AIRPORT ASSISTANCE: Flying with a Disability UNITED vs FRONTIER ♿
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- Watch this video to find out what it's like flying as a passenger with a disability on two of America's largest airlines - United and Frontier.
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Noel, I've always loved that you've advocated for Rachel and other people with disabilities when travelling. Thank you for showing this perspective and I hope many people (including airports and airlines) learn from this.
Absolutely correct 👍
i agree
I wasn’t aware just how difficult this world is for people with mobility issues until my uncle had to use a chair; even simple things like going for a haircut were a major challenge, thank you for speaking up
Agreed!
Spot on
Please remember these services are contracted out by the airport and often have nothing to do with the airlines. In Orlando, the same company that works frontier, also works United
So, true. My mom is wheelchair bound at aitports as using her 4 wheel walker would take us three hours at bigger airports to get from check in to the gates. It was during COVID that any wheelchair service went to hell-in-a-handbag. I just started pushing mom myself at that point.
A point to note is that the responsibility for the provision of assistance to airline passengers in America sits with airlines as opposed to in Europe and the UK, where it sits with the airport itself.
@@fraserbain225 Untrue, almost all airports in the US have wheelchair assistance contracted out to a single company, all the airlines do is make the request, everything else is on the 3rd sorry company
@SharperTravel No, the point I made is still valid. The regulations are different in the US compared with Europe and the UK with regards to passenger assistance. Regulations in the US place the responsibility on the airlines, whereas in Europe and the UK it is the responsibility of the airport to ensure that assistance is provided.
Then the airlines should contract the service out to people who can actually do it properly
Rachel.. you are brilliant. Definitely start a disability travel channel. It would be such a service and might encourage the airlines to buck up their ideas. You go girl!
As a wheelchair user who has had hundreds of flights all around the world, its often overlooked and its always a source of anxiety so i always make sure i turn up extra early then go straight to the assistance desk in any airport.
Glad to hear you keep travelling! You don't let it stop you. I like that. Inspirational!
Know that you don't deserve that anxiety, its the system thats wrong- not you. Its awful how those with mobility needs are treated. Especially in airports.
Fucking vegetable
I've got spinal issues and can't walk through large airports. My partner used to help me with the kids but he passed away abd we haven't been abroad since. Some of my concerns about travelling are high rates for travel insurance and also taking my prescribed painkillers to countries like Turkey. Last thing I need is get in trouble for taking my morphine etc. I'm hoping to fly out for Xmas holidays this yr. Xxx
Because of a TBI ages ago, I use a cane and walk slowly. It's always been my policy to arrive 2+ hours early for domestic travel, knowing I may have to wait for a pusher. This worked fine until last month when I nearly missed my flight (DTW to BWI, just a hop) because I waited 45 minutes for a pusher then encountered a delay at TSA, both of which conspired to have me arriving at the gate 20 minutes before departure, nearly missing the flight.
Because I always book a window seat knowing that I'll be one of the last to deplane, I had to climb over the person in the aisle seat, neither easy nor fun to manage. Of course I complained to Delta about the delays but haven't heard a word back yet.
I noticed that on my return trip, they had a wheelchair pusher right there as I checked my bag and I encountered zero delays in getting through TSA (I really need to get Global one of these days) and waited nearly two hours at the gate, far preferable to being late. The two experiences were like night and day in terms of efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Great idea showing Rachel's experience from the perspective of someone needing assistance when flying.
@@CongressSux1776 What's the point of your comment? Why shouldn't older people fly? What do you mean by a vast majority? You understand that people of all ages have mobility issues.
The person at 25:45 running to help you open the door was really great to see.
As an airline employee, a lot of times the wheelchair attendants will take wheelchair passengers to the gate but very rarely they’ll push a chair to the aircraft and leave it to the airline themselves to push a wheelchair to the aircraft
This is so true, and unfortunately the way with some people
I am travelling from Australia to Greece then to the UK next year. I have Lupus, Peripheral Neuropathy in my feet and Sjögren Syndrome and am so worried about the walking. I cannot walk far now and fall over quite a lot, and my son is my carer at home through the government as I could not fully care safely for myself. He is not coming and I am slightly terrified. I haven’t travelled since I became ill so don’t know what to do or expect. I hate my body for letting me down.
@@karenglenn6707I follow a channel called Wheels No Heels.
