Kolkata: A spinal patient travelling to Coimbatore for surgery on low-cost carrier SpiceJet was refused a wheelchair by an airline executive at the Kolkata airport’s check-in counter on Tuesday. All pleas and arguments by Mamta Agarwala — who was plainly in discomfort — and her husband fell on deaf ears.
Even efforts by other passengers to make the airline staff see reason failed. It was only when the matter was brought to the notice of the airport director that Mamta was issued a wheelchair. Later, a SpiceJet spokesperson issued a statement saying “any shortcoming is deeply regretted”.
Mamta’s airport trauma began around 10.15am, when she and her husband, Tolaram, arrived at departure gate 2A. When she inquired about a wheelchair, the CISF personnel at the gate told her she would have to make the request at the SpiceJet counter. Leaning on a luggage trolley for support, she made her way to the portal that has SpiceJet counters. There, she was directed to counter No. 15.
When she made the request at the counter, the executive said it wouldn’t be possible. “Why did you not make the request at the time of booking the tickets? It is not possible to get a wheelchair now,” the executive reportedly told Mamta.
Even when Tolaram pointed out that she had problems in her spine and was travelling to Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore for an operation scheduled on Thursday, the airline staff allegedly refused to budge.
15/01/20 Times of India
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Even efforts by other passengers to make the airline staff see reason failed. It was only when the matter was brought to the notice of the airport director that Mamta was issued a wheelchair. Later, a SpiceJet spokesperson issued a statement saying “any shortcoming is deeply regretted”.
Mamta’s airport trauma began around 10.15am, when she and her husband, Tolaram, arrived at departure gate 2A. When she inquired about a wheelchair, the CISF personnel at the gate told her she would have to make the request at the SpiceJet counter. Leaning on a luggage trolley for support, she made her way to the portal that has SpiceJet counters. There, she was directed to counter No. 15.
When she made the request at the counter, the executive said it wouldn’t be possible. “Why did you not make the request at the time of booking the tickets? It is not possible to get a wheelchair now,” the executive reportedly told Mamta.
Even when Tolaram pointed out that she had problems in her spine and was travelling to Ganga Hospital in Coimbatore for an operation scheduled on Thursday, the airline staff allegedly refused to budge.
15/01/20 Times of India
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