Prestwick Airport block blind passenger’s guide dog
19.11.11
A blind pensioner’s plans for a winter sun holiday were grounded after his guide dog was barred from flying out of Prestwick Airport, the Irvine Herald reports. Patrick O’Hare, 72, spent hundreds of pounds getting guide dog Polly chipped and vaccinated for his dream trip to Tenerife, only to be told the airport could not process the dog.
Patrick, who had arranged to fly from Prestwick with budget airline Ryanair, was told he would have to fly from Glasgow instead, putting him further out of pocket. He told the newspaper: ‘It’s plain discrimination – Prestwick Airport have treated me like a second class citizen. It’s ridiculous that in this day and age an airport can get away with treating blind people like this.'
‘I went by the book getting Polly organised for the trip and it wasn’t cheap. To have my local airport refuse to let me fly is a disgrace. Ryanair were happy to take me and Polly but the airport said they didn’t have a scanning machine to check Polly was chipped.'
‘The staff at the airport were less than helpful. They couldn’t give me a satisfactory explanation or tell me if there were any plans to change the situation any time soon. It was a joke. Prestwick Airport’s website clearly states that they ‘welcome guide and hearing dogs and will endeavour to provide appropriate facilities on request.’
The website goes on to stress that the airport ‘is committed to assisting passengers with restricted mobility travel through the airport.’ No-one from Prestwick Airport was available for comment.
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