Proliferation of “assistance needed” passengers: safety issue?

[MRG]

We are an aging, obese, society.

I used to be a very nervous frequent flyer. Till I did some planning about if something were to happen. I always identify two exits front and back, and count out the headrests like I would if I couldn't see because of a disaster. I notice people who may have issues with mobility.


I've never planned on climbing over folks but you don't know what you will do in an emergency. When I w*rked there were several folks in wheelchairs and they had to evacuate in drills. There was never a problem with their exit. I don't think there will be an issue, adrenaline is pretty effective.

 

[athena53]

You are going to climb over people in an emergency? Hope I'm not sitting between you and the emergency exit if an emergency occurs...

I know what it's like to try and move someone who's a dead weight- I picked my DH up off the floor quite a few times in his last months and he was down to 117 lbs. I'm 65 and I don't weigh much more than that. As someone noted earlier, moving someone who can't move on their own, especially if they're overweight, would be a challenge even for the crew, whose job it is to take care of the passengers.

 

[REWahoo]

I always identify two exits front and back, and count out the headrests like I would if I couldn't see because of a disaster.

Very good plan.

I always cringe at all the people who fly wearing sandals or flip-flops. Absolutely zero protection in the event of a fire, especially a fuel fire.

 

[joeea]

The last time I flew Southwest, there were 21 wheel-chairs on the jetway.

Maybe it's mostly a Southwest thing?

I typically fly JetBlue and haven't ever noticed a significant amount of wheelchairs.
I'll have to pay more attention when I fly next in April.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Very good plan.

I always cringe at all the people who fly wearing sandals or flip-flops. Absolutely zero protection in the event of a fire, especially a fuel fire.

I actually mentioned in a Southwest survey several years ago that I didn’t think the FAs’ sandals and short shorts were a good idea for just that reason, and got a two-page indignant reply that ripped me apart. This past Saturday on a SW flight to Dallas, the FA’s safety instruction was so “funny” that I wanted to scream (“in case of an emergency, alcohol will flow from the oxygen masks” was one line). I happened to get an email survey about that flight’s FAs and made mention of that; the flight back yesterday had a pleasant professional runthrough of the procedures.

I was on a flight last year that had about two dozen wheelchairs. The occupants (and a companion for each) were returning from a DC honor flight of WWII vets, so everyone cut them a little slack (kidding—of course they got as much of a standing ovation as one could hope for from being able to stand up from an airplane seat).

 

[foxfirev5]

Wow - that’s unpleasant! I would be so pissed if my overhead space had been taken up by pre-boarding economy passengers. Seems like the first cabin flight attendant was not doing their job.

Oh, I left out the best part. Near the end of the flight there was a medical emergency in row39. EMTs were waiting in the jetway to board the plane as the passengers got up and clogged the aisle. I made rather loud suggestion that perhaps an announcement should be made to return to your seats. Finally everyone got back in place and the stricken passenger removed.

 

[FIYes]

I think cramped and crowded seating would be an issue in an emergency. I admit that I am part of the problem when it comes to crowded seating since I search for the cheapest flights. I will say that flying is one time when it is to my advantage to be smaller than average.

 

[omni550]

Out of curiosity, I checked Southwest's website.

https://www.southwest.com/html/cust...ties-pol.html?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-ASSISTANCE

Upon request, they will provide assistance (escort or wheelchair) to/from curbside and between flights.

---

They have a special section for "Customers of Size". They are instructed to purchase 2 seats...and seek a refund after the flight for the extra seat.

https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/extra-seat/?clk=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-COM

omni

 

[audreyh1]

I think cramped and crowded seating would be an issue in an emergency. I admit that I am part of the problem when it comes to crowded seating since I search for the cheapest flights. I will say that flying is one time when it is to my advantage to be smaller than average.

I didn’t book flights to the Seville airport because the only two airlines traveling there from our origin were cheap commuter airlines famous for super cramped seating and aisles, and one if them for frequently bumping passengers and lost luggage!

DH is a tall person. No way I would put him through that!

 

[USGrant1962]

Maybe it's mostly a Southwest thing?

I typically fly JetBlue and haven't ever noticed a significant amount of wheelchairs.
I'll have to pay more attention when I fly next in April.

I was wondering the same thing about Southwest. I've flown a lot, and still fly once every few months or more, and I've never seen more than 4 or 5 wheelchairs - usually one or none. But lately I'm usually flying United, Delta, or American.

 

[explanade]

If you had to abandon the plane, would you take your stuff with you, even though you're not suppose to?

 

[Skoach]

Most definitely a function of the Southwest boarding process. We have named flights to Florida 'miracle flights' due to how many folks seemed to be miraculously cured over the space of a couple of hours and 35,000 feet. Everyone wants on and off first. Wheelchair assistance requires you to get off last, hence the numerous unused wheelchairs at the gates on these flights.

 

[MRG]

If you had to abandon the plane, would you take your stuff with you, even though you're not suppose to?

I'm in an aluminum tube with several hundred others. It contains thousands of gallons of flammable, explosive fuel. I don't know if it's been breached, electronics may be all messed up and a fire imminent.

What would I have that's worth an extra fraction of a second in that situation? Trust me if it's undamaged you'll get it back, if it's destroyed, I won't care.

 

[samclem]

If you had to abandon the plane, would you take your stuff with you, even though you're not suppose to?

No. It would be a royal PITA to lose the data on my laptop computer, but slowing down the egress plus the risk to others in taking it down a slide is not worth it. The only thing I'd take is a pet (not the crate/kennel) if I had one with me. Oh . . .or a child .
Lesson for me: I need to back up this laptop more frequently.

