Accessible Recreation
- CBC Reports on Air Fare Appeal
- Choosing Smaller Airports
- Complaining About Air Travel
- Saddledome Adventure
- Handicapped Parking in Barcelona
- One in Four Tourists
- Costs Awarded Against Airlines
- Restaurants with Home Cooking
- Rick Steves' Easy Access Europe
- One Person, One Fare
CBC Reports on Air Fare Appeal
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Looking for readers' help. Has the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of the "One Person, One Fare" policy? Where is the Court's decision available?
OK, here is where my own research skills either shine or fail! I need help with this one.
The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) said yesterday that the Federal Court of Appeal has upheld the earlier decision of the Canadian Transportation Agency on the matter of "one person, one fare".
This is a policy that would require the Canadian airlines Air Canada, Jazz and WestJet to allow persons who are severely disabled to be accompanied by an attendant on domestic Canadian flights at no additional cost. The policy also permits persons who are extremely obese to be accommodated in a way that has yet to be worked out.
I have written about the decision before in these pieces:
CBC reported that the appeal had been dealt with and that the airlines had lost. The story was broadcast May 13, 2008 and is also on CBC's website. The external link CBC provides leads to a decision (again, decision 2008 FCA 169 of the Federal Court of Appeal). This decision is only about a procedural matter.
I have emailed the CBC and the Federal Court of Appeal requesting further information.
UPDATE: Found it!
It wasn't easy. The Court dismissed the airlines' application for leave to appeal, and did not issue a written decision. The record showing that the application for leave was dismissed is found on this page at item 38.
Yes, I am a nitpicker sometimes.
I thank the staff person at the Federal Court of Appeal who advised that the application had been dismissed by an Order without reasons.
The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) said yesterday that the Federal Court of Appeal has upheld the earlier decision of the Canadian Transportation Agency on the matter of "one person, one fare".
This is a policy that would require the Canadian airlines Air Canada, Jazz and WestJet to allow persons who are severely disabled to be accompanied by an attendant on domestic Canadian flights at no additional cost. The policy also permits persons who are extremely obese to be accommodated in a way that has yet to be worked out.
I have written about the decision before in these pieces:
- One Person, One Fare Policy
- Obese Air Passengers Win
- Airlines and Disabled Passengers (has more links)
CBC reported that the appeal had been dealt with and that the airlines had lost. The story was broadcast May 13, 2008 and is also on CBC's website. The external link CBC provides leads to a decision (again, decision 2008 FCA 169 of the Federal Court of Appeal). This decision is only about a procedural matter.
I have emailed the CBC and the Federal Court of Appeal requesting further information.
UPDATE: Found it!
It wasn't easy. The Court dismissed the airlines' application for leave to appeal, and did not issue a written decision. The record showing that the application for leave was dismissed is found on this page at item 38.
Yes, I am a nitpicker sometimes.
I thank the staff person at the Federal Court of Appeal who advised that the application had been dismissed by an Order without reasons.
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Regional airports are much less stressful than major hubs, in my opinion.
It used to be that if you were flying to Toronto, you pretty much had to fly to ... Toronto. Unless you had your own plane, of course.
Then WestJet started up. This Calgary-based airline, modelled after SouthWest Airlines in the USA, used the same strategy and began flying to underutilized regional airports. Now in addition to flying to Toronto, WestJet flies to Hamilton, London, Ottawa, and Kitchener-Waterloo, to name just a few of its Ontario destinations.
I find it so much nicer to land at the one-building kind of airport, and I enjoy walking across the tarmac, rather reminds me of Casablanca.
Then WestJet started up. This Calgary-based airline, modelled after SouthWest Airlines in the USA, used the same strategy and began flying to underutilized regional airports. Now in addition to flying to Toronto, WestJet flies to Hamilton, London, Ottawa, and Kitchener-Waterloo, to name just a few of its Ontario destinations.
I find it so much nicer to land at the one-building kind of airport, and I enjoy walking across the tarmac, rather reminds me of Casablanca.
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
In making a formal complaint to a regulatory body, make sure they have the power to deal with your matter.
