Post by Banjo on Oct 26, 2017 14:52:45 GMT 7
Lazy passengers are faking disabilities to skip airport queues
AIRPORT workers see a spike in passengers using this tactic when security or boarding lines are busy.
LAZY travellers are skipping airport security and boarding gate queues by hiring a wheelchair.
The fakers, known as “airport wheelchair impostors,” are increasingly using the tactic to get an easy ride through the terminal.
In America, The Sun reports, the problem is widespread thanks to the 1986 Air Carrier Access Act.
The piece of US legislation means that airlines have to provide free wheelchairs to anyone who asks for them. The passenger doesn’t even need to provide documents proving their disability.
In Australia, there are wheelchairs available for passengers to use in the public areas of some terminals, or they can be arranged through the airline you are flying with.
Passengers in wheelchairs often get to skip both the queue at security and the queue at the boarding gate — meaning they get one of the first seats on the plane regardless of whether they are a Business Class passenger or have paid for speedy boarding.
According to the New York Times, airport workers often see a spike in wheelchair requests when security lines are exceptionally long.
One flight attendant, who calls the practice “miracle flights” as the passenger uses a wheelchair to get on the plane but not to disembark, told the New York Times: “Not only do we serve them beverages and ensure their safety — now we’re healing the sick.”
Apparently, “airport wheelchair impostors” only want the wheelchair before the flight because they have to wait until the last person is off the plane at the other end — so it doesn’t save them time.
read more...
www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/lazy-passengers-are-faking-disabilities-to-skip-airport-queues/news-story/80b378611ab014239f18eff2e5014f94
AIRPORT workers see a spike in passengers using this tactic when security or boarding lines are busy.
LAZY travellers are skipping airport security and boarding gate queues by hiring a wheelchair.
The fakers, known as “airport wheelchair impostors,” are increasingly using the tactic to get an easy ride through the terminal.
In America, The Sun reports, the problem is widespread thanks to the 1986 Air Carrier Access Act.
The piece of US legislation means that airlines have to provide free wheelchairs to anyone who asks for them. The passenger doesn’t even need to provide documents proving their disability.
In Australia, there are wheelchairs available for passengers to use in the public areas of some terminals, or they can be arranged through the airline you are flying with.
Passengers in wheelchairs often get to skip both the queue at security and the queue at the boarding gate — meaning they get one of the first seats on the plane regardless of whether they are a Business Class passenger or have paid for speedy boarding.
According to the New York Times, airport workers often see a spike in wheelchair requests when security lines are exceptionally long.
One flight attendant, who calls the practice “miracle flights” as the passenger uses a wheelchair to get on the plane but not to disembark, told the New York Times: “Not only do we serve them beverages and ensure their safety — now we’re healing the sick.”
Apparently, “airport wheelchair impostors” only want the wheelchair before the flight because they have to wait until the last person is off the plane at the other end — so it doesn’t save them time.
read more...
www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/lazy-passengers-are-faking-disabilities-to-skip-airport-queues/news-story/80b378611ab014239f18eff2e5014f94