The newest problem facing airports today...not the growing security lines because of TSA cuts, not the huge bags that travelers try to pull as "carry ons"? Apparently it's people faking a disability to get through security faster!
These so called "wheelchair miracles" as staff in some airports have started calling them, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal, are on the uptick as security lines get longer and people try to find any advantage they can over their fellow travelers. The classic case is someone will ask for wheelchair assistance at the check-in desk and it will get them through to the front of the security line. When they have cleared security they magically hop up out of the wheelchair and are on their way!
The sensitive nature of wheelchair assistance has made it harder to figure out who is need of assistance because of a legitimate disability and who might be just trying to get to the front of the line. At busy airports, such as Los Angeles International the number of fraudulent claims for wheelchairs numbers in the 15 percent range out of all of the requests they receive. That rounds out to about 300 requests EVERY DAY. Which makes it harder for people who have a legitimate need for assistance to get the service that they need and can result in missed flights through no fault of their own.
Times when the airlines see the most requests for wheelchairs that could possibly be bogus? Arrivals from international flights and around major holidays. Though many dispatchers and gate agents have started to learn the patterns of those that make bogus requests. They say that when someone suddenly runs up to them and requests assistance or is wearing very high heels...it starts to peak their suspicions.
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