Two wheelchair users on a flight from the Gold Coast to Singapore with budget airline, Scoot, have been refused permission to board a flight because of their wheelchairs.
Dr Merima Isakovic and David Wadge did not know each other but were both preparing to board their flights when things took a turn for the worse.
Instead of being allowed to board with the rest of the passengers, they were both pulled aside and informed that they were not be getting on that flight.
“I was witnessing not only somebody trying to humiliate me, just because I am sitting in a wheelchair and just because I can’t walk. But also humiliating another person,” Isakovic told News.com.au.
Despite both Isakovic and Wadge making their way through airport security and the check-in desk, it wasn’t until they had arrived at the gate that they had been informed of the issue.
An airport staff member pointed out that Scoot does not permit passengers who require wheelchairs to board a plane without a carer, something that neither Isakovic or Wadge required.
“Being capable, being part of society, being able to contribute to community, connecting, belonging. All of this beautiful sense of self, is now cut into smithereens,” she said, adding that Scoot refused to speak to her or Wadge directly at all.
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“Scoot completely disrespected two of their passengers because we are in wheelchairs. And [they] didn’t talk to us — as if we are intellectually incapable of communication or something,” she said.
According to the Scoot’s travel policy, call centre staff must be notified about any mobility issues at least three days ahead of the flight.
“For safety reasons, if you require assistance to and from the aircraft even though you are travelling with your own wheelchair, you will be required to check in your wheelchair as checked baggage upon departure,” the Scoot website says.
Assistance will then be provided to and from the aircraft and the wheelchair will be returned at the baggage claim belt upon arrival.
But according to the Scoot Facebook page, this is not the first time an incident has occurred with a wheelchair-bound passenger, including Melinda Mulberry who followed all the boarding processes before her flight.
“We arrived at the boarding gate an hour early, as requested, and was asked to immediately transfer to a hideous orange ‘strait jacket Hannibal Lecter’ contraption, so the lady could take my chair,” Mulberry said on social media.
“I really felt unsafe on this old thing, and very embarrassed, everyone was staring!
“We also noted that the old man in a wheelchair in front of us was still in his own wheelchair, and hadn’t been asked to transfer?” she continued.
“The staff just looked embarrassed that I was holding everyone up, (not really!), and sent everyone else through the other entry.”
Scoot has been approached for comment.