[nfb-talk] Airlines In Trouble, Because of Discrimination Against Blind Passengers:

ckrugman at sbcglobal.net ckrugman at sbcglobal.net
Wed Dec 22 07:56:10 UTC 2010


this is what happens when there aren't strong enough regugulations 
protecting all consumers. The air line industry has been deregulated for 
many years and it has resulted in many of the service problems that exist 
for all passengers today.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Airlines In Trouble,Because of Discrimination 
Against Blind Passengers:


> For those who think the article below is far-fetched, there was 
> consideration here to limit the number of disabled
> passengers on a single flight in the late 70's or early 80's when we were 
> having so much trouble with the airlines.  This
> airline seems to be out on the edge from some of the other statements 
> made, but it also serves as a reminder.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> On Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:30:40 -0500, Kenneth Chrane wrote:
>
>
>>contact info
>>facebook Susan Ellen Melo W. Palm Beach network
>>MSN roselee65 at hotmail.com
>
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: Criminal Justice Major Extraordinarie
>>To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
>>Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 5:32 PM
>>Subject: [blind] Ryanair is attacked for ejecting blind passengers
>
>
>>
>>Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 11:32 AM
>>Subject: Ryanair is attacked for ejecting blind passengers
>>Ryanair is attacked for ejecting blind passengers
>>By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
>>The Independent, Thursday, 13 October 2005
>>Ryanair, the no-frills airline, is under fire from disability
>>campaigners for ejecting nine blind and partially sighted passengers from 
>>a
>>plane just minutes before take-off.
>>The passengers, who were travelling to Italy for a walking holiday, had
>>completed check-in procedures and were sitting on the plane at Stansted 
>>when
>>the pilot announced they would have to vacate their seats. They were then
>>"marched" off and escorted back to the airport lounge.
>>Some waited six hours for another flight while others were forced to sleep
>>on the airport floor overnight. One of the party was so distressed by the
>>incident - to be featured on BBC's Watchdog
>>programme next week - she abandoned her holiday.
>>"It was dreadful. You felt like a criminal. We were all devastated," one 
>>of
>>the blind passengers, Beryl Barton, from Norwich, said. "Five minutes 
>>before
>>take-off the pilot asked: 'Are many of you blind?' and we said: 'Yes, one 
>>or
>>two' and he said: 'We have already got disabled people on the flight and 
>>you
>>will have to get off'. They marched us through to the lounge and this lady
>>came and she said: 'Of course, you got off of your own accord' and we
>>shouted: 'No, we haven't."
>>There was no safety justification, she insisted: "We can all walk.
>>We've all got a partially-sighted or sighted guide. We could get off as
>>quickly as anyone else."
>>Ryanair explained it could not take the customers because it already had
>>three "disabled" people on board (unconnected to the party) and it
>>stipulates no more than four "disabled" people on each flight.
>>However, the organiser of the trip, Katherine Hurst said she rang Ryanair
>>eight months before she travelled to check there would be no problems. She
>>said: "The pilot said: 'How would you manage if the cabin was full of 
>>smoke'
>>but it wouldn't make any difference. They are used to not seeing."
>>Ryanair, whose chief executive is Michael O'Leary, has a controversial
>>record on disabled people. Last year, it lost a case brought by a disabled
>>man who was charged 18 for the use of a whreelchair.
>>Afterwards it said that it would have to raise ticket prices as a result.
>>The Royal National Institute for the Blind has received eight complaints
>>about Ryanair, an unusually high number about one company.
>>In one case, it is considering legal action. Jane Vernon, its legal 
>>officer,
>>said: "I think Ryanair's whole attitude towards disabled people is
>>disgraceful. Saying on their website they are charging an extra 50p per
>>ticket to pay for wheelchairs for disabled people is despicable."
>>Ryanair insisted its policy on disabled passengers was "clearly 
>>highlighted"
>>on its website and did not know of the RNIB's cases. It said it had
>>"repeatedly apologised" to the passengers removed from the plane.
>>In-flight turbulence
>>Bob Ross took on Ryanair over being charged 18 for the use of a wheelchair
>>at Stansted in March 2002. When Mr Ross, a cerebral palsy sufferer, won 
>>the
>>case , Ryanair was quick to appeal, saying a 50p surcharge on all tickets
>>would be levied to cover the cost of providing wheelchairs. They lost the
>>appeal.
>>In March this year, Ryanair was fined 24,000 for misleading customers 
>>about
>>the price of flights from Stansted.
>>This year, the airline, which charges employees for uniforms, announced 
>>that
>>mobile phones must not be charged at work.
>>An advert launched just after the London bombings featured Winston 
>>Churchill
>>saying: "We shall fly them to the beaches ... we shall fly them to London"
>>It drew 319 complaints, but was deemed "suitably respectful" by the
>>Advertising Standards Authority.
>>From:
>>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/ryanair-is-attacked-f
>>or-ejecting-blind-passengers-510715.html
>
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