Flying with Cystic Fibrosis

[ladybug]

i cannot lift my vest into the overhead bin on my own so always board early with "those needing extra assistance". i kindly tell them, cause they always always ask why i'm boarding early that i have a medical condition and need time getting my equipment next to me in the plane.

on one occasion (united airlines as a matter of fact), i asked the flight attendant to please help me stow my vest as i was travelling alone and couldn't lift it overhead. she told me they cannot stow items for passangers cause if they hurt themselves they wouldn't get workers' comp. after picking my jaw up off the floor (i mean they literally say in that recording that if you're having trouble stowing your luggage to ask a flight attendant for assistance!) i waited and had to have another passenger lift it for me. the flight attendant told me the only way if i couldn't lift it myself was to wait for another "big strong man" or the like to come along and lift it for me. nice.

i cannot believe this woman had the gull to say this after i told her it was medical equipment and i required assistance. i will NEVER fly united again.

i've since had a flight attendant friend say they always help passengers stow their luggage and often move it around in the carriage too when things don't fit, etc. this is part of their job. aside from serving soda and tainted ice and preparing us for the event of a water landing, what else do they really do BESIDES help passengers and their luggage board and de-board?!? (no offense to any flight attendants that DO their jobs)

the fact i specifically told her it was for a medical condition really irked me. its one thing if i'd overpacked my carryon and it was much too heavy for a human to lift, but medical equipment?! come on!

anyway, thanks for posting the passenger's rights. unfortunately, in this case, by telling her i was disabled and required assistance wasn't even enough. i'm pretty sure a note explaining cf and the vest wouldn't have mattered anyway since it appears to have been her avoidance of throwing out her back and that she "really wished she could help me but...."

urgh. its instances like this that make me afraid to fly by myself with my equipment. i guess i just always need a bit strong man to travel with me so HE can lift my medical equipment.

 

[ladybug]

i cannot lift my vest into the overhead bin on my own so always board early with "those needing extra assistance". i kindly tell them, cause they always always ask why i'm boarding early that i have a medical condition and need time getting my equipment next to me in the plane.

on one occasion (united airlines as a matter of fact), i asked the flight attendant to please help me stow my vest as i was travelling alone and couldn't lift it overhead. she told me they cannot stow items for passangers cause if they hurt themselves they wouldn't get workers' comp. after picking my jaw up off the floor (i mean they literally say in that recording that if you're having trouble stowing your luggage to ask a flight attendant for assistance!) i waited and had to have another passenger lift it for me. the flight attendant told me the only way if i couldn't lift it myself was to wait for another "big strong man" or the like to come along and lift it for me. nice.

i cannot believe this woman had the gull to say this after i told her it was medical equipment and i required assistance. i will NEVER fly united again.

i've since had a flight attendant friend say they always help passengers stow their luggage and often move it around in the carriage too when things don't fit, etc. this is part of their job. aside from serving soda and tainted ice and preparing us for the event of a water landing, what else do they really do BESIDES help passengers and their luggage board and de-board?!? (no offense to any flight attendants that DO their jobs)

the fact i specifically told her it was for a medical condition really irked me. its one thing if i'd overpacked my carryon and it was much too heavy for a human to lift, but medical equipment?! come on!

anyway, thanks for posting the passenger's rights. unfortunately, in this case, by telling her i was disabled and required assistance wasn't even enough. i'm pretty sure a note explaining cf and the vest wouldn't have mattered anyway since it appears to have been her avoidance of throwing out her back and that she "really wished she could help me but...."

urgh. its instances like this that make me afraid to fly by myself with my equipment. i guess i just always need a bit strong man to travel with me so HE can lift my medical equipment.

