Editorial: Disabled deserve better respect

I felt quite embarrassed when I heard about someone who is able-bodied refusing to give up her front row seat on a flight for a wheelchair-bound woman.

Tanya Black, a 39-year-old television producer who broke her back after falling down a flight of stairs five years ago, says she was left humiliated when the woman kicked up a fuss, refusing to take a seat two rows back for the hour-long flight to Wellington last week.

Airline staff had seated Ms Black at 1A, the first seat on the plane where there is more leg room, because an "aisle chair" needed to transport her back to the third row was not immediately available. The narrow, wheeled chair is used to move disabled people on planes.

When the other woman boarded the plane an air hostess asked her to sit in Ms Black's original seat.

She refused, apparently telling a stewardess her frequent flyer status entitled her to sit in 1A. Air New Zealand's website states that Gold Elite Airpoints members are among the first in line for any available premium seating.

The flight was delayed while airline staff found an aisle chair so Ms Black could be shifted back two rows. Apparently the reaction has been split with some siding with Ms Black while others saying the "gold elite" passenger was entitled to do what she did.

Sure, the "gold elite" passenger was entitled to sit there but, really, it wouldn't have taken much to have a bit of heart and let Ms Black sit there. It was a short flight and it wouldn't have hurt the "gold elite" passenger to sit elsewhere.

This incident should serve as a reminder to us about how we treat those with disabilities.

While they don't like to be treated any differently there is a time and place when they deserve more care - this incident was one of those times and places.