Did you know I travelled to Europe undercover to expose the harsh realities of air travel for disabled flyers in a Channel 4 documentary?
Television presenter and disability advocate, Sophie Morgan sent me and a group of disabled travellers with various disabilities on this mission to expose the shocking treatment we face while flying. Each group travelled to European cities using three airlines and airports that have faced criticism from disabled passengers in the past.
Sophie launched the Rights on Flights campaign after experiencing years of mistreatment and damage to her wheelchair by airport staff. This campaign aims to pressure airlines and policymakers to improve the treatment of disabled passengers and create ground-breaking legislation, The Assisted Air Travel Act (™).
A key solution highlighted in the campaign is a foldable plane seat, The Air4All system, developed by Chris Wood, Preismangoode, and SWS Certification in collaboration with Delta Flight Products that would allow wheelchair users to remain in their wheelchairs during flights. This would be life-changing for so many disabled people, myself included.
I’ve faced wheelchair damage, inadequate treatment from staff, and the nightmare situation of arriving at my destination only to find my wheelchair was left behind. I always have to dehydrate myself before and during flights because I can’t use the onboard toilet, and I experience physical pain and discomfort from being unable to stay in my wheelchair. I’ve also been left waiting onboard for over an hour for assistance to arrive, and when staff do show up, they often lack the necessary training to transfer me safely.
These issues are unacceptable, and I have shared my experiences on my blog and social media for years to raise awareness about the challenges and to help drive positive change.
But I am not alone in this struggle. Many disabled travellers around the world face similar and often worse situations. So I was excited when asked to be part of this incredible documentary.
As you will see in the documentary, one of the undercover reporters with a spinal cord injury had to drag himself along the floor of the plane to get to the toilet because an aisle chair was not available for him to use.
In another scene, a hoist fails to arrive, leaving Sulaiman, who has muscular dystrophy, stranded on the aircraft. Myself and others are manhandled from our wheelchairs into the plane seats and back again by special assistance staff.
You will see the staff struggling to transfer Jonathan and me into the plane seats due to the unsafe conditions and lack of training. Some members of the group were even told they couldn’t board at all because their wheelchairs were too heavy, even though they had called ahead and received approval.
Sophie Morgan’s Fight to Fly aired on Channel 4 and is available to watch online.
Did you watch the documentary? Let me know your thoughts.
Where Next: You Might Also Enjoy
The Ultimate Guide to Flying With a Powered Wheelchair: Tips & Advice
5 Failings of Special Assistance for Disabled Passengers at Edinburgh Airport & London City Airport
20 UK Airports that have Changing Places Toilets
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