NEW YORK (Reuters) - A wheelchair-bound woman with no limbs sued Air France for discrimination on Friday, alleging she was kept off a flight by a gate agent who told her a "torso cannot possibly fly on its own."
Adele Price, 42, a British citizen, sued the airline in Manhattan federal court seeking unspecified damages.
Price, who was born without limbs because her mother took the drug thalidomide during pregnancy, said in the suit she is able to manipulate a wheelchair and has traveled by air many times.
The suit states that she had bought a ticket in 2000 for travel between Manchester, England and New York. After Price had checked her luggage, she alleged that she was stopped by an Air France agent who told her that "a head, one bottom and a torso cannot possibly fly on its own."
Price said in the suit that Air France let her take another flight to New York but only after she was able to get a companion to go with her. However, Price said she had to pay for the companion's airfare and lodging.
She said the airline also made it difficult for her to return from John F. Kennedy airport to Britain by requiring her to get opinions from four U.S. doctors certifying she was able to fly alone.
A spokeswoman for Air France had no immediate comment.
Just a flesh wound
Just a flesh wound
Those crazy French!
Have You Hugged An Iksar Today?
--
--
- Akaran_D
- Way too much time!
- Posts: 4151
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 2:38 pm
- Location: Somewhere in my head...
- Contact:
...
I dont know what to say, really.
I dont know what to say, really.
Akaran of Mistmoore, formerly Akaran of Veeshan
I know I'm good at what I do, but I know I'm not the best.
But I guess that on the other hand, I could be like the rest.
I know I'm good at what I do, but I know I'm not the best.
But I guess that on the other hand, I could be like the rest.
I don't think someone without any arms or legs should be able to fly alone. I certainly wouldn't put it like that to her when I wasn't going to allow her on the plane, but that guy is french and the last time a frenchman said something polite it was probably to Napoleon.
It's way beyond the scope of the job of a flight attendant to have to assist someone with no limbs into a seat and they can't stay in the chair. I'm really sorry you were born without any appendages honey, but that really isn't my problem and you should have a hired caregiver with you when you want to fly.
(that or we can store you in the overhead compartment
It's way beyond the scope of the job of a flight attendant to have to assist someone with no limbs into a seat and they can't stay in the chair. I'm really sorry you were born without any appendages honey, but that really isn't my problem and you should have a hired caregiver with you when you want to fly.
(that or we can store you in the overhead compartment
- Bubba Grizz
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 6121
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 12:52 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
No. Well yes and no actually. If you need a wheel chair you get helped into a regular seat and then they stow away the wheel chair usually. However, if you need IV, oxygen etc they can set up a system for it to be hung up/secured etc. It is usually towards the back of the plane.
That said.. honestly.. I can understand why they would not let her travel alone. Can you imagine if let's say they had to do an emergency landing and nobody was there to help her? It's not that easy to help a person like that.
That said.. honestly.. I can understand why they would not let her travel alone. Can you imagine if let's say they had to do an emergency landing and nobody was there to help her? It's not that easy to help a person like that.
Well its not easy to help her in a Bus or Van either so we should just refuse all transportation for her?Kelshara wrote:No. Well yes and no actually. If you need a wheel chair you get helped into a regular seat and then they stow away the wheel chair usually. However, if you need IV, oxygen etc they can set up a system for it to be hung up/secured etc. It is usually towards the back of the plane.
That said.. honestly.. I can understand why they would not let her travel alone. Can you imagine if let's say they had to do an emergency landing and nobody was there to help her? It's not that easy to help a person like that.
What attention is she going to need if the plane is going down? Just make sure she is buckled up just like the other 250 passengers.
- Bubba Grizz
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 6121
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 12:52 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin
On a bus/taxi they will either have a person specifically there to take care of them, or they will have specially made vehicles. I know back home they have special taxis they use for wheelchars etc and the drivers are trained in handling it.
Now compare that to a full plane with several hundred passengers and a handfull of stewardesses. They are not trained for it, they can't take care of her every need (toilet.. feeding.. etc) and IF something was to happen and they had to evacuate they would not be able to get her out. Now how would that look in the paper afterwards? "Handicapped lady left to drown on plane after emergency landing".
Now compare that to a full plane with several hundred passengers and a handfull of stewardesses. They are not trained for it, they can't take care of her every need (toilet.. feeding.. etc) and IF something was to happen and they had to evacuate they would not be able to get her out. Now how would that look in the paper afterwards? "Handicapped lady left to drown on plane after emergency landing".
- masteen
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 8197
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 12:40 pm
- Gender: Mangina
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
Time to shell out for some GOGO Gadget Limbs. 

"There is at least as much need to curb the cruel greed and arrogance of part of the world of capital, to curb the cruel greed and violence of part of the world of labor, as to check a cruel and unhealthy militarism in international relationships." -Theodore Roosevelt
- Bubba Grizz
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 6121
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 12:52 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin