Long wait at the airport security line? Savvy travelers know the shortcut: simply request an airport wheelchair, no proof of disability required!
The practice, tacitly endorsed by a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy from wheelchair pushers, who sometimes receive tips, is so commonplace that airport workers can predict spikes in wheelchair requests when security is particularly backed up, and flight attendants see it so often on certain routes — including to the Philippines, Egypt and the Dominican Republic, for which sometimes a dozen people in wheelchairs will be waiting to board — they’ve dubbed them “miracle flights.”
“We’d say there was a miracle because they all needed a wheelchair getting on, but not getting off,” said Kelly Skyles, a flight attendant and the national safety and security coordinator for the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents American Airlines attendants. “Not only do we serve them beverages and ensure their safety — now we’re healing the sick.”
Sarah Maslin Nir of The New York Times explains: Link
There are so many conditions that affect us differently, it's not on healthy, able-bodied people to decide whether we need this or not. For example, people with chronic fatigue syndrome may have troubles standing in long lines to wait, but do not have such a hard time to get off the plane by themselves, especially if they already have people (eg friends they visit) waiting who will take care of them. There are so many reasons why people need help to get on the plane, skipping the queue, but no help (at least not from the staff) to get off the plane.
But yay! Thanks to this article, a lot more people who do not need it will now try it, and those who actually need it will be judged even more! THANKS A LOT!
Without this article, people would've faced the great problem of ....
yeah, what actually? Do you need to wait longer in the queue because there are less people in it? Oh wait, that doesn't make sense, does it? Instead you will now have more disabled people in the line (who feel to ashamed to use the chairs) who will probably take longer as they aren't as fast as able-bodied people, who might be screened longer because they carry huge bags full of medication and medical equipment.
Again, thank you so much! Whoever wrote this (this and the original article), you have done SO MUCH for society!!
Some of us are tired of the TSA treating us like cattle. We're customers, not terrorists!