She recently traveled to Australia and another country. I cannot rmbr which one but it may give you some helpful tips and contacts to help make your trips go as easily and as fun as possible! Enjoy your time in all of them ;)
BRILLIANT!! Noel you should do this across all major US airlines & at each major airport to show what a person with disability goes thru but just who delivers the best service to someone like Rachel! Great to see your advocacy!
As a family with a tonne of hidden disabilities, this was really eye opening. Our experience outside of airports, helped by ADA, while on holiday in the US has been great. Airports in the UK are patchy, and my daughters recent experience flying to Australia and back was awful. Love the fact Rachel is going to start her own channel, we'll sub asap! Great job both!
What’s her disability?
@@arnisonxxvifibromyalgia
There are hidden disabilities. Low vision, hearing impairment, and vertigo issues. It's best to request wheelchair assistance as airports are oftem poorly lighted, noisey with.vonfusimg sigage. Some attendants are more attuned what vision and hearing impaired people need. If attendants ask questions while standing in back hearing impaired/vision impaired, communication is null and void.
My handy tip would be to carry paper and a sharpie, so you are able to help the attendants help you.
Really glad to see a video like this. When my father was ill with cancer I took him on a trip from Washington DC to Japan and it was quite the challenge to help him. This video will be good to raise awareness for people who have similar needs while traveling.
Great video depicting the realities of traveling with a disability, Noel. I hope that in the future airlines can find ways to make the whole experience better!
Typically assistance with airlines is contracted by the airpprt and the airlines share the contract. It is rarely airline employees doing the assistance.
Glad to see your a perfect gentleman Noel letting your lovely wife Rachael have the window seat, I’m glad you are showing how difficult it can be for people with disabilities not all airlines have assistance and some don’t follow up with assistance at the other end at all. I have witnessed this myself first hand at four different airports two in UK ( Virgin) and one in US (Delta)and one in Europe (Air France) which was absolutely terrible. I am glad you are showing how hard it can be for people who have disabilities to catch a flight, hopefully someone takes it on board and starts sorting this out.( I found out that this facility is contracted out and sometimes is not available in all airports. This should be a post that all airports should employ staff for.) 👍🏴
Noel, I have suffered with CIDP (an auto-immune that has my immune system destroying my Central Nervous System) for the last 8 years. Before the doctors finally got it into remission I felt like Rachel at her worst times 24/7/365. Until I finally was diagnosed with this I was under the "Fibromyalga" shield. True research Neurologists know that "Fibromyalga" is an umbrella label for non-diagnosed suffers for any of dozens of neoro or auto-immune conditions. Thankfully more and more of the world is accepting the diagnosis of FM as a real illness.
My issue now is that I can walk (I force myself to, even though I have medium to serious balance issuesbrandomly). I get the worst looks from people when I use handicap parking or a rider cart at stores when I am having a bad day. I am officially 100% disabled trying to still live half way normal... My outlook is, there are millions of people worse off than myself...
As an accessibility challenged traveller myself, I rely on assistance whenever I travel. I just be lucky, as I have always managed a seamless transit around airports, and usually find I'm offered a seat in an accesible passenger area.
Thank yuy both for highlighting the pitfalls you encountered. And kudos to you Noel for showing us how Rachel struggles, all without any real fuss or drama. Stay safe and god bless you both 😊🙏
Noel. It was great to see things from Rachel's perspective.
Great vlog. My wife and I were having a holiday in lanzarote in March. My wife had emergency surgery. Jet 2 were fantastic. They met us with chair and straight through. Lift on to plane. At Stanstead they took us straight through and outside in 20 minutes .the taxi could not believe it. Well done Jet 2.
"Always snowing like France"🤣???? When were you there -in the ice age?
😂😂
I've just been hired for Passenger Assistance in my city's airport, taking lots of notes on how *I* could have done a better job lol maybe one day I'll have the honor of assisting your wife :p
I'm actually employed with a third party assistance service, But in my airport we cannot serve passengers from southwest or alligent as they have their their own airport employees to handle this, to the point we do not assist with placement of their chairs. it depends on what airline you've chosen, and I have yet to assist a walk in who requests service to our dispatch, but will report back when it does.
