Heathrow’s disabled ‘service’ left me stranded
I’VE had a similar experience to Richard Littlejohn’s mum travelling through Heathrow (Mail). As I suffer badly from arthritis, I require a wheelchair at the airport. Earlier this year, I was flying to Muscat as a guest of a university there. The airline contacted ‘special services’ for them to collect me after I had checked in. Despite a number of reminders from me and the airline, I ended up waiting an hour-and-a-half for the wheelchair to arrive. If it was up to ‘special services’, I would probably still be waiting. In contrast, on checking in at Muscat for my return flight, there was a man with a wheelchair waiting for me.
JEREMY J.S.B. HALL, London E14. WHEN travelling, I need assistance because of the long distance to the airport gate and I also need help with my luggage as I can’t lift weights. I try to visit my grandchildren in Australia once a year — a long ordeal in any case for a lone woman over 80. Arrival in Sydney means a cheerful person is waiting for you with a wheelchair, and in the luggage hall there is another person to carry your suitcase. However, at Heathrow it is a different story. Like Richard Littlejohn’s mother, I have been deposited all alone in a holding pen and been told there is a shortage of the ‘right’ wheelchairs.
Name and address supplied. I WAS in a car crash in Arizona and sustained a head injury, broken leg and fractured ribs. I was dreading the journey home. On arriving at Heathrow, I was asked to remain in my plane seat while transport was arranged for me by the British Airways steward. I was helped into an electric buggy while my bag and cases were collected for me. My buggy took me to my son and daughter in arrivals who were waiting to collect me. It then took me to my son’s car and I was helped into the back seat. I would never fault Heathrow for the care I received when I was in a lot of pain, and was treated with respect and kindness.
JAN CLYDE, Christchurch, Dorset.