Disabled traveller wins flight battle; Airline changes rules over prosthetic legs.

Byline: By LAURA CAROE

AN AIRLINE has apologised today to a disabled man who had to pay to take a spare pair of prosthetic legs on holiday.

Furious double-amputee Mick Skee was told that Jet2 would not waive the excess baggage charge although he would be able to take a wheelchair for free on next May's flight to Majorca.

Now the airline has said they will refund the dad-of-four and have changed their guidelines.

The 47-year-old lost both his legs after contracting meningococcal septicaemia in 2006 and wanted to take an extra pair of prosthetic legs on a trip to Majorca in May.

As reported in yesterday's Chronicle, catering manager for Tyne & Wear Fire Services Mr Skee, from Wardley, Gateshead, booked his holiday with his wife Sandra through a website called On The Beach.

He said: "After getting confirmation details, I contacted them to say I needed special assistance for transportation of prosthetic limbs. They e-mailed me for my medical condition and contacted Jet2 who told them they were not prepared to transport the legs for free.

"This is something that could affect other people in the same situation and it is an issue that needs to be dealt with."

A Jet2 spokesman said: "Mr Skee's specific request was not one we had ever encountered previously.

"It is impossible to cover every possible permutation for travellers' requests so our call centre handled this request in accordance with guidelines. We have now reviewed these, and moving forward, requests such as Mr Skee's will be covered under our mobility guidelines rather than our medical excess guidelines.

"We will of course be providing Mr Skee with a full refund, not just on the additional charges, but on his entire flight and we apologise for any inconvenience caused."

CAPTION(S):

FULL APOLOGY: Mick Skee has won his points