Edit: A kind note for noel...We were trained to pull people on the jet bridge by going backwards...ought to do the same in the future, as it's the safest way. That's why it seems to dangerous, just reverse and back in, noel.
People like me are so reliant on people like you! My boyfriend gets paid carers allowance but won the travel anywhere with me, I have fibro am being investigated for Ehlers Danlos syndrome, I also have autism, anxiety and some other stuff, I really really struggle with getting around alone so really rely on staff at train stations etc
Meet and assist support is vital, I hope it's okay that more often then not you are in our wheel chair. it helps us out when you sit on it, and it's a chill and comfortable time either way on those things. I've recently helped someone who was neurodivergent and on our list for assistance for similar reasons as you. It was a honor to assist them to their gate and made sure they were comfortable. It was even refreshing, in a way, to have someone younger to assist, as I could ask pronouns as a part of service and understand they were fluid, like myself.
I love this job and already have countless encounters that I treasure. I am the type to be very glad I'm in a position to help.@@SobrietyandSolace
I just got hired to 😁 working for united airlines at lax😎😎 doin what ur doing start on the 26th
@@Theturbobooster Awesome! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.
@@Flutterwhat yep I been working at the airport going on 2 months which is cool just hate baggage claim lmao it's so stressful and makes u sleepy😂
One thing I’ve learned from flying to and from Canada the last 3 years: look out for your fellow passengers. So many of the flights, no matter which airline, folks who didn’t speak the language or needed disability assistance were just left in the dark as to what was happening. I quickly got used to keeping an eye on the folks in wheelchairs left alone at the gates to make sure they received assistance. Often the agent at the gate would just be oblivious to the person in the chair unless someone went up to tell them they’d need assistance to get on the plane.
I’ve been hoping someone would do a video of this. I travel to be with my kids and it can be a nightmare, especially if you have connecting flights.
I love your banter! Thanks for doing this! As populations age, airlines need to step up their game. Glad to look for Rachel’s channel.
Thanks so much Noel and Rachel for producing this video. As a blind person with no vision, I found this video very informative and I really appreciate how you both describe what is going on. I have flown from Australia to the United States and the meet and assist service from Delta was amazing. I did have a slight issue at LAX however the airline made things right. Please produce more videos like this one. If you start a disability channel, please keep us informed. Keep up the great work Noel and Rachel.
The best service I ever had when I had a disability was with Virgin Atlantic. Granted, I was a Gold Card member (via work travel) but we were flying back to the UK for my Dad's Funeral in economy. I had a broken ankle, they apologized for not having any spare seats in Premium or Business otherwise they would have upgraded me (not my wife and son though) They gave me the FULL Business class service in Econemy and kept 3 seats in Economy just for me so I could lay down the entire flight. The same happened on the way back. Champagne, Business Class meal etc. Was the ONLY time I have ever been made to feel like the money I had spent with Virgin over the years (or rather my company) actually meant something to them!
Traveled on my own needing assistance and never had a problem, very efficient on all times
Rachel: “I eventually made it to the gate, where Noel met me with a Cold Coffee” 😂😂
This video just proves again why you're my favourite vlogger! Thank you for keeping it real. Rachel, you're an inspiration ❤
As a former gate agent for Air Wisconsin at Washington Dulles airport under the United Express banner, we would frequently have to hold flights because the wheelchair services (which was handled by poorly paid employees of AirServ) would frequently not show up to offload or load passengers needing wheelchair assistance. There was even one passenger while I was taking my 15-minute break, who needed to get from where we were at C10, all the way to D30 at the other end of the concourse building (about two thirds of a mile away) as they had a close connection with Austrian to Vienna. So I went and grabbed a wheelchair from the AirServ coral and after sitting her down, rushed her as fast as I could to the other end (which it didn't help that I wasn't in the best of shape physically myself). Got a nice tip of $10 from her, and wished her a safe onward journey. Missed my rest period for it, but it was worth it to help a passenger who was in distress out.
But yeah, the staff who deal with wheelchairs are poorly paid and have no benefits with the contractor, and so they have a very high turnover rate.
Thumbs up for tackling this topic. I'm in the disabled camp--very hard to navigate airports.
Fellow disabled traveler here. Thank you for illustrating the challenges of travel for those of us with limited mobility. You are such a wonderful couple supporting each other ❤
Great Job highlighting this… hardly anyone highlight this in North America. My mother who got a bad knee and cannot stand or walk too long had to wait an hour to even get a wheelchair assistance in Montreal. We talk so much about ADA complaint but airlines are the worst offender when it come to accessibility. We need to bring this to light.