 

[ladybug]

i cannot lift my vest into the overhead bin on my own so always board early with "those needing extra assistance". i kindly tell them, cause they always always ask why i'm boarding early that i have a medical condition and need time getting my equipment next to me in the plane.

on one occasion (united airlines as a matter of fact), i asked the flight attendant to please help me stow my vest as i was travelling alone and couldn't lift it overhead. she told me they cannot stow items for passangers cause if they hurt themselves they wouldn't get workers' comp. after picking my jaw up off the floor (i mean they literally say in that recording that if you're having trouble stowing your luggage to ask a flight attendant for assistance!) i waited and had to have another passenger lift it for me. the flight attendant told me the only way if i couldn't lift it myself was to wait for another "big strong man" or the like to come along and lift it for me. nice.

i cannot believe this woman had the gull to say this after i told her it was medical equipment and i required assistance. i will NEVER fly united again.

i've since had a flight attendant friend say they always help passengers stow their luggage and often move it around in the carriage too when things don't fit, etc. this is part of their job. aside from serving soda and tainted ice and preparing us for the event of a water landing, what else do they really do BESIDES help passengers and their luggage board and de-board?!? (no offense to any flight attendants that DO their jobs)

the fact i specifically told her it was for a medical condition really irked me. its one thing if i'd overpacked my carryon and it was much too heavy for a human to lift, but medical equipment?! come on!

anyway, thanks for posting the passenger's rights. unfortunately, in this case, by telling her i was disabled and required assistance wasn't even enough. i'm pretty sure a note explaining cf and the vest wouldn't have mattered anyway since it appears to have been her avoidance of throwing out her back and that she "really wished she could help me but...."

urgh. its instances like this that make me afraid to fly by myself with my equipment. i guess i just always need a bit strong man to travel with me so HE can lift my medical equipment.

 

[ladybug]

i cannot lift my vest into the overhead bin on my own so always board early with "those needing extra assistance". i kindly tell them, cause they always always ask why i'm boarding early that i have a medical condition and need time getting my equipment next to me in the plane.

on one occasion (united airlines as a matter of fact), i asked the flight attendant to please help me stow my vest as i was travelling alone and couldn't lift it overhead. she told me they cannot stow items for passangers cause if they hurt themselves they wouldn't get workers' comp. after picking my jaw up off the floor (i mean they literally say in that recording that if you're having trouble stowing your luggage to ask a flight attendant for assistance!) i waited and had to have another passenger lift it for me. the flight attendant told me the only way if i couldn't lift it myself was to wait for another "big strong man" or the like to come along and lift it for me. nice.

i cannot believe this woman had the gull to say this after i told her it was medical equipment and i required assistance. i will NEVER fly united again.

i've since had a flight attendant friend say they always help passengers stow their luggage and often move it around in the carriage too when things don't fit, etc. this is part of their job. aside from serving soda and tainted ice and preparing us for the event of a water landing, what else do they really do BESIDES help passengers and their luggage board and de-board?!? (no offense to any flight attendants that DO their jobs)

the fact i specifically told her it was for a medical condition really irked me. its one thing if i'd overpacked my carryon and it was much too heavy for a human to lift, but medical equipment?! come on!

anyway, thanks for posting the passenger's rights. unfortunately, in this case, by telling her i was disabled and required assistance wasn't even enough. i'm pretty sure a note explaining cf and the vest wouldn't have mattered anyway since it appears to have been her avoidance of throwing out her back and that she "really wished she could help me but...."

urgh. its instances like this that make me afraid to fly by myself with my equipment. i guess i just always need a bit strong man to travel with me so HE can lift my medical equipment.

 

[ladybug]

i cannot lift my vest into the overhead bin on my own so always board early with "those needing extra assistance". i kindly tell them, cause they always always ask why i'm boarding early that i have a medical condition and need time getting my equipment next to me in the plane.
<br />
<br />on one occasion (united airlines as a matter of fact), i asked the flight attendant to please help me stow my vest as i was travelling alone and couldn't lift it overhead. she told me they cannot stow items for passangers cause if they hurt themselves they wouldn't get workers' comp. after picking my jaw up off the floor (i mean they literally say in that recording that if you're having trouble stowing your luggage to ask a flight attendant for assistance!) i waited and had to have another passenger lift it for me. the flight attendant told me the only way if i couldn't lift it myself was to wait for another "big strong man" or the like to come along and lift it for me. nice.
<br />
<br />i cannot believe this woman had the gull to say this after i told her it was medical equipment and i required assistance. i will NEVER fly united again.
<br />
<br />i've since had a flight attendant friend say they always help passengers stow their luggage and often move it around in the carriage too when things don't fit, etc. this is part of their job. aside from serving soda and tainted ice and preparing us for the event of a water landing, what else do they really do BESIDES help passengers and their luggage board and de-board?!? (no offense to any flight attendants that DO their jobs)
<br />
<br />the fact i specifically told her it was for a medical condition really irked me. its one thing if i'd overpacked my carryon and it was much too heavy for a human to lift, but medical equipment?! come on!
<br />
<br />anyway, thanks for posting the passenger's rights. unfortunately, in this case, by telling her i was disabled and required assistance wasn't even enough. i'm pretty sure a note explaining cf and the vest wouldn't have mattered anyway since it appears to have been her avoidance of throwing out her back and that she "really wished she could help me but...."
<br />
<br />urgh. its instances like this that make me afraid to fly by myself with my equipment. i guess i just always need a bit strong man to travel with me so HE can lift my medical equipment.

