There's long been a rule that disabled people can't sit in escape rows, because they'd potentially block the escape, and this is fair concern for the safety of other passengers. And I can see this being extended legitimately to aisle seats, which would block the escape of other passengers.
Is Air France really trying to say that this is the first time they have ever encountered the needs of people affected by thalidomide? That group of people are now in their forties. Many of them are parents, most of them play a full part in society. The airline should have been prepared for such a situation and trained its staff accordingly.
And the problem isn't exactly insoluble - what's wrong with seating this woman by a window, where she's not in anyone's way? And why couldn't they simply ask her to sign a waiver (no lame remarks about "no arms" please) with respect to reasonable assistance in an emergency?
:m: Peace.
Ms Price says a French employee at Manchester Airport told her "Thalidomiders are banned, accept it - you're just a torso". She says she was allowed on another flight, but only after paying for a companion to fly with her...
Ms Price says the airline were informed of her disability by the travel agent 12 weeks before the flight...
In a statement Air France said: "Ms Price was not sufficiently physically independent to comply with the basic safety regulations on board the aircraft, such as fastening and unfastening her seatbelt and pulling on and adjusting the oxygen mask without assistance, and therefore could not be accepted on board to travel alone.
"We take seriously and investigate any claims of discrimination by our personnel." (Full text here.)
Is Air France really trying to say that this is the first time they have ever encountered the needs of people affected by thalidomide? That group of people are now in their forties. Many of them are parents, most of them play a full part in society. The airline should have been prepared for such a situation and trained its staff accordingly.
And the problem isn't exactly insoluble - what's wrong with seating this woman by a window, where she's not in anyone's way? And why couldn't they simply ask her to sign a waiver (no lame remarks about "no arms" please) with respect to reasonable assistance in an emergency?
:m: Peace.