I've just written an article about a recent decision of the Canadian Transportation Agency involving an accessible travel complaint. It's called Accessiblity Complaint Decision.
A couple of things came out in this decision, about the procedure in particular.
The complainant was not the disabled person. The Agency said that the disabled person herself should have made the claim. It wasn't fatal in this particular case, but if the stakes were higher, it could have shut the proceedings down.
The complainant wanted money and free flights because of the discomfort the airline had allegedly caused.
The Agency said it did not have the power to award those things.
Making a complaint to a regulatory agency can be fairly easy, especially as compared to going to court. Agencies often have staff who can help complainants work through the process.
However, most regulatory bodies exist to do very limited things in tightly prescribed situations.
Make sure the one you complain to can give you what you really want.
A couple of things came out in this decision, about the procedure in particular.
The complainant was not the disabled person. The Agency said that the disabled person herself should have made the claim. It wasn't fatal in this particular case, but if the stakes were higher, it could have shut the proceedings down.
The complainant wanted money and free flights because of the discomfort the airline had allegedly caused.
The Agency said it did not have the power to award those things.
Making a complaint to a regulatory agency can be fairly easy, especially as compared to going to court. Agencies often have staff who can help complainants work through the process.
However, most regulatory bodies exist to do very limited things in tightly prescribed situations.
Make sure the one you complain to can give you what you really want.
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
This is a personal tale of public embarrassment - but fortunately, no names were given.
Writing an article today about Calgary Pengrowth Saddledome as an accessible destination reminded me of the Bryan Adams concert I went to there for my birthday about two years ago.
Colin James opened - both his and Bryan Adams' shows were lots of fun, a great night. The only nit was the people in front of us. For half of every song, the woman got up and danced in the tiny space between her seat and the seat in front. Her boyfriend wasn't so keen on dancing, so we had a bit of a reprieve, but we still had a lot of our view of the stage blocked.
Anyway, the music was good so I didn't worry too much about the inconsiderate woman. (There was room to dance elsewhere and she could have gone there).
Driving home, we heard the DJ on our local rock station taking calls from concert goers.
DJ: "OK, so how was the night?"
Caller: "I had a great time but my section was DEAD. I was sitting in section 82 and I just want to say to those people sitting in section 82, man, you guys are DEAD. I was the only one dancing!"
I know what you're thinking, and the answer is... yes. Out of a crowd of 20,000 or so... amazing but true.
Colin James opened - both his and Bryan Adams' shows were lots of fun, a great night. The only nit was the people in front of us. For half of every song, the woman got up and danced in the tiny space between her seat and the seat in front. Her boyfriend wasn't so keen on dancing, so we had a bit of a reprieve, but we still had a lot of our view of the stage blocked.
Anyway, the music was good so I didn't worry too much about the inconsiderate woman. (There was room to dance elsewhere and she could have gone there).
Driving home, we heard the DJ on our local rock station taking calls from concert goers.
DJ: "OK, so how was the night?"
Caller: "I had a great time but my section was DEAD. I was sitting in section 82 and I just want to say to those people sitting in section 82, man, you guys are DEAD. I was the only one dancing!"
I know what you're thinking, and the answer is... yes. Out of a crowd of 20,000 or so... amazing but true.
Handicapped Parking in Barcelona
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Although handicapped travel parking badges are supposed to be widely recognized, a reader found that the local authorities in Barcelona would not recognize his pass.
Occasionally, I have written about handicapped parking passes. I did my homework and found the agreements that should let holders of passes from Canada or the U.S. use their passes in the European Union.
A reader wrote to say that the city authorities in Barcelona, Spain only accepted their own local passes, which were not available to non-residents.
My advice to him was to pursue this before going back to Spain, if he could, and to see if the U.S. Embassy in Spain might help. (He is an American). I suggested some other agencies to contact, including the official tourism agency of the Spanish government.
This sort of problem is most unfortunate, because it creates uncertainty for people who are travelling, and especially for people with disabilities who are travelling. When there is more than one set of rules in operation, the traveller has to try and guess which ones will be in place when he gets there.