The timing of this video! Last night in my dream, I had booked KLM Business class tickets because of my fibromyalgia - but the seats turned out to be worse than Economy class - there was almost no leg room, the seats were tiny and plastic, the lavatory was broken and I really needed to use them! As I was trying to settle into my awful seat, I noticed everyone around me was dressed like me - in their pyjamas! Then I woke up and man, how happy I was to be in my bed - 10 steps away from my functional bathroom! Fibro is so much more than pain - it's fatigue, exhaustion, depression, brain fog, migraines, stomach/bladder issues (and sleep disturbances!); and worse part is how unexpected it is. One moment you are fine, the next you can't handle anything. Thanks Rachel for putting up with the pain & fatigue for this video - you're a true trooper! 😻
I always have dreams I’m in some unpleasant place and I’m hunting for a functioning bathroom right before I wake up and realize I really needed the toilet!
I guess it’s better than dreaming you found a bathroom and then wetting the bed 😂
Rach, I think a vlog supporting travel for people with disabilities is a fantastic idea. I would watch it.
Very informative Noel and Rachel. Thank you for highlighting the problems that people with disabilities face when travelling. I will follow your channel Rachel. Thanks again Noel. You don't talk rubbish. I find u very entertaining and informative. Well done to you both x
I love how attentive you are of her. Your relationship is so sweet! I love her attitude too. Wish she could join you more often ❤❤
As a person who spent 8 months in a wheelchair after developing a severe case of neuropathy... thanks for this video and for advocating for folks with disabilities. It is almost impossible to explain to someone what it is like to get up in the morning and not being able to walk. I had so much fear of going anywhere, because i always felt like a pain. Nice to see that it is possible.
I really loved your video. I am moderately disabled and hated to see the lack of care she got from the airlines. I fly with Delta and have not had any issues.
I was thrilled to learn that your lovely wife is starting a RUclips channel. I also love her very honest comments. I’m looking forward to watching her experiences. Hopefully she will get a large following and make a difference in how airlines treat the disabled! I did love how touched the pilot was and especially how he gave you wings. Best of luck!❤
A few months ago, I flew into Dulles with a group. One member of the group needed wheelchair assistance. The lady helping her was absolutely awesome! She was waiting for us as soon as we stepped out of the people mover. Those of us without global entry followed her to an empty security line and we ended up beating those with global entry to the baggage claim. Then she helped us look for all 17 of our bags before leading the way out to the waiting cars. And considering our flight was like 10 hours late getting in, it very well could've been a disaster.
Noel, another enlightening video regarding the trials and tribulations for the disabled traveller. The providers I feel really need to up their game and like to see that at least you are inclusive and supportive with Rachel's valuable input made for a great public announcement service video.
Well done and kudos to Rachel.
Thanks to you both.
I hope you make this a series. Pretty disappointed that the pusher bullied her into not taking the TSA pre. Cause even if it would take longer it be less she'd have to do such as take off shoes. Might also be interesting to see if going first class might get better service.
No you don’t get any better service going business or first class, it’s woeful in any class.
I also travel with a disability but lucky,I've always had assistance without any delay.
Its great to see you both being very supportive both each other.
God bless you and keep the amazing content coming.
Well done Rachel for keeping so cheerful during a trying and tiring couple of journeys. But it just goes to show that many (if not all) airlines have a long way to go before they can boast of being fully inclusive for those with disabilities.
I'm a wheelchair user. My husband and I are usually last on the plane at certain airports when we are connecting there (looking at you, LHR) because they simply do not have enough wheelchair pushers. The experience of sitting on the plane waiting for the wheelchair pushers to arrive and pick us up so that we can make our next flight has made for stressful connections on several occasions. Once, when we were connecting at FRA from a LH flight within Schengen to an AA flight going to the US, we simply missed the connection (in spite of the wheelchair pusher's best efforts). The flight was delayed by a couple of hours due to weather, then had to wait over an hour for a gate. The four hours we had banked as connecting time just vanished. Those who believe that using a wheelchair is some kind of an advantage in travel have no idea what it is really like.
