The Airline Policy Stopping Some Wheelchair Users Flying And The Man Fighting Against It

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Nov 13, 2020,08:20am EST|

The Airline Policy Stopping Some Wheelchair Users Flying And The Man Fighting Against It

Michele Robson
Contributor

Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.

Travel
I write about travel specialising in airlines and luxury travel for less

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John Morris is a frequent traveler in regular times, but a recent policy change with American Airlines is preventing him from flying from his local airport with them. Despite the fact that he uses a motorized wheelchair, Morris has traveled worldwide since an accident at age 23 left him as a triple amputee. An inspiration to many disabled and non-disabled travelers alike, Morris travels the world solo and fights for disabled users’ rights to travel with the same freedoms as their able-bodied counterparts. His website, Wheelchair Travel, offers vital information for disabled travelers on airlines, destinations, and hotels.

After the accident, his first trip abroad was a solo trip to Beijing, China, of which most of us would be hesitant, let alone in a wheelchair. Despite a significant hiccup that left him stranded on a sidewalk in Beijing with no battery left on his wheelchair, he wasn’t deterred and has continued to travel, visiting 46 [...]