This is a fantastic newsletter. I hope you reach out to veteran's organizations so the disabled vets can receive all this great information that you have written about.
As I have said I live in France but am English by birth and one of the places we love to visit is Mauritius, it's both a change for me and a rest for my wife. Traditionally we have flown from London using British Airways and this has worked well with great assistance both on the airline and in Airports.
This time I saw flights from Lyon, France to Mauritius. A slightly complicated route Lyon to Marseille, Marseille to La Reunion then La Reunion to Mauritius a 15 hour journey but with the credit of not having to get to London. The Carrier is CORSAIR a French airline.
So we booked seats did all the usual stuff for a trip in October this year - I was told that after the booking I could give the airline details of the assistance I needed. This has happened before (most recently with Air France) so I proceeded.
Once booked I selected seats for my wife and I.
Then contacted CORSAIR the airline and did all the assistance bits. All confirmed all looked ok.
For some reason I decided to go back into my booking. Checking our seating I saw that my wife had a confirmed seat but I didn't. Tried to select a seat and this option was blocked for me.
Contacted CORSAIR they advised:
QUOTE
Simon,
I am truly sorry, but after checking your reservation, I notice that you have requested assistance.
I’m sorry, but the seat will only be assigned to the airport on the day of the flight.
Best regards,
Maëlle//Corsair
UNQUOTE
I didn't understand this and write to CORSAIR saying:
QUOTE
Dear Maëlle,
I'm sorry I really don't understand this, Air France, British Airways, EasyJet, Transavia, HOP, KLM have all let me select a seat as a disabled person flying from Lyon. This feels like a policy of discrimination from Corsair against disabled people and now makes the whole prospect of flying to Mauritius a huge stress and worry as I will have no certainty of knowing that I will be with my wife/carer until the day of the flight.
Can I ask if I find myself not sitting with my wife who will be my carer on the flight - for example toilet needs?
Plus when booking your website says under my ticket type "Choix du siège inclus" with no mention of this not being applicable
UNQUOTE
The arguments have continued and the the most recent exchange they have told me:
QUOTE
Hello Simon,
I would like to inform you that the allocation of a seat for disabled persons is an airport management matter.
I invite you to ask the airport for more information.
I wish you an excellent day.
Véronique//Corsair
UNQUOTE
To which I have responded
QUOTE
Are you sure that is correct, because all other airlines manage the seats on planes and do not delegate this to an external company.
Can you provide me with contact details of the person responsible for this policy
UNQUOTE
They haven't answered this and I don't have a name.
Why am I sharing this - well I believe this to be wrong and especially as I have no guarantee that I will be able to sit next to my wife who does act as a carer this caused a great stress and CORSAIR have said to me "You can ask for your wife to be next to you at the airport when your seat is allocated, subject to availability..." which is far from reassuring. To me this just demonstrates a lack of understanding of the needs of the disabled and I really struggle to find any logic in this way of behaving.
Just sharing as a warning as well.
I will continue to battle to get an allocated seat but I don't feel optimistic
This is a fantastic newsletter. I hope you reach out to veteran's organizations so the disabled vets can receive all this great information that you have written about.
As I have said I live in France but am English by birth and one of the places we love to visit is Mauritius, it's both a change for me and a rest for my wife. Traditionally we have flown from London using British Airways and this has worked well with great assistance both on the airline and in Airports.
This time I saw flights from Lyon, France to Mauritius. A slightly complicated route Lyon to Marseille, Marseille to La Reunion then La Reunion to Mauritius a 15 hour journey but with the credit of not having to get to London. The Carrier is CORSAIR a French airline.
So we booked seats did all the usual stuff for a trip in October this year - I was told that after the booking I could give the airline details of the assistance I needed. This has happened before (most recently with Air France) so I proceeded.
Once booked I selected seats for my wife and I.
Then contacted CORSAIR the airline and did all the assistance bits. All confirmed all looked ok.
For some reason I decided to go back into my booking. Checking our seating I saw that my wife had a confirmed seat but I didn't. Tried to select a seat and this option was blocked for me.
Contacted CORSAIR they advised:
QUOTE
Simon,
I am truly sorry, but after checking your reservation, I notice that you have requested assistance.
I’m sorry, but the seat will only be assigned to the airport on the day of the flight.
Best regards,
Maëlle//Corsair
UNQUOTE
I didn't understand this and write to CORSAIR saying:
QUOTE
Dear Maëlle,
I'm sorry I really don't understand this, Air France, British Airways, EasyJet, Transavia, HOP, KLM have all let me select a seat as a disabled person flying from Lyon. This feels like a policy of discrimination from Corsair against disabled people and now makes the whole prospect of flying to Mauritius a huge stress and worry as I will have no certainty of knowing that I will be with my wife/carer until the day of the flight.
Can I ask if I find myself not sitting with my wife who will be my carer on the flight - for example toilet needs?
Plus when booking your website says under my ticket type "Choix du siège inclus" with no mention of this not being applicable
UNQUOTE
The arguments have continued and the the most recent exchange they have told me:
QUOTE
Hello Simon,
I would like to inform you that the allocation of a seat for disabled persons is an airport management matter.
I invite you to ask the airport for more information.
I wish you an excellent day.
Véronique//Corsair
UNQUOTE
To which I have responded
QUOTE
Are you sure that is correct, because all other airlines manage the seats on planes and do not delegate this to an external company.
Can you provide me with contact details of the person responsible for this policy
UNQUOTE
They haven't answered this and I don't have a name.
Why am I sharing this - well I believe this to be wrong and especially as I have no guarantee that I will be able to sit next to my wife who does act as a carer this caused a great stress and CORSAIR have said to me "You can ask for your wife to be next to you at the airport when your seat is allocated, subject to availability..." which is far from reassuring. To me this just demonstrates a lack of understanding of the needs of the disabled and I really struggle to find any logic in this way of behaving.
Just sharing as a warning as well.
I will continue to battle to get an allocated seat but I don't feel optimistic