Delta Airlines: Inconsiderate Flight Attendant

                                                                           

On Christmas I was taking a flight home from Detroit.   They put me on one of those new planes with the Captioning Screens.  It was one of those rare moments that I experienced great joy for getting that.  Out of the 45 years I have flown on planes, this is the first time I have ever seen the safety demonstrations closed captioned.

This is something I could of really used in the past.  But that was never given to me.  It really does relieve a lot of stress for not having to understand what was being said over the microphone.  When I checked in the airport, I signed up for special assistance since I have a hearing problem.   It clearly said that on my boarding pass.

And when I stepped onto the plane, I even reminded one of the flight attendants about it.   But my needs got ignored for the hundredth time on Delta Airlines.  On board was Douglas my hearing dog with me.   So far my flight was amazing since I was able to watch the safety demonstrations in close captioning in front of me. 

 And it was one of the newer more attractive and bigger planes.  Even the overhead compartment had a ton of space for the luggage.  And the other two seats next to me were empty.  So it was nice to have more space to myself.  One of the complaints though was they didn't serve us any drinks or snacks during the flight and I got thirsty.   But they served drinks to the first class customers up front. 

 Anyway my Hearing dog first sat on the floor, then he jumped on the empty seat and fell assleep. What matters was he was very well behaved and was being very quiet.   But an ignorant flight attendant came over to me when the lights were off and started talking. 

Immediately I told her I was deaf thinking she would communicate in a way I could understand.   She was impossible to lipread.   She ignored what I said and started going off again and pointing at my service dog.   I had no idea what her problem was and again for the second and third time I reminded her I was deaf.

So why couldn't she write down what she was saying?   Or at least use a little sign language?  I thought I signed up for special assistance.  But nope it doesn't matter, they don't pay attention to  that. So after that the joy of my flight was ruined by that woman.   I got up and went to use the restroom and she gave me a dirty look when I passed her.

Before I opened the door that same woman started going off with her mouth again on me. For the fourth time I told her I was deaf. I couldn't hear a word she said.  Then she looked at me like I was the rude one.  As I was leaving the restroom, the other flight attendant next to her barged into there and pushed the door in on me.  

 I couldn't believe it as she knew I was in there when I walked by her.  That was when I've had it and a complaint should be made.  Just because I'm deaf it doesn't mean they had any rights to mistreat me or my hearing dog.  That woman made no effort to communicate with me the proper way to where I could understand her.

Delta Airlines: Use Some Common Sense For The Deaf Passengers

                               Last summer I had to do a lot of flying to see my father.  He was close to dying.   Everytime I go to the airport I always sign up for Special Services.  So I expect to get the kind of help I need with my hearing loss.   Luckily my dad is ok now.

                               When I was at the gate I asked the attendant to wave to me when it was time to board.   And then after I was on the plane they did the safety demonstations like usual.  But it was not done in sign language and it was not captioned.   It's always done the same old way year after year.

                                I'm a very good lipreader but the demonstrations are usually done over the speakers.  So I can't hear or understand a word being said.  This has been nothing new.  When we landed I walked off with my hearing dog.   There was a young man waiting with a wheelchair with my name on a sign.

                                At first I didn't get why that was for me, I thought maybe it was for my dog. But yet both me and Douglas have no trouble walking though the airport.  I actually found it quite insulting that the airline would send me a wheelchair when I didn't need one.   Did they actually think if you were deaf you needed to use a wheelchair?

                                No really, someone needs to educate the staff on this airline on what the needs of the deaf passengers are. And by the way I felt very sorry for the young boy wasting his time waiting for me with the wheelchair. I had to decline it.



                                                                       

Delta Airlines Failed To Satisfy Deaf Passenger Again

                                   When I printed my boarding pass for a flight on Christmas I checked the box for special services.   It said I was hard of hearing on the screen by my pass.   Also I had a hearing dog going with me, but there was no option in there for service animals.   All I saw on it were pets.  After I got done filling it out, I figured I was all set for my flight with no problems.

                                   After I arrived at the gate in the Buffalo airport , I sat down and waited.   A lady was constantly making announcements over a microphone in the boarding area.   Of course I didn't understand a word she said.  Even though I was sitting right in the front, the microphone covered her mouth.  Then all of a sudden everyone lined up by the door but it was closed.  I didn't know what to do.   

                                    So I got up and told her I was deaf and to tell me what was going on.  All she said was we were going to be boarding in seven minutes.  But after I sat back down, I thought I was supposed to be standing in line with the others.   It looked like she was checking in everyone's baggage or something.   Like a fool I stood in the end and waited about 15 minutes.  When it was finally my turn, she told me I already got my seat number.

                                   Feeling like an idiot I sat back down, knowing I never had to stand in line the first place.   Finally it was time to board and she saw my dog, so I was one of the people that went on the plane first.  As I dragged my suitcase onto the plane the flight attendant told me it was too small to put in the cabinet.   Then again I felt like a fool, little did I know the lady had announced over the microphone for people to leave their bags outside the door of the plane. 

                                   The flight attendant took my suitcase from me and  pushed it off the plane. Seriously I felt stupid.   If the lady at the gate would of told me, I would of left it where it was supposed to be outside the plane.  It's not my fault I can't hear.  But they should of notified me when I was boarding the plane.   After all I requested for Special Services.  Didn't anyone know how to sign?

                                   I got in my seat and buckled up.   Then the plane started to take off.   I was wondering if they even gave a Safety Demonstration because I was sitting way in the back.   If they did, well I couldn't hear it or see it.   The flight attendant came over to my seat several times to check on me.   Of course I let her know I was deaf.   She smiled a lot and was very friendly, but I didn't ever understand a word she said.  She spoke very fast and had an accent.

                                  My experience flying with Delta for the hundredth time was very disappointing.  They made me feel humilated and embarrassed as a deaf passenger.  The worst times were when they had a wheelchair waiting for me the last few times I flew from North Carolina.   I don't know why they think I would need one if I am just deaf.  That makes no sense to me.   Though I felt sorry for the kid that came all the way to the gate with a wheelchair that wasn't needed.

                                 Come on Delta Airlines!  Please start showing more respect for your deaf customers!

Deaf Lady Gets No Assistance On Plane For 40 Years

Just recently I flew home on Delta Airlines from Detroit on Christmas. Before I left I had notified the airlines that I was deaf. But once I boarded the plane it was all forgotten. Again I didn't understand a word being said on the microphone. This time I called the flight attendant over and we had a talk. I told her that I didn't understand a word she said during the safety demonstration. She said just follow the book.

Well I told her that is not the only issue. There were a lot of announcements being made over the microphone. And not all of them was about the safety demonstration. And I explained to her that deaf people have a rights to know every word that was said on the plane. We shouldn't be left out and ignored when announcements are being made.

She apologized about what I was going through. Though she didn't have to do that. I explained to her if they would close caption every announcement for the deaf passengers it would be more fair. Or they could have an interpreter on the plane when there's a deaf passenger. I have never been offered either option in forty years.