Frontier Airlines CEO says time to crack down on passengers who abuse wheelchair services

Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle says there is “massive, rampant abuse” of special services like wheelchair assistance at the airport, which leads to delays for travelers with a genuine need for assistance, according to CNBC. #TODAYShow

[ba]

I have a disability that makes it painful to walk. When I asked about wheelchair service when I arrived at an airport, an airline employee told me that I needed to walk a certain distance just to get it. I didn't know if they were truthful. I ended up walking to the gate myself because I was confused on where to even go get it. I can walk. I just walk very slow and end up with nerve pain from the walk. People shouldn't judge.

[lynnheinlein]

I use this service, not because I cant walk, but because i cant breathe after a short walk. I hace a permanent handicapped vehicle tag. What criteria are they to use?

[Fucyourfeelings]

Imagine the lawsuits when you accuse the wrong people of faking it.

[tracysmith]

When you have to walk 8 miles to your gate, I get it. 😂

[rogergroover]

Wheel chairs board first is why. Let them board last. I’ve seen them board last and a lot of them experienced miracles and got up and walked to their place in line.

[brittany]

Frontier should consider putting more attention on how crappy their employees are and the seats are awful instead of this!

[breannakilburg]

The need for a wheelchair is a spectrum. Some people can't walk long distance but would ne fine to board and seat themselves

[vernondavis]

If you want to witness extreme wheelchair abuse, go to the Guam airport. It’s not uncommon to see 30 wheelchairs lined up for a single flight.

[hawkgeoff]

Maybe they should be more worried about their ineptness at meeting anything resembling a schedule. 4 flights in one week. 100% of them were delayed. Done.

[christinejohnson]

Many Many years ago I sprained my back just before a flight with my two young children. I called the airline to ask for assistance. They sent a car to the parking garage to pick me up (bags and all). Instead of making me go inside, I was driven around to the gate and rode up in an elevator to get my boarding pass and board the plane. They checked my luggage and put my other bags in the overhead compartment. Then did the same when the plane landed. Those were the days.

[barbaramoore]

Went to Portugal last year, a man in a wheelchair who actually looked like
a corpse, he sat all withered looking, next day he was running up the strip waving a football jersey, didn’t need a wheelchair then, anyone caught doing that should be barred for good

[JuanJDumeP]

This is a worldwide problem. Don't allow them to skip the line simple fix.

[GottlikeDamon]

Here is a good solution: don't question why someone might need a wheelchair, there are hidden disabilities and they shouldn't have to disclose what they are experiencing.

Instead hire more personel, pay them more, make accessible areas for passangers to wait and/or create better infrastructure for people to navigate faster and easier.

[joellehoude]

Demand a doctor's note. I know it's extreme and not fair for people who actually need the service but this is what happens when services are abused.

[samantha]

Yes I've seen port Canaveral the people were walking fine on the ship never used a wheelchair the whole time.. disgusting

[davidstager]

How about cracking down on c.e.o s salary

[MisterNobody-]

Make them show documentation of disability that will fix it

[angelacrisafulli]

Frontier should be put out of business. One of the worst airlines to exist.

[juanitalaloca]

The bottom line is wheelchairs slow down the boarding procedure, and can cause the airline to take delay, thus skewing their on time departure statistics.

[dianarockwell]

Do you know why they’re doing this? Because they have been taking peoples money for a service that they outsource, and that outsource company does not provide or they provide late, or they’re rude. They don’t want to have to deal with it because it’s inconvenient. So they’re trying to find a wayto lower the numbers. This is very typical corporate behavior. It is greed based and not customer service based. Their company provides services. And they are not doing it very well and they’re trying to blame the customer for that.