Wheel chair early boarding example

[GON]

Just completed a flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco. A guy used a wheel chair for early boarding, along with his four carry ons. Of note, I had one carry on.

As luck would be, his seat was next to mine, and no overhead space for my carryon.

After landing, he told the greeting agent to cancel his wheelchair. I always move out very swiftly to get through immigration. With his four carry ons, he was going quicker than me. Rarely does someone "beat" me to immigration.

One can never judge a health condition by physical looks. This MICRO example was a perfect example of explotation of the wheelchair early boarding.

The guy is the person closest in the picture.

 

[ctechbob]

What a douchebag, airline should ban him from flying for taking advantage of that.

 

[4wd]

Try Qatar Airways DFW - DOH … an easy dozen when boarding - yeah plenty carry on - and maybe one needs a push when landed …
The one will be the only one not from THAT country I won’t mention
Yes, I fly backpacking only and if I need more - checked bag.

 

[GON]

Try Qatar Airways DFW - DOH … an easy dozen when boarding - yeah plenty carry on - and maybe one needs a push when landed …
The one will be the only one not from THAT country I won’t mention
Yes, I fly backpacking only and if I need more - checked bag.

Actually I was on Qatar on Sunday, then Monday, then Tuesday, then Thursday, cancelled my Friday reservation and took Cathay Pacific.

Challenging times for those traveling through or even worse, stuck in Doha.

I couldn't get a flight to Dallas, so flew into San Francisco, and will the SFO DFW flight that departs 1230am..such is life.

 

[wwillson]

It makes you wonder what else he’s dishonest about in life? That's an example of entitlement. You know everything about him you need to.

 

[billt460]

Don't even get me started on how many cars in handicapped spaces are honestly legitimate.

 

[billt460]

This nonsense is everywhere.

https://shop.app/products/821548793...881&gbraid=0AAAAA9hdXieUlowICKnH9s0rcVEK3h6TO

 

[Danno]

Don't even get me started on how many cars in handicapped spaces are honestly legitimate.

5" lifted Ram always parks in front of our main doors, and has a handicap placard. No side steps, heck of a climb in for anyone. Driven by a 50ish year old guy. Always chatting up our 18 yr old receptionist. Asking to follow her on Facebook, etc. Funny how I always have a computer question for her about a minute after he walks in.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

What a douchebag, airline should ban him from flying for taking advantage of that.

Other labels would fit better. My guess he also has a handicapped parking permit.

 

[4wd]

Actually I was on Qatar on Sunday, then Monday, then Tuesday, then Thursday, cancelled my Friday reservation and took Cathay Pacific.

Challenging times for those traveling through or even worse, stuck in Doha.

I couldn't get a flight to Dallas, so flew into San Francisco, and will the SFO DFW flight that departs 1230am..such is life.

Yep, had some folks switch to FRA, MUC, and LHR to avoid ME hubs

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Maybe he was having back spasms and needed time for the medication to kick in?

 

[PontiacHO]

My wife broke her ankle in London. We had to get a flight home earlier of course since she was unable to walk. The car drops us off at the designated location at London Heathrow and I run in to get a wheelchair. I had to make two trips to get her inside and then get the luggage in. Luckily I found a loose luggage trolley. There is a designated spot for folks in wheelchairs to wait for assistance to get to the counter, through security, and to the gate. There were so many other wheelchair bound passengers that the airline requested a truck with a lift to get them boarded from the right side doors of the plane. After the flight takes off, most of the other wheelchair folks are up walking around like NOTHING was wrong with them. Reminds me of the King Of Queens episode where Arthur Spooner devises a plan using a wheelchair to get to the front of the line for a day at an amusement park. People must have no shame. My wife was totally embarrassed by the attention she-us required with flights etc. but at least she had a very visible need with her foot and leg in a cast and protective boot…

 

[GON]

Maybe he was having back spasms and needed time for the medication to kick in?

All I can tell you is I walk like Speedy Gonzalez after exiting a international flight for immigration..my one carry on was a backpack. Decades of traveling nobody is quicker to get to immigration than me.

This guy beat me to immigration with his four carry ons. I exited the plan directly behind him. One has to be better than OJ to beat me to immigration. He did.... With his four carry ons in tow.

Finally, I am not a licensed medical professional, but I think it is reasonable to assume sitting on a plane for 12+ hours nonstop is not a miracle cure for back spasms.

 

[pbm]

'Gaming the system' is the new norm.

 

[fdcg27]

This is so common on all airlines.
The solution might be for airlines to board these passengers last, removing a lot of the incentive for people to claim disabilities they aren't subject to.

 

[dnewton3]

That guy is a tool; no other way around it. What a complete and utter selfish liar. I would have no problem calling him out on it either, if I were to see him again after witnessing such a display. Not only is he disingenuous regarding his condition, but he's also potentially affecting the resources for others who are truly handicapped in some manner.

Maybe this is what the term means to be "other-abled"???

 

[Kira]

That's an example of entitlement.

No it's not. As I typed, a better term was used above, and that was 'selfish liar'.

Now, if he was somehow caught and there were penalties and he cried about being caught and punished, THAT would be an example of entitlement.
Entitlement is a word which has been overused lately.

 

[nickaluch]

In my neck of the woods we call that a douche bag I'm also a big believer of karma so my advice to him is buckle up karma is a coming

 

[dnewton3]

The solution might be for airlines to board these passengers last, removing a lot of the incentive for people to claim disabilities they aren't subject to.

I have said this for many, many years. This is an example where "feelings" are taking precedence over proper industrial management decisions.

The "normal" boarding system, where those who need help, etc, is to board them first. But that makes no sense. It takes LONGER (on the whole) to hold up the "able" boarding folks so that the slower folks can go first. As those various special needs folks (broad use of the term) enter the aircraft, they block the aisle and the line comes to a complete stop behind them.

Rather, it would actually fill the plane faster, if those who need special attention or have unique conditions would board LAST. Fill the plane as efficiently as possible with folks who can/will quickly take their seats quickly. Then take the wheel chairs, families with baby strollers, etc at the end of the boarding process.

Same goes for exiting; exceptions should go last.


If this were any other situation, say a production facility, you would NEVER put your slowest products/processes at the front of the line, holding up all others which are faster. That is just production suicide. It wastes time potential for every subsequent product upstream.

It's just stupid to front load your "exceptions" to normally efficient processes.

 

[Nukeman7]

^^^^This is just common sense but airlines seem to have little comprehension of workflow efficiency when it comes to boarding a plane. Any logistics assessment will recognize that loading a plane from the rearmost seats and progressing forward will be the most efficient strategy since passengers are not blocking aisles while stumbling to stow their carry-on luggage in the overhead compartments. Other than first class passengers desiring preferential treatment, can anyone explain why the boarding groups are not structured to minimize delays in boarding?