I would encourage readers to check as many local information sources as they can, to try and find out how things will be on the ground. I read bulletin boards and reports from travellers from all over the world, and I suggest that readers also search out a few of these. They don't have to be for people with disabilities - any recent traveller or local resident could be a helpful source.
Surprisingly enough, I am finding Facebook to have a lot of groups interested in accessibility and travel. I am not recommending Facebook in particular, but suggesting that readers look around for websites where there are active discussion boards on travel topics. There are many out there, catering to different tastes.
Please share your own good or bad experiences in whatever way is easiest for you - there's always someone who will find it useful.
A reader wrote to say that the city authorities in Barcelona, Spain only accepted their own local passes, which were not available to non-residents.
My advice to him was to pursue this before going back to Spain, if he could, and to see if the U.S. Embassy in Spain might help. (He is an American). I suggested some other agencies to contact, including the official tourism agency of the Spanish government.
This sort of problem is most unfortunate, because it creates uncertainty for people who are travelling, and especially for people with disabilities who are travelling. When there is more than one set of rules in operation, the traveller has to try and guess which ones will be in place when he gets there.
I would encourage readers to check as many local information sources as they can, to try and find out how things will be on the ground. I read bulletin boards and reports from travellers from all over the world, and I suggest that readers also search out a few of these. They don't have to be for people with disabilities - any recent traveller or local resident could be a helpful source.
Surprisingly enough, I am finding Facebook to have a lot of groups interested in accessibility and travel. I am not recommending Facebook in particular, but suggesting that readers look around for websites where there are active discussion boards on travel topics. There are many out there, catering to different tastes.
Please share your own good or bad experiences in whatever way is easiest for you - there's always someone who will find it useful.
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Millions of people in Canada and the U.S. rated accessibility as being important to their travel needs and plans.
In my article Research on Accessible Travel, I wrote about some of the findings in a report published by the Ontario (Canada) Ministry of Tourism in July 2007.
There are a number of statistics from the U.S. and Canada in that report. The most impressive one, for me, was right at the start. Over 30 million Americans (U.S.A.) rated accessibility as being something important to them when they travel.
The population of Canada is about 33 million. The population of California is about 36 million.
It's like everyone in Canada, or everyone in California, wants accessibility.
Another calculation estimated that roughly one in four travellers is looking for accessibility.
These are from market research done to guide the tourism industry in Canada and the U.S.
There are a number of statistics from the U.S. and Canada in that report. The most impressive one, for me, was right at the start. Over 30 million Americans (U.S.A.) rated accessibility as being something important to them when they travel.
The population of Canada is about 33 million. The population of California is about 36 million.
It's like everyone in Canada, or everyone in California, wants accessibility.
Another calculation estimated that roughly one in four travellers is looking for accessibility.
These are from market research done to guide the tourism industry in Canada and the U.S.
Costs Awarded Against Airlines
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Air Canada and WestJet have had costs awarded against them in the one person, one fare policy case.
The Canadian Transportation Agency has just released its decision about costs in the one person, one fare case. This is the case where the Agency has ordered the major Canadian airlines, WestJet and Air Canada, and Jazz, which is related to Air Canada, to provide extra seating for disabled people who need it.
Now the airlines will have to pay the legal costs for the applicants who brought the case and for the intervener who brought a separate, successful, case on behalf of obese travellers.
It is open to the airlines to appeal both the main decision and the award of costs, but so far there do not appear to be any public statements on either of the airlines' websites.
Now the airlines will have to pay the legal costs for the applicants who brought the case and for the intervener who brought a separate, successful, case on behalf of obese travellers.
It is open to the airlines to appeal both the main decision and the award of costs, but so far there do not appear to be any public statements on either of the airlines' websites.
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Consider the difference between an independent restaurant with imagination and a franchise chain restaurant with a menu from head office.
I just posted a review of Cravings Market Restaurant in Calgary, a neat and unpretentious place with good fresh cooking and easy access.
