A disabled rights campaigner says his romantic honeymoon in Paris was nearly ruined when Air France refused to allow his electric wheelchair on board because it was ‘too big’.
The airline was blasted in a social media campaign after Gordon Aikman, who has motor neurone disease and is paralysed, was told at the last minute that his wheelchair wouldn’t fit because it exceeds the maximum height of the luggage hold.
Aikman, from Edinburgh, and his husband, Joe Pike, had to cancel their flights and rebook with another airline, although Air France has since said it will apologise and offer a refund.
Gordon Aikman cancelled his flight and booked with easyJet, which was able to accommodate his wheelchair
The 30-year-old, who cannot walk, was upset with the airline’s handling of his situation after he spent more than a week trying to arrange for his wheelchair to be transported – including costly calls to 0871 numbers – and learned two days before his flight that it would not be allowed in the hold.
He received an email last Friday telling him the dimensions of his wheelchair were ‘too big’ for the aircraft that was being used on his flight.
Aikman, who had hoped the airline would offer an alternative, then unleashed a flurry of tweets directed at Air France, mockingly writing: ‘Grrrrrreat! “Sorry sir, you can’t take your legs on this @AirFranceUK flight” Thanks guys! #AirFranceFAIL’.
He added: ‘Sorry sir, your legs are too long – you can’t fly with @AirFranceUK today’.
He demanded an apology and called for better treatment of disabled passengers as his followers joined the campaign with tweets of their own.
After cancelling his tickets with Air France, Aikman flew with easyJet on Monday after the budget airline confirmed it could accommodate the wheelchair.
Air France notified Aikman by email two days before he was scheduled to fly to Paris for his honeymoon
Before the flight, he told The Courier: ‘The treatment I have had from Air France has been appalling.
‘Life isn’t worth living without my electric wheelchair, but Air France has made no effort to resolve the situation whatsoever, it has just ignored me, has offered no alternative.’
In a statement, Air France told MailOnline Travel that it will send an apology email to Aikman and all tickets and additional baggage charges will be refunded.
It will also offer compensation ‘as a gesture of goodwill’.
An airline spokesperson added: ‘Air France fully understands Mr Aikman's frustration on this matter.
'We are extremely sorry and appreciate this must have been upsetting for Mr Aikman and his travel companions. Air France is committed to giving all passengers the best care and service.
‘We regret that it was not possible to accept the transportation of Mr Aikman’s wheelchair due to the dimensions exceeding the capacity of the [Embraer 190] aircraft.’
‘Air France had been in correspondence with the passenger trying to find a solution by possibly reducing the height of the wheelchair. However, due to the maximum acceptable height being 71cm this was not possible. Regretfully Air France was not able to convey this information to Mr Aikman quickly enough.’
Aikman, who depends on carers, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in June 2014.
The progressive condition is terminal and attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord, and leads to weakness and wasting.
As messages stop reaching muscles, the disease strips a person of their ability to walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.
To aid in the efforts to find a cure, Aikman launched a charity, Gordon’s Fightback, to raise funds for research and awareness, and push for more specialists in the public health care system.
So far he has raised £418,000 towards his goal of half a million pounds.
Last December he was awarded a British Empire Medal for his efforts.
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