-----Original Message-----
From: Hutchison <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 23 January 2001 17:38
Subject: Fw: Medical Certificate for travelling
>Hi Colin
>
>In a former life I worked in the travel and aviation industry. From my
>experience, individual airlines had different policies on their
requirements
>for medical certificates, some making a minimum of fuss for the
requirement,
>others applying very stringent regulations. Of the latter, the argument
>they would put is that they were just taking a precaution which their own
>medical teams considered adviseable to complete in order to ascertain that
>the passenger was fit to travel and the interests of the passenger were
>their first concern. Their demands for a medical certificate could be
>triggered off, not by you alerting them of some medical problem or seeking
a
>advice on a condition and how it might be affected by a long air journey,
>but as a response for a simple request for extra legroom or a wheelchair.
> Passengers with a mobility problem will often have difficulty getting
>extra legroom because this is frequently only at emergency exits where they
>don't want passengers who might block a speedy exit for other passengers or
>have difficulty open the emergency hatch (this will be a statutory
>requirement and, for example, children under 16 [I think] are also excluded
>from these seats), or at a bulkhead which they might prioritise for
>bassinettes for small infants. I have had airlines demand medical forms in
>response to a wheelchair request which has been for no other reason than
the
>passenger is elderly and is a slow walker.
> It might be your agent who has instigigated the medical form request on
>his/her own initiative but this might be to pre-empt a demand from the
>airline which past experience has indicated will be demanded before they
>will look at the request.
> You may well find that making a different choice of airline removes
the
>hastle of this paperwork. Ultimately the medical form demand is probably
>often the airline being overprotective of its own position as soon as they
>perceive that it might have 'a medical problem' travelling with them and I
>suspect that, in such circumstances, you will be hard pressed to persuade
>them that such and such an impairment should not be treated as 'medical'.
> For advance boarding, most airlines, as a matter of course, offer this
>for families with young children, the elderly, and of course Business Class
>and First Class passengers. So, if you wish to take a chance on the day,
an
>advance request for this facility, and the medical form, might not be
>necessary. However, if the airline has already been alerted to presence of
>a passenger whom it has decided might be 'a medical case', it may now stick
>to its guns in its demand for the forms anyway.
> Good luck.
>Iain
>
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: c.a.stone <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: 23 January 2001 11:31
>Subject: Medical Certificate for travelling
>
>
>Hi all,
>
>Just a quick question,
>
>I am planning a conference in Canada in the summer on
>Costello Syndrome. I run the support group.
>
>The travel company have sent me medical certificate to fill in
>that has to be signed and stamped by my daughters Doctor in
>order ot get airport assisstance. All I requested was to be
>boarded first . (My daughter is 6 and uses a pushchair as she
>does not walk, and is too small for a wheelchair)
>
>Considering that we have 2 more trips planned, this year with
>different airlines who have not requred medical certificates, I
>am not too happy and am intrested to know if It is legal for
>them to send out such a form. I feel it discriminats.
>
>I would be intrested in your opinions
>
>many thanks
>
>colin
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>-
>Colin Anthony Stone Manchester Metropolitan University
> Old Hall Lane, Manchester M14 6HR
>E-Mail [log in to unmask]
>Phone 44-161-247-2626
>Our Kids Mirror Http://sargon.mmu.ac.uk
>home e-mail [log in to unmask]
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>
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