Scope calls boycott on Ryanair

[Sider]

Ryan Air "needs its wings clipped", says Scope

The UK's leading disability organisation is today calling on the public - disabled and non-disabled - to begin a boycott of Ryan Air, the bargain basement air carrier.

The call comes from Scope, the organisation behind the Time to Get Equal campaign, after Ryan Air threw disabled travellers off a plane in Italy because they were 'over their quota for disabled people' on that flight – despite the fact the disabled people in question needed no assistance from staff.

Ryan Air has been consistently criticised for its disablist and inhumane treatment of people. Previously reported instances include:

A disabled woman who was forced to 'waive her rights to compensation’ after her wheelchair was damaged during a flight.

A family's trip to Italy being ruined after their disabled son was stuck on a plane in Stanstead for an hour-and-a-half waiting for a platform lift.

Another family's holiday being ruined when Ryan Air destroyed parts of a disabled boy's wheelchair which made it impossible for him to be mobile during the trip.

Tony Manwaring, Scope’s chief executive, said:

“Ryan Air has been warned time and time again that their treatment of disabled people is simply unacceptable – but it seems they have their heads in the clouds – it's time the public clipped their wings.

“Companies like Ryan Air give those travel operators who run good air, rail and bus services a bad name. Many actively work with Scope to make reasonable adjustments so that disabled people can access transport along with everyone else.

“It's time they were brought down to earth, it's time to get equal.”

- Ends -

Further information from Louis High, head of communications, campaigns and marketing, Scope, on 07795 481273

Hopefully, Ryanair is gonna start reconsidering some of its policies, or else...

[muddyweb]

and from Ryanair......

Ryanair welcomes all disabled / reduced mobility passengers on board and carry hundreds of thousands every year. However, in accordance with our long standing safety procedures we will continue - for safety reasons only - to limit the number of disabled/mobility impaired passengers to 4 per flight. This limit was originally agreed with the UK’s Disability Rights Commission for safety reasons. This is so our crew can attend to these passengers individually in the case of emergency evacuations.

The only reason why these 9 blind passengers and partially sighted people were asked to travel on a later flight was because (1) they did not – as they are required – notify the airline of their disability at the time of booking and (2) there were already 3 disabled passengers on board and who travelled on that flight.

It would have been unsafe to allow a total of 12 disabled / reduced mobility passengers to travel on board the flight as we would have been unable to attend to them in the case of an emergency evacuation. As in all cases, safety is Ryanair’s No.1 priority.

[TUFFTEE]

Speaking as one who works in the industry! (Not for Ryan air) i must add!
I can see the point the Airline has Taken!
The Emergency Exits on most Aircraft are very small and if in an Emergency You could Imagine All the Passengers Making the way to them! In a Free for All!
I am talking People Climbing over seats and even climbing over other passengers! Scrambling to make their way to an Exit Doors!
And when their are Dis-abled passengers in the way! They will climb over them as well?
I see it Day in And Day out! That Wheelchair passengers Have to be Boarded from a special Lift Ambulance Just to get on the Aircraft! And the same at their Destination to De-Board! I hope you can see the Safety issues now!

[Sider]

and from Ryanair......

Ryanair welcomes all disabled / reduced mobility passengers on board and carry hundreds of thousands every year. However, in accordance with our long standing safety procedures we will continue - for safety reasons only - to limit the number of disabled/mobility impaired passengers to 4 per flight. This limit was originally agreed with the UK’s Disability Rights Commission for safety reasons. This is so our crew can attend to these passengers individually in the case of emergency evacuations.

The only reason why these 9 blind passengers and partially sighted people were asked to travel on a later flight was because (1) they did not – as they are required – notify the airline of their disability at the time of booking and (2) there were already 3 disabled passengers on board and who travelled on that flight.

It would have been unsafe to allow a total of 12 disabled / reduced mobility passengers to travel on board the flight as we would have been unable to attend to them in the case of an emergency evacuation. As in all cases, safety is Ryanair’s No.1 priority.

BTW, Tim, did you know that both statements in that communique were proven lies yesterday by Watchdog?

1.- The Disability Rights Commission denied any knowledge of such agreement.

2.- The group leader showed the telephone records, which at least showed conversations being held with Ryanair, if not the contents of said conversations.

Let's be serious, Tuftee. No other airline applies this policy. Ryanair have always shown little to no sensitivity towards disabled people.

As another example, they are one of the few, if not the only airline to charge extra for baby pushchairs. Many other airlines do not even count the chair's weight towards your luggage allowance.

