[blindkid] Missed Flight

[Melissa Green]

I missed a flight because of the airline. I was at the wrong gate.  There 
wasn't anyone around to help me find the right one.  So when I did find it. 
The plane was heading down the runway.  All I got was a voucher for some 
food.  It sounds like the girls did what they could.  I live in colorado. 
So I know that the center will take care of them and won't mind having to 
pick them up later.  I do think that the supervisor was rude though.  You 
should complain about that fact.
Melissa Green
Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our 
possibilities become limitless
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kim Cunningham" <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
To: "Blindkid" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 13, 2009 1:33 PM
Subject: [blindkid] Missed Flight


I am so mad right now! My daughter and another blind friend left Houston 
this morning heading to Colorado Center for the Blind in Denver. They are 
both attending the Earn and Learn Program for eight weeks. My daughter's 
flight was booked by our local DARS agency and since they booked a couple of 
days before they were to leave, they were unable to get a direct flight. The 
girls were to change planes in Dallas. My daughter was very confident in her 
abilities to get to the right gate and make the connection. She has flown 
several times by herself and had no worries. So, the girls got off the plane 
in Dallas and were met by airport personnel. My daughter informed him that 
she didn't need the cart and would find the gate if he could point her in 
the right direction. Apparently, one of the passengers offered to show them 
to their gate and my daughter allowed. My daughter told me that she walked 
in front of the passenger and found the gate on her own and was
 feeling very proud of herself. The passenger left the girls at the gate and 
the girls then proceeded to get a pre-board pass. There were no seats in the 
pre-boarding area, so the girls sat in a row of seats next to this area. 
After waiting to hear boarding information, my daughter went to the desk and 
was told that they missed their flight! Appparently the speakers were not 
working in this area and no one from the airlines came to tell them of the 
flights departure. Does this happen to blind people often? Should there have 
been something else that my daughter should have said or done while at the 
check-in desk? I spoke to the supervisor and she was so rude to me! I asked 
her how can someone check in for a pre-board pass and then no one ever make 
sure that the passenger knows when the flight is boarding (especially if the 
passenger has a white cane and the airlines already know the speaker doesn't 
work)? This lady said - "Well, we don't know IF the
 girls were in the pre-board area (insinuating they left the gate) and we 
didn't even know they were there (although the girls had pre-board passes). 
Since I was upset, I expressed my dismay about not being able to trust the 
airline upon which the supervisor told me the only way to make sure that 
your children are safe is to fly with them! This statement made me feel as 
though she was saying I wasn't a good mother. I really expected to here her 
apologize as soon as she got on the phone, but instead, she didn't want to 
assume any of the blame for the situation. I plan to file a complaint on 
Monday with their customer service department, but I need to understand 
whether the airlines have any requirements to make sure that blind people of 
properly notified of flight status. Southwest Airlines knew that the speaker 
wasn't working, but did not tell the girls. Now I'm sitting at home in 
Houston worrying about if the girls will make their next flight (4-1/2
 hours later). Both of the girls are in good moods and reading braille books 
and listening to their Victor Stream at the moment. The people at CCB are 
going to have to go out of their way to pick up the girls at a much later 
time also. Y'all tell me - Am I being an over-protective mother or do I have 
a right to be upset with the way Southwest Airlines deals with blind 
passengers?
One pee-o'd Mom,
Kim Cunningham
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