Recently my wife and I went to Hawaii on vacation. We flew from New
York to Dallas (3 1/2 hours) and then to Honolulu (7 1/2 hours) and back
via American Airlines. Two weeks prior to our departure, the travel
agency told me the airline would be American (I guess because they buy
bulk, they aren't sure which airline will be used). In the ten years
I've had PD, I have never requested special consideration because of
the disease. However, because of the long flight, I decided to swallow
my pride and request bulkhead seating. It gives you more room in front
and therefore allows you to get up more easily and allows you to stretch
stiff muscles. I immediately called American and requested bulkhead
seating on each leg of the flight. I was told those seats were already
filled up, and I should talk to "services" when I got to the airport. I
protested to my travel agency who said they would try to help. They made
a phone call to American, but according to them, got no help.
So, the day we left, I went to the boarding gate and requested the
seats. A very friendly lady immediately assigned the seats to us. She
explained they always have some bulkhead seats in reserve. However, she
said she could only handle that particular leg of the trip. She told me
I would have to go to the boarding gate on each leg and make my request.
That I did and was able to get the seats on each leg. They made the long
journey a lot more bearable.
I observed my fellow bulkhead seat passengers on each leg and did
not notice anyone with a disability. In fact, I asked one man seated
next to me how he got the seats, and he told me they were just assigned
to him. He didn't request them, and he wasn't disabled.
I found it very stressful and demeaning to have to repeatedly
explain to airline personnel what my disability was and to request
special seating. I think they should have been able to accommodate me
from the very beginning and spare me the stress of not knowing where I
would be seated. Anyone who has flown knows how cramped and
uncomfortable airline seating is for healthy people!
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does the Americans with
Disabilities Act have any bearing on airline seating?
Regards,
Bruce Hollenbeck
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