[V8MoneyPit]

I suspect there is a fine line being drawn by RyanAir. They are charging very low fares and have to compromise certain areas as a result. I used to fly with them Stansted to Prestwick 2 or 3 times a month. On one occasion Stansted was fog bound and we returned to Prestwick. The next flight was the following morning. People were complaining that RyanAir would not pay for their hotel and expenses to get there. Excuse me, but what did they expect for a £1.50 ticket???

If RyanAir operated in the same way as most other airlines, they would have to charge like most other air lines. If carrying greater numbers of disabled passengers means greater staff to cover for emergencies, the fares would have to go up. They have to draw a balance somewhere and not everyone will agree on where that balance is drawn.

Oh, and Watchdog is a totally unbiased and balanced programme? Hmmm!

[TUFFTEE]

What you are not Gathering is: In the event of a survivable Plane Crash! A Disabled person is most likely to be one of the Statistics? for want of a (better word) To Either Be very seriously Injured or Die from the Scramble of the Able Bodied Passengers to Get off the Aircraft!
I am not saying that the Airline is not a fault?
But as Tim Stated! It is the responsibility of the passenger to Inform the Airline of any Dis-abilities!
But all policies Are put in place For their Safety! as well as other passengers!
Did you know that it is illegal to seat anyone next to an emergency exit door! if they are Phyisically unable to open that door in an emergency?

[Sider]

I am not saying that watchdog is a "totally" unbiased program. Show me one, and I'll gather you live in Utopia.

And yes, maybe Ryanair sells the cheapest tickets. Then again, they make the most expensive charges (flight to Madrid, advertised by Ryanair as £1.50, with taxes and surcharges, came to £50pp, whereas advertised by other airline for £25, with taxes and the works, came down to £45).

And yes, I realise that in the event of a survivable crash, the able bodied are more likely to survive. Applying that rule, let's ban disabled people from travelling by ferry, after all, they do not stand a chance if they have to jump ship. Oh, and the tube? if there is a fire and the lifts stop working, they are doomed, so let's ban them from travelling by tube as well. Let's not forget multi-storey buildings, just in case, and buses, they would never be able to leave an overturned bus. Just to make it easier, let's make it illegal for a disabled person to leave the house, since they are so much at risk.

Now tell me why any of those examples are morally more reprochable than the attitude sported by ryanair, and tell me whether you would be willing to implement any of them.

[V8MoneyPit]

I'm not for one moment suggesting it's right, Nico. Just trying to suggest why it happens. Most things in this less than perfect life come down to money  :?

[TUFFTEE]

Nico! Without getting into a really heated argument! That is the reasons Airlines And i Mean Airlines Limit the amount of Disabled passengers on their flights!
 Disabled Passengers Need Care! End of Argument!

[Sider]

I agree they do limit it, to a minimum ratio of one able bodied per disabled. Not to a maximum of 4.

My point is, if other companies can do it, even those with lower fares than Ryanair, then surely it would not send Ryanair to bankruptcy if they were forced to do it.

And since airlines are exempt from the disability discrimination act, the only way to force them is by taking our custom to other airlines.

[Garin]

Ryan air handled the situation badly they have not a good track record when it comes to disabled passengers, in a emergency people have to be able to leave the plane quickly if the ratio of disabled passengers is to high this would not be possible a limit of 4 does seem to be low, the outcome of the aircrash in Toronto the other week would of been different if the ratio had been to high

[Dirty Gertie]

This was discussed on the radio in the week:
The point is, that in this instance, the people concerned were not physically disabled; they were blind and partially sighted; their group leader clearly stated this at the time of booking, and their bookings were accepted by Ryanair!

Now then, consider this; if you were in a 'reduced vision situation' at ANY time, (eg crashed plane, full of smoke...)who would you be able to rely on to lead you from harm/trouble?

A. A sighted person, who therefore relies on their eyesight to take them places?
or
B. A blind or partially sighted person, who has learned to use ALL their other senses?

Incidentally; this party was going on a mountain walking holiday; ALL were PHYSICALLY able and ALL had their own helpers with them!!

[TUFFTEE]

This is a bit more information than was supplied earlier?
Thankyou Janie!



   

Incidentally; this party was going on a mountain walking holiday; ALL were PHYSICALLY able and ALL had their own helpers with them!!

If Everything was declared at the time of Booking and The Booking for that paticular party Was Accepted!

Then RyanAir was at Fault?

However Dispatchers and Captains tend to make their own rules as well?

[Dirty Gertie]

You can hear the discussion on the 'listen again' feature here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/vine/?focuswin It was Friday's show.