Member

Last year, at some check-in, I was asked if I could take the wheels off my chair. I said, “Certainly: bring me two mechanics and a socket set and we can get them off in about 30 minutes. Then, bring four baggage handlers to carry a 55-kilogram chair to the plane, and another to push me to the airport in a chair”. They decided to leave the wheels on. The vital point I am seeking to make here is that communication from the booking computer to the check-in staff—and training, training and training of all check-in staff on batteries—is essential. As I say to the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, they could teach that Air France pilot who, two years ago, in front of all my colleagues, said that he would not take my chair as it was a terrorist threat. He refused to take me on that Air France plane, despite the fact that they had taken me out on an Air France plane the day before. I have met only three check-in staff who had done an electric wheelchair before and did not need to summon others to advise.