Family suing Virgin for not letting disabled children use forward toilets

[Rich]

This is interesting.

Virgin accused of refusing disabled twins toilet access

The family claims cabin crew denied both children access to the forward aircraft lavatory publicly in the presence of other passengers.

www.nine.com.au

If I was representing myself I would be wary of my case being dismissed with costs.

 

[Dmac59]

Very interesting, though all the facts are unknown from that article.
If the children required, and were provided with, wheelchair assistance by VA, it would be unreasonable imo to expect them to use the rear toilets. Unless the J toilets were not necessarily closer to their seats.

 

[equus]

If the children needed to be close to the toilets, why didn't the parents select seats near the toilets down the back?

 

[trippin_the_rift]

In fairness, not being able to use the lavatories at the front of the plane is highly traumatic

 

[Aussie_flyer]

If the children needed to be close to the toilets, why didn't the parents select seats near the toilets down the back?

Makes too much sense when you could try and sue somebody instead!

 

[Rich]

If the children needed to be close to the toilets, why didn't the parents select seats near the toilets down the back?

They may not know the layout or rules. and may well have paid for seats near the front thinking this would help. However if it was such an issue wouldn't you check? Seems very opportunistic to me, especiaaly with the separate lawsuit against DFAT.

In fairness, not being able to use the lavatories at the front of the plane is highly traumatic

It seems more traumatic to some when the wrong people use them though. (Not that I disagree.)

 

[offshore171]

Very interesting, though all the facts are unknown from that article.

Certainly there may be more to this story, given the AHRC looked at the case and dropped it.

 

[MooTime]

My last flight in J I heard an old bat come from beyond row 2 with the line "I have a sore leg so" and made her way to frontal urinals. It was accepted by CM.
I didn't have an issue with it whatsoever just sayin'.
I'd think a child with at least an obvious disability should be fine for frontal can.

 

[equus]

Checkout the "Onboard Wheelchairs" in Mobility Assistance Seems like a case of not aksing / preparing for what is available - or bringing it on yourself. Staff will be well aware of those who request wheel chair assistance for boarding but are cured mid flight and walk off. Or those that can't walk long distances but are fine for going up and down the aisle, so wheel chair assistance for boarding does not always mean wheel chair is require to access the toilet.

However, there are obviously pax who are reliant on awheel chair for any movement, and need to access the toilet - so provision is made. I suspect this claim will not end well for the parent who probably didn't ask the right questions. If refused access to the front toilets they had then stated that the children would require a wheel chair to make it as far the rear toilets, it would probably have been provided. Without being privy to the details, they probably just became entitled and went down this path.