Travellers fake disabilities to skip airport queues

  • Thread starter Thread starter markomalley
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
M

markomalley

Guest
From the Telegraph:

An increasing number of air travellers are faking disabilities to skip queues at security, check-in and departure gates, according to airport and airline staff.

Passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) are entitled to free assistance, and are permitted to cut queues at the airport.

Support can be requested at the time of booking, or during check-in, but passengers are not required to present proof of disability, prompting unscrupulous able-bodied travellers to exploit the policy.

The practice is becoming so common that airline staff have coined the phrase “miracle flights” to describe how some travellers require a wheelchair to board the aircraft, but depart without it.
Sounds like handicapped parking, a good thing for those who need it, but widely and easily abused.
 
Uh guilty, sort of. I approached a kiosk in Europe with my walking stick and was approached by a couple of airline people who wanted to know if I needed a wheelchair. I said no, but they sure jumped me in line along with my husband. We looked at each other and said, duh. In fairness, at that time I did have quite a bit of pain in my knees but since I now have metal ones not so much. I still use my stick for balance. I did use wheelchairs for a time before my surgery, and really did not take it off the airline website for a time. It may be still there although I do not use it. I wonder if that is part of the problem. Conditions change, but websites last forever!
 
Don’t these people realize they are making it harder for real disabled people?
 
I wonder how many of them are “suits”. When I fly, I see the “suits” always try to run to the front of the line when they board the first group of people - disabled, elderly, and families with small children. I always got a level of satisfaction seeing the airline not fall for it and make them get back out of the line and wait their turn.
 
Before you go slating people that require help, I’m slightly disabled , have qualified for what’s known as a blue badge for parking because of my Osteo Arthritis but fairly regularly have to take a short flight.

The departure gate for my flight is the furthest away one possible in the Airport , much further than I can actually walk . I need a wheelchair to get me to the plane - I have difficulty climbing the stairs to the plane .

I don’t LOOK disabled but I do need help. I travel alone as I live alone . I make my own arrangements to be met on arrival at my destination . There’s no way I could cope with walking stick , and my carry on case without the help of Airport Staff.

All disabilities are not obvious .

The people you see getting help normally need it - I’m sure there are a few that ‘try it on’ but I’m certain that 98% of us that ask for help actually need it
 
Farsight001 said:
I wonder how many of them are “suits”. When I fly, I see the “suits” always try to run to the front of the line when they board the first group of people - disabled, elderly, and families with small children. I always got a level of satisfaction seeing the airline not fall for it and make them get back out of the line and wait their turn.
Click to expand...
When it comes to boarding, there’s a good chance those “suits” are the ones with tons of miles on frequent flier programs. Their miles entitle them to board at any time, including with the first group. Yeah, it’s hard to see this and wait for “group 5” to be called. But as the spouse of someone with lots of miles, they really have earned it with all the time they spend away from their families.

As to the OP, I wonder if there are some law suits that have prompted such a change in procedure. A few years ago, I had leg surgery. My leg had visible dressings (I had to wear a skirt) and I was unable to walk without support. I asked to board with the group “requiring extra time” since I was moving so slowly and was told “absolutely not”.
 
markomalley said:
From the Telegraph:

An increasing number of air travellers are faking disabilities to skip queues at security, check-in and departure gates, according to airport and airline staff.

Passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) are entitled to free assistance, and are permitted to cut queues at the airport.

Support can be requested at the time of booking, or during check-in, but passengers are not required to present proof of disability, prompting unscrupulous able-bodied travellers to exploit the policy.

The practice is becoming so common that airline staff have coined the phrase “miracle flights” to describe how some travellers require a wheelchair to board the aircraft, but depart without it.
Sounds like handicapped parking, a good thing for those who need it, but widely and easily abused.
Click to expand...
I’ve seen cars with handicap stickers parked in generic spaces while there were empty handicap spaces available.
 
InJesusItrust said:
Don’t these people realize they are making it harder for real disabled people?
Click to expand...
Some do realize that they are making it harder for people who are really disabled, some do realize it but do it anyways, and some just do not care (‘me firstism’). :D:shrug:🙂
 
The_Idiot said:
I don’t LOOK disabled but I do need help. I travel alone as I live alone . I make my own arrangements to be met on arrival at my destination . There’s no way I could cope with walking stick , and my carry on case without the help of Airport Staff.

All disabilities are not obvious .

The people you see getting help normally need it - I’m sure there are a few that ‘try it on’ but I’m certain that 98% of us that ask for help actually need it
Click to expand...
Indeed. When I fractured my tibia falling down stairs in the NYC Subways, I could not negotiate an airport without help. For the usual 3 to 5 dollar tip, I had staff wheelchair me to my gate and let me board ahead of EVERYONE, even the 1st Class folks and the mothers with kids. Got through security very easily to boot.🙂
 
I’ve done both, gone to the front of the security line and gone through the handicap entrances while at Disney.

