By Nathan, Mag Reporter
To mark Purple Tuesday, which focuses on improving accessibility for people with disabilities, Mag Reporter Nathan shares his experiences visiting airports and flying.
In the airports around the world, as a man who’s been traveling since I was young, I’ve had a wide and varied collection of experiences. Over the past 15 years I’ve been asking myself the big question of how accessible are airports, aircrafts and the path to and from them, are for people with disabilities?
Booking online
I personally believe online booking to be the future, however I do think there are many possible drawbacks for people who are not familiar with the process. With no tutorials or instructions, it becomes much harder. Some airlines have an accessibility travel section on their website, which outlines the services they can offer.
After doing some research on a popular airline’s website, the only page that failed to load was the ‘accessibility travel’ section; the page also used light grey writing on a bright white background, which can be difficult to read if your sight is impaired.
Once you’ve looked at the limited information, then you have to call their helpline for more details, and repeating information and personal details to a stranger just to receive adequate help.
In my opinion I don’t think is the best way to do it, because if someone cannot use the phone due to a condition, then they have no other way of gaining the information they require.
Checking in
When it comes to checking in for a flight, I prefer doing this online plainly because saves time at the airport. I put my bags in the bag drop and check my wheelchair in at the special assistance desk at which I have my details checked for a second time. Staff will ask me about my equipment and level of mobility and degree of support I need to access the aircraft.
Security
When passengers with additional support needs go through security they can, if stated on their boarding card use the priority line. This speeds them through the security process, and reduces waiting times in narrow and crowded spaces, which I personally find very helpful.
If your boarding card does not state this service is available, it can lead to anxiety for those who then have to go through narrow and crowded spaces. At the accessible security I am swabbed separately to all other passengers due to the fact that I am seated and cannot go through the metal detector. For those who are unable to pass through a metal detector they are swabbed and searched. Swabbed means that the staff get white disk on a stick and rub it gently over your body then the sample is analysed by a machine. This search is often performed by an officer of the same gender as the passenger, unless requested otherwise.
Boarding the aircraft
Most of the time you must find your own boarding gate for the plane - some require a bus or shuttle to the aircraft.
To find out this information you have to look at the boarding screens, which can be challenging as they change frequently and are only written in one format.
Upon request you can get special assistant to be with you throughout the whole process as they are trained to work with all abilities.
Once boarding the aircraft I normally would need an aisle seat, however I cannot sit on the seat in the required position due to my back. The seat is very narrow and too low which for someone as tall as me is extremely uncomfortable, and the footplate provided is far too small for me to put my feet on it properly.
This might also be a problem that other passengers face, however the staff do everything in their power to help.
I wish there was a more user-friendly piece of equipment as better alternative to having to be carried by my family, from one end of the aircraft to the other. I personally don’t enjoy this as don’t enjoy being lifted, and I become anxious my parents might fall while carrying me.
When it comes to sitting in the seat, it can be very difficult for me as I have to lift the armrest and slide into my seat which is not comfortable. I also find the seats very uncomfortable to be in for a long time and there is usually very little leg room to allow people to stretch out.
A definite way to make life easier is to allow people with reduced mobility or additional needs to sit in the front seats of an aircraft which use to happen, however these days international laws and regulations dictate that passengers with needs may not sit in these seats if it is on an emergency exit row which must be kept clear at all times.
I wish that airlines would adjust their seating policies to ensure that all passengers have the best and most comfortable experience while on board. I think this is an area that could be investigated in the future.
