Coventry Airport blasted by disabled passenger
13.01.06
A disabled pensioner is furious at treatment she received at Coventry Airport when she flew from there for a holiday over the new year. She is concerned that fellow independent travellers may be deterred from holidaying alone if they have the same experience.
Vera Emery, 68, travels abroad at least twice a year on her own, and has never had any problems flying from Birmingham, Gatwick and East Midlands airports although she uses sticks to walk and cannot walk unaided for longer distances.
But when she arrived at Coventry Airport for a new year break to Benidorm, she was shocked to be told she could not use a wheelchair - despite booking it in advance. She had also travelled from Coventry in June last year without problems and did not envisage any difficulty.
Mrs Emery said: 'Check-in staff told me that I shouldn't travel on my own because I was disabled, and that they didn't wheel people in wheelchairs. They were really very rude. Eventually they found a security guard to push me.'
She enjoyed her holiday in Spain, but on her return to Coventry Airport was shocked to find staff even less helpful towards her needs. 'When I came back it was worse. They got me off the plane in the lift I had booked. I told a member of staff I needed a wheelchair but was told to walk to the terminal, which was too far for me to manage unaided.'
'The lady asked how I had managed to go on holiday on my own and how I had managed in a hotel on my own. I didn't have any problems, I still have all my senses. She spoke to me as if I was a child.'
Mrs Emery is now worried that other disabled people may undergo the same treatment. 'They are discriminating against me for being independent and going away on my own,' she said.
Thomsonfly has pledged to investigate Mrs Emery's complaint. A spokesman said: 'It would seem on this occasion we have not met our normal high standards of service. We are investigating this matter with our handling agents at Coventry Airport and we will work closely with Mrs Emery to keep her informed of the outcome.'
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