Do you bring your own wheelchair? Do you check it with luggage? Has it been damaged?
Good job highlighting the tribulations people with differing mobility and health situations can expect in real world scenarios. It’s always a joy to see Rach as well! You guys are awesome!
What an interesting episode. It's also nice to see you both collaborating in bringing interesting and useful scenarios. Thanks, Rachel. I hope your discomfort was not too intense. Much love to you both from South Africa ❤️
Great video Noel. Thank you for advocating for Rachel and others needing assistance. Safe travels😊
I fly 3 out of 4 weeks in a month in a wheelchair. United does a great job with my equipment and assistance. You inspired me to cover some helpful tips and tricks coming up on my channel.
This is awesome Noel 😁 really eye opening specially showing Rachel’s perspective when travelling. I really hope airlines can make this a lot smoother, quicker and learn from this video to make improvements 😁 another amazing video legend 😁
LOVED this episode! Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Rachel. I flew round trip from Bismarck, ND to Reno, NV with a layover in Denver. I called United and reserved assistance for all segments of our trip. I was skeptical that I would be assisted after hearing some horror stories, but I was greeted with a wheelchair boarding and disembarking each flight. I'm sorry your experience didn't go as smoothly.
Even though we may look able-bodied, traveling without assistance can be next to impossible for so many of us. We have the same needs and rights as our fellow travelers, and we must be our own most vocal advocates. I truly do hope you start your RUclips channel chronicling your future adventures...I will gladly be your first subscriber. Blessings to you and your family!💖
Thank you for these types of videos. I am disabled, chronically ill with no immune system (plus fibro!) and I used to travel so much but my only experience travelling since my body has let me down was so full of anxiety and let downs by the airports and airlines. I am not the kind of person who lets fear stop me from doing something so I wanna get back on a plane soon and your videos help! ❤️
Love this video and love seeing Rach! She's absolutely brilliant. I'm so glad you have shown this side of things at airports and what disabled passengers go through.
Great to see you both doing a travel vlog, hope to see many more in the future. Rachel doing her own vlog will highlight a 'needs must' for airport and service users regarding passengers with mobility restrictions. Creating greater awareness will impress what is working and not working and could lead to an international minimum standard for service when it comes to traveling with mobility issues. Keep up the great work
I’m a travel agent, here in the UK, and have my own mobility issues. I can see the absolute chaos caused by no assistance being offered, to staffing issues etc.
I can see things from both sides , as an assistance user and one who arranges it.
Your experience in the USA has only highlighted the inefficiencies that happen (the TSA experience is an obvious one).
If Rachel, you would consider having your own channel, you’d be doing the community a huge service, and it can then be fed back to the airlines etc.
Noel, I love your channel and always have. Content is by and large some of the best out there, with no annoying people forever whinging (unlike some), or those who have everything to perfection even when you know it’s not.
Anyway, best wishes to you both. Safe travels and here’s to much more content in the future.
Fantastic you’ve done this video with your platform Noel. This is always heavily overlooked. And well, it’s a topic niche that isn’t covered well by other aviation RUclipsrs, so not only you are doing a public service reviewing airlines to cater for disabled people, it makes business sense. A win-win.
We need more reviews of airlines catering for the disabled!
Great video Noel, and well done Rachel! All my best to you and your health struggles xx
Gosh Noel I was feeling the cringe with Rachel. It sucks traveling with people with chronic pain. Rachel reminded me of my mom before she passed. U were trying so hard to cheer her up. Make her smile. Try and enjoy and share the trip with her. My mom suffered so much more with her obesity. My mom's stomach weight and extra weight killed her joints and made it so much worse for her to move around. Turns into a spiral of weight gain, immobility due to weight and then weight gain. Try swimming rache supports the painful joints without triggering your joints. Noel is a saint. Shows how much you two are in love and devoted to each other.
Looking forward to more videos with the both of you living in Houston.
Spock was Captain of the Enterprise in Wrath of Khan, and actually held the rank, but not the position for the rest of the movies.
One of the factors for mobility assistance is not only the airline, but the airport. Most airports contract for those services, and the airlines have to subcontract from those authorized companies. Not all of them are very good.
