Wheelchair user and Ryanair...

Thoie wrote: »

I kind of lost the point somewhere along the way in the middle of my list of "good deeds"

What I meant to say was that regardless of personal opinions of the lady in question, she has certainly managed to highlight the inequalities in traveling while disabled. I disagree with the way she's blaming Ryanair (and in particular the comments about suing), but it's certainly got everyone talking about it. If her goal was purely public awareness, she's succeeded.

To be honest I disagree, as most people who are talking are actually saying the special assistance they have used or used with friends or family has been exemplary. Whatever about her assuming the special assistance had been transferred over, why did she not make any mention when she was dropping her bags? "By the way, I requested special assistance, where will I get that?". You are meant to checkin or drop your bag 2 hours before the flight. If she had mentioned it at the desk, the mistake would have been revealed and there would have been time to rectify it. Failing that, going to the gate and reminding the staff you need assistance before boarding started, would have given them time to arrange something.

Instead she said by her own admission, she knew wheelchair users were put on last so she waited until last. She said Ryanairs assertion that she arrived to the gate 13 minutes before departure was false. Lets rephrase it, did she make her needs known to them 13 minutes before departure. She said she waited until everyone else had boarded, so it sounds to me like she arrived at the back of the queue and said "Wheres my special assistance?" and they were unable to facilitate her in the time they had left.

As an aside, I traveled with members of my family and a friend of theirs back in January. Going over 1 member used special assistance, and on the way back all 3 did when they saw how easy it made the whole thing. Going over, the family friend in the wheelchair was put on first.