Jetstar: Disgusting treatment of wheelchair passenger

[sstone]

To roger 777: I am very glad Jetstar made you take your spool of wire off your carry on luggage and made you check it into the hold. Goodness me don't you realise they are trying to protect the public from nut cases who could take wire onto a plane and use it around some persons neck! Let me know which airline you choose to travel on so I don't hop on the same plane that has allowed you to bring on board a spool of wire. And also, you don't know that "the security guard was praying it would go so he could go and get it for himself being another electronics enthuiast" (enthusiast.
When you can read minds for real let me know.

[Lyshious]

Just to clear things up here - having previously worked as one of those dreaded airport appointed security officers I know that security staff are bound by certain laws and legislation and as they are the visual rule enforcers they get the hard end of the stick as far as a majority of airline passengers and visitors are concerned.

The kilo of wire in your bag would have classed as a restraint. Even though it may be the width of a human hair, wrapped several times around something or someone it would indeed prove to be an effective immobilising restraint. Also, with regard to the security guard wanting to "take your wire for themselves" - once an item has been confiscated it becomes the property of the airline by whom the security personnel are contracted or to the airport in which it has been found. Security personnel are not easily able to take these things for themselves as all confiscated items are logged and all security areas are generally covered by CCTV.

Just remember that the security staff are there to uphold a number a rules and regulations and in doing so are only doing their jobs. I understand that the enforcement of some rules may anger some passengers and may even seem trivial at times, just remember that the rules have been brought about for a reason and have been passed through legislation prior to their enforcement, the security officers are just there to physically enforce these measures.

There we go. Rant finished. I just wanted to give you an idea of what the view is like from the other side of the fence. :)

[dsljal]

roger777:
I agree with fordman1 regarding your problems with your carry on luggage with Jetstar. But look at the security personnel's point of view; a kilo of wire is a potential weapon! Remember a few years ago passengers even had deodorants and the like confiscated because of the possibility of chemicals disguising illegal substances. Regardless of your seemingly innocent item, the security staff must have been alerted to the fact that the spool "was neatly packed (hidden?) in the bottom of you luggage. I'd suggest if it was not Jetstar it would have been another airline. As fordman1 said, this was an airport security issue - not a carrier one.

[fordman1]

roger777, thats an awefully interesting and emotional anecdote, but it means nothing really.

Security staff are provided by the airport, not Jetstar. Wire is wire. If they deem wire is not allowed on an aircraft, then so be it, it does not go. Did you know this security person well enough to know he was an electronics enthusiast? Its a bit rude to assume he was being untruthful just to "steal" something from you.

And the emotive excuse of your father, while sad that he has passed, is silly to think is enough to break aviation rules.

You issue is with the airport security staff and government regulations, not Jetstar.

As for me, after 2 previous experiences with Jetstar - both of which it weren't my choice, I simply wont fly them because I believe they are crap. The issues then reinforced my position and I don't give people my money that will continually sting me.

Virgin are far better in this respect, and while I avoid Qantas domestically, I'd expect they would have handled this situation better.

[Qagaar]

It amazes me why anyone would fly with Deathstar, once for me and never again. I don't care what the price is, their service is terrible. Their rules are set in stone and if you go outside their rules by the minimum you get charged and that is how they make their money.

[roger777]

i had similar experience it seems jetstr are only concerned about jetstar i use tobe a frequent flyer with them untill oneday comming back home after loosing my father of 79 years i only had carryon luggage and on my return trip i had bought some specialty wire very expsensive wire not capble of hurting or doing harm to anyone infact the wire wieghed just over a kilo on the spool and was neatly packed in the bottom of my bag.
well when it showed up on the security scan they gave me one of two choices i had to dump it in the trash where this security guard was praying it would go so he could go and get it for himself being another electronics enthuiast or i could go back too the checkin at jetstar where i was forced to pay the cost of nother flight to keep my one kilo role of wire in my luggage but it would have to be stowed in the belly of the plane i was on well of course i payed so i could keep my wire cause it was so hard to come by but thier reason for this was they claimed it could be used as a weapon i dont see how since the wire itself is finer thn human hair but none the same they would just charge me the cost of stowed baggage the cost being ten dollars no nthey charged me 80 dollars the cost of nother flight thats the last time i will fligh with jetstar they dont cre bout the customer only how much money they can screw out of there customers just like the councils and the government

[boojum]

The check in staff at Launceston are appalling. We hads a similar nasty experience with them. Due to that we would never travel with them again. Melbourne to Launceston with various carriers over the years has always been a pleasant experience, but not with this bunch of cowboys. I don't care how cheap their fares are I wouldn't go near them again.

[NGE]

On previous occasions my mother has travelled with Virgin Blue as a wheelchair assisted passenger and been looked after very well.

On this occasion when I booked my 86 yr old mother's return wheelchair assisted flight with Jetstar I was assured by the lady at Launceston check-in that she would been given assistance.
However her luggage was not automatically transferred to her Gold Coast destination and had to be collected in Melbourne for transfer. When I asked how she would be expected to handle that from a wheelchair, the assistant assured me that someone would help her.
Luckily for her, her grand-daughter had organised to be on the same flight because when she reached Melbourne, she was told by the person "helping" her that they don't handle luggage!
It was left to my niece who had a five month old baby in a sling ( and her 6 yr old son to keep an eye on) to remove my mothers luggage from the carousel and handle her own considerable luggage at check-in!
What would have happened if my niece had not been there to help?

Needless to say, I will never fly with Jetstar in the future.

NGE Member: NJ54