Disabled?

[AccountingDrone]

I really hate assholes like that, the few perks disabled people get do not in any way make up for being disabled.

I would rather be able to walk unassisted, thanks. The so called perks aren't worth it. I actually can walk in my dreams, makes waking up disappointing.

[Redbeard]

Admin: "What if he has a disability? Do they have to give him a seat then?"

Agent: *Begins to google the info* "I'm really not sure. Let me check. Does he have a disability?"

Admin: "No, but he could pretend."

That's all I have to say about that.

And to the agent for stnding her ground!

[Gizmo]

I would be so tempted to send a recording and transcript of that to someone higher in that organisation.

Until I realised I would probably get sacked for it.

[Primer]

I would rather be able to walk unassisted, thanks. The so called perks aren't worth it. I actually can walk in my dreams, makes waking up disappointing.

Quoted for truth!

While I am lucky enough to still be able to walk unassisted most of the time, I do have days where I'd be willing to give up all the "perks" just not to hurt so bad, much less be able to walk at all.

I can't imagine throwing a hissy fit over a seating assignment on a plane.

[Peppergirl]

That's all I have to say about that.

And to the agent for stnding her ground!

I was pretty proud of her. I'm not sure I could have been so calm about it and I told her as much.

I would be so tempted to send a recording and transcript of that to someone higher in that organisation.

Until I realised I would probably get sacked for it.

I reported it to his agency. Unfortunately, the size and power of this particular government agency will, I'm sure, make the chances slim to nil that anything will happen.

I can't imagine throwing a hissy fit over a seating assignment on a plane.

You'd be surprised. I work 12 hour shifts and I'm rarely on the phones anymore, but I do get to look at the documentation for every call that comes in. I'd say at least 5 percent of the calls on a daily basis involve some form of bitching and/or drama with regards to seating. People care more about their seat on a plane than they do their hotel room sometimes. In the 20 years I've been doing this, I've never, EVER been able to figure that one out.

[AccountingDrone]

Quoted for truth!

While I am lucky enough to still be able to walk unassisted most of the time, I do have days where I'd be willing to give up all the "perks" just not to hurt so bad, much less be able to walk at all.

I can't imagine throwing a hissy fit over a seating assignment on a plane.

If you need to fly the Europe/US route, go Iceland Air - they have a sort of midgrade upgrade between cattle class and business class, a pair of seats together right as you go into the cabin just behind business class. If nobody is placed there you can sometimes get slid into there by the cabin crew if you are handicapped. It is right next to the toilet so you are nice and close, and the seat arm between the seats lift so you can snuggle with your husband And the service people in the Iceland airport [no idea how to spell the name of the city, I always get it wrong] are amazingly nice while they whisk you between planes. And the airport is amazingly lovely and clean!

[Peppergirl]

If you need to fly the Europe/US route, go Iceland Air - they have a sort of midgrade upgrade between cattle class and business class, a pair of seats together right as you go into the cabin just behind business class. If nobody is placed there you can sometimes get slid into there by the cabin crew if you are handicapped. It is right next to the toilet so you are nice and close, and the seat arm between the seats lift so you can snuggle with your husband And the service people in the Iceland airport [no idea how to spell the name of the city, I always get it wrong] are amazingly nice while they whisk you between planes. And the airport is amazingly lovely and clean!

Reykjavik.

The really are a wonderful airline. I've never had the pleasure of flying them but a few of my clients have and I've always been treated so well when I've had to call with issues.

I have a guy who actually flies from Columbus, OH to London and changes in Reyk (and Boston) just to go on Iceland Air, because they're incredibly reasonable for their 'business' class (such as it is) and because of their service.

[charred]

People care more about their seat on a plane than they do their hotel room sometimes. In the 20 years I've been doing this, I've never, EVER been able to figure that one out.

Claustrophobia.

[Peppergirl]

Claustrophobia.

I sincerely doubt that the vast majority of them are claustrophobic. They're just big babies and whiners, most of them.

[Bandit]

As someone who has more good days than bad ( for now, THANK DOG!), I never book as handicap, but if I'm having a bad day with a cane (or two) in hand, usually the airline folks are *more* than accommodating to get me where I want to go without even asking.

But then again I'm polite, say a sincere "Thank You" , and try to be as little as a burden as possible. My dad is the same way and always gets great service.

Amazing how well that works, eh?

B

[raudf]

Reykjavik.

The really are a wonderful airline. I've never had the pleasure of flying them but a few of my clients have and I've always been treated so well when I've had to call with issues.

I have a guy who actually flies from Columbus, OH to London and changes in Reyk (and Boston) just to go on Iceland Air, because they're incredibly reasonable for their 'business' class (such as it is) and because of their service.

Isn't the International airport closer to Keflavik? The ol' NAS base at Keflavik had the longer runways and could handle the larger planes.. and I'd heard they'd built the new international around the time the base closed. Unfortunately, base personnel and their families couldn't use Iceland Air (hint: my handle is Icelandic for female form of Red - the last letter is separated into the d and f. Two years of Host Nation and the only words I remember now are that and all the curse words.. that I wasn't supposed to know. I was 11 when we left.)

The entitlement of the guy's admin... wow. I'd have started laughing in the admin's face the moment she mentioned disability. Or had been like, "Hmm.. I don't know if that flight can handle a differently-abled person. Let me see what I can arrange." And then arranged the most embarrassing hand-holding I could for the guy. Have him walked through the airport like he was a developmentally delayed child... Nah, couldn't do it, but it'd be nice to dream, huh?

I couldn't care where I sit on the plane, as long as my kid and hubby sits near me.

[Ironclad Alibi]

I reported it to his agency. Unfortunately, the size and power of this particular government agency will, I'm sure, make the chances slim to nil that anything will happen.

Considering how dysfunctional some US government agencies are, your complaint could easily become another nail in that SC's coffin. But you never know for sure. It could just as easily be another point towards their promotion. I know this because I worked for such an agency.

[Peppergirl]

Isn't the International airport closer to Keflavik?

You are correct. The Reykjavik is in Keflavik. The code is even KEF.

[Flying Grype]

I sincerely doubt that the vast majority of them are claustrophobic. They're just big babies and whiners, most of them.

I know people who like aisle seats for safety reasons, mainly people who are afraid of flying to begin with. I like a window because I get so. damned. bored on a plane and I like to see where I'm going. I'm either going to look out the window, or lean on it and sleep, and the seat backs are never the right height for me to lean back and sleep. But I've never gotten bitchy about it, if I get an aisle seat (or heaven forbid a MIDDLE seat) and can't switch, them's the breaks.

[BamaBabe]

Finally the admin dropped the bomb:

Admin: "What about the Americans with Disabilities Act?"

Agent: "Um, what about it?"

Admin: "What if he has a disability? Do they have to give him a seat then?"

Agent: *Begins to google the info* "I'm really not sure. Let me check. Does he have a disability?"

Admin: "No, but he could pretend."

My mama used to tell me this whenever I wanted to "fake" or "pretend" an injury or disability (I was 6 y/o folks. Didn't know any better.): "You're just inviting trouble when you do that. You never know what might happen."

Karma is like that.