No strollers inside cabin: Doha-bound passengers from Kannur speak of harrowing expernice
NT Bureau
Doha: Several women passengers travelling from Kannur airport in Kerala to Doha are speaking of their harrowing experiences due to the reluctance of some airlines to permit strollers inside the plane’s cabin.
Women with small babies are facing inconvenience and even finding their journey turned into traumatic experiences due to this inconsiderate behaviour of the airline staff, a passenger told News Trail.
“I was flying Indigo from Kannur to Doha two days ago and at the time of boarding, the staff didn’t allow me to take the stroller inside the cabin though it was a cabin stroller specifically bought for use inside flights. I had two small children accompanying me – a two-month-old baby and a two-and-a-half-year-old child. The pain and inconvenience I had to go through can’t be explained and I believe no woman with small children should be made to go through such an experience,” Dr Amal Ahmed, a resident of Doha, told News Trail.
“The staff at the boarding gate took the stroller and put it in the cargo hold, despite my requests. Surprisingly, once inside the aircraft, I found that there was ample space in the overhead compartment for a stroller,” Dr Amal added.
Finally, at Doha airport, she got the stroller only from the baggage belt, which was after the immigration process. “Doha airport is very big and you can imagine the trouble of walking all the way to the counters with two small kids and waiting for long at the immigration gate,” she said.
Another passenger said she too was asked to discard her stroller at the boarding gate at Kannur airport a few days ago, but she refused to oblige and took the stroller inside the cabin.
Many women are forced to leave the strollers at the boarding gate and almost all of them obey without protest, thus making their journey with small kids a traumatic experience in most cases, sources told this newspaper.
Dr Amal has complained to the airline authorities against their staff’s callous attitude and says is ‘awaiting action’ so that other women don’t have to go through similar experiences.
