Re: Discrimination at the airport?

[Guest guest]

,

Yes Jo is. We have talked about the Situation and it was not a good experience but people will learn from it.

RobbinGet a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Hadley,

Delta is a good Company. They should Pay more attention to who they Hire to Rep them. As Ron and a Lady named Milky and Olivia were very nice. It was the other whom gave the trouble. I still can not get over this. Another Airline threw a Mom and child off the plane due to the child was being a 19 months old. That is not a Delta Company. I can bet those who did this to Jo and Bayly have lost their Job or was chewed out.

RobbinGet a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

Hadley,

Jo made it clear to the Head person whom she has Contacted. Your right about a Bad Apple in a bunch.

Just take 1 to make them all look bad. But this issue was more than 1 time which was unexceptable.

I can bet there will be changes done. As not only was it done In a Major International Airport but with a Major Airline who also is hand in hand with the AF. So this speaking up and Speaking out has some on their toes now. The do not want a Bad rep

RobbinGet a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

My question would be if these are actually Delta employees or an outside company that are hired to transport wheelchairs and electric carts as is done in other airports? Kim

In a message dated 7/12/2007 10:09:22 P.M. Central Daylight Time, hmessner@... writes:

Oh, I just re-read the story ---- didn't understand that Ron was with Delta. So it's the "few bad apples" thing again, lol! I do hope that Delta lets their employees know that children sometimes do need to ride in a wheelchair though. That is just terrible.

Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

You are awesome and I am so sorry you had

to deal with this. You did the right thing writing the letter and it sounds

great.

[Guest guest]

I am so, so sorry you and your son went through this! I can honestly say I will never fly Delta again. Delta is also the airline that threw a family off a plane because the mother was breastfeeding her baby (evidently the stewardess was unaware that we are mammals and that babies need to eat, note my sarcasm). I was horrified by that incident and now after hearing your story with Bayly, I am utterly discusted with Delta. The best way to get them where it hurts is to share your story with the media (or file a discrimination lawsuit). Send it to all the reputable US papers. The Post in Washington would be a good one since the Arthritis Foundation has local representatives to contact (source validation). Again, I get completely teary eyed thinking about your son struggling to walk onto that plane. That never should have happened and they should be shamed so that it never happens again to another

child. -HadleyGrant & Jo <joking70@...> wrote: G'day. Well I am starting to slowly get back into it. Would you believe, our washing machine decided to break down mid cycle with all our holiday clothes in it? Nice. Anyhow, this was not so nice. It was an incident at Atlanta airport, or rather

a number of incidents, that had 2 out of 3 of us leaving Ga in tears. Robbin knows all about it, and so do Delta now. This is what I wrote to their Disabilities officer, who has been very kind in his reply. I guess it will make you mad. But maybe you might like to contact Delta or the FAA about it too, on behalf of JIA kids like Bayly. is meeting with Ron today to sort it out in Atlanta. .S.delta Jo >Here's what happened... We flew burg to

Atlanta on Thursday July 5 (Delta DL5493). We had requested Special Assistance on our arrival, and double-checked this en route to Atlanta. Upon arrival, we found that neither of the two wheelchairs that had been requested (for my son and another young girl with JA on board the same flight), were waiting for us. We were all left standing on the tarmac while some man went off (at an incredibly slow pace) to get ONE. Since the other family had to make a connecting flight, we offered them the wheelchair first, with assurance that another one was coming. And still we waited. Eventually, the same fellow returned (at a snail's pace) and took us through the Arrivals area. But

then he suddenly stopped and said "I cain't go no further". We were already stressed out that our baggage was waiting for us (as this was almost half an hour after disembarking!), but he then simply abandoned in a noisy busy airport! After pressing him as to where we were supposed to go, and how we were supposed to get there, he said he 'guessed' we could take the wheelchair ourselves and "go down that way, catch a elevator, take the train, get out, take a lift, and go to baggage". Can you imagine our concerns?? Can you imagine how hard it was to manage, in a strange location, with all our carry-on baggage as well?! Thankfully we made it. When it was time to leave Atlanta (Monday July 9), we

arrived at the airport some three hours before our flight was due to depart. Just as well. Delta check-in (Olivia was her name) was exceptional in her assistance, and walked us over to the Wheelchair request area, making sure that they knew Bayly (my son) had it marked on his Boarding Pass to require wheelchair assistance and escort all the way to the plane. After spending some time saying goodbye to our friend Robbin, and given the hurry-up by the somewhat simple girl on the counter, we were then told that Bayly could not ride in the wheelchair! The first guy said he wasn't going to risk his job (!) the next one said they'd take me in the chair but not Bayly, and he couldn't ride on my

lap. The next one said that toddlers weren't allowed in wheelchairs (my son is small, but he is 5 years old and attends school!) and the same simple girl was speaking quite rudely about us with her supervisor, over the radio, within our earshot! I asked Robbin to get someone from Delta, as by now my back was hurting too much for me to stand (I have bulging discs, slipped disc, and a bilateral fracture) Milky came over and was given the same rude treatment by the supposed customer "assistance" staff. She went and got her supervisor- Ron - who was most apologetic to us, and asking the others what was in fact the problem. He was also treated as if he were stupid! These two Delta staff were exemplary in their manner and treatment of us. Unfortunately, the same can not be said for the staff supposed to be in

