Heathrow airport and Assistance

[DeejRC]

Aha, now I’m sure a few of you clicked on this expecting some of the new normal “disability disappointment porn”.
Well I’m sorry to disappoint you, but this is a positive thread. Normally it would go in travel, but given that NPE always features anything LHR does wrong and the news stories of anything vaguely anti disabled, I thought I’d put it in here.
I walk with a stick sometimes, sometimes I don’t and sometimes, well sometimes I can’t walk. At all. At the moment in addition to the arthritis, I’ve a disc that’s gone and subsequent sciatica and well general Ow. Anyway, suffice to say that a week of relaxing hasn’t eased it all off and anyway, today found me back at LHR out to Helsinki for the week. Being a man of course I haven’t booked any assistance with 2 bags, but my wife has more brains than me and bought me a travel walking step as opposed to my big one. Long story short - LHR staff have been superb in helping me transit the airport, getting me to the gate and plane, polite, friendly, respectful and efficient.

I cannot praise them enough. So for all the life sucks brigade, I fire my good news Monday shot back at you. And always remember, there are always ppl far worse off than you, so be grateful for what you can do.
Oh and drugs. Take the drugs. Lots of them! And the wine.

[Chrisgr31]

How great for someone to actually post a positive interaction. Happens all too infrequently

[Collectingbrass]

It's one in the eye for the "They're all SWT" brigade as well.

[boyse7en]

When my dad wasn't too great on his feet, they were really good at getting him (and us) through the airport without a hitch and with very little waiting. If you are disabled or less mobile, it is a real help.

[MesoForm]

When my wife was on crutches coming back through Stansted she was getting knocked into constantly by people rushing past, despite me walking at her 7 o'clock trying to act as a blocker when she was walking against the right hand wall. A customs guy saw her and beckoned her over and put us in the 'e-gates not working' queue so we didn't have to queue up with everyone else.

[ScotHill]

Hats off to Gatwick airport too - my aunt is in a standard wheelchair, which she is unable to push very far unassisted, and they flew her all the way up to Edinburgh saving her weeks of effort and literally thousands of pounds in hotel bills.

[DeejRC]

See folks, it’s not all over, we aren’t doomed just yet.
Oh and cos it’s NPE, no I’m not on any disability benefits claiming from the State.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

This would probably get more traction in the holidays and travel section.

[Hill92]

Civil Aviation Authority said:

Signs of improvement as 14 airports rated as offering a ‘Good’ service and 11 as being ‘Very Good’ and for the second year running no airport was ‘Poor.’

Three airports – London Heathrow, Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick - rated as ‘Needs Improvement.’

https://www.caa.co.uk/newsroom/news/regulator-s-accessibility-assistance-report-highlights-progress-made-by-most-uk-airports-but-finds-three-airports-need-improvement/#

[Biker 1]

I thought I'd post some negativity to balance things out.
I went to India several years ago with a group of people. One of them had an accident & buggered up his leg. We fashioned him a walking stick from a tree branch. New Delhi airport security condemned it as a weapon & confiscated it on the way home.
At least there was unlimited booze on the Virgin Atlantic flight to Heathrow...