Upgrade your browser!

Skip to Content

Disabled Man Told To Pay To Take Prosthe...

An airline is demanding an excess baggage fee from a disabled man who wants to fly with a spare pair of prosthetic legs.

Amputee Mick Skee claimed Jet2 would not waive the excess baggage charge for his Majorca holiday next May, even though he would be allowed to take a wheelchair free of charge.

The 47-year-old lost both his legs after contracting meningococcal septicaemia in 2006.

He said: "In my opinion, the prosthetic legs are a disability aid. A wheelchair is classed as that and can be transported free of charge.

"It is ridiculous. The legs weigh less than a wheelchair, but I have been told that Jet2 is not prepared to budge.

"If I want to take a spare pair of prosthetics, I will have to pay an extra £10 for each way.

Mr Skee, a father-of- four, from Wardley, Gateshead, plans to write to Jet2 to protest and to highlight the problem with his local MP.

The catering manger for Tyne and Wear Fire Services and his wife Sandra, 40, booked their holiday through the website On the Beach.

Mr Skee said: "After getting confirmation details, I contacted them to say I needed special assistance for transportation of prosthetic limbs.

"They e-mailed me for my medication condition and contacted Jet2, who in turn told them they were not prepared to transport the legs for free.

"On the Beach have said they will pay the extra baggage charge, but that is not the point.

"It's the principle. This is something that could affect other people in the same situation and it is an issue that needs to be dealt with."

After contracting the illness, Mr Skee was close to death. He fought back, but after fitting his prosthetic limbs, doctors told him he would never be able to walk again unaided.

He had a pair of legs specially made and fitted with training shoes.

"I wanted to take a spare pair on holiday because if one pair gets damaged I could use the other pair. But also if I want to take my wife out for dinner and get dressed up, I can put the other pair on," he said.

Jet2 said it would not comment on individual cases.

Source

  • bajaboy
  • posted by bajaboy
  • Date 11/4/2008 12:17:11 PM
  • Views: 1755
  • All Ages
  • All Ages

Related Media

View All



Rate This News:
Rate it 0.5 Rate it 1.0 Rate it 1.5 Rate it 2.0 Rate it 2.5 Rate it 3.0 Rate it 3.5 Rate it 4.0 Rate it 4.5 Rate it 5.0

4.43 out of 5 based on 449 votes

Rating Results:
Earn XP by sharing this video!
learn more

New URL:

Embedded Link:

Send This Video To A Cell Phone! Digg

15 Comments

Current View: 15 / Show all Comments

bajaboy (Admin) : LVL 65: VP 5: said:

bajaboy

4 votes NegativePositive

65 days 6 hours ago...

Greedy Airlines !!

demontrace : LVL 36: VP 4.4: said:

demontrace

33 votes NegativePositive

65 days 6 hours ago...

Now imagine how quickly they`ll change their stance once word gets out across the news networks.

It`s sad that it needs to be taken to that point. The fear of losing profits, is what finally causes a corporation to budge, instead of some common decency.

Golgon : LVL 34: VP 4.2: said:

Golgon

-5 votes NegativePositive

65 days 6 hours ago...

"On the Beach have said they will pay the extra baggage charge, but that is not the point.

It`s the principle."

oh wow so he´s just being an ass. Great story.

Violetninja420 : LVL 38: VP 4.6: said:

Violetninja420

14 votes NegativePositive

65 days 6 hours ago...

He should shove one of them prosthetic legs with the training shoes up the company CEO`s ass.

ecko69x : LVL 31: VP 4: said:

ecko69x

2 votes NegativePositive

65 days 5 hours ago...

It`s just all about the money now...*sigh*.

platinum : LVL 44: VP 5: said:

platinum

29 votes NegativePositive

65 days 5 hours ago...

everything costs an arm or a leg these days

rhuitron : LVL 36: VP 4.4: said:

rhuitron

5 votes NegativePositive

65 days 4 hours ago...

Jet2. Officially Cunts.

^Btw, Kick ass comment. +1 for you.

Dillinger : LVL 43: VP 5: said:

Dillinger

-5 votes NegativePositive

65 days 2 hours ago...

Fuck the airline for not having any sympathy.

At the same time, fuck this guy for demanding sympathy and special attention because of a condition. I`m sure if I wanted to take a set of skis, it would be about the same price, but just because he has a disability he expects people to cater to him and give him free shit?

hellrazor : LVL 37: VP 4.5: said:

hellrazor

-4 votes NegativePositive

65 days 2 hours ago...

^Yeah, fucking disabled get the best parking spots too.

E0D0D : LVL 39: VP 4.7: said:

E0D0D

3 votes NegativePositive

65 days ago...

Or is it every arm and leg costs you now these days

pyranos : LVL 39: VP 4.7: said:

pyranos

6 votes NegativePositive

64 days 22 hours ago...

^^ he`s not asking for free shit he`s asking to bring an extra set of fake legs. If something happens to the first pair he`s screwed. So no, its not like taking a pair of ski`s. Ski`s don`t function the same way, and a pair of ski`s is easier to replace than a pair of prosthetic legs. The legs are specifically made for him, I`m sure. It`s not special treatment; he has no fucking legs!

Ronin187 : LVL 32: VP 4.1: said:

Ronin187

3 votes NegativePositive

64 days 22 hours ago...

Freeloader! There`s a reason airlines haul wheelchairs for free. It something you cant walk without but can`t bring it onto a plane. They provide you one when you check it in. His bringing two set prosthetic legs is a convenience and today convenience is not free.

Red Heaven : LVL 33: VP 4.2: said:

Red Heaven

-2 votes NegativePositive

64 days 18 hours ago...

^
Convenience?!

They`re his FUCKING LEGS.

If that`s not bad enough, his legs weigh less and take up less room than a fucking wheelchair. Hell, he was doing them a FAVOR.

Let`s see you talk about "convenience" when you`ve had your legs lopped off because of circumstances beyond your control.

Omnicron.4735 : LVL 38: VP 4.6: said:

Omnicron.4735

-3 votes NegativePositive

64 days 13 hours ago...

Jet2 eh?
Ok. Another airline I`ll never fly.
Thanks.

mufasa1023 : LVL 37: VP 4.5: said:

mufasa1023

1 votes NegativePositive

64 days 9 hours ago...

eh.....I can see how this type of thinking can spiral out of control.

We had a nursing home here awhile back that wouldn`t let a woman bring her dog with her to the home (because of sanitary/noise issues)...after the woman got denied she brought a suit claiming that the dog was a "service animal" because the dog helped her manage stress.

Mind you, this wasn`t a lab or something that was trained to open doors or turn on the lights....it was a pomeranian that was pissy.

In this case, it sounds like it was his BACKUP pair of legs...does that mean he gets to bring a backup wheelchair? how about a backup-backup pair of legs?

Post a Comment:

Avatar


The Spikedhumor Drawing!Moderators Contest
Prize
Entry Dates: 11/4/2008-12/15/2008