 

[scrabbler1]

Reading this thread reminds me to be thankful that I don't want to travel at all. How annoying these situations must be, especially for those who have spent the extra money for first class tickets.

Same here. I haven't flown for the last 14 years, by far the longest stretch in my 54 years of living I have not flown (next longest was a nearly 6-year stretch in the mid-1990s). And, as I mentioned in another thread, my drivers license is coming up for renewal with the option of getting a RealID enhancement so I can use it to board a plane. I seem to lack sufficient ID to get such an enhancement, so I surely won't knock myself out to get it, especially if it means a long, boring visit to the local DMV office instead of renewing by mail. If this means I won't be able to ever board a plane starting in 2020, no big deal. I see what I'll be missing and I feel like !

 

[ShokWaveRider]

I ALWAYS ask to board first. I am not in a wheelchair and do not need assistance as such. BUT I have an Implanted Cardiac Device (ICD). I do have an implant card that no one has ever asked for. Once when I was traveling for business, an ignorant impatient passenger pushed me out of the way to get their carry on up before me. He elbowed me in the chest which ended up partially dislodging a lead from the device (as it turned out), it could have been a lot worse. Since then I always ask to board before the masses. I do get some weird looks sometimes. But that is all.

 

[Koogie]

Everyone wants on and off first.

I'm the exact opposite. I want to be last on. Less time spent in that cigar tube breathing nasty air the better.

And I am often last off. I always get a window seat, so I just sit there and watch the ground crew through the window until the herd has either deplaned or killed each other in the attempt.

Then I calmly get my carryon and waltz off last, say a pleasant word to the flight crew on the way past and as often as not pass most of the herd in the arrivals area anyway while they fight over their 16 tonnes of luggage each.

 

[JoeWras]

Then I calmly get my carryon and waltz off last, say a pleasant word to the flight crew on the way past and as often as not pass most of the herd in the arrivals area anyway while they fight over their 16 tonnes of luggage each.

You are on last and your carry-on is available? That's part of the problem. People are bringing their life's accouterments with them and if you are on in the last group, they will check the carry on.

Part of why the gaming is going on. And heaven forbid you get a center seat and the window guy's "carry on" drains into your underseat foot area.

 

[Koogie]

You are on last and your carry-on is available?

Never once had a problem. Sometimes the space over my row is full but I ask the steward to find somewhere for it. That's part of their job.

 

[JP.mpls]

I just had a positive experience from the side of someone needing wheelchair assistance at an airport.


My SIL fell and broke a rib while visiting for a week. I spent most of that week taking care of her. She was very sore, and a little unstable on her feet. She was also enjoying my continuous care for her a little too much. She is very nice, but I was ready for her to go home.


I was concerned that she was too weak to travel, and I was starting to think about driving her home across the country. Ugh.


I called her airline (AA) to request a wheelchair for her, and to discuss delaying her flight. I wasn't liking that option either.


The customer service person at AA was amazing. (I have no ties to this airline, and seldom fly with them.)


I was shocked. She did the following:
- Scheduled a wheelchair with assistant to take her from the baggage check area, through security, to the check in gate.
- Moved her seat toward the front of the plane. (I requested a window seat, so she would not have to get if someone else needs to go to the bathroom. I also gave her no coffee that morning, and made sure she went to the bathroom before boarding.)
- They offered assistance to help her from the gate into the plane, and to her seat. (I had no idea they would do this.)
- They also offered the same care for her at her layover stop, and at her destination airport.


WOW! I had no idea this was possible, but I was thrilled that they offer this service. I would have gladly paid a bunch of money for this help, don't tell the airlines, and it was offered as part of her normal ticket costs.


I would be upset if people were asking for this service, and they didn't need it.
I do realize that there are people who can walk around a little bit, but not walk all the way through an airport from baggage check to the gate, and into the plane. My SIL fits this description.




RE: Koogie's secondary comments about boarding and unboarding the plane.
I agree. I am always one of the last passengers to get on the plane, and I like to sit back and relax while everyone pushes around like cattle trying to get off of the plane two minutes faster. I just don't get it, but everyone gets to choose what they do.


Take care,




JP

 

[JoeWras]

JP: the great thing is when it is needed, it is really awesome. Just too bad some people use these services when they really don't need them. Oh well.

 

[travelover]

I've thought the same thing, but was heartened by the way people acted on USAir 1549 when they ditched in the Hudson. There was no misbehaving, they got out quickly, and if you look at pictures of them crowded on the wings waiting to get picked up, you don't see carry on luggage, laptop computers, etc. They did what they were supposed to do and helped each other (including one person in a wheelchair). So, there's hope . .

Well yea, but they knew they were being filmed. I saw the movie!

 

[audreyh1]

My Dad - pretty frail at 82, very slow walker, and unable to walk long distances, was worried about air travel to Europe. We had him do a trial run by flying with my brother to visit us. The air travel part was a piece of cake. So he decided to go ahead to travel to Amsterdam to witness my other brother's wedding (religious part) and see a new grandson.

We had to have taxis to take him anywhere in Amsterdam. But the air transport part was a piece of cake! We were so glad he did it then, because nowadays - no way.

 

[Nemo2]

RE: Koogie's secondary comments about boarding and unboarding the plane.
I agree. I am always one of the last passengers to get on the plane, and I like to sit back and relax while everyone pushes around like cattle trying to get off of the plane two minutes faster. I just don't get it, but everyone gets to choose what they do.

+1

We often wonder if these folks, (the ones who rush to line up for boarding), think their section of the plane is going to take off/arrive before ours.

 

[audreyh1]

+1

We often wonder if these folks, (the ones who rush to line up for boarding), think their section of the plane is going to take off/arrive before ours.

I think it's mostly folks anxious to get their stuff in the overhead bins.