[QUOTE]OKLAHOMA CITY -- Jason Price was picked by a federal administration to help write a book. His part is about Oklahomans with disabilities becoming employed and self-sufficient, allowing them to leave the Social Security disability rolls.He flew out to Washington D.C. for the project, but found himself in a less then self-sufficient situation on his return trip home to OKC.
Price's $20,000 power wheelchair was placed with the luggage on his [URL="http://www.kfor.com/topic/economy-business-finance/transportation-industry/air-transportation/united-air-lines-ORCRP017350.topic"]United Airlines[/URL] flight to [URL="http://www.kfor.com/topic/us/oklahoma/oklahoma-county/oklahoma-city-PLGEO100101101011251.topic"]Oklahoma City[/URL].
He says, "When I arrived in [URL="http://www.kfor.com/topic/us/oklahoma-PLGEO100103900000000.topic"]Oklahoma[/URL] City, I came out to nothing more than a seat and a set of wheels."
All electronics, the joystick, the customized seating had been disassembled by airline employees.
Price says, "It's the only mode of travel in which the human being is separated from his mobility device and loses dignity."
Jason filed a complaint with United, but was still waiting to hear back when we interviewed him.
Unfortunately his story is not unique.
Asbury Medical Supply Repair Department Manager Tamara Hargrove says all airlines need to pay more attention to their disabled customers.
She says, "It happens quite frequently actually. I was just shocked and appalled that that would actually happen to a human being."
United issued this statement: "We sincerely regret the damage that occurred to our customer's wheelchair. We have apologized for the inconvenience and will reimburse the customer for the entire cost of the repairs needed to the assistive device."
While the payment plan for the $1,200 worth of damage makes Price happy, he says respect is the real issue up in the air.
Hargrove tells us, "You're taking his legs and dismantling them and then giving them back broken."
Price agrees saying, "That's really what it's like. This type of indignity can not be ignored."
We checked the websites of some other airlines and found many do need to break down a wheel chair to stow it on board. [/QUOTE]
[url]http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-airline-returns-mans-wheelchair-in-pieces-20110817,0,6355799.story[/url]
How could you fuck this up.
[URL="http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-airline-returns-mans-wheelchair-in-pieces-20110817,0,6355799.story"]
[/URL]
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31827609]
How could you fuck this up.
[/QUOTE]
Incompetent employees and lazy management
Why would they disassemble his wheelchair in the first place?
[QUOTE=silentjubjub;31827660]Why would they disassemble his wheelchair in the first place?[/QUOTE]
I blame an IKEA type mentality.
I mean there's the whole "IT COULD BE A BOMB" thing but still... Kinda silly to be honest.
[QUOTE=silentjubjub;31827660]Why would they disassemble his wheelchair in the first place?[/QUOTE]
Paraplegic suicide bombers, obviously
[QUOTE=Tacosheller;31827687]Paraplegic suicide bombers, obviously[/QUOTE]
That's not unheard of. There have been mentally challenged suicide bombers, children suicide bombers, who's to say there can't be a paraplegic suicide bomber?
"Hmm... a wheelchair.
Wheel... chair.
Wheels are round... and so are bombs!
And he's going to be sitting... in a chair!
Other suicide bombers have sat in chairs while setting off bombs!
He's a terrorist!"
It's not United, but: I recently flew on US Airways. The plane was having mechanical difficulties, and it took several hours to fix. They had another flight going to the same place that was leaving about an hour after the original was supposed to, and it had extra seats. They said that anyone [i]without[/i] connecting flights could get onto the plane, while anyone [i]with[/i] connecting flights would have to wait.
When the original plane finally got moving and we got to our destination, *gasp*, we had missed our connecting flights. They gave us some plane tickets for the next day, one flight to the Charlotte airport and another to our destination. The plane from Charlotte started boarding a little bit before the flight to Charlotte landed. In a different terminal.
