Group of deaf students escorted off plane...

If you had read the article, you would know it was not. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
asl,

those kids who were manning the boat and broke all sorts of rules, it probably wasn't because they were deaf...if the signs were posted they could be read. It was more likely because it was a group of idiot kids who didn't pay attention, not because they are deaf, but because 14 year olds are not the most situationally aware people.
 
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If you had read the article, you would know it was not. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

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Sorry I don't click on links all the time. It takes a lot of my time and frequently leads to websites with a zillion pop ups.

MQA mentioned exit row seating.

I know that there are ADA limitations for how many disabled people can be on a plane at once without attendants dedicated to taking care of them.

I'd have to look up the amount, but perhaps there are similar rules in the UK.

And please tony, I'd appreciate civility from you. I do not appreciate smart ass remarks.
 
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And please tony, I'd appreciate civility from you. I do not appreciate smart ass remarks.

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Well he did have a point...
 
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I know that there are ADA limitations for how many disabled people can be on a plane at once without attendants dedicated to taking care of them.


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This is pretty much where I was heading. DEAF, BLIND, and other physically challenged people have every right in the world to travel by any means they choose, just like you and I. However, just like you and I there travels can not negatively effect the safety of themselves or others. The airlines fly with the bare minimum number of FA's that they can get away with, and the FA's should not have to dedicate all of there time to that one group of deaf people in an emergency. In an emergency there will be injured persons, elderly, children, or any number of other people who ordinarily wouldn't need assistance but now do.

With that being said, if a large group of unaccompanied physically challenged people of any nature are going to travel on one plane the airline should be able to temporarily refuse service if they were not notified in advance so that they can staff extra FA's for that flight. IF they were notified and still failed to board the people then you have a different case entirely.

Delta, Continental, Northwest, and AA all require 48 hours advance notice and an additional hour early arrival if a group of 10 or more physically challenged people are traveling together. (In this case there were 23 of them)
 
i understand what you are saying about the airline wanting extra notice, but i still fail to see how a group of people would need extra assistance in an emergency. These people can see flames, smell smoke, feel a crash landing etc, they can also follow a line of running people (or pushing people) to an emergency exit. A group of blind people i would consider a bit differently because they can't see what is going on to follow everyone else, but a group of deaf people can. Plus, they had to be able to communicate well enough with somone to explain/understand what was going on.
 
As a flight attendant, I would have no problem with a group like this being on board. The fact that it was a group of deaf people wouldn't bother me. If they were rowdy, unruly, obnoxious, aggressive.....then I may have an issue with them, but not just for being deaf. They may not sit in exit rows, there is a whole laundry list of restrictions on people who sit in exit rows, but that exit row restriction would be the only distinguishing factor between them and any other group of people.

When FAs are boarded passengers with disabilities, we are required to give them an individual briefing specific to their 'type' of disability. If a person is non-ambulatory (that is, they can not move about on their own) we tell them certain things, if they are ambulatory (they can move about on their own), we tell them other things. When boarded a deaf passenger, we point out the safety briefing card, which clearly shows exit locations & operations, as well as other safety information. When boarded a blind passenger, we offer them the braile briefing card, which they may choose to accept or not.

I do not know of any advance notification required to the airline. I never worked in ticketing or reservations, so I'm pretty clueless as to that aspect of airline operations.


As a side note, I once had a deaf women on board, and I had no idea she was deaf until I looked closer at the passenger list halfway through the flight and saw the code next to her name & seat number. This was after I had done a complete beverage service, and had carried on a small conversation with her. She could read lips & talk so well, I had no clue she couldn't hear me. The agent didn't tell me about her, so I can only assume the agent didn't know either.
 
What was uncivil about saying that if you were going to comment about something you should read the article?

And did you not notice the little emoticon?

Sheesh, John. LIghten up, buddy!
 
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What was uncivil about saying that if you were going to comment about something you should read the article?

And did you not notice the little emoticon?

Sheesh, John. LIghten up, buddy!

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Sorry - was going on previous history.
 
What previous history? Seems like you dish out a lot of it, John, but you're not willing to take it. You dump on me big time, and I laugh it off. Yet I'm the uncivil one? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Whatever. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

And that will be all from me on this topic.
 
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If the FAs are looking at them, they could be whispering or shouting. Those deaf people are gonna know what they are saying.

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Iberia crew will most likely make all announcements in English and Spanish… so if Iberia denied boarding to these deaf paxes because they felt the crew could not communicate with them then they must deny boarding to all paxes who do not understand English or Spanish.
 
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