[gps-talkusers] Re: bad news EasyJet, non GPS related
- From: "Ari" <isaac@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 06:15:18 -0500
Mike
Sorry about your trouble with EasyJet. If there's anything I can do from
here to help takethem on and make them change their discriminatory policy -
I'd like to. IATA's head office is in Montreal.
Ari.
Ari.
-----Original Message-----
From: gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:gps-talkusers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael May
Sent: December 6, 2006 3:31 AM
To: GPS-talkusers-freelists.org
Subject: [gps-talkusers] bad news EasyJet, non GPS related
First off, this message has nothing to do with GPS but everything to do with
traveling independently.
The incident with the restaurant in Copenhagen pales in comparison with my
experience this morning with EasyJet in Berlin. It takes a lot to rattle my
cage but I feel a bit in shock.
Some background. It is tricky to get from Poznan Poland to Barcelona Spain
with a reasonable airfare and I am literally paying for my work around. We
took a 3 hour train ride to Berlin and spent the night near the
Berlin-Shoenfeld airport. EasyJet had a cheap flight at 8:30 this morning to
Barcelona.
I have traveled to 33 countries and 27 of those countries with a Seeing Eye
dog. I have rarely been challenged with the dog by airlines and never been
denied access to a flight. We did ride in the cockpit of a 727 in Argentina
once because they didn't want the dog near the passengers. I didn't mind
that a bit. Another time in Peru, the flight was delayed for 2 hours while
they sorted things out with the U.S. embassy in Lima. After all, it was a 1
AM flight. I haven't yet taken my dog to the UK but that is even possible
now if you jump through the right hoops. I even have all the documentation
with me to take my dog into the UK if necessary.
So, I was stunned when they told me at the EasyJet counter that service
animals are not allowed in the cabin to certain destinations. Flights to and
from the UK are okay but not other flights and in particular, not Berlin to
Barcelona.
I spoke to a woman at a different counter and she printed out their
regulation that specifies this discrimination. She says it is posted on the
web site and you have to click on the agreement before purchasing the
ticket. Who ever reads all those policy statements other than the part about
non-refundable fares? She said there was no way EasyJet was going to let me
on the flight with my dog.
I asked what my alternatives were. She called Air Berlin and told me about
their flights to Barcelona later in the day. I would have to take a taxi 40
minutes to the other Berlin airport in order to go on this flight and I'd
have to fly to Palma Mallorca and then change planes to get to Barcelona. I
would lose 5 hours in the process and it would cost me about $350 for the
flight and taxis.
We decided that we would cut our losses if Charles went ahead on the EasyJet
flight and I separated to take the Air Berlin flight.
EasyJet wasn't even apologetic about this situation. She thought because the
policy was documented that I had no reason to complain or to feel
discrimated against. They wouldn't even refund my EasyJet ticket let alone
pay for the other flights.
I know that the other low cost European airline, Ryan Air, got into a lot of
trouble over denying disabled passengers access. I don't see how EasyJet can
go against international aviation acceptance of dog guides in the cabin if
there is no issue of admittance in the country you are traveling to. It is a
much bigger deal to take on a major airline as compared with an individual
restaurant. At the same time, I have never backed down from these situations
and I don't plan on getting soft now. As soon as my shock wears off and I
get myself to Barcelona,, we'll figure out how to start addressing EasyJet
so blind people have access to low cost travel like everyone else. For now,
stay clear of EasyJet and probably Ryan Air if you have a dog guide.
Mike
Michael G. May
CEO Sendero Group
Developers and distributors of BrailleNote GPS
Distributing BrailleNote, VoiceNote, Talks, Miniguide, The Tissot Silen-T
tactile watch, and the ID Mate bar code reader
MikeMay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.SenderoGroup.com
1-888-757-6810, Fax (530) 757-6830, Mobile (530) 304-0007
Sendero Group, LLC
1118 Maple Lane, Davis, CA 95616-1723, USA
Latitude, 38 33 9.239 North
Longitude, 121 45 40.145 West
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