"customer service"! Eventually, two wheelchairs were ordered, one for Bayly, one for myself (as I now could barely stand, let alone walk). The two staff who escorted us to the Gate weren't altogether happy and friendly. It was by now after 6pm, and our flight was supposed to depart at 6:50. (perhaps thankfully, it was delayed.) Upon arrival at our Gate, we checked again that we would be given assistance to board the plane (Delta flight DL115), they told us we would. Yet at the Boarding Call, and while most passengers had already boarded, we were again told the same thing- Bayly could not ride in a wheelchair- and so he was forced to walk the air corridor to the plane! He was also quite

distraught (we all were) by this stage, his legs and feet were really hurting (as they do, with JA), and he cried the entire walk to the aircraft, getting us dirty looks from fellow passengers as they did not want to fly all the way to LA with a crying child. To top it all off, when we were seated on board, there was one air stewardess who was verging on rude in her treatment of us (she even pushed in front of my sister to use the bathroom during the flight!). We were made to feel quite uncomfortable for the entire duration of the flight, on top of all the upset at the airport. Now it is our understanding that Delta is the preferred airline for the Arthritis Foundation, USA. Since we were in the US

representing Australia at the AJAO conference, it was most disappointing to encounter these events. We are also notifying the AFUSA & AFNSW as to what happened ( Bitner is in charge of AJAO, in Ga, Nadine Garland in the Youth Services in Sydney), and I imagine that they would like reassurance that the quality service one should expect from Delta, will continue for all of those living with this dreadful disease- especially the children, who suffer the most. My son and this other little girl do not deserve to have been treated this way. Their mothers, who deal with so much already, do not deserve to face even more challenges on behalf of their kids! Please let me know that you have passed on our thanks to Olivia, Milky, and Ron, from Delta at Atlanta Airport, and please let me know that you have followed up our major concerns

with the so-called "Assistance" staff (and I do use that term loosely!)

[Guest guest]

Oh, I just re-read the story ---- didn't understand that Ron was with Delta. So it's the "few bad apples" thing again, lol! I do hope that Delta lets their employees know that children sometimes do need to ride in a wheelchair though. That is just terrible. Robbin40@... wrote: Hadley, Delta is a good Company. They should Pay more attention to who they Hire to Rep them. As Ron and a Lady named Milky and Olivia were very

nice. It was the other whom gave the trouble. I still can not get over this. Another Airline threw a Mom and child off the plane due to the child was being a 19 months old. That is not a Delta Company. I can bet those who did this to Jo and Bayly have lost their Job or was chewed out. Robbin Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com.

[Guest guest]

---Jo,

I am happy and relieved that you, Bayly and CC are safely back home

in Newcastle. What an amazingly long trip it was for you all, but

hopefully a worthwhile one.

I have to tell you what a joy it was to finally meet you and the

little guy, i hope you got a lot out of the trip and can fire up the

AF in OZ to do more and more for the children.

I do have to address the shoddy treatment you encountered on your way

home. It is totally inexcusable that you were treated this way. I am

sorry that such a momentous trip was marred, at the end, by these

idiots. I am pleased though that you didnt just turn another cheek,

but are instead, doing something to address this and by doing so, you

will be benefitting many travellers that follow you though Atlanta

Airport.

Let us know the outcome, we are all intested to see what they say.

Ill be sure to email you all the pitcures as soon as I get a few free

minutes!!

hugs to all

Helen and (9,systemic)

In , " Grant & Jo " <joking70@...> wrote:

>

> G'day.

> Well I am starting to slowly get back into it. Would you believe,

our washing machine decided to break down mid cycle with all our

holiday clothes in it? Nice.

>

> Anyhow, this was not so nice. It was an incident at Atlanta

airport, or rather a number of incidents, that had 2 out of 3 of us

leaving Ga in tears. Robbin knows all about it, and so do Delta now.

This is what I wrote to their Disabilities officer, who has been very

kind in his reply.

>

> I guess it will make you mad. But maybe you might like to contact

Delta or the FAA about it too, on behalf of JIA kids like Bayly.

is meeting with Ron today to sort it out in

Atlanta. .S.@...

