Comments on: Waiting…To Board http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:47:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Sarah http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84198 Sarah Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:32:19 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84198 When the first set of people start boarding the plane, I just follow them and hand my ticket over to the person who is scanning the tickets. If she or he tells me to step back and wait for my boarding group, I just point at my ears and say, "I'm deaf." After a "oohhh sure" and a nod, they just let me go in with the first set of boarding people. I've never gotten special treatment other than that. Works every time! When the first set of people start boarding the plane, I just follow them and hand my ticket over to the person who is scanning the tickets. If she or he tells me to step back and wait for my boarding group, I just point at my ears and say, “I’m deaf.” After a “oohhh sure” and a nod, they just let me go in with the first set of boarding people. I’ve never gotten special treatment other than that. Works every time!

]]> By: Ehh.... http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84187 Ehh.... Thu, 31 May 2007 16:38:21 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84187 well, yes. The good ol' days of air line travels are now over. At least I can attest to the fact that US airlines in general have declined greatly in terms of service. I'd take a European airline any day - personally, I think Lufthansa is the best. Food is still good and decent and those feather pillows can't be beat. Another plus of European airlines is that alcohol is still free. :-) well, yes. The good ol’ days of air line travels are now over. At least I can attest to the fact that US airlines in general have declined greatly in terms of service. I’d take a European airline any day - personally, I think Lufthansa is the best. Food is still good and decent and those feather pillows can’t be beat. Another plus of European airlines is that alcohol is still free. :-)

]]> By: Bobby White http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84183 Bobby White Thu, 31 May 2007 12:02:02 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84183 Food? They serve food on flights, all I ever get is a bag of pretzels with 4 tiny mini pretzels inside. Food? They serve food on flights, all I ever get is a bag of pretzels with 4 tiny mini pretzels inside.

]]> By: Ehh.... http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84171 Ehh.... Wed, 30 May 2007 20:24:53 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84171 yup.... BTW - did you know that the main role of a flight attendant is not to serve people drinks and food, but to keep the cabin under control and direct the evacuation in case of an emergency. They're also the go-between for the pilot and the cabin. yup….

BTW - did you know that the main role of a flight attendant is not to serve people drinks and food, but to keep the cabin under control and direct the evacuation in case of an emergency. They’re also the go-between for the pilot and the cabin.

]]> By: Virginia L. Beach http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84169 Virginia L. Beach Wed, 30 May 2007 20:04:18 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84169 Ahhh yes, I stand corrected. Flight attendants. I believe this is the current "politically correct" term? ;>) Ahhh yes, I stand corrected.

Flight attendants.

I believe this is the current “politically correct” term?

;>)

]]> By: Ehh.... http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84168 Ehh.... Wed, 30 May 2007 20:02:02 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84168 You should use google. Send a text message to 466453 with the airline code and flight number (eg. LH453) and it'll give you the flight status. You should use google. Send a text message to 466453 with the airline code and flight number (eg. LH453) and it’ll give you the flight status.

]]> By: Ehh.... http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84167 Ehh.... Wed, 30 May 2007 20:00:31 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84167 Stewardesses? that term has been out of use for at least a decade or two.... :-) Stewardesses?

that term has been out of use for at least a decade or two….

:-)

]]> By: A Deaf Pundit http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84164 A Deaf Pundit Wed, 30 May 2007 17:22:42 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84164 Whoa. I would've probably flipped out at them and told them I do not appreciate being held hostage and that I would be calling the police if they didn't let me go! Whoa. I would’ve probably flipped out at them and told them I do not appreciate being held hostage and that I would be calling the police if they didn’t let me go!

]]> By: Dianrez http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84163 Dianrez Wed, 30 May 2007 15:56:40 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84163 When I boarded an Aerocondor flight from South America, my mother-in-law boarded with us and declared to all the stewards, <i>"Soy sordomudos"</i> so that we would have no problems. Ay, ay, <i>pero</i> we did. On landing in Miami we were too late to make our connection, so were put up in a second-rate hotel. People shouted at us in the hotel, prevented us from going out to a restaurant even though their cafeteria was closed, and tried to force us to use their hotel transportation instead of calling a taxi in the morning. We were given tickets to the wrong city and missed our flight trying to exchange them. After arrival at home ten hours later, a letter with documentation to the airline was ignored and we never received even an apology. This was just after FCC regulations on foreign airlines came about, so it wasn't necessary to undergo this at all. Check the reputation of the airline, if you can, when using foreign-owned airlines. When I boarded an Aerocondor flight from South America, my mother-in-law boarded with us and declared to all the stewards, “Soy sordomudos” so that we would have no problems. Ay, ay, pero we did. On landing in Miami we were too late to make our connection, so were put up in a second-rate hotel. People shouted at us in the hotel, prevented us from going out to a restaurant even though their cafeteria was closed, and tried to force us to use their hotel transportation instead of calling a taxi in the morning. We were given tickets to the wrong city and missed our flight trying to exchange them. After arrival at home ten hours later, a letter with documentation to the airline was ignored and we never received even an apology. This was just after FCC regulations on foreign airlines came about, so it wasn’t necessary to undergo this at all.

Check the reputation of the airline, if you can, when using foreign-owned airlines.

]]> By: Catharine http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84160 Catharine Wed, 30 May 2007 13:16:01 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/erin-himmelmann/2007-05-29/waitingto-board/#comment-84160 Interestingly, I find that international travel is much easier because of the heightened sense of awareness for people with disabilities. Also, cultural trends go into play, where Europe (generally speaking) is more family centered and have the "people first, work second" mentality, they have been much more hospitable. Therefore, air travel representatives have been more courteous and approachable. I also wonder if it is because of the ample air staff on hand...I flew Aer Lingus to Dublin a couple years ago and it was definitely smooth traveling. My flight was delayed and I simply wanted to take advantage of duty-free shopping and I just informed the attendant that I was deaf and wanted to know the general time frame for when to board. That was all I needed to know but once I returned to the gate, they acknowledged me and spoke to me about the latest status of the flight. (I would've been content waiting for a while but it was nice to know what to expect!) I do want to add one more point, the Irish ARE definitely the friendliest people around. Interestingly, I find that international travel is much easier because of the heightened sense of awareness for people with disabilities. Also, cultural trends go into play, where Europe (generally speaking) is more family centered and have the “people first, work second” mentality, they have been much more hospitable. Therefore, air travel representatives have been more courteous and approachable. I also wonder if it is because of the ample air staff on hand…I flew Aer Lingus to Dublin a couple years ago and it was definitely smooth traveling. My flight was delayed and I simply wanted to take advantage of duty-free shopping and I just informed the attendant that I was deaf and wanted to know the general time frame for when to board. That was all I needed to know but once I returned to the gate, they acknowledged me and spoke to me about the latest status of the flight. (I would’ve been content waiting for a while but it was nice to know what to expect!) I do want to add one more point, the Irish ARE definitely the friendliest people around.

]]>