Yesterday someone said they would rather eat their own cooking and make dinner at home an occasion, than go out to a restaurant. I agree: the best meals are the ones made from scratch at home, using the best ingredients we can get. But unfortunately, there is no fairy with a magic wand at my house to make the dirty dishes disappear!
That's why I appreciate places like Cravings. The food is very good and at the end of the meal, presto. Dishes gone.
Yesterday someone said they would rather eat their own cooking and make dinner at home an occasion, than go out to a restaurant. I agree: the best meals are the ones made from scratch at home, using the best ingredients we can get. But unfortunately, there is no fairy with a magic wand at my house to make the dirty dishes disappear!
That's why I appreciate places like Cravings. The food is very good and at the end of the meal, presto. Dishes gone.
Rick Steves' Easy Access Europe
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
Rick Steves' travel guidebook, Easy Access Europe, is a great gift for any traveler to London, Paris, Amsterdam and more - with or without a wheelchair.
Here is a travel guide which will be useful to anyone visiting the destinations it covers (London, Paris, Amsterdam, Bruges, and other places in Europe). It's packed with extra information on travel for people in wheelchairs and slow walkers, but frankly, the information is so practical and helpful that it looks like a great guide for anyone.
In the US and Canada, travel guide and author Rick Steves has a reputation for practical advice and a great attitude toward exploring other places. He is often seen on PBS television in his popular series of "Europe through the Back Door" programs.
Some of the obvious questions travelers face - "How do I make a phone call?" - for example, are laid out and answered very clearly.
There is a lot of commentary and input from experienced wheelchair travelers. Reading that they have successfully "been there, done that" should inspire confidence.
The 2006 edition regularly costs $21.95 US and is currently on sale for $17.56 until Jan. 2, 2007. I bought mine at a local bookstore in Calgary, Canada, and I see it's available for $18.81 Canadian on-line from Indigo.
My review of this excellent book can be found at:
In the US and Canada, travel guide and author Rick Steves has a reputation for practical advice and a great attitude toward exploring other places. He is often seen on PBS television in his popular series of "Europe through the Back Door" programs.
Some of the obvious questions travelers face - "How do I make a phone call?" - for example, are laid out and answered very clearly.
There is a lot of commentary and input from experienced wheelchair travelers. Reading that they have successfully "been there, done that" should inspire confidence.
The 2006 edition regularly costs $21.95 US and is currently on sale for $17.56 until Jan. 2, 2007. I bought mine at a local bookstore in Calgary, Canada, and I see it's available for $18.81 Canadian on-line from Indigo.
My review of this excellent book can be found at:
Posted by
Jill Browne
Jill Browne
The Canadian Transportation Agency has announced a one person, one fare policy to make air travel more accessible.
In One Person, One Fare Policy, I outlined the Canadian Transportation Agency's ruling about accessible travel.
There will be a year before the airlines have to implement this ruling. They have to come up with screening procedures that make sense.
Some of the potential problems we can expect are:
There will be a year before the airlines have to implement this ruling. They have to come up with screening procedures that make sense.
Some of the potential problems we can expect are:
- how to tell whether a personal care attendant is needed during the actual flight, in borderline cases. One of the potentially troubling parts of the ruling is that if the traveller needs care on the ground at the destination, but not in the air, the personal care attendant is not allowed to fly free. This at first glance ignores the reality of the working relationship between a PCA and their client. By analogy, a blind person doesn't need their service dog during the flight, but can't just pick up a new dog at their destination. PCA's are not always interchangeable either.
- how to tell if a person is obese enough to be functionally disabled (in the context of flying). The CTA suggested using the armrest test, which apparently works for SouthWest Airlines. If the passenger can't comfortably lower the armrests, they need more space.
- people who need more space for reasons other than obesity. The ruling singled out obesity, but is not apparently limited to people who need more space because of being overweight. There are non-obese people who need more room. Are they willing to be classed as "functionally disabled" in order to get some comfort on the plane? This would include everyone over the height of about 5'9", and lots of big, healthy people, regardless of whether their bulk is muscle or fat.
Pages 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7