Wheelchair-bound holidaymaker John Roberts is an a mission to test facilities for disabled travellers. Here he gives us his verdict on an Emirates flight from Brisbane to Auckland.
For more information on John and his trip, check the Disability Travel Challenge page or visit his website equallywelcome.com.
You won’t believe this: an experience I would be happy to repeat. Great job Emirates!
With our ticket came free airport transfers, which we booked online. Our driver called us at about 7.30pm on the evening before the flight to confirm our details. He asked us if we were happy to be picked up at 5am to allow time to pass through the airport and enjoy breakfast before our flight.
We felt we were in reliable hands and could rest easy that night.
At 4.50am we left the hotel to find our driver waiting for us. He called ahead to ensure help was available with out luggage and check-in.
After check-in we were taken to the lounge and shown around, finishing up at a breakfast table. Why can’t every flight be like this?
We were kept informed about our flight, and a steward came to apologise that we were not able to go through the direct boarding path, which had some steps. They kept us advised every step of the way.
Boarding was a pleasure. The right seat, everything perfect, wonderful flight, great food, impeccable service. Emirates will certainly be a front runner when we book future travel.
On landing my wheelchair arrived without any fuss or problems. Staff were unobtrusively courteous, helping us through the airport and into arrivals where our driver was waiting to whisk us off to the Sky City Grand Hotel.
This was only one flight, but I am amazed at the difference in standards compared to our last two journeys with Qantas.
[Editor’s note: John praised Qantas for his initial flight from London to Singapore, but was disappointed by flights from Singapore to Sydney and Sydney to Cairns. John Roberts is a pseudonym.]
Where else has John visited?
The small map on the right shows where John has been in the Cairns area.
Click the icons for links to his full reports.
- Zoom out to see the rest of John’s route
- Visit the Disability Travel Challenge page for the full-size map