[clarabella]

Returning home from Mexico through Pittsburg, there was the reserved wheelchair. My 90-year-old mother was seated in it and we walked along beside, R***, who turned out to be the gate agent, as he pushed her up the jetway. R*** then walked away saying, “Someone will come to push.” We waited. It was cold. All of the passengers passed by. I finally walked around the corner and called to the crew, laughing with R***, , that we were still waiting. R***, replied, “Someone will come. I didn’t know about the wheelchair until you got here.” “I don’t work for USA 3000.”

We were still standing, waiting, cold, when the crew walked by us to leave. I said, “We are still waiting. What are we to do?” “We are not allowed to push,” was the response, and they kept on going. R***, , letting himself out through the side door, unhappy with me for being dissatisfied, sarcastically observed, “Glad you had a good vacation!” The pusher arrived at last.

This is how USA 3000 treats elderly customers? Like they are invisible? Inconvenient? Too much trouble when the cabin crew could be having fun with the frequent fliers? Why should passengers bother to make wheelchair arrangements if airline staff and crew think that assistance does not need to be timely? Or are they actively trying to discourage passengers who require this minimal level of assistance?