Comments on: Airline Policy Experiencing Turbulence

By: Sharvedh

Sharvedh — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:08:02 +0000

Hi I flew Air France many times and I had flown Air France from Dulles to Paris in 2003. I also traveled all over Europe. Airport officials in Europe never discriminates deaf people in my experience. Most can speak and write English so they have no problem with communicating to the deaf people using pen and paper.

By: Joscasta

Joscasta — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:04:01 +0000

I had a friend who was denied a boarding pass on an Air France flight, from DC to Paris, simply because she was deaf. Her hearing husband was allowed to fly, but not her. So stupid!!!

By: Anonyomous

Anonyomous — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:00:26 +0000

Dinkys everywhere love them some Jinkys. Winky.

On a serious note, I can understand why some airlines require deaf people to be accompanied by hearing people. Communication is paramount, especially on a plane 12,000 feet in the air. The plan could be taking a nosedive, and flight attendants won’t be so willing to do “pen/paper” method.

By: Cral

Cral — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:15:21 +0000

Hello,
it is unbelieveable to force deaf flight passenger to be accompanied by a hearing person.

However, I completely understand why deaf persons should not sit in the emergency aisle. In a case of emergency, the pilot or flight attendance will give commands (unfortunately spoken commands) how to act and when to open the door.

This is also the reason why elderly people should not be assigned to this aisle.

This just happens for the saftey of ALL passengers.

By: RainingintheNorthwest

RainingintheNorthwest — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 06:21:43 +0000

My wife was seated on a Delta flight out of Salt Lake City and it so happens that her seating assignment was in the emergency aisle–where one would have the responsibility of popping open the door and inflating the chute. The agent saw this and said “I’m going to have to re-assign her to a different seat because of her disability”.

I explained–she doesn’t have a physical disability and she can open it, plus she ain’t stupid.”

“I’m sorry, it’s regulations.”

I pleaded for her not to give my wife the differential treatment but I was at loss. Whatever.

By: Tara

Tara — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:12:04 +0000

Crap. I’m an html idiot. Here are the full links:

http://www.deafdc.com/blog/gue.....atta-and-i

http://www.deafdc.com/blog/gue.....ent-at-dca

By: Tara

Tara — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:11:28 +0000

There’ve been two blogs here about that, actually:

Bren Stern’s http://www.deafdc.com/blog/gue.....atta-and-i

and Andrew Greenman’s http://www.deafdc.com/blog/gue.....ent-at-dca

By: Tara

Tara — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:02:17 +0000

“Check the hearing level of that clueless coworker or friend sitting across from you, if you don’t believe me. There are other factors involved in being stupid. ”

Amen to that, Vikki. Amen!

By: Ben M

Ben M — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:11:58 +0000

Well written. I reckon that’s one of those rare cases that everyone can vehemently agree are “audist”. Just remember, the airflight folks can be strange. Anyone recall that article posted here in which a deaf guy was hounded by airline employees deeply concerned about safety issues?

By: Nesmuth

Nesmuth — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 04:37:29 +0000

Thats why I’m happily dependent on the railroad as the scenery and the intoxication opportunities is just what a knight needs.