CW: Ableism
An 86-year-old disabled East Bay woman has been stuck in the Philippines since early December. She is trying to come home to California. However, she cannot fly because of an airline policy.
86-year-old Jovita has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that results in obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, sputum production, and wheezing. It is often caused by prolonged exposure to irritating chemicals or particles such as cigarette smoke.
She informed Philippine Air of her condition before her flight. They told her that she couldn’t fly without a portable oxygen concentrator. Unfortunately, her son Moses says a portable oxygen concentrator would cost $3,100.
Jovita made appointments to see a doctor to ensure she could travel. Two separate doctors said she was fit to travel. Unfortunately, this was still not enough proof for Philippine Air.
Instead, the airline gave Jovita a travel credit. This did not address how Jovita would return to the Bay Area if PAL continued to require her to bring an oxygen concentrator onboard. Moses says that due to financial constraints, his mother could not afford an oxygen concentrator or another flight on another airline.
Moses is still waiting to communicate with Philippine Air to finalize the arrangements. However, this does not address the issue of getting his mother home if airline policy prohibits her from flying due to her health.
In an email to Moses, the Department of Transportation says they are investigating the case to see if the Air Carrier Access Act was violated. They are trying to determine whether or not Jovita was discriminated against because of her disability.
Air travel should be accessible for people with various disabilities. Denying someone access to a flight due to their health without a legitimate reason is not okay. I hope Jovita can return home soon.
Sources:
“COPD.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 15 Apr. 2020, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/copd/symptoms-causes/syc-20353679.
Lim, Dion. “86-Year-Old Bay Area Woman with Disability Can’t Return Home Due to Philippine Airlines Policy.” ABC7 News, ABC, 24 Jan. 2024, abc7news.com/amp/bay-area-woman-disability-philippine-airlines-policy-oxygen-tank-for-flights-air-travel/14353852/.