Paralympian and incapacity advocate Karni Liddell has referred to as for Australian airways to enhance their remedy of individuals with incapacity after she was informed she could not carry her wheelchair on a Jetstar flight.
Liddell had been booked onto a morning flight from Brisbane to Proserpine within the Whitsundays, the place she was attributable to attend a home violence workshop as a speaker.
However on the airport, she was informed her wheelchair, which accommodates a lithium battery, was not permitted together with her on board.
"As quickly as this occurred I knew I wasn't going to fly," she mentioned.
"After an hour she (the crew member) mentioned 'ma'am you possibly can fly however you possibly can't carry your wheelchair'.
"I mentioned 'it might be like me telling you to fly and simply take your legs off' and he or she mentioned 'cease being impolite to me'."
Liddell mentioned regardless of having a harmful items certificates issued by Qantas and Jetstar, the paralympic swimmer and speaker was informed she wanted to provide 5 days' discover and fill in related documentation to move the wheelchair on the flight.
In a press release, a Jetstar spokesperson mentioned the corporate had personally reached out and apologised to Liddell, issuing her a refund and journey voucher.
"Sadly her reserving was made by a journey vendor and didn't embrace the requirement to journey with a 25-kilogram lithium-battery-powered wheelchair," the corporate mentioned.
"Carrying a 25-kilogram lithium battery on our plane requires particular clearance prematurely of the flight's departure."
Liddell mentioned incident was one in all many over a decade of flying and he or she was typically pulled off flights or refused permission to board.
"My mates have heard 100 tales about me and airways," Liddell mentioned.
"I am very used to this taking place to me so I used to be already nervous about flying. I've loads of nervousness round flying."
One other issue is the concern airline workers will harm her wheelchair.
"Each single pal of mine may inform you a narrative about their wheelchair being damaged," Liddell mentioned.
"I simply need to have the ability to arrive with my son on a vacation and never have my wheelchair damaged."
Liddell referred to as for all airways to enhance their remedy of individuals travelling with wheelchairs and for higher coaching of workers in aiding individuals with incapacity.
"I would like them to deal with us as individuals and passengers and prospects," she mentioned.
"I've by no means been handled like a buyer."
Are you aware extra? Contact reporter Marina Trajkovich at marina.trajkovich@9.com.au