Don't fly United Airlines

[carmenbeaudry]

evilpuppy.livejournal.com/365126.html   

My wish is that every single person who pulls this kind of crap on a disabled person has to take their place for just one day.  Maybe that would up the empathy level a bit.

Comments

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. I can sort of get their side up until she gets to the airplane. As she points out, the wheelchair service is from a contractor, not the airline itself. But, once she gets on the airplane and the stewardess won't help? Really? I've never had a stewardess NOT help me and I'm not exactly disabled -I just tend to carry oddly shaped luggage that you really have to smash in there to fit.

I've seen the stewards and stewardess' help people that had children, older, younger, too small to reach the overheads, ect... All sorts of reasons. I'm sort of curious as to what the girl said that got that response out of the stewardess -who should have helped no matter what. Someone asks for help because they just got a manicure and they don't want to ruin their nails, you help them.

To force her to stand in the aisle like that and to not help is absolutely disgusting. I'm sure that with this going through the blogs, that the mainstream media will pick it up soon. I'm sure that United will be brought to carpet.

I tend to fly Airtran or JetBlue anymore simply because they are the ones that have a)never lost mine or my family's luggage and b) have always been extremely helpful with any requests.

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to be bitchy but the comment "I'm sort of curious as to what the girl said that got that response out of the stewardess -who should have helped no matter what." is a victim blaming question. Seems to me she probably said "I have a spinal injury and can't lift this into the overhead - can you get it for me?" At any rate - she came to the air plane on a wheelchair so asking for help shouldn't have been that surprising...

According to other flight attendants who have responded to that post they don't have to help people put things in the overhead and it's not their job.

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

If the victim said "Hey you, B*! Get my *&^%$# bag! That's what I pay you for!" then, yes, the victim bares some responsibility. ;-) I seriously doubt that's what she said, but my point is there are always two sides to a story and there are times when the victim bares some responsibility for their own actions.

If she said "My back hurts, help" well...I can get the stewardess reaction then. It's not the right one, or the correct one, but I understand where the "If I helped everyone, my back would hurt too!" comment comes from. If that's the case, the lady should have said "No, you don't understand. I really can't lift them. I have a spinal injury and I don't want to end back up in the hospital. Now, please, help."

It doesn't excuse the stewardess by any means. She was very rude and not doing her job. But, at the same time, I sort of get where this might have happened and not been so egregious as it looks at first blush.

I've had to have similar conversations in regards to food with waiters due to my food allergies. They think I just don't like tomatoes and can pull the tomato off. I show them my epi pen and explain "No Tomatoes" actually means "Unless you like calling 911 and seeing someone go into anaphylactic shock, you will not let tomatoes near this plate". They get it then. If you have a disability, at all, it's your responsibility to inform others about it.

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

I'm all for people taking personal responsibility and getting both sides of the story. That said, I've had bad experiences with places before and had people say to me "What did you do to cause that?" and it really irritates me - because the wording assumed I *must* have done something wrong for people to treat me poorly. It's really salt in the wound when that happens.

So, sorry if I offended you - it's just a bit of a button for me because I've done customer service and I really try to be reasonable and polite - even when people are being rude.

I also have lower back issues (old injury from my 20's) and while I don't look disabled, standing around on hard floors can really mess up my back in a short amount of time so I can imagine how much more so for someone with a spinal issue. Yeah, neither of us were there so we'll never really know the details of what happened but I tend to think, as a society, it shouldn't be too much to expect that someone who needs a wheelchair can get one at the airport and help stowing their bags. It costs extra to check bags and I don't think it's fair to expect someone to go to extra expense just because they were unfortunate enough to have a disability that prevents them from lifting things over their heads.

This is also the 3rd bad customer service issue I've heard about in regards to United in almost as many months (though one of them happened some time back and I only just heard about it). That's a fair bit considering I don't watch TV, listen to the radio, or read internet news all that much...

[isabelladangelo.livejournal.com]

Oh, no! Please don't take it as me being offended! I just am constantly curious. :-) I really love learning and simply want to learn more about this situation and what prompted it -so it can be avoided in the future if at possible. Some situations can't be avoided but they can be mitigated.

I wouldn't expect someone to check their purse/backbag/other small bag. Typically, I keep a change of clothing in mine in case my luggage gets lost. It's your bag to keep you entertained on the flight.

I can never remember if it's United or Delta that lost my parents luggage for three days and my Mom had to wear my clothes while we were on vacation in Florida. (I was in high school so about the same size) I probably should ask her. :-)

[javagoth.livejournal.com]

Okay - good. I try not to offend folks - particularly in a friend's journal. :)

As an FYI the following is an excerpt from the very long post that woman did about her flight:

"The attendant standing in the front section of economy was a blonde woman probably in her late 40s-50s and I called her over to explain that I needed her assistance because I wasn't capable of lifting my luggage due to my disability. "

So, she did explain that her disability is why she needed help.

United.

[arontius]

I think you said it all when you mentioned 'United Airlines'. I don't think I've ever had a good experience with them. I hope this lady gets them to acknowledge their failings.

A.

[mrq-laurellen.livejournal.com]

I hate United and always have. Even if they are a cheaper flight, I usually choose another carrier. But, mostly, they are never a cheaper price so I never have to even think about it. They stranded me back east years ago and were so unapologetic about it.

They are teh evol.