You think holiday air travel sucks? Try flying while disabled. On American Airlines.

If I could walk, I wouldnt have missed my connection.

If I could walk, I wouldnt have been left onboard, twice, after everyone else disembarked.

If I could walk, I wouldnt have my feet crushed, dragged under a narrow chair, as untrained staff pulled me off a plane.

We'll still have someone contact you," came the message, at last, after two trips in travel hell. "We don't want to lose your business and hope you won't give up on us.

But I have given up on American Airlines. They have lost my business. I urge anybody who travels with a disability to consider any other airline.

As a space and aviation writer, I never look forward to writing about a bad experience in the air. Those who use wheelchairs to get around know how unfriendly our friendly skies can become. But I never expected an experience as unpleasant as the one given to me by American Airlines.

(more…)