Example: My fiancé's mother needed assistance at Sea-Tac on Alaska. The hardest part was waiting in the designated area for the assistance, and them getting the right people assigned, because of the number of people needing assistance. However, their arrival in Austin was great, being met at the plane. When they returned, I was at the gate for them, and watched a whole cadre of assistance chairs and personnel wait for the door to open and meet everyone who needed assistance at the plane.
I needed assistance on a trip to ORD from SEA, on Alaska, and actually couldn't get any help in SEA due to the assistance people not being around (literally went to break). I was able to make it to the plane, and when I arrive in ORD, there was a chair waiting for me on the jet bridge to take me to baggage claim.
As someone who uses these services, I am grateful for them but as someone noted they are contracted and they are not guaranteed work or benefits. I actually live in Houston and I learned they are overworked when they do get hours. I was told sometimes they are abused by the disabled passengers and the agent said one person smelled so bad she had to hold her breath the entire time. Now I had almond missed my flight using these services because my gate was charged to the other side of the airport right before boarding. I was by myself so thankfully one of the passengers took me because no assistance was there.
@@CongressSux1776 You act like I ask to be born with a disability. I pay taxes as well. So negative. Try living with a disability, getting employed with a disability. Being discriminated against because of your disability as you are doing for absolutely no reason.
Hiya Noel & Rachel. Glad you made it in one piece! My late partner and I travelled from LHR to MAN to see his mum. He needed to use a stick to walk , and we booked a wheelchair in advance. After having a leisurely breakfast at Giraffe, John was met by a wheelchair assistant and whisked straight through security and on to the plane. Met by the same at MAN, no bother, and on the return journey, were met at the gate in T5 by another wheelchair. He took us all the way down to the Heathrow Express platform and made sure John was on the train safely. Kudos to BA for their help..I've been a long time viewer of your blogs Noel, and thank you for all of the very useful info that you supply. Love to both you and Rache, hope she's feeling a lot better.
Thank you for taking a look at this overlooked topic. I'm embarrassed as a US citizen that you had such poor service on both airlines. Yes, Rachel! Please do a channel on travelling with a disability. I have a sister with a disability, who would follow you too. There aren't going to be less people with disabilities travelling every year, there will be more, so the US travel industry needs to put on their thinking caps and come up with innovative ideas to make travelling more accessible. You are both so cute and patient! Jo from Boston.
I was really taken aback when I read about the fact (which I never had considered before) that no (or nearly no) airplanes have accessible toilets. I'm not a wheelchair user but I have travelled with a wheelchair user before, many years ago, to Hawaii. Back then they didn't even have a way to get off of the curbs to cross the street, much less a way to get to much of the restaurant seating without going through the kitchen. The fact that all these years later, we're still struggling to make travel accessible to everyone is shameful. Yes, Rachel, a disability travel channel!
I just love your channel! I really like whem Rach is along on the trip. I appreciate her sharing herself with us. It really helpful for people to understand!
Hi Noel great video and good to have the real travel blogger on the channel ,hope Rachel is well now! 😎 keep zhe videos coming 👋
This is a fantastic video. As a frequent flyer, who is fortunate to not have any limiting issues i never realised just how difficult flying is when you have some limiting factors. This video was an eye opener and very educational.
I would love to see more of these kind of videos and i hope the airlines and the airports contracted service departments evolve to make travel accessible and straightforward for everyone.
At 6:32 - agree Pre-Check TSA is a life changer at the dreaded airport ☑
Thanks Noel & Rach for showing this & raising awareness of the challenges faced with reduced mobility.
Why aren't the airlines being fined for violating the ADA? If the airline is contracting to private companies to provide these services the airline is still responsible as the contractor is acting as an agent for the airline. Maybe if fines are levied the services will improve. Thank you Noel and Rachel enjoyed seeing this from an actual disabled person. God Bless and safe travels.
Racheal seems happier. No doubt you're enjoying your life in Texas
This is why you are the best aviation vlogger! Great stuff Noel
What a wonderful video about what people with disabilities. seniors and people who need extra assistance have to go through to travel. This needs to be addressed by ADA and Department of Transportation. Thank you Noel.
Noel, this was one of your best vLogs. Very helpful information. Thanks
This is appalling that someone with disabilities has to take so long to get to the gate by not being able to use their paid pre check.
I don't get why that would happen. The pusher unilaterally decided it was better to take the standard line, which is absurd. She couldn't complain at the time, but that's is appalling service.
