlines where possible! The thing that often surprises me is how much smaller airports (Majorca, Tenerife South) have get disability assistance down to a T, whereas our main airports here in the UK (Heathrow and Gatwick) often let their disabled passengers down.
Just returned from an 11 hour flight on British Airways, Johannesburg to Heathrow. My own manual wheelchair labelled to be returned to the aircraft door. We landed earlier than planned, but no wheelchair at the door, despite insisting that it should be there, assistance folk told me I'd collect it on the baggage carousel! I knew that this wouldn't be the case. Instead, I was pushed around in one of their really uncomfortable chairs for over an hour. My own wheelchair is lightweight and is specifically made for my unusual shorter stature.
One and a half hours later, we finally located my chair. By then, everyone else on the flight was long gone. My partner who was collecting us was almost late for work and we had a £20 car parking fee!
We shouldn't need to accept a lesser service when we pay the same price!
Ive travelled with assistance with easyjet myself being a disabled traveller and I must admit I was made to feel very welcome and at ease by the crew and assistance teams at the time!
Andrew
You're very lucky, they were rude, and of hand with me, and only after much agravation, at the airport and a long process of serious written complaints, did I get an apology of sorts. But NO WAY would I ever go near them with a 10ft bargepole again.
I completely understand what you say about hidden disabilities. I have lost many so called friends since I developed epilepsy. I don't consider it a disability myself, but lots don't understand it. Where flying is concerned, you should be on and off first. It would cost 2 minutes of everyones time. You have a beautiful wife by the way, and I hope you and she take it in the way it is meant.
You guys are adorable. 😊
Reading through the comments, I see just how hard it is for those of us with disabilities to travel. There is some great info and advice here
Thanks all!
We flew British Airways from Pittsburgh to London and then to Athens last year with our 21 year old special needs son. He is non-verbal and non-ambulatory. Our experience was pretty good overall but noticed some variability among the different airports in the way they do things.
In Pittsburgh we were allowed to board first even before the boarding process had started. This gave us the extra few minutes needed to transfer our son to the onboard wheelchair and onto his airplane seat. By the time we put our bags away and sat in our seats the general boarding started. The exact scenario also happened in Athens on the way back.
In London however, both on the outbound and inbound legs of the trip the experience was very messy. Unfortunately the airplane was parked away from the terminal so no jetway was available. We waited for a special lift truck and that worked well. By the time we got to the airplane the boarding not only had started but it was almost complete. This meant that we had to wheel our son through the very narrow aisle of the plane from back all the way to the front watching not to hit anyone’s knees. Of course when we got to our seats there was no overhead compartment room for us!
I never understood why in London they didn’t always allow “people requiring assistance” to board first?
I thought it was an anomaly that day but it was not. The exact same thing happened on the way back and only in London! Not asking for anything more than I’m (my son is) entitled to here. How hard is it to think of the folks with severe disabilities?
Thank you for posting this. It's hard to watch what Rachel goes through. It's not at all fair. To be treated as less of a person just because one has a disability is appalling. I have a couple of friends with fibromyalgia. My best friend had multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. It was an absolute nightmare for her to get assistance, and she flew a lot. The one time I got to travel via air with her, we managed to get one of those carts to take her to our gate for our connecting flight out of Minneapolis to San Antonio. The gates seemed like they were three miles from each other. I shudder to think how that would have gone without the cart. At the Belfast airport, it seemed like the staff were being downright passive aggressive with stating that "if you really really needed a lift, you could get one" but made you to feel like you were totally inconveniencing them to do their frickin' job! I hate that crap. If I ever encounter a disabled person in an airport who's being ignored, even as a stranger, I will do whatever I can do to help them.
Thank you for the video. I have arthritis in my knee so walking long distances can be difficult. When I booked my flight to London for October I did book assistance I was in two kinds about it because I only need it to get to the gate and to get to the plane from the gate I feel I I'll be alright. Since it is longer distances I have problems with depending on how my knee is. I agree if you have a hidden disability some people just don't understand.
Easyjet are very consistent, from the Stelios days to one of the biggest Airlines in Europe.It shows in this video,positivity is key here compared to Flybe.
Once again a great upload and lovely to see your wife Noel!!
great report, thanks a lot for sharing this since it has to do with a personal situation :)
I work for a Train Operating Company and we provide assistance throughout the day to passengers. It would be interesting to see the comparison's on how assistance is provided and run with different TOC's throughout the UK.
My late husband needed assistance for some years because of blood pressure problems as did I for some time because of knee surgery. We had exemplary service at Heathrow, Gatwick, Sharm-al-Sheik, Dubai, Mauritius, Copenhagen and Alicante, but the wait at Cripple Corner was sometimes frustrating. The one major problem we had, after having experienced nothing but kindness at Mauritius airport was on board the Emirates aircraft to Dubai after our reserved seats had been given to Arabs, and we were told to sit in the middle two seats of four. After telling the stewardess that this was not possible and against airline rules, she suggested we spoke to other passengers and asked them to swap! Not impressed. Fortunately a kind steward took over and saved the day.
I’m going to Paris tomorrow on EasyJet from Glasgow! 😁
Awesome! Enjoy the flight :D
Enjoy thr flight can you do a vlog about it?
Pixel Gaming that would be cool
Die_Nasty303 yeah do a vlog I’ll watch
Liam G i would love too but I’m afraid that it is a family trip and I kinda promised that I wouldn’t vlog it and just chill out,believe me I would but I can’t
Thank you for this vlog Noel. My wife has MS and this is such a helpful video.
I found when I was flying with my mum who’s disabled it was good help both ways with easyJet and was Tomas cook