Posted on 12/29/2017 9:44:57 AM PST by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Family sues Alaska Airlines after wheelchair-bound grandmother fell down airport escalator and died following surgery to amputate her leg due to wounds from her accident
A family is suing Alaska Airlines and a contractor after a disabled 75-year-old grandmother suffered a fall down a Portland International Airport escalator in June and later died.
Video captured the moment that Bernice Kekona, seat-belted to her power wheelchair, tumbled and crashed down an escalator, landing near the bottom with the heavy chair on top of her.
After her flight from Hawaii landed in Portland in June 2017, the family says they hired a contractor to make sure Kekona arrived safely to her connecting flight. But now they argue the airline and its contractor did not provide the service as promised.
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(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I am nice to Mears. Usually.
Today, I’m not nice to Morgana.
That is just it. The family paid for it. Remember this is an old, sick woman. Go with what the family paid for. The woman did not pay for the service her family did so there for she has no authority to end it
Did they have a person escorting her the entire trip? How did she get to the Airport in Hawaii?
This Woman was mentally incapacitated and she was by herself on a five Hour Flight? The Flight Attendants are not Babysitters for the Elderly.
When my Blind Elderly Aunt traveled from the East Coast to CA, I went there and flew back with her. The idea of hoping that a stranger will take care of her is ridiculous, especially a stranger who has never met her (hopefully) waiting at the Gate.
Just my $.02, your Mileage may vary.
People who have given up on life have been known to kill themselves so their spouse or family would get the insurance or lawsuit money.
I'm not saying this granny did that, but it's a possibility. It's also possible that she was just a cantankerous old lady who thought she knew better. She did refuse help, after all.
It's also possible that none of those things are true, and that she was just an idiot.
Nothin' personal against dear old granny. I do respect my elders.
What makes you think the family paid for it? Alaska is saying they did not. Again, they did not indicate that they needed assistance when they purchased the boarding pass.
Yes, I noticed.
:(
I know. What if she needed assistance to use a bathroom? What if she spilled something on herself or someone else did?
What if she got to the gate and there was a foul up and nobody met her?
I just don't see how someone who cared for someone could do this, then turn around and sue and expect a financial gain.
Don't see it.
This article below says the family requested it. I doubt very seriously that service comes free. If it does, I’d be shocked. The peanuts on flight don’t come free anymore.
https://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-family-sues-alaska-airlines-for-mothers-escalator-fall/678606175
I did see that but still keep in mind that the family paid for this not her and she is not in her right mind!
Airlines don’t charge
per customer. For the final time, they did not indicate that she needed assistance when purchasing a boarding pass. You can ask afterwards if you want but if you don’t or decline, there are others that they move on to. I don’t understand why you can’t comprehend this. It’s not complicated. Airlines are not always the bad guys.
And yes, peanuts are free. When have you last flown?
After all the articles I posted on American Airlines and United last summer and, AND mind you read some of the horror stories FReepers were posting it was just beyond belief.
Some of the things airlines were charging for. Seems to me one of you all said they charged for those peanuts and snacks these days. Am half shocked the lavatory is not a pay toilet! Better not say that or it will give the airlines an idea.
This does not really make sense at Portland. The only escalators I know of are from the Gate level to the baggage claim area/ground transportation. Portland is a relatively small airport. There is only one terminal divided into two sides; gate areas, A, B, C and D,E. All on one level. If she was supposed to be changing gates, there are no escalators involved, only moving walkways. So she would have had to go through the Security exit to get to the escalators.
That said, I agree, the family paid someone to watch this woman. Not sure if the fault is with Alaskan or the contractor. My opinion is the contractor, but I am not a lawyer. Sad for the family.
Oh, Alaskan uses one gate area, can’t remember which one, but she should have only need to move down the terminal a few gates. Unless it was to a different airline.
If you fly Spirit, yes, you pay for water and carry on bags. They don’t hide this in any way. People just have to do their due diligence and READ. There are multiple pop-up boxes that you must check before moving on that indicate you understand their policy. Why do you think you can get a ticket for $10.00? You pay for other things if needed.
Look at the taxes and government fees on your receipt if you want to know where the real problem lies.
And you don’t “hire” a contractor to move you around the airport. The airline’s do and they provide them UPON REQUEST.
Yeah I think they have to have elevators for handicapped people and children in strollers.
Although in vain, because she died, for those two men- I shout a bravo in praise.
One does not contradict the other.
From the article:
Kekona’s family is now suing Alaska Airlines and Huntleigh, USA for failing to provide what they say was agreed upon gate-to-gate transportation.
I believe she was trying to make a connecting flight and was not escorted between gates
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Then the airline clearly dropped the ball on that one.
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