> Jo

>

> >Here's what happened...

>

> We flew burg to Atlanta on Thursday July 5 (Delta DL5493).

We had requested Special Assistance on our arrival, and double-

checked this en route to Atlanta. Upon arrival, we found that

neither of the two wheelchairs that had been requested (for my son

and another young girl with JA on board the same flight), were

waiting for us. We were all left standing on the tarmac while some

man went off (at an incredibly slow pace) to get ONE. Since the

other family had to make a connecting flight, we offered them the

wheelchair first, with assurance that another one was coming.

>

> And still we waited.

>

> Eventually, the same fellow returned (at a snail's pace) and took

us through the Arrivals area. But then he suddenly stopped and

said " I cain't go no further " . We were already stressed out that our

baggage was waiting for us (as this was almost half an hour after

disembarking!), but he then simply abandoned in a noisy busy

airport! After pressing him as to where we were supposed to go, and

how we were supposed to get there, he said he 'guessed' we could take

the wheelchair ourselves and " go down that way, catch a elevator,

take the train, get out, take a lift, and go to baggage " . Can you

imagine our concerns?? Can you imagine how hard it was to manage, in

a strange location, with all our carry-on baggage as well?!

Thankfully we made it.

>

>

> When it was time to leave Atlanta (Monday July 9), we arrived at

the airport some three hours before our flight was due to depart.

>

> Just as well.

>

> Delta check-in (Olivia was her name) was exceptional in her

assistance, and walked us over to the Wheelchair request area, making

sure that they knew Bayly (my son) had it marked on his Boarding Pass

to require wheelchair assistance and escort all the way to the

plane. After spending some time saying goodbye to our friend Robbin,

and given the hurry-up by the somewhat simple girl on the counter, we

were then told that Bayly could not ride in the wheelchair! The

first guy said he wasn't going to risk his job (!) the next one said

they'd take me in the chair but not Bayly, and he couldn't ride on my

lap. The next one said that toddlers weren't allowed in wheelchairs

(my son is small, but he is 5 years old and attends school!) and the

same simple girl was speaking quite rudely about us with her

supervisor, over the radio, within our earshot!

>

> I asked Robbin to get someone from Delta, as by now my back was

hurting too much for me to stand (I have bulging discs, slipped disc,

and a bilateral fracture) Milky came over and was given the same

rude treatment by the supposed customer " assistance " staff. She went

and got her supervisor- Ron - who was most apologetic to us,

and asking the others what was in fact the problem. He was also

treated as if he were stupid! These two Delta staff were exemplary

in their manner and treatment of us. Unfortunately, the same can not

be said for the staff supposed to be in " customer service " !

>

> Eventually, two wheelchairs were ordered, one for Bayly, one for

myself (as I now could barely stand, let alone walk). The two staff

who escorted us to the Gate weren't altogether happy and friendly.

It was by now after 6pm, and our flight was supposed to depart at

6:50. (perhaps thankfully, it was delayed.)

>

> Upon arrival at our Gate, we checked again that we would be given

assistance to board the plane (Delta flight DL115), they told us we

would. Yet at the Boarding Call, and while most passengers had

already boarded, we were again told the same thing- Bayly could not

ride in a wheelchair- and so he was forced to walk the air corridor

to the plane! He was also quite distraught (we all were) by this

stage, his legs and feet were really hurting (as they do, with JA),

and he cried the entire walk to the aircraft, getting us dirty looks

from fellow passengers as they did not want to fly all the way to LA

with a crying child.

>

> To top it all off, when we were seated on board, there was one air

stewardess who was verging on rude in her treatment of us (she even

pushed in front of my sister to use the bathroom during the

flight!). We were made to feel quite uncomfortable for the entire

duration of the flight, on top of all the upset at the airport.

>

> Now it is our understanding that Delta is the preferred airline for

the Arthritis Foundation, USA. Since we were in the US representing

Australia at the AJAO conference, it was most disappointing to

encounter these events. We are also notifying the AFUSA & AFNSW as

to what happened ( Bitner is in charge of AJAO, in Ga, Nadine

Garland in the Youth Services in Sydney), and I imagine that they

would like reassurance that the quality service one should expect

from Delta, will continue for all of those living with this dreadful

disease- especially the children, who suffer the most. My son and

this other little girl do not deserve to have been treated this way.

Their mothers, who deal with so much already, do not deserve to face

even more challenges on behalf of their kids!

>

> Please let me know that you have passed on our thanks to Olivia,

Milky, and Ron, from Delta at Atlanta Airport, and please let me know

that you have followed up our major concerns with the so-

called " Assistance " staff (and I do use that term loosely!)

>