AN easyJet passenger was forced to choose between checking in a bag carrying life-saving medication or a bag with her valuables in it.
Janeil Jaggers Whitworth, who has cystic fibrosis, was travelling from Prague to Venice when she was told that she couldn’t take both bags into the cabin with her.
5
She wrote on Facebook: “Upon boarding, I was asked to step aside because I had one backpack and my Hillrom Vest bag I use for cystic fibrosis treatment to carry on.
“I explained the extra bag was completely filled with medication and medical equipment and that the backpack was my carry on.
“The gentleman told me one would have to fit in another (which wasn’t possible), so that I only had one bag.”
The bag contained important medicine as well as her vest, which is used to thin the mucus that lines the lungs of cystic fibrosis sufferers – meaning it was too full to also put her backpack into it.
5
5
The 28-year-old continued: “He responded that if I had two bags, I would have to pay for the extra bag.
“I pulled up the policy off the Easyjet website and told him no where did it state medical equipment and medications that I need for the duration of my trip would require me to purchase another bag.
“The policy states I can carry on a bag that’s ONLY medical equipment/medications if it fits within the normal cabin bag measurements, which it did. He dismissed me and told me I still needed to purchase another bag.”
The easyJet website currently states: “You can take any medicines and medical equipment that you need to have with you.”
5
The easyJet employee then told her that “anyone could say it was ‘medical equipment or medications'” even though Janeil having a doctor’s note which she offered to show him.
Despite explaining that she needed her vest bag or she could end up in hospital, he was adamant that she had to check one of her bags in.
After panicking about missing the flight, she then checked her backpack in with her valuables and carried her medication bag on board.
Janeil claimed the man was “discriminating” against her because she looked “young and healthy”.
5
She explained: “I have an ‘invisible illness’. Cystic fibrosis is an invisible illness.
“I have 56 per cent lung function and cystic fibrosis related diabetes.
“I take over 60 pills a day easily and spend 2+ hours completing airway clearance a day, every single day.
“I spent 5 weeks on home IV antibiotics just to prepare for this trip so that I could physically handle it.”
She added in a comment: “It was discrimination because he made judgements BASED off my appearance and that I didn’t look ‘sick enough’ to need a carry on filled with medical supplies and medication.
“It’s also discrimination because he attempted to charge me for a medically needy bag (which is no where in their policy).
“It clearly states I can carry on as much as medically necessary.
“I have flown many times with my medication and equipment on all types of different airlines, and never faced a problem to this extent.”
An easyJet spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We know how important it is for customers travelling with medical equipment to be able to keep it with them which is why we allow customers to carry medical equipment in the cabin free of charge in addition to their cabin bag allowance, when accompanied by a medical certificate.
“We have contacted Ms Whitworth to apologise for her experience at Prague airport as she was incorrectly asked to check in her handbag into the hold.
“This is not in line with our policy and so we are investigating this with our ground handling agents. The wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority.”
What is cystic fibrosis?
Cystic fibrosis is a condition that affects the lungs and digestive system.
This causes them to become clogged with thick, sticky mucus.
It can lead to breathing problems and trouble digesting food.
Over the years, a person’s lungs are damaged to the extent that they can stop working properly.
Sadly there is no cure for CF.
The average life expectancy for someone with cystic fibrosis can vary, with the current predicted age just 41 years.
Travelling with cystic fibrosis can cause other problems – 17-year-old Lauren Green was charged sky-high fees for her insurance due to her condition.
While standard insurance for a two-week holiday to the US costs around £89, Lauren was charged £1,400.
Important medicine should be carried on the plane – one woman was left without her antidepressants for a week after her suitcase was lost by the her airline.
