‘No surprise I’ve not flown since’
As part of a week of special reports into disability, we’ve uncovered more travel horror stories from disabled people. Here one young woman explains why her last experience means she no longer flies.
Channel 4 News has been gathering stories for months on what difficulties disabled transport users face via our No Go Britain series.
We’ve heard shocking stories from travellers on trains, boats and planes – from Tanni-Grey Thomspon being forced to crawl off a train because there was no help provided, to a disabled dancer whose career was threatened by airline damage to his wheelchair.
Tonight, as part of our A legacy to stand on? series on whether anything has changed for disabled people in the wake of the Paralympics, we have new figures showing that horror stories like these are the norm, not the exception, for most travellers.
We’ve also gathered up hundreds of stories from viewers and readers who got in touch with us via social media. Their stories reinforce how difficult travelling can be for people with a disability.
Air travel seems to be particularly challenging. Michaela Hollywood, 22, has always wanted to travel but she has not flown for three years because she was so scarred by her last experience.
Below, Michaela – an ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Trailblazers – explains why.
No fly Britain
“I have always had a desire to see the world. In order to see the world, we all have to fly,” writes Michaela.
“Whether we travel for business or leisure, there is a huge series of largely unseen series of barriers facing disabled people who want to travel, which start with booking a ticket.
“Convenience airlines lose the ability to be easy when mobility equipment needs to be checked in. Online booking is often not an option, forms need to be filled in and even then there can be a long wait to see if your equipment can be carried. Even by carrying out all checks yourself, the situation often changes once you arrive at the airport, meaning you have to leave the comfort of your wheelchair long before your flight takes off.
“Wheelchairs are an especially important piece of equipment. For me, my wheelchair provides me with a functioning pair of legs. It gives me an independence that money can’t buy, and comfort which is impossible to come by in any other seat. I’m more comfortable in my chair than I am in bed. Yet despite being able to travel by car, boat and train in the comfort and security of my own seat, this is currently not an option in air travel.
It’s little surprise that I have not flown since. Michaela Hollywood
“I once lost half of my wheelchair on arrival in Florida, after baggage handlers dismantled it – it took several hours for the bottom half to turn up. On another occasion baggage handlers lost my wheelchair for two weeks following a return flight – I was resigned to bed until it was found. It was thankful this didn’t happen during the two weeks I was on holiday!
“Often getting your wheelchair back is the least of your worries. My last flight was over three years ago. On that flight, my dad lifted me from my chair outside the airplane and into my seat in the interior. I hit my head and foot on the doorway, my foot off two seats and my side on an armrest. Once I was in the seat we used our combined hand luggage to provide support to my back and feet, which the airline seat could not provide.
“It’s little surprise that I have not flown since, having been unable to find a safer, more secure way to transfer seats.
“If we can adapt trains and cars and boats for wheelchair accessibility, why not airplanes? There can be a holiday in the sun for us all, if we work together.”