Sometimes I just don't believe it!

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Thought I would relate this to others who would understand the frustration from this incident. A few weeks ago we took my daughter to the airport, she just turned 19 and had never flown. She was going to Australia and had to take a flight from OKC to LAX to meet the group she was going with. She was really looking forward to it but was a little nervous. We called the airlines and asked about accompanying her to the boarding area so she would not be so anxious. They said because she had AS that would be okay.

When we got to the ticket area the agent didn't want to check her luggage all the way through she wanted dd to get it at LA and do it herself we argued she checked it all the way. Now we had told this lady that she had a type of autism and they said for us to get a pass to go back with dd. Then she told us we couldn't go back that they didn't have the right to tell us that. Well, dd get tears because she had convinced herself that when we went back with her and explained the procedures she would be fine. Then this lady has the audacity to comment how can we send her around the world if this how she acts (just tears and anxiety, no bad behavior at all) she should have to fly with someone. Now I am getting mad cause this is none of this persons business.

I reiterated speaking with the airline and because of her disability we were allowed to go to the gate with her. Then this person throws her hands in the air and says well you didn't tell me it was a disability you should explain these things. She gave us the passes. I was livid, dd was better than me about this person, guess she is used to people behaving like jerks.

Anyway despite the ticket person dd made it to Australia and back handled all the rest of the plane check-ins by herself. Which we knew she could after she understood the routine. She called us while in LAX telling us where she was and where she was going and I may be bad but when she called I thought to myself take that ticket person! How dare she try to tell us what dd could or could not do!

its tough, but unfortunatly thats how the world works, u care much for your daughter, and my parents would do the same for me, but, at the same time, once u r an adult u gotta deal with your problems yourself, it sucks yes, but u cant expect others to help ya out u gotta take care of yourself.

and there are a lot of really stupid people in the world. i interned with a veteran elementary school classroom teacher, once, who pointed to the word "barcelona" on a map and informed her class that it was an island off the coast of spain, because that's where the word was printed on the map. even the kids thought she was an idiot....

having to use the word "disability" in relationship to autism is pretty amazing, but there are a lot of clueless people in the world who probably have never heard the word "autism" before and have no idea what it means. that doesn't make up for the frustration you had to go through, though.

hope your daughter enjoyed the trip

gili,

In the US you are LUCKY if you can go there without a boarding pass. But HECK, they even at least FEIGN helping out unaccompanied minors.

As for the moron sayng that she shouldn't be flying? They same should be said about all the stupid kids/pets that do.

I guess I am lucky I don't generally have the obvious trepidation, though I DO hesitate when doing something new. There is always this stupid stuff to contend with.

BTW you'll enjoy this. I gate checked a SANDWICH! Actually half a wrap! NO JOKE! It was turkey/cheese! They asked me to check my computer(PRICELESS to me and fragile with a market value over $1000), and a woman to check her camera(Market value probably over $500). That woman checked her camera. I told them *****NO WAY*****, so they said it was that, or my little bag(plastic bag from the "coffee bean"). SO, I figured it wasn't worth arguing, I had them check that AFTER I removed the drinks(Market value of $3). I took THEM onto the plane! All that was left was half a turkey wrap! In retrospect, I should have taken the sandwich too, and just had them check the bag. 8( Estimated market value of $3! At the end of the trip, a member of the ground crew held up the bag and the camera and asked who's they were. I ignored her, laughing all the way. I wonder how the camera fared! BTW I estimate that they spent over $7 in labor and gas, and they saved NO money, gas, etc... I am out half a sandwich, though I DID spend 12.90 on the 13 voucher they paid me because of their other garbage, so THEY basically paid for the sandwich. So they were the REAL losers!