The air carrier that brought the infamous “too fat to fly” policy to the world has  once more taken the world of travel by surprise by bringing its “too disabled to fly” policy in the spotlight. And they thought of trying it out on Johnnie Tuitel, a motivational speaker with cerebral palsy, also known to the world as as “America’s Pioneer Handicapitalist.”
Not only is Tuitel well known, he is also a frequent flyer, logging over 500,000 miles over the past couple of years to attend conferences and deliver speeches. Tuitel was born with cerebral palsy and has been wheelchair-bound his entire life yet this is the first time an airline has required him to fly with a companion, kicking him out of the plain for not having one.
US Airways seems to be the only airline standing behind this policy, as Tuitel booked a flight with Delta Airlines and eventually made it to Kansas City, but he was still late to his speaking engagement to the 2010 National Self Advocacy Conference.
According to PeterGreenberg.com, Tuitel “says he was humiliated by the incident and believes that his removal not only went against the American Disabilities Act, but also violated his civil rights. Tuitel is considering legal action.”
US Airways representatives later stepped up explaining their too disabled to fly policy. It seems gate agent and the plane personnel are fully capable of determining which passengers are too disabled to fly on their own and require to pay for an assistant who would make sure they are taken care of in case of emergency. To me this sounds like a very subjective policy and I have to wonder if none of the 500,000 miles were spent on a US Airways flight. My guess is Tuitel was not a first time customer for the airline, this proving their lack of objectivity in applying their own policy.
While Tuitel did seem to be tempted by legal action, he also stated he would be fine with a US Airways apology and them making sure such an incident never happens again.
By Amey MyersAmey, an intrepid traveler and avid blogger, roams the world, absorbing diverse cultures, flavors, and experiences. Her writing captures the essence of her adventures, inspiring others to explore. Amey's infectious passion for travel and storytelling epitomizes a life filled with exploration and adventure.
