Comments on: Disabled? To the back of the plane! http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Meredith http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-61029 Meredith Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:34:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-61029 As a hard of hearing person myself, I find that JetBlue was totally in the right. I have quite a bit of residual hearing, and with my hearing aids I could probably handle just about any situation. But I won't jeopardize other passengers by sitting in the exit row - I have a hearing loss, and I know I cannot sit there. This blogger is making much ado about nothing with the Rosa Parks reference. Sure, nobody likes sitting in the back of the plane, but presumably that's where two adjacent empty seats could be found. (The flight crew could have put a call out for someone to switch, though - most people LIKE the exit row for its extra legroom, another couple would probably have jumped at the chance.) As for whether it was incumbent upon JetBlue to "pre-screen" the passengers sitting in the exit row, I disagree. I guarantee you that every deaf person who flies knows they cannot sit there, and it is incumbent on THEM to make sure they aren't in the exit row. I always tick the box for "deaf passenger" when booking flights, so if they need to shuffle seats before boarding, they know not to put me there. As a hard of hearing person myself, I find that JetBlue was totally in the right. I have quite a bit of residual hearing, and with my hearing aids I could probably handle just about any situation. But I won’t jeopardize other passengers by sitting in the exit row – I have a hearing loss, and I know I cannot sit there.

This blogger is making much ado about nothing with the Rosa Parks reference. Sure, nobody likes sitting in the back of the plane, but presumably that’s where two adjacent empty seats could be found. (The flight crew could have put a call out for someone to switch, though – most people LIKE the exit row for its extra legroom, another couple would probably have jumped at the chance.)

As for whether it was incumbent upon JetBlue to “pre-screen” the passengers sitting in the exit row, I disagree. I guarantee you that every deaf person who flies knows they cannot sit there, and it is incumbent on THEM to make sure they aren’t in the exit row. I always tick the box for “deaf passenger” when booking flights, so if they need to shuffle seats before boarding, they know not to put me there.

]]> By: Chuck http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-34637 Chuck Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:07:23 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-34637 What happened to common courtesy? What happened to common courtesy?

]]> By: Rick Damiani http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-13986 Rick Damiani Fri, 15 Aug 2008 01:26:28 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-13986 JetBlue was spot on in asking them to move. Coulda maybe been a little nicer about it, but it was the right call to make. I was relocated once on a Southwest flight - I had asked a flight attendant to help me put my bag in the overhead bin because I was recovering from surgery to my shoulder and couldn't get my arm up past my ear. She was real nice about it, even though I was the idiot who picked that seat knowing what was required of folks who sit there. JetBlue was spot on in asking them to move. Coulda maybe been a little nicer about it, but it was the right call to make.

I was relocated once on a Southwest flight – I had asked a flight attendant to help me put my bag in the overhead bin because I was recovering from surgery to my shoulder and couldn’t get my arm up past my ear. She was real nice about it, even though I was the idiot who picked that seat knowing what was required of folks who sit there.

]]> By: Mike http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-8959 Mike Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:56:21 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-8959 I believe the flight attendants do have discretion in moving passengers from an exit row, and I think hearing impairment is a legitimate reason, but this particular case was very poorly handled. She could have said: "Hi, I noticed you were using sign language earlier. Unfortunately, hearing impairment disqualifies you from sitting in an exit row. I can move both of you to seats x and y in row z." I believe the flight attendants do have discretion in moving passengers from an exit row, and I think hearing impairment is a legitimate reason, but this particular case was very poorly handled.

She could have said: “Hi, I noticed you were using sign language earlier. Unfortunately, hearing impairment disqualifies you from sitting in an exit row. I can move both of you to seats x and y in row z.”

]]> By: Kathleen Wright http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-8867 Kathleen Wright Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:47:37 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-8867 Wow, I am encouraged by Jet Blue's response. I think it was right on target. There are so many seats on the plane that sitting in a non-exit row shouldn't be that big of a problem. I know that I am more concerned about my safety than my leg room. They list on their website, when you purchase your ticket, the amount of room between seats. I always pick the rows that say 34". Wow, I am encouraged by Jet Blue’s response. I think it was right on target. There are so many seats on the plane that sitting in a non-exit row shouldn’t be that big of a problem. I know that I am more concerned about my safety than my leg room. They list on their website, when you purchase your ticket, the amount of room between seats. I always pick the rows that say 34″.

]]> By: AllanJ http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-8848 AllanJ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:19:16 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-8848 I'm afraid that seat assignments are not guaranteed by an airline, but the title "Disabled To The Back" did stand out. My only comment is that particularly a disabled person should not feel compelled to hustle. Let the flight attendant help carry stuff if s/he wants things to move faster. If something is already in the overhead bin, leave it there. I’m afraid that seat assignments are not guaranteed by an airline, but the title “Disabled To The Back” did stand out.

