Wheelchair passenger loses Jetstar case

[TheInsider]

A 78-year-old woman has lost her lawsuit against Jetstar over the airline's refusal to allow her on a flight between Adelaide and Brisbane because she was confined to a wheelchair.
Sheila King now faces significant financial hardship after being ordered to pay a substantial part of the airline's legal costs.
Mrs King booked her flight over the internet in August 2008 but was contacted the next day and told she would not be able to fly on that day because there were already two passengers requiring wheelchair assistance booked on the flight.

More here: Wheelchair passenger loses Jetstar case

But seems a fair enough decision though.

 

[anat0l]

Fair enough decision so to speak. Why didn't she specify wheelchair assistance in the first place (OK, perhaps she forgot). In any case, if the rules stand at only 2 wheelchair pax per flight, then JQ would've had the same problem to find a resolution anyway.

I thought there was another thread (possibly in the disuse nethers) that was about this case, except when it had first opened up.

In the end, it's a Phyrric victory for Jetstar.

 

[bam71]

Wheelchair passenger loses Jetstar case

 

[medhead]

Heard this on PM, sounds like a bit of a technicality involved, she didn't tick the "I need a wheelchair" box. Not a technicality is that Jetstar offered her another flight.

Wonder if they'll actually make her pay the legal fees or if she has backing from someone.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[VHOEJ]

Good decision - can't believe she took it that far, her legal advice wasn't very smart obviously.

 

[samh004]

Seems fair enough that they have a limit, even one so low, on wheelchair pax, otherwise in an emergency it would be very hard to help them all out. It’s just common sense. the fact she was offered another flight that she didn’t accept just shows what little common sense people have.

It’s easy to play the discrimination card.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It's not like JQ are saying they don't accept any wheelchairs full stop. The question is if an airline limits the amount of wheelchair pax is that an act of discrimination?

 

[TheInsider]

It's not like JQ are saying they don't accept any wheelchairs full stop. The question is if an airline limits the amount of wheelchair pax is that an act of discrimination?

Then you could say the same thing for Infant limits on flights too.

 

[The Rok]

It's a safety issue, plain and simple. She lied on the booking by not ticking the special assistance box, was then offered a different flight but refused. Her fault, not Jetstar's.

Stop whining and move on. She will know for next time and hopefully so will others.

 

[rechoboam]

What on earth would possess her to sue?? I have a disability too but try to avoid going broke suing people about it. If costs werent capped the legal fees would have been astronomical although 20k is bad enough already.

 

[docjames]

Wonder if they'll actually make her pay the legal fees or if she has backing from someone.

Fee payback is capped at $20,000.

Whether she ends up paying it is another question.