[K9doug]

Monday, January *24, 2011

SUBJECT:
Complainy against Southwest Airlines and Southwest employee for discrimination and harassment against disabled traveler.
***Southwest employees name: *" Vanu"

OCCURRED:
Flight: #448
1/24/11. *departing Las Vegas to Omaha. (10:35am)


TO:*
Southwest Airlines customer relations,*

To whom it may concern;

** * As a disabled traveler who requires a wheelchair to get from point-A to point-B, *it is sometimes difficult enough to get around a busy airport and to handle my own luggage etc. And Today Southwest Airlines made traveling as a wheelchair user 1000 times more difficult. I was treated as a second class customer/citizen by an employee of Southwest Airlines. By an employee who is supposed to HELP customers like me. *I have people/whitnesses from my flight who whitnessed this incident and saw the employee treat me with absolute rude uncalled for behavior..... Refusing to assist me with my bags and telling me that she - quote " hoped I could figure out how to get in the airplane because she was not helping me". *This Southwest employee severely embarrassed me, made my trip horrible and discriminated against me due to my disability. *This is blatant discrimination.

I have witnesses whom i have never met until today and will be filing the appropriate complaints with my states "Equal Opportunity offices" and will be contacting several people in the National media to be heard. I will not stop and refuse to be discriminated against.

I will NOT stand for discrimination due to my disablity!

I will not be 'talked down to' because of my disability!

I will not be treated as a second class citizen by any airline or it's employees.

This will not be tolerated by me - Period.

I will be contacting every media outlet that will hear me out. As well as all social medias available *i.e (Facebook, twitter, national media television programming shows, *and my local news stations, as well as all National Disability advocate and ADA groups.)

** * To further expand. *My complaint is against this particular Southwest "assistant" that was boarding early passengers holding the "blue" early board passes.

I was holding an early board pass due to the fact that I use a wheelchair and have a permanent disability. *I have flown Southwest several times *and understand completely - all the "rules" regarding early boarding. I am also an intelligent, educated 41 year old Professional.*

This Sourhwest employee named (Vanu), literally began scolding me as I approached the front of the line to board early. Keep in mind, I was on time to board early. *A previous Southwest employee instructed me to be back there in 25 minutes at 10:10am - to board early. *I WAS there at 10:05am! * I tried to explain this to "Vanu", but she did not want to hear it! Instead, your employee continued to yell at me in front of all the passengers - like I was an incompetent child. *She slso refused to help me down the ramp and eould not help me with my bags. I dropped them from my lap several times and she refused to help pick them up to help. *I have at least two witnesses that heard some of this and offered their names immediately - in case I wanted to file a complaint against this employee.

The employer "Vanu" continued to raise her voice scolding me, Saying.. I quote "that being in a *wheelchair I should know better and to be early"... Again, I WAS early!*

Next, "Vanu", told me since I was late that she would not help me to get into my seat on the plane. *She said I would have to "figure it out on my own"..... *Quote.

She very rudely refused to assist me. *So I was barely able to get to my seat without "Vanu's" help.

In short, I am VERY VERY embarrassed, felt discrimated against, angry, and simply disgusted by the behavior of your employee. *You should be ashamed.

I would like to suggest that you send your employees to a more informative customer service and anger management training - BEFORE something worse happens! * This situation was heard and witnessed by several passengers and I was told that they were very put off by this behavior - of your employee.

Let me ask you a question... What if "Vanu" would have actually gotten physical with me? *

Then, you would have a major lawsuit on your hands. *

In fact, since I do have witnesses, I will be filing some type of lawsuit against Southwest Airlines. I will contact everyone in National media relentlessly - until i am heard!!! I will not stop. *

This caused me a great deal of 1)embarrassment, as well as 2)anxiety and 2)fear. *My vacation was ruined due to your airline and your employee. She was so rude and loud that I wasn't sure if she was going to escalate the situation in a more physical manner. *Also, I believe Southwest should not have REFUSED to ASSIST me to get onto the airplane and into my seat from my wheelchair. That was unsafe and degrading, to say the least. *

I am a "paraplegic" and cannot walk at all. *But yet, your employee refused to help me? This is called discrimination. She told me to "figure it out on my own". *

We will see... *That's what I will do now.

Regards,

Doug