Airport Information update

roy4eyes · Post by **roy4eyes** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:40 am

Hi Ellie

I had a similar experience returning after my knee op.
I phoned B.A. a week before the flight and requested 'special assistance'.
I was asked the degree of my mobility problems i.e. could I climb stairs - the answer being "yes but slowly"
Arriving at Gatwick we approached a B.A. reception employee who referred to his list, escorted us to the front of a huge queue for check-in (where we were slightly overweight but waved through) and ensured I could walk through security.
This was the only problem - a bunch of self-important jobsworths

- "take off shoes (difficult when you are on crutches !!), remove your belt, binoculars around your neck are 'excess hand baggage' - take them off and put them in your other case (my laptop)" - so I stuffed them in without being able to zip the case up and promptly removed them after X-ray.

After this the service became once again (thanks to B.A. compared to B.A.A.) superb - wheeled to the bar for a pinta, trolleyed to the distant gate and allotted club seats with extra leg room - no club service but the steward advised me

to have a second complimentary drink "to ease the pain" !!

A long answer but the moral is not to be afraid of requesting 'special assistance' if you genuinely feel you need it.

See you September

Roy

P.S. We saw at Praia da Rocha special wheel chairs which can be manoeuvered over sand - specially designed for people who cannot get their legs over

laserblazer · Post by **laserblazer** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:57 am

Ellie, if you go to your "My Easyjet" page you can select from various options. One of them is basically "Able to walk slowly without supervision" You then, in theory, get to board first. In practice, they put you on the bus first and then ask other passengers to give you a chance to get off before them. As if!!! You are lucky not to get trampled in the stampede.

First Choice is good dr assisted travellers as they put you in the front with the people who paid for a meal. Guess what? You get a free meal.

We always make it clear that we haven't paid but apparently meals are provided for the number of seats, so they would only be chucked out if we didn't eat them. Last trip, the missus won the "Guess the age of the Chief Purser" competition and we got free drinks as well.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 3:08 pm

Thanks Weebeanz (I remember your hub having that accident..how is he now?)

and Roy! Hope your knee is improving and getting back to normal for you?By the way,Ive just enjoyed reading Carol's newsletter..hope all is well with you & family. The Barclays she mentioned is /was I think, the old house 'A Favorita' up restaurant hill.?

..did the garden there once

and thanks to you too Laser..I wil get in touch with easyjet.Thats what Im a bit concerned about..I do have discomfort lifting my left leg (not leg over Roy & Dennis except getting in bath

! ), so I may be 'slow'! I can walk unaided most of the time..but I might hold others up!

wee beanz · Post by **wee beanz** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 5:30 pm

Hi Ellie,
hubby not doing too well actually. Sciatic nerve damage which could be permanent but consultant is hopeful that he will recover but not to expect that for 1 - 2 years, and we are only into the 6th month since his accident.

Argos do a lightweight folding walking stick, item 865/0122 for £9.99, this might be of interest to you

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:58 pm

wee beanz wrote:Hi Ellie,
hubby not doing too well actually. Sciatic nerve damage which could be permanent but consultant is hopeful that he will recover but not to expect that for 1 - 2 years, and we are only into the 6th month since his accident.
Argos do a lightweight folding walking stick, item 865/0122 for £9.99, this might be of interest to you

Sorry to hear that wee beanz (love the name

)..that sounds nasty. Is it the same as having sciatica? Ive experienced that once or twice and its horrible. I hope all goes well for him..are you going out to CVO at all in near future? I was thinking in terms of the warmth might do him good?
Or maybe its too difficult for him at present?

Thanks for the info on the fold up stick...Ive made a note of it!
cheers x

wee beanz · Post by **wee beanz** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 5:37 pm

Hi Ellie
Apparently sciatic nerve damage is worse than sciatica (he takes 25 painkillers a day and is still in constant pain!) We were in Cvo in may and it was only because we had an apartment down on the flat in Rue do Barranco that we managed to still go on holiday as there is no way he could have ever climbed any of those hilly parts! We wont be back before next may but i have already booked the same apartment just in case he isnt much better then. Keep our fingers crossed though! But guess what , its been a lovely sunny day here in Edinburgh today, and hope its nice where you are too.
Eve (wee beanz)

djprescott · Post by **djprescott** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 1:28 pm

loretta wrote:Is Luton Airport a BAA airport?

Loretta

Luton has never been a BAA airport. As Mike mentioned, it was owned by Luton Council but in 2001 was sold to Aena - a Spanish airports & ATC group who own 47 airports.
Strangely enough, Ferrovial bought BAA in 2006, which is also Spanish.