Qantas leaves disabled woman overnight in terminal
A disabled woman who was forced to spend a night in her wheelchair at Sydney Airport is suing Qantas, claiming she was discriminated against by the carrier.
New Zealander Lorraine Mackness has travelled by wheelchair since 1979 after her right knee was fused in car accident, and is seeking an apology and compensation from Qantas after her flight to Auckland was cancelled.
Ms Mackness had previously made arrangements with the airline to accommodate her which generally involved blocking an adjacent seat, but as she prepared to board her flight for Auckland she was told there was no space.
Qantas eventually exchanged the balance of Ms Mackness’ frequent flyer points for a business class seat on a flight next morning, but refused to meet the costs of hotel accommodation or food, forcing her to spend the night in the terminal.
Ms Mackness, who according to court documents has chronic regional pain syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis, suffered "considerable pain overnight".
In the complaint, Ms Mackness stated: "Usually, the seat next to her is provided as a place to prop up her leg, free of charge. Twice she was put in a bulkhead seat with support for her leg. Once, she was put in first class.
"The fact is, planes are designed to accommodate non-disabled people who have two knees that bend and even the majority of disabled people fit into that category. I understand why they do that and at the same time I understand that I am entitled to 'equal access to transport'."
A Qantas spokesman told the AFR the airline "attempted to make arrangements for the passenger to fly on the next available service where an upgrade to business class was available because the flight was not full".
"Every year, we carry tens of thousands of customers who require specific assistance and our staff are trained to ensure they travel safely and comfortably.
"Unfortunately on this occasion, the flight was full, meaning that there were no free seats next to where the customer was seated."
What’s your take? Who do you think is in the wrong?
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