Gold Coast woman furious Scoot has left her without her wheelchair

AMY Tobin is furious she is still waiting for two wheelchairs worth almost $50,000 left behind before she boarded a flight on Tuesday night.

A 22-year-old Gold Coast woman has urged fellow wheelchair users to avoid using budget airline Scoot after a nightmare journey.

Amy Tobin, an experienced traveller who has cerebral palsy, was left without her two wheelchairs worth almost $50,000 which were left behind when she boarded a flight from Singapore on Tuesday night.

Following her experience she urged people who use wheelchairs to avoid the anguish.

“You’re supposed to enjoy your holidays not regret them,” Miss Tobin said.

“Don’t fly Scoot, because you won’t be scooting home, you’ll be stuck. It’s stressful.”

The loss of her wheelchairs was the final insult for Ms Tobin, who says she endured a torrid time at the hands of the airline.

Amy Tobin was stranded at Gold Coast airport after her wheelchair was left behind. Photo: by Scott Fletcher

Ms Tobin said despite booking her trip three months in advance she spent three hours unsure if she would be allowed on to her 10.30pm flight before staff found a wheelchair so she could board.

“They sort of sat there and said you shouldn’t fly a budget airline,” Ms Tobin said.

“So if you’re disabled you should fork out more money?

“I’m trying to do anything any other young person does.”

Scoot says its taking steps to improve its service.

Once on board Ms Tobin said she was not able to access a toilet without being carried as there was no wheelchair on the airplane.

“I’m almost 23. I’m not going to ask someone to carry me – it’s not very dignified,” Ms Tobin said.

And she said staff for the budget airline told her they did not have safety contingencies for people who cannot walk.

“They said if you can’t walk it’s up to you to sort it out, or your friend can carry you,” she said.

“I got off the flight and I thought thank God – I’m never going to use Scoot Airlines again.”

The company said they would launch an internal investigation to improve their procedures.

Ms Tobin’s wheelchairs were nowhere to be seen when she arrived at Coolangatta yesterday morning, leaving her stranded.

Late yesterday Scoot apologised for the “inconvenience and unhappiness caused to Ms Tobin” and said they would refund the cost of her flight.

The company said they would launch an internal investigation to improve their procedures.

“In the meantime, Scoot is working with Gold Coast Airport to expedite the return of the wheelchairs,” a spokeswoman said.