posted
I recently was directed to this from one of the blogs I frequent. It makes me sad. Whenever I think I've gotten a handle on how infuriatingly lucky I am and how biased the world is in favor of me (as a straight, white, cisgendered person, among other things), I realize it's even worse and I feel guilty all over again. Lately I've been reading up on various issues facing disabled people, and... well, the world sucks in a lot of ways.
Linked is a blog article detailing the experiences of a woman with a spinal injury as she took a plane from Seattle to San Francisco. I figure the least I can do is help her share her frustration with the rest of the internet.
posted
My mom is partially disabled, but it's not an obvious impairment, and has never received treatment as heinous as that woman's, but she's had to deal with a lot. She has bone chips lodged in her her neck and spine, which cause extreme pain in her back. She also has heart problems. As a result, she isn't supposed to life anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and she isn't supposed to walk more than a hundred feet or so. So she has a handicap sticker for parking, and will usually ask for a wheel chair at the airport.
I've only see bad reactions from people a few times, but she's told me about many more. Usually it involves her parking in a handicap spot, only to be scathingly chastised by someone else for taking up a handicap spot that some real handicapped person needs to use. People with "invisible" disablement have to put up with a LOT of crap from people who just don't understand, and it can be emotionally wearying to have to deal with it on a constant basis.
I can imagine what that woman had to go through. I'm glad that people can come together, even if it's just through the internet and by writing letters, to show extreme dissatisfaction with the way the disabled are treated at times. That woman deserves a lot more than an apology. But it's a start.
Posts: 21898 | Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
Their Customer Service sucks, They lost my wife and screwed up our revervations last year when I paid over %900 for non-restricted tickets.
They never replied to our complaint either, not even a form letter. They sent my pre-diabetic wife to a motel with food coupons that were invalid, and never allowed her to eat. They couldn't FIND her when I called, and they overbooked her flight back, which is why she had an issue in the first place.
We don't fly them any more.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Might I point out that when Kevin Smith complained about unfair treatment from United Airlines everyone responded with a simple "shut up fatty." If I were ever left no choice but to fly I would never resort to UA, especially as a man with a physical disability who also happens to be over two hundreds pounds.
Edit: Sorry, I dont fly so they all sound the same to me. Carry on.
Also, there IS a difference between rude customer service and simply not being able to fit into a seat without imposing on the people next to you. If you take up more than one seat you pay for more than one seat.
Neither my wife or I are small people, but that is hardly any airline's fault, so we wouldn't try to hold them to blame for us being over weight.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
I've flown with United for years and I've seen everything from stellar service to the sort of thing you'd expect from trolls wearing flight attendant uniforms. I just assume all US airlines are like that.
What a terrible story though.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
United is especially bad. They out-rank Air Canada in crumminess, which kinda takes effort. I've spent a surprisingly amount of delay-time in US airports due to them.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Has everyone seen the United Breaks Guitars (and follow up) videos? Someone provided links on the Fun Stuff on YouTube thread.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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If it's just the lost spouse I'm not sure what the plan is, but if they completely screw up your life you get 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 1,000 donkeys, 7 new sons, 3 new daughters, and an extra 140 years of life (Offer rescended if you curse their name. Void where prohibited. Some restrictions apply.)
Posts: 1087 | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
Huh. I actually just flew on United last Friday. They didn't screw me over or anything, but I was surprised by the remarkably poor customer service. I got verbally insulted pretty badly by an eyeball rolling, ratty haired, smelly old stewardess when I tried to buy a sandwich, and for no good reason either. I called her ma'am and used my please and thank yous. Sounds like they have serious human resources problems. (and you'd think in this economy they'd have their pick of potential flight attendants too)
Also: I'm back! (for a little bit, anyway)
Posts: 2222 | Registered: Dec 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Kwea: They lost my wife
Have you found her yet?
They lost my children several years ago. I'm happy to say that I did, no thanks to the airlines, find them again.
Then again, I can't be sure it was United Airlines. I've had so many unusual things happen while either flying myself or sending my kids on a flight, that I've tried to forget who did what and when. I also have a horrible memory, so I could be booking flights on the very airlines that I'm so eager to avoid.
That being said, they all could brush up on their customer service skills.
Posts: 3771 | Registered: Sep 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: Have you even looked for her yet?
Funny, guys.
Yes, I found her...bet they weren't even sure what town she got stuck in, or how to get in touch with her. WE did what we were suppose to do, coming home for an emergency visit because of her dad's health last year. We bought emergency tickets which allows you to switch flights without additional penalty, but they cost almost x2 as much because there is no advance purchase option.
They were rude, irresponsible, dismissive, and failed to account for her medical condition at the time.
We will never fly their airline again, both because of their actions and because of the lack of response to it.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
man, this sort of customer service issue is the kind that you never see reach this sort of intense ripeness without some sort of tenure/union issue well grandfathered into play. Or, less likely, high-level mismanagement of sorts.
Posts: 15421 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
And when they come to Congress begging for tax deferment or a bailout it will all be due to the Volcano or rising fuel prices or other issues totally beyond their control.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
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