I'd say, start charging oversized carry-ons at the gate at a rate higher than if you would have checked it in and in a few weeks the problem is gone.
the number of people abusing this system is out of control. im flying sdq to jfk jet blue on tuesday the 26th. ill count how many
I flew to New York last Thursday on Jet Blue for business meetings.
I saw something that in over 40 years of air travel that I have never seen before anywhere. Ten per cent of the passengers flying that day required wheelchair assistance at SDQ and again at JFK......yep 18 passengers in wheel chairs all lined getting preferencial service. Quite a sight and I should have snapped it but out of respect for genuine disabled passengers though best not.
At both departure and arrival there were extended delays to access and egress the aircraft and there was a shortage of ground staff to deal with this number.
What did irk was that some of the disabled passengers had reason to vacate their wheelchairs during the wait to board.
I think wheelchair use at SDQ is grossly abused....and perhaps at other DR airports too. Are you charged for the service...or should you be...it all goes to the airport service charge charged to carriers otherwise.
To make the departure more eventful two other incidents occurred. A Dominican stowed his duty free in the overhead bin but it fell out prior to take off and cut a passengers head and that person had to be hospitalized delaying departure (BA and Iberia do not permit storage of bottles in overhead bins for this reason). And then on opening the cargo hold door on the arriving Condor fight, a dog jumped out and had to be chased around the airport.
All in a few hours at SDQ......
I can tell you first hand that the number of wheelchairs that board are not the same that deplane.
It is "known" in the industry that the flights to DR are "glorious" as we have many inflight "miracles".
They board in a wheelchair and by the grace of God, and the fact that you are so much closer to
heaven, upon touching down on the land of "Papa Dios" they proceed to walk right off the aircraft.
I questioned my friend for doing this (for her mom) when she was on her way to JFK. Their reasoning
was that she does not speak English and did not want to get lost at such a big airport. When you ride
the wheelchair they help you with your bags and take you all the way through the long customs lines for
free.
--Sigh...
On my trip to Philadelphia in March, the flight attendant came to me to ask, after I boarded from a wheelchair, if I would need one at arrival. I simply said "yes," while thinking to myself, "Do you think that I received a miracle on this plane and now my leg is whole again?" I did, however, restrain myself from expressing the sarcasm.
.yep 18 passengers in wheel chairs all lined getting preferencial service.
LaProfe, now you know why.
The arrival destination is advised enroute of how many wheelchairs will be needed for deplaning.
The handlers are then ready and wait for you at the jetway.
So you see how its is comical that eighteen board and only one deplanes.
Might also have something to do with the fact that while folks in Wheelchairs are the first to board, they are the last to de-plane upon arrival..
And FYI, I counted 27 WC early boarding on my United flight from Santo Domingo to Newark last week. So many that I snapped a picture. Unbelievable!
?...............
27 is our new record........why not post the photograph!
No, I don't think so. If that was your Mother/Son/etc. in one of the wheelchairs, how would you feel about having their picture posted here without their permission? I know I wouldn't like it.
But if your interested in seeing the pic, send me your email address in a pm and I'll send it to you.
Very strange.
Seems to me boarding first and getting off the plane last are negative effects.
Anyway, I fail to see how a wheelchair will gain you more carry on luggage.
Logically, well its my logic anyhow, putting your carry on in an overhead bin first does not garanty it will stay there.
I am a " light " carry on person. Small backpack. Rule #27, only have a carry on you can run like mad with
BUT I plain refuse for my carry on to be let out of my sight.
Example. Last AA flight to miami out of STI.
I board the plane last. No place left in overhead bin thingys.
I refuse to let my bag go futher aft in the plane.
One seat #, one place for carry on. I dont budge and they always accomodate me.
Off topic ??
No, because the carry on bag they took out of the bin above my seat belonged to a party of wheelchair-ers !!!