 

[hockeykid]

I flew Northwest/Delta this summer. I flew out of LGA. They told me over the phone that they charge costumers to check medical equipment. I told a supervisor this should not be done. They did not care! I was also told I must check my tube feeding supplies. I refused to do so. I had to argue at the gate just to bring on an extra backpack with my pump and formula. I was told I would have to check my laptop if I wanted to bring on the bag with my medical supplies. Of course I would never do so! I wound up leaving my vest at home since it was going to cost me extra money to travel with it. I was also afraid it might get damaged since Northwest/Delta said they would not be responsible if it got lost or damaged. Hill-Rom told me they replace vests that have been lost during the bag check process. I am not sure if this is really true. I wound up just bringing my Flutter instead.

 

[hockeykid]

I flew Northwest/Delta this summer. I flew out of LGA. They told me over the phone that they charge costumers to check medical equipment. I told a supervisor this should not be done. They did not care! I was also told I must check my tube feeding supplies. I refused to do so. I had to argue at the gate just to bring on an extra backpack with my pump and formula. I was told I would have to check my laptop if I wanted to bring on the bag with my medical supplies. Of course I would never do so! I wound up leaving my vest at home since it was going to cost me extra money to travel with it. I was also afraid it might get damaged since Northwest/Delta said they would not be responsible if it got lost or damaged. Hill-Rom told me they replace vests that have been lost during the bag check process. I am not sure if this is really true. I wound up just bringing my Flutter instead.

 

[hockeykid]

I flew Northwest/Delta this summer. I flew out of LGA. They told me over the phone that they charge costumers to check medical equipment. I told a supervisor this should not be done. They did not care! I was also told I must check my tube feeding supplies. I refused to do so. I had to argue at the gate just to bring on an extra backpack with my pump and formula. I was told I would have to check my laptop if I wanted to bring on the bag with my medical supplies. Of course I would never do so! I wound up leaving my vest at home since it was going to cost me extra money to travel with it. I was also afraid it might get damaged since Northwest/Delta said they would not be responsible if it got lost or damaged. Hill-Rom told me they replace vests that have been lost during the bag check process. I am not sure if this is really true. I wound up just bringing my Flutter instead.

 

[hockeykid]

I flew Northwest/Delta this summer. I flew out of LGA. They told me over the phone that they charge costumers to check medical equipment. I told a supervisor this should not be done. They did not care! I was also told I must check my tube feeding supplies. I refused to do so. I had to argue at the gate just to bring on an extra backpack with my pump and formula. I was told I would have to check my laptop if I wanted to bring on the bag with my medical supplies. Of course I would never do so! I wound up leaving my vest at home since it was going to cost me extra money to travel with it. I was also afraid it might get damaged since Northwest/Delta said they would not be responsible if it got lost or damaged. Hill-Rom told me they replace vests that have been lost during the bag check process. I am not sure if this is really true. I wound up just bringing my Flutter instead.

 

[hockeykid]

I flew Northwest/Delta this summer. I flew out of LGA. They told me over the phone that they charge costumers to check medical equipment. I told a supervisor this should not be done. They did not care! I was also told I must check my tube feeding supplies. I refused to do so. I had to argue at the gate just to bring on an extra backpack with my pump and formula. I was told I would have to check my laptop if I wanted to bring on the bag with my medical supplies. Of course I would never do so! I wound up leaving my vest at home since it was going to cost me extra money to travel with it. I was also afraid it might get damaged since Northwest/Delta said they would not be responsible if it got lost or damaged. Hill-Rom told me they replace vests that have been lost during the bag check process. I am not sure if this is really true. I wound up just bringing my Flutter instead.