Jet2 Asks Boy With Muscular Dystrophy to ‘Prove Disability’
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
A 10-year-old boy with muscular dystrophy was asked to prove he was truly disabled by a gate agent when attempting to board a flight out of Croatia’s Split Airport (SPU) on Tuesday.
His mother, Alex Johnson, said she was “appalled” by the gate agent’s request and that her son, Jack, was “mortified” by the incident. Johnson says that there was no issue on the family’s flight on Jet2 to Croatia, but when they tried to fly back to their home in the UK, the airline staff had no record of Jack’s disability.
He is in a motorized scooter, which requires a two-day notice in order to accommodate. During the mixup, the gate agent asked Johnson in front of Jack, “Do you have proof your son is disabled?”
Johnson said she showed the appropriate documents in “disbelief,” and after about two hours, the family was allowed to board the flight.
“He was so embarrassed,” Johnson says of her son. “I want lessons to be learned and all staff to get training to ensure this never happens again to another disabled person. They should be treated with dignity.”
Jet2 says it is “extremely sorry” for the “distressing incident.”
“Although this is an isolated incident, we have learnt a number of lessons and are we are urgently reviewing all our procedures to ensure that this does not happen again,” an airline spokesperson told the BBC.
A similar incident occurred last year, when low-cost Japanese carrier Vanilla Air forced a man bound to a wheelchair to crawl his way on board the aircraft.
H/T: BBC
Featured image by Alp Studio via Unsplash.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.