Already could see coming that Rachel would start her own channel hearing her doing a lot of voice overs today. Congratz with your new channel and hope it may be a succes. Good luck! And as always a great video.
As a deaf FF I've lost count of the amount of check-in, security etc staff who I try to help out by telling them I'm deaf but if they just look straight at me and emphasise their speech I'll do my best to lip read them just for them to say "oh ok" then immediately look down or away from me then act surprised when I don't respond to what they've just said. A particularly shouty ( so I'm told) TSA guy at JFK T8 the other week got the rath of the better half who after she had identified me to him proceeded to look anywhere except my face then screamed "WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU!" - Which resulted in him learning quickly that some retraining was on the cards after she ripped him to pieces, called him out to all those present & had him pulled from the lane.
BA are normally great and have my disability on file but other carriers ( whom I always advise well in advance of course) & airport staff can leave me feeling so drained & frustrated by the time it comes to boarding. Fortunately I am at least lucky enough to have lounge access in between where I can relax & break things up a bit
Noel, lovely video with you and Rachel. Thanks to you both for highlighting this problem which is all too common across our industry at the moment ❤
I just love your narration voice Rachel! So good to see you when you pop up on Noel's videos! Love you guys!
Thank you very much for showing us this perspective! It is so lovely to watch you, Noel, taking care of your lovely wife. One can really see how much you love her. All the best, also for Rachel!
Noel I have so much respect for you. The way you advocate for Rachel and others with disabilities is truly amazing!!! I am absolutely disguted with how my home base airport let you both down both tsa pre-check wise and the sub-par mobility assistance that Rachel received from Dia. If you're in town again, I would love to collaborate with you. Thank you for being absolutely awesome and a great advocate for everyone with disabilities!!!
25:45 I liked that hustle the worker in blue rushed to assist! Some people care.
DEN is a nightmare even for someone who is able bodied. Although I am not personally affected it bugs the hell out of me that the attitude to wheelchair assistance is so....tepid.
Also, good on Rachel for correcting Noel on the pronunciation of St. Louis :)
Hi Noel and Rachel! New subscriber here and a disabled traveler, based in the U.S., but have never had to use the airport pusher service (I use a manual wheelchair full-time). Thanks for raising awareness about accessible travel and your perspective on this. This was really enlightening and informative!
I never knew your lass had a disability Noel fair play to ya both for not letting it restrict you both to enjoying life’s pleasures ❤️☮️
So lovely to see the 2 of you interact;) makes me smile.
I have fibromyalgia along with small-fiber neuropathy and the thought of walking across one of these hub airports is a bit daunting, so I appreciate what you two are doing to show off what to expect when requesting assistance services in the States. I hope my local airport (TPA) does a better job than IAH & DEN did.
My best always to you and the amazing Rachel from NYC!
I used to work for the wheelchair service in PHX. I can confidently say that the chair service is independent of the airline (as a contractor) and the airlines have no control over it. I’ve also worked for airlines and the chair service from the airline perspective can be relatively seamless and they can sometimes cut it close when getting chairs to the gate.
Always confirm that you have chair service attached to your reservation. It is actually the airlines responsibility to alert the chair service of how many chairs are getting on/off … what the chair service does that with the information is theirs. It might be an issue of staffing as well
Love seeing you both on videos so much! Thank you for showing this side of travel too. We travel with family who are less abled and it can be shocking service at times.
Great Video Team 😊😊Lovely to see Rachel with you Noel great banter about the two different flights 😊😊
Love it when Rachel joins you on your flights. She's got a great sense of humor and just a wonderful addition to your videos! It's nice to see how things compared between your journey through the airport and Rachel's as it gives everyone with mobility issues a good idea what to expect. Thanks for this video in particular and all your videos in general.
Thanks so much!
Ps
The last experience I had was having to leave my mother in a wheelchair, with the service at Berlin Airport, about 12 years ago, when she was 88😢
We could only watch as she was waiting at the other side of security for 25 minutes until someone came to collect her😢
When she finally arrived home and phoned me, she said that they'd 'been absolutely wonderful' and had 'treated like a queen'!
She'd absolutely loved the care and attention 😂
Especially the onboard G and T given to her as her special wish!😊
RIP, my darling 😢
Thanks Noel, interesting stuff. I’d like to see more like this as I have mobility problems, but still try to travel!