Normally, I can walk fine. But put me at an amusement park where I will be walking miles and miles in one day, without my cane, I may as well stay home. So I take my cane and Disney tries to do what it can to reduce my walking. Our next trip to Disney I will rent a scooter for the duration. I have Lupus and although I don’t LOOK sick, I can’t walk a long distance.

Same thing for the airport. If I only had to walk from my car to the entrance I could do it. But no, it is from your car to the entrance, to check in, through security, to your gate. :eek: Sorry, my knee just can’t do it.
 
markomalley said:
From the Telegraph:

An increasing number of air travellers are faking disabilities to skip queues at security, check-in and departure gates, according to airport and airline staff.

Passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) are entitled to free assistance, and are permitted to cut queues at the airport.

Support can be requested at the time of booking, or during check-in, but passengers are not required to present proof of disability, prompting unscrupulous able-bodied travellers to exploit the policy.

The practice is becoming so common that airline staff have coined the phrase “miracle flights” to describe how some travellers require a wheelchair to board the aircraft, but depart without it.
Sounds like handicapped parking, a good thing for those who need it, but widely and easily abused.
Click to expand...
I’d probably do the same thing. Queues can be irritating.
 
Rich_Olszewski said:
Indeed. When I fractured my tibia falling down stairs in the NYC Subways, I could not negotiate an airport without help. For the usual 3 to 5 dollar tip, I had staff wheelchair me to my gate and let me board ahead of EVERYONE, even the 1st Class folks and the mothers with kids. Got through security very easily to boot.🙂
Click to expand...
I am legally blind and I always have someone help me get where I need to be as it is difficult- to read the signs in any normal amount of time. This usually includes me me boarding early, which I absolutely do not need, but It seems to be part of the package.

I also could have a handicapped plackard for myself and my wife but in no way do I need this so we don’t obtain that.

While living in Boston, with my “Blind Access Card”- love the name 🙂 I could ride all subways, buses, and commuter rails FOR FREE which is pretty much the most awesome thing ever.

All of my college education tuition and books were paid for as well. I consider myself quite blessed for this.
 
I’d bet it’s still a small minority of travelers. I flew through 2 decent sized airports this past weekend and saw only a couple of wheelchair bound people.

I’m not condoning it, just saying that the majority of people are doing what they’re supposed to.
 
KCT said:
I’d bet it’s still a small minority of travelers. I flew through 2 decent sized airports this past weekend and saw only a couple of wheelchair bound people.

I’m not condoning it, just saying that the majority of people are doing what they’re supposed to.
Click to expand...
I agree. It likely doesn’t even occur to most people- I hope. . . .
 
KCT said:
I’d bet it’s still a small minority of travelers. I flew through 2 decent sized airports this past weekend and saw only a couple of wheelchair bound people.

I’m not condoning it, just saying that the majority of people are doing what they’re supposed to.
Click to expand...
They treat people with canes the same way they treat wheelchair bound people.

I was standing in line, with my cane, when a TSA person pulled me out of line, and walked me to the front of the line.

When I got to the gate, the people there told me to board first. 🤷

I never asked for anything.
 
I must admit this thread reminded me of a very funny occurrence in JFK airport in NY. 100’s of Irish were waiting in a room to board an Aer lingus flight to Dublin. Eventually the steward announced over the tannoy that those with small children and/or needed assistance to board first. There were very few and about 8 people boarded. The announcer asked again if anyone needed assistance, no further takers and then a 3rd time. On the 3rd announcement a man got up and very ‘obviously’ held his leg whilst dragging it in a very humorous manner and then headed towards the gate to board (the staff and the passengers all knew it was a joke). The air staff said did he need assistance and he answered yes. However it was hilarious, one of the funniest things I’ve seen, everyone in the waiting area, staff and passengers, burst out laughing - and he did get to board the plane early!
 
InJesusItrust said:
Don’t these people realize they are making it harder for real disabled people?
Click to expand...
Well, in spite of my earlier comment (by the way, at that time I was having quite a bit of pain. and that was the trip that convinced me to consider knee replacement), I do recognize the need to leave room for people with disabilities to board flights, park etc. We are involved with a number of young people who are disabled. It is amazing to see how many parking spaces are taken with no handicap access license plate or hanger. Our son has had some pretty rude stickers made up which suggests people go break a leg or something in order to “earn” the right to take one of those parking spaces. Police do ticket here, but they can only do so much. This is one area where I think a little “vigilante” message is OK.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top