Abusing wheelchair access in airports

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP - I am saying this because I have seen this at IAD. A person who can walk from the parking lot to check-in counter, stand in line to get checked in and for their boarding pass, then turn around and request a wheelchair to get to the gate? When another person who might be really in need of one have to wait? I am not saying stop the service, but if you really aren't in need of a wheelchair then pay a fee to use it. I believe the people who push the wheelchairs are volunteers? I might be wrong.

You would have seen my Mom do this, OP, despite congestive heart failure and pulmonary issues. What you might not have stayed around for was having me to handle the carry-on luggage or what it would have taken to get her safely to the gate, especially if the process turned out to be lengthy and confusing, and involved taking a bus or a tram. I hope you don’t find out how hard it is traveling with someone who might need a wheelchair—but doesn’t necessarily want one — in part because of uninformed judgemental people.

The tldr version: I’m sure that there are things that you can do, OP, like sprinting or lifting heavy weights, or holding your breath under water for short periods of time that you couldn’t sustain for longer distances or longer periods of time, despite your willingness to do so. Tack on a debilitating heath issue, and you might sort of get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many able bodied older adults requesting and using wheelchairs to get gates from check-in. Mostly they seem to use this as a way to get through security and also not having to read or follow directions. I think the airports and airlines should start charging a fee to use this unless they are really in need due to actual physical need. What do you guys think?

Regardless of whether it’s a genuine physical need or abusing the system, I don’t really understand why there isn’t an automatic cost for requiring these additional services. How is it any different from having to pay extra for a minor traveling solo or a larger person having to pay more for an extra seat?

Because it is illegal under the ADA. You can't pass on the costs of accessibility to disabled people. Come on now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people don’t have any desire to use a wheelchair. It’s inconvenient. You’re probably judging fit looking older people who had hip surgery or similar.

On Southwest its a distinct advantage because it got you on the plane early for open seating. But that is going away soon and so will the advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many able bodied older adults requesting and using wheelchairs to get gates from check-in. Mostly they seem to use this as a way to get through security and also not having to read or follow directions. I think the airports and airlines should start charging a fee to use this unless they are really in need due to actual physical need. What do you guys think?

Regardless of whether it’s a genuine physical need or abusing the system, I don’t really understand why there isn’t an automatic cost for requiring these additional services. How is it any different from having to pay extra for a minor traveling solo or a larger person having to pay more for an extra seat?

Because it is illegal under the ADA. You can't pass on the costs of accessibility to disabled people. Come on now.

The accessibility clause requires that the airplanes/airports be able reasonably accommodate people requiring access via wheelchairs, etc but not that they pay for the services required for someone to push said wheelchair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom looks fine to most people. She also has dementia and a history of falling. Mind your business.

Same with my dad. If you stop long enough he’ll start telling you jokes. The casual observer who doesn’t know him might not even pick up on his dementia. Because YOU DONT KNOW HIM.

Some of yall just want to judge and complain.

[Anonymous]

Yes, there are people who abuse the system, I’m sure. But you cannot tell which people by looking at them.

My mom can walk, even long distances if she has enough time. But she has braces on both feet, she’s in pain if she walks too much, and she also poor balance. In fact, she recently fell and broke her arm. She’s one of those people who can walk from the parking lot but definitely benefits from a wheelchair, especially if time is an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many able bodied older adults requesting and using wheelchairs to get gates from check-in. Mostly they seem to use this as a way to get through security and also not having to read or follow directions. I think the airports and airlines should start charging a fee to use this unless they are really in need due to actual physical need. What do you guys think?

Regardless of whether it’s a genuine physical need or abusing the system, I don’t really understand why there isn’t an automatic cost for requiring these additional services. How is it any different from having to pay extra for a minor traveling solo or a larger person having to pay more for an extra seat?

Because it is illegal under the ADA. You can't pass on the costs of accessibility to disabled people. Come on now.

The accessibility clause requires that the airplanes/airports be able reasonably accommodate people requiring access via wheelchairs, etc but not that they pay for the services required for someone to push said wheelchair.

You clearly do not understand accessibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many able bodied older adults requesting and using wheelchairs to get gates from check-in. Mostly they seem to use this as a way to get through security and also not having to read or follow directions. I think the airports and airlines should start charging a fee to use this unless they are really in need due to actual physical need. What do you guys think?

