My nan is just over 70. She has a thyroid problem and has difficulty walking. She can get around but slowly and can not get a fair distance without being in pain.
This year I and my family managed to persuade her to go abroad this year with us to a very nice hotel in Majorca we had been to a couple of times before.
We made the necessary phone calls and enquirements, supplied doctor notes to say she would need some assistance and had all the forms sorted out.
Once at Stanstedairport, she was supplied with a chair and this made getting around the place much easier for her and us. When the time came for boarding, herself and my grandad where whisked away to the plane first. This was good I believe as there would be less people observing her moving from wheelchair to seat. My nan is a proud lady and does not enjoy being in a chair at all. Sadly it is becoming increasingly necessary. The flight went without a hitch.
Once our destination was reached herself my grandad and my parents waited until the plane was empty. I went along to collect our cases. Here is where things got a little mixed up. My nan and grandad were taken along a corridor and basically dumped along with another elderly couple, my parents apparently were unsure as to whether they could accompany them and so began making their own way to baggage collection.
Left in this corridor, the wheelchairs and any aid was taken away. My grandad asked the Spanish security where the next wheelchairs were and they, not speaking English gave her a trolley to lean on and pointed in the direction of the baggage collection.
For my Nan, having just landed for the first time in another country was fairly mythed at this treatment. Herself and the other elderly couple were left to now make their own way along the last corridor using trolleys for support. Not a Thomson Rep in sight.
It is just good that my Nan was not more disabled or else she would have been rather stuck and I believe for her, embarrassed.
Wheelchair users beware, if you do not own a wheelchair but feel you may need one, it might be worthwhile buying one to take with you!
The help recieved in Palma on the return trip was not helpful either.
Having arrived a wheelchair was immediately available, whilst queuing at check-in it was asked of her to have the chair back as another person needed it! Surely they ought to have had more then one chair! So again my Nan relied on a trolley to help her stand in the queue. Once we reached the check in desk we were told to reach another chair she needed to go to check in desk 102, we were only at 27!
I walked off quickly for her knowing this was way too far for her to walk and on presentation of the appropriate documentation and spying 6-7 chairs available behind the desk I was asked, "Are you sure she needs one can't she walk?" Yes she needs one I replied I knew straight off there was no way she could get that distance and was rather surprised they asked such a question!
I have to say that the actual holiday my Nan did enjoy a great deal, although we did have to borrow a chair from the cafe for my Nan to sit on by the beach everyday. I would say that if you were disabled then do not go this journey alone!
When we were booking we were told assistance was available at both Stansted and Palma but I can see how poor that assistance was at times!
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A good warning to others. Support for anyone with a disability should be provided. Maureen
COOOEEE 11.07.2005 12:21
I would have thought the thomson rep would have met you as you got off the plane to assist you but that clearly is not the case. I have had disabled friends go to Palma but they have had all their own wheelchairs so a good warning for others to either buy or hire one from the Red Cross beefore they go. Fionaxx
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Advantages: They still have some thread of a good reputation that they may want to retain. Disadvantages: They are losing their reputation for customer service due to sheer greed.
mariegriffiths 16.07.2002 ·
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Review of Thomson Holidays
Jul 11th, 2005
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