My only comment is that particularly a disabled person should not feel compelled to hustle. Let the flight attendant help carry stuff if s/he wants things to move faster. If something is already in the overhead bin, leave it there.

]]> By: Emmy http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-8820 Emmy Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:24:47 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-8820 Personally, this is all for the best of all the travelers on board. A few years ago, I was able to witness a flight attendant pleasantly remove an unpleasant disabled person from the emergency exit row. The elderly, severly overweight woman (who put up quite a fuss upon removal), came in on crutches and then kept her leg (which was in a brace of some sort) extended out into the aisle. Both big no-nos, but the FA kept to her guns (even though the woman "needed" to have her leg extended) and the woman was reseated elsewhere on the plane (and not upgraded). Personally, this is all for the best of all the travelers on board. A few years ago, I was able to witness a flight attendant pleasantly remove an unpleasant disabled person from the emergency exit row. The elderly, severly overweight woman (who put up quite a fuss upon removal), came in on crutches and then kept her leg (which was in a brace of some sort) extended out into the aisle. Both big no-nos, but the FA kept to her guns (even though the woman “needed” to have her leg extended) and the woman was reseated elsewhere on the plane (and not upgraded).

]]> By: SirWired http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-8776 SirWired Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:46:02 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-8776 I agree that the flight attendant needs some lessons in customer relations, they were correct in requesting that the couple move from the exit row, that being a well-established part of FAA regulations, and a sensible one. It is quite important to be able to listen to the crew during an emergency, as an emergency evacuation may involve NOT opening some of the exits. (Water landings, damage on that side of the plane, etc.) SirWired I agree that the flight attendant needs some lessons in customer relations, they were correct in requesting that the couple move from the exit row, that being a well-established part of FAA regulations, and a sensible one.

It is quite important to be able to listen to the crew during an emergency, as an emergency evacuation may involve NOT opening some of the exits. (Water landings, damage on that side of the plane, etc.)

SirWired

]]> By: Victor C http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/comment-page-1/#comment-8731 Victor C Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:42:16 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/disabled-to-the-back-of-the-plane/#comment-8731 If Randall's wife could hear the flight attendant asking him the questions then asking her, how does the flight attendant jump to being an octologist? I can see it now: "Peanuts?....Peanuts, sir? SIR, I SAID DO YOU WANT PEANUTS?!?!?! I am sorry but my years of medical study allow me to conclude that you are deaf and must switch places with the man in 16B (with a bum knee) and his wife (with the bad back)" Perhaps Jet Blue should take mid-air surveys and move all the passengers who ears have "stopped up" during takeoff. Countless times, I have suffered some hearing loss during a flight. We'd really be in trouble if there was a fire and someone just whispered "fire". Thank God most people SHOUT "FIRE!!!! so everyone who can hear CAN hear it". Thank God the person being "hard of hearing" is not contagious so the others can hear just as well as they always do (and who knows how well that is). Thank God that after most planes crash, if you are blessed enough to survive that, MOST people know to get the h*ll out of the plane. Not sit there waiting for someone to write you a note because you are hard of hearing! Jet Blue should be ashamed and embarrassed. That 6'5" physically fit guy who looks like he could tear the emergency door off if needed and proceed to save the day like Jack Bauer, may be too busy praying to the Eternal Overlord God of Strawberry Kool Aid to help in a emergency. If Jet Blue's hit or miss method is legal, ALL passengers in the emergency row should have to provide or submit to a full physical and mental evaluation. If Randall’s wife could hear the flight attendant asking him the questions then asking her, how does the flight attendant jump to being an octologist? I can see it now: “Peanuts?….Peanuts, sir? SIR, I SAID DO YOU WANT PEANUTS?!?!?! I am sorry but my years of medical study allow me to conclude that you are deaf and must switch places with the man in 16B (with a bum knee) and his wife (with the bad back)” Perhaps Jet Blue should take mid-air surveys and move all the passengers who ears have “stopped up” during takeoff. Countless times, I have suffered some hearing loss during a flight. We’d really be in trouble if there was a fire and someone just whispered “fire”. Thank God most people SHOUT “FIRE!!!! so everyone who can hear CAN hear it”. Thank God the person being “hard of hearing” is not contagious so the others can hear just as well as they always do (and who knows how well that is). Thank God that after most planes crash, if you are blessed enough to survive that, MOST people know to get the h*ll out of the plane. Not sit there waiting for someone to write you a note because you are hard of hearing! Jet Blue should be ashamed and embarrassed. That 6’5″ physically fit guy who looks like he could tear the emergency door off if needed and proceed to save the day like Jack Bauer, may be too busy praying to the Eternal Overlord God of Strawberry Kool Aid to help in a emergency. If Jet Blue’s hit or miss method is legal, ALL passengers in the emergency row should have to provide or submit to a full physical and mental evaluation.

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