Ryanair Draws Ire over Disability Policy

Ryanair, an airline famously fond of ancillary fees, has caused quite the uproar over its current policy regarding a passenger with Klinefelter's Syndrome.

The Daily Mail reports 19-year-old Jordan Hamilton, who currently stands at six feet and 11 inches, has requested to be seated with extra legroom for his upcoming trip to Malaga.

Obviously, this story is more polarizing than a traveler who desires a bit more room at no extra cost.

Hamilton’s Klinefelter's Syndrome actually causes his body to grow at an abnormal rate, garnering his large proportions, which the report states could continue until he is 21. As The Daily Mail has learned via Hamilton’s family, traveling can be an exhausting and painful task for someone with this particular syndrome.

Normally the family decides to fly with easyJet, which allows Hamilton to sit with extra legroom at no cost.

This time around the family decided to go with Ryanair, which has decided to charge Hamilton over twice as much as the normal fare for the ability to sit in a row that would offer a bit more comfort.

The Daily Mail tweeted out the following image of the near seven-foot traveler:

Ryanair blasted for charging a disabled 6ft 11in teenager for the extra leg room https://t.co/xCDDlnXRmV pic.twitter.com/ZVTz87Ga3C

— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) January 6, 2017

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Hamilton’s sister Jenny explains to The Daily Mail that Ryanair is charging an extra fee despite the syndrome and, purportedly, only recognizes disabilities if a wheelchair is mandated.

Jenny states: “Ryanair said it does not see that as a kind of disability because he's not in a wheelchair. They told me if I wanted extra leg room I would have to pay for it. It costs £15 each way to sit on the front row and the tickets only cost £20 each. That means he's effectively going to have to pay double the fare because of his disability.”

Jenny explains that her brother can’t help his size: “I'm incredibly upset about it. If he didn't suffer from Klinefelter's Syndrome he wouldn't require this extra room. He's being discriminated against, I do not think it is any different from a person in a wheelchair.”

The 33-year-old relayed that she actually made a case to the airline that this particular disability warranted treatment similar to that offered by an airline such as easyJet: “I explained to the person on the phone that it's not like he is fat. He hasn't eaten himself into this state. This is not something he has done to himself.”

Jenny continued to make her brother’s case, explaining that not only does a normal seat harm her brother, but it works against the comfort of others in the cabin.

Jenny continues: “I've seen him crying trying to fit into a normal seat before. His legs are so long that they just won't fit. It isn't nice for the person in front of him either because he ends up putting his knees into the back of their chair. It's never been a problem with easyJet before so I can't understand why Ryanair are being so difficult.”

Recently, TravelPulse reported on Ryanair and its optimism to providing free flights within a decade’s time. Presumably, a strict adherence to ancillary fees would make something this outrageous possible.

Ryanair, for its part, has issued a statement. It is willing to waive the fee on one leg of the trip, but Hamilton would have to pay the increased fare on a subsequent flight.

The statement reads, via Daily Mail: “This passenger requested to be seated in one of our reserved seat rows, and was offered this service on the same basis as all other passengers, namely upon payment of the applicable £15 fee. We have, as a goodwill gesture, waived the fee in this case, but he will be required to pay it, on the same basis as all other passengers, if he wishes to fly with Ryanair again.”

The report quotes Orla McCann from Disability Action who issued the following: “The protection offered to disabled people in legislation is offered to all disabled people and it is very disappointing that Ryanair has demonstrated such an antiquated understanding of that. There are many different forms of disability and not all disabled people are wheelchair users, and service providers should be mindful of what reasonable adjustments they can offer to open up their services to all disabled people.”

For the moment, the family and airline have some decisions to make. For the Hamiltons, changing airlines may prove difficult this close to their departure.

As for the airline, their conundrum may be a bit more simple to solve considering the uproar this story has garnered. 

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