Wonderful video, very informative! Looking forward to more videos with Rachel 😊
I saw you two in Denver. Was gonna run up and say hi but I needed to get to my gate. Great review!
Aww sweet Rach😊
We've had lots of issues with disabilities help. Our daughter with CF on O2 who couldn't walk was all but ignored in Tampa International but on Southwest we were very taken care of.. Pittsburgh and Raleigh were very helpful...
Always viewing your content so far never disappointed….thanks
Great work for covering this really important topic in a way that was very well stated and friendly, especially the fact that getting a pusher should not be an act of luck, it should be better organized and predictable in all airports.
I’m visually impaired & I’ve booked assistance at Aberdeen & Kirkwall & both were excellent. On my recent trip to Dublin from Birmingham I have to say both were brilliant. I have to give the edge to Dublin (mainly due to how quick I got through security) but it was close (Birmingham is a bit of a building site at the moment).
Noel, please have Rachel try Delta again. If you call their disability assistance program, they will ensure you have a wheelchair from beginning to end, and don't have to wait. I just flew to BOS a fortnight ago, and connected through LGA, which, as I'm sure you know, is a notoriously laggy airport. Whether it was my origin in BGM or my return through BOS, I had wheelchairs waiting for me at every stop, and I sailed through security with other people glaring at me, lol! It might be somewhat easier for me as I am an American citizen. As a matter of fact, I was flying Basic, and Delta upgraded me to Comfort Plus for free! The seats ARE bigger, and for a short person like me(I'm 5'4") the legroom was unreal!
Rachel, don't let the wheelchair attendants bully you. If you have TSA Precheck, tell the attendant to take you there. You are the paying customer; it is not for them to tell you where to go. Unfortunately, that is typical United treatment. American treats disabled wheelchair passengers like they're luggage! They are HORRIBLE! Please try Delta again. They fall all over themselves to help me!
BTW, I was run over nearly 20 years ago. My spine is twisted, and fragments of it broke away. All of my discs, from S1 to L6 were knocked out and I also have fibromyalgia, as well as sciatica. I can completely empathize with your pain, Rachel. Noel, are you guys planning on becoming American citizens? If you are, traveling domestically will get a lot easier!
Hey Noel, I've been a bit of a follower, for about a year.
I used to travel a lot inside Canada for biz, quite s lot.....
First off, I find your normal, non pretentious reviews of you airline experiences, quite refreshing, not like some of your competitors....
But, I just viewed thos vid, and I absolutely appreciate your honest, and normal review of how ( local airlines) help, or do not assist, people with any sort of mobility challenges.
At this point, kudos to your partner, she is amazing!!
Having said that, most of my travel was related to my trade Union ....
I had an opportunity to represent my Inion on a number of sojourns related to disability issues.
Your video, and your honest description of the obvious, but, mostly disregarded challenges of anyone with any sort of mobility challenge, is both admirable, and exceptional.
Thank you for highlighting, the low lights of airline travel for people facing challenges, just to enjoy a simple local flight!!!
I completely enjoy your vids, because you are every guy....and again, props to your partner!!
Your reviews are both honest, and provocative...
Cheers, retired frequent flyer, Frank!!
All the best in Texas..
Thank you for your kind words.
Love how you always change it up Noel! Including the wife sometimes is a nice touch, she's quite the trooper and sassy... just like my mine!!!😅😅😋👍👍👍
Don’t ever come to PSP specifically with UA.. no jet bridge, remote stand with Movable Stairs that aren’t serviced properly, inside the cabin they’ll bring you out to the MCD with the AC wheelchair. You have to walk over the lip of the aircraft onto a steep ramp which then attaches to the jet bridge. Once outside AC, the Sierra wheelchair attendants will take you down the stairs.
Fantastic Subject Noel and Rachel, my Sister and I both also have mobility issues. I have to say that the smaller the Airport the better the experience. The worst experiences have been at LHR (T3 & T5) AND DXB (with EK). Nowadays it’s not worth asking for it, in fact if I travel Domestic I will NOT fly and travel by Train and personally used to love ❤️ air travel. Airports/Airlines are more than happy to take Your money but they DON’T care about YOU as a passenger/customer or human being. Thank You Both (especially Rachel after the Frontier trip) for once again showing the Downside as much as the Upside. 🤗