[nagdu] US Airways Responds To Criticism From Disabled Passengers

[Passle Helminski]

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><http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=117192&catid=158&GID=VIcPW/3mzmqUWYQrnCud/KWmoOjUm3RCzpLcNm+02MI%3D>http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=117192&catid=158&GID=VIcPW/3mzmqUWYQrnCud/KWmoOjUm3RCzpLcNm+02MI%3D
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>US Airways Responds To Criticism From Disabled Passengers
>
>A US Airways employee allegedly deemed the frequent business 
>traveler "too disabled to fly" without an assistant. And apparently, 
>that wasn't an isolated case.
>
>"This is a flat out issue of civil rights," said Johnnie Tuitel. He 
>has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, but that hasn't kept 
>Tuitel from logging half a million miles of business travel on 
>airlines. But on a recent flight, a US Airways employee removed 
>Tuitel from his seat and told him he was "too disabled to fly alone."
>
>"We're sitting together on the plane, something happens. Are you 
>going to help me? Of course you will," said Tuitel.
>
>US Airways has a policy that requires passengers with severe 
>mobility impairments to travel with someone to help them evacuate in 
>the event of an emergency.
>
>"Well we passed the civil rights law, the Americans with 
>Disabilities Act, 20 years ago, but that doesn't change attitudes 
>overnight," said Andy Imparato, the President and CEO of the 
>American Association of People with Disabilities.
>
>"I was furious. And I was angry," said Jim Dickson. He was so upset 
>because a similar incident happened to him, also on US Airways. 
>Blind, Dickson always travels with his service dog, Pierson. They 
>flew from DC to Charlotte without a hitch. But after boarding the 
>next flight, he was told to get off.
>
>"It's just infuriating. And I basically don't fly USAir anymore," 
>said Dickson.
>
>Luckily, he'd packed the paperwork three US Airways agents told him 
>he wouldn't need -- verification that Pierson is a service dog and 
>up to date on his shots. Dickson was eventually allowed to return to 
>his seat and fly to his destination.
>
>Written by Andrea McCarren
>9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com