Luckily, they didn't seem to know that the Charlotte airport's terminals are actually all connected, and you don't need to take a bus or train or whatever to go between them. If they had realized that, then surely they would have just given us a flight that left before the flight to Charlotte even landed.
I wish we weren't so dependent on the major airliners, they treat their customers like absolute shit.
We need more trains, or something to provide enough competition against the airliners that they actually feel the need to increase quality of service.
Uhh, if it was taken apart, then it was done by the TSA.
United just takes stuff from point A to point B. It isn't their job to handle screening.
EDIT:
Unless somehow it wouldn't fit on the plane as it was.
[QUOTE=ewitwins;31828463]I wish we weren't so dependent on the major airliners, they treat their customers like absolute shit.
We need more trains, or something to provide enough competition against the airliners that they actually feel the need to increase quality of service.[/QUOTE]
Bitches...
We is settin' up a world-wide boating service.
He should make them put it back together :v:
[QUOTE=ewitwins;31828463]I wish we weren't so dependent on the major airliners, they treat their customers like absolute shit.
We need more trains, or something to provide enough competition against the airliners that they actually feel the need to increase quality of service.[/QUOTE]
Transcontinental bullet trains.
that's bull fucking shit.
and i'm not an actual mac user, don't worry.
Yep,sure is nice to get on a plane knowing that a terrorist could be on board,lazy ass pilots/stewards,and in this guys case,lazy ass loading people.
Airlines
/thread.
If they need to disassemble it for whatever reason (assuming its justifiable) fine...but return it to him in the same way you got it
What do you want to bet the electronics were removed so the employees could sell them off?
United Airlines
Not surprised a bit here.
On my vacation to Hawaii, they lost mine and my sister's luggage, and we had to go without for 2 days, even though they said it would be there the [i]first[/i] day.
This is, of course, after they cancelled our first flight, offering no alternative.
My mom's been in the airline business for decades, and this shit doesn't surprise me. The management of nearly every aspect of an airport is horribly run, especially TSA.
[QUOTE=Ignhelper;31827609][quote]She says, "It happens quite frequently actually. [B]I was just shocked and appalled that that would actually happen to a human being.[/B]"[/quote][/QUOTE]
As opposed to say, a badger with an electric scooter.
[QUOTE=Pocket Medic;31841246]As opposed to say, a badger with an electric scooter.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, fuck badgers. They have no rights.
Thats totally unfair.
[QUOTE=Zarjk;31835630]And i'm not an actual mac user, don't worry.[/QUOTE]
First off, who cares?
Second off, what does this have to do with ANYTHING?
[QUOTE=Last or First;31827958]"Hmm... a wheelchair.
Wheel... chair.
Wheels are round... and so are bombs!
And he's going to be sitting... in a chair!
Other suicide bombers have sat in chairs while setting off bombs!
He's a terrorist!"
It's not United, but: I recently flew on US Airways. The plane was having mechanical difficulties, and it took several hours to fix. They had another flight going to the same place that was leaving about an hour after the original was supposed to, and it had extra seats. They said that anyone [i]without[/i] connecting flights could get onto the plane, while anyone [i]with[/i] connecting flights would have to wait.
When the original plane finally got moving and we got to our destination, *gasp*, we had missed our connecting flights. They gave us some plane tickets for the next day, one flight to the Charlotte airport and another to our destination. The plane from Charlotte started boarding a little bit before the flight to Charlotte landed. In a different terminal.
Luckily, they didn't seem to know that the Charlotte airport's terminals are actually all connected, and you don't need to take a bus or train or whatever to go between them. If they had realized that, then surely they would have just given us a flight that left before the flight to Charlotte even landed.[/QUOTE]
I know a bit late but.
I was in the other plane that was suppose to park at your gate. While returning from Jamaica, I saw your plane having some problem with the wheel I guess. Staring at 3 people looking at some slot near the front wheel.
[QUOTE=Nikota;31827669]I blame an IKEA type mentality.[/QUOTE]
Those fuckin swedes are Terrorists I tell ya!!
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