Regardless of whether it’s a genuine physical need or abusing the system, I don’t really understand why there isn’t an automatic cost for requiring these additional services. How is it any different from having to pay extra for a minor traveling solo or a larger person having to pay more for an extra seat?

Because it is illegal under the ADA. You can't pass on the costs of accessibility to disabled people. Come on now.

The accessibility clause requires that the airplanes/airports be able reasonably accommodate people requiring access via wheelchairs, etc but not that they pay for the services required for someone to push said wheelchair.

A lot of people need someone to push the chair. They go together.

Why do you want to make accessibility more difficult? It's difficult and costly enough.

[Anonymous]

OP-so, for me, when I'm traveling I am focused on getting myself and my family (and our stuff) where we are supposed to be. I don't have time nor inclination to look around at people in wheelchairs, thinking about if they are actually disabled enough to meet my standards for wheelchair use.

You might try that. You'd probably be happier traveling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom looks fine to most people. She also has dementia and a history of falling. Mind your business.

Same with my dad. If you stop long enough he’ll start telling you jokes. The casual observer who doesn’t know him might not even pick up on his dementia. Because YOU DONT KNOW HIM.

Some of yall just want to judge and complain.

+1

You’ll need it someday if you stay alive long enough, hopefully not sooner. Be grateful and MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many able bodied older adults requesting and using wheelchairs to get gates from check-in. Mostly they seem to use this as a way to get through security and also not having to read or follow directions. I think the airports and airlines should start charging a fee to use this unless they are really in need due to actual physical need. What do you guys think?

Regardless of whether it’s a genuine physical need or abusing the system, I don’t really understand why there isn’t an automatic cost for requiring these additional services. How is it any different from having to pay extra for a minor traveling solo or a larger person having to pay more for an extra seat?

Because it is illegal under the ADA. You can't pass on the costs of accessibility to disabled people. Come on now.

The accessibility clause requires that the airplanes/airports be able reasonably accommodate people requiring access via wheelchairs, etc but not that they pay for the services required for someone to push said wheelchair.

+1
And the same way general populations are tired of subsidizing unhealthy lifestyles in insurance pools and hospital costs, it's going to catch up with us. Everything is always extremes until something snaps. This is why we can't have nice things.

There are people who suck down sodas, eat garbage, don't excercise and end up wheelchair bound and everyone else pays for them.
(I know that's not the story, but that's how simplified it is to some)

[Anonymous]

It’s rich that people like OP suddenly care about physically disabled people in random issues like this but otherwise you don’t care about people like us. No one does.

Either actually get involved in helping disabled people in regular, ever day lives or zip it with your xray vision diagnosis of strangers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have seen many able bodied older adults requesting and using wheelchairs to get gates from check-in. Mostly they seem to use this as a way to get through security and also not having to read or follow directions. I think the airports and airlines should start charging a fee to use this unless they are really in need due to actual physical need. What do you guys think?

Regardless of whether it’s a genuine physical need or abusing the system, I don’t really understand why there isn’t an automatic cost for requiring these additional services. How is it any different from having to pay extra for a minor traveling solo or a larger person having to pay more for an extra seat?

Because it is illegal under the ADA. You can't pass on the costs of accessibility to disabled people. Come on now.

The accessibility clause requires that the airplanes/airports be able reasonably accommodate people requiring access via wheelchairs, etc but not that they pay for the services required for someone to push said wheelchair.

+1
And the same way general populations are tired of subsidizing unhealthy lifestyles in insurance pools and hospital costs, it's going to catch up with us. Everything is always extremes until something snaps. This is why we can't have nice things.

There are people who suck down sodas, eat garbage, don't excercise and end up wheelchair bound and everyone else pays for them.
(I know that's not the story, but that's how simplified it is to some)

I think we can't have nice things because people lack compassion.

[Anonymous]

Businesses are fighting back. Courts ruled that Disney was within their rights to stop providing line skipping/avoiding service to most disabled people. And while Disney will give you a free wheelchair, they don’t provide a pusher and you have to pay on your own if you want electric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I know for a fact that this is abused because my relatives abuse this. In their airport it gets you a ride in the golf cart, not a wheelchair.

A lot of not completely disabled people can't walk the miles that are required at poorly designed airports like Dulles.

How is that abuse? A self inflicted disability is still a disability.