Bent Frame
So, I specifically asked United to put my chair in the closet. I passed by two empty closets. Saw them with my own eyes. But no. I was told there was no room for my chair -- too much other stuff. When I arrived at SFO, the frame was bent. So bent that the right caster does not touch the ground when I am not sitting in it. And when I am sitting in it, the ride is horrible.
I filed a complaint. The questions are
- bent, live with it? I don't want to, the difference is perceptible with every push.
- bent, we will bend it back. Urgh.
- bent. OK, new chair! OOOOOOeeeeee
7 comments:
I just got a new (ie better) chair this week,and have another coming next week...and air travel in April. I've never been so worried about my things! At least now I know that I can request the closet (so thanks), not that they will honor the request. Up until now I've just been letting them shove it into the belly of the plane, but it was my clunker unit.
What is it with airlines and medical equipment--it's wasteful and costly. I'd still vote new chair since it's not going to be the same--make the old one a travel chair if you can get it somewhat straight.
Hello, I just started reading your blogs a few weeks ago :)
They better offer you a new chair! I mean, what would they do if any other passengers' luggage had been damaged? Offer them a replacement or at least a voucher to the value of the stuff that got damaged.
Luckily the worst thing that ever happened to me was my tires deflating on the way to Spain. I now insist on solid rubber ones :).
Go for a new chair and keep the old one (if you have room), fixed, as a backup, or donate it to charity.
Funny, if United broke someones LEG they would not have the same issue. The wheelchair is an extension of your body...not furniture.
Give 'em hell. Let us know how it goes.
Bobblehead
I keep hearing about airlines buggering up peoples' wheelchairs ...
why don't the airlines put wheelchairs in special shipping cartons they way they do bicycles?! I mean, WTF's with that?
andrea
I keep hearing about how airlines bugger up peoples' wheelchairs and don't understand -- why don't airlines put the folding chairs into shipping cartons the way they do bicycles?! They could have some sturdier clamshells for the motorized chairs. It would prevent damage and make onloading and offloading easier.
A jetliner hold is not a toybox where you just throw stuff in -- that tin can goes through a lot of movement!
andrea
Remind them sweetly of the Air Carriers Access Act (I carry a copy when I fly). It states that they have to carry a chair in the closet if it fits (there is a limit to the number). Also, there is no limit to the amount they have to pay to fix/replace a chair like there is with baggage.
Actually, Delta damaged my chair last week. They bent the 1/2" pin that holds the rear wheel to the axle. I'd love to know how they did that. Thankfully, it was a cheap fix (I didn't realize the problem until the next day, I was way too tired to notice). A $30 part and a hacksaw to remove the damaged pin.
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