Thread by @Kris10Parisi

Just took a flight from JFK to SYR for a girlfriends bridal shower on @JetBlue and they left my wheelchair in NYC

So now I'm essentially legless and have lost my independence because I was dismissed by staff at every stage of this flight

Sadly I know I'm not alone. People with disabilities face this every single day while traveling and I'm horrified. In 28 years, Ive never not had my chair

Not only did @JetBlue leave my custom wheelchair in NYC but they have NO IDEA where it is. Anyone in a wheelchair knows that not knowing where THEIR chair is feels like a piece of them is missing. It takes away my freedom, independence and ability to function

cc: @SenDuckworth Airlines need to do better. To say I'm distraught in this moment, not knowing where my wheelchair is would be an understatement. How do airlines continue to allow this to happen? My chair is not luggage, it's my lifeline

I've now been without my wheelchair for over 4 hours. Luckily they have located it at JFK and are flying it to SYR. I still do not have written confirmation of most of the conversations with @JetBlue despite requesting it repeatedly

7 hours without my chair, the longest I've ever gone. Thank God my chair is on its way to me and I will finally have it back this evening

When someone is without their every day chair, even for a few hours, our entire lives are impacted: using the restroom is more difficult, getting in/out of the car, I can't even use my car right now because I don't have my chair. This is not dramatic but it cannot be overstated

And the fact that my chair is considered "luggage" is dispicable for all airlines. The industry needs to change its approach to how lost wheelchairs are dealt with.

To add insult to injury, @JetBlue is truly treating my chair as if it was simply luggage and not my legs. I was told by the driver that my chair will be delivered to me, "after we get done dropping off some other luggage"

It's now been 10 hours since the last time I saw my wheelchair. The longest I've ever gone. It would've been faster if they just drove it directly to me. But here I am, 4:30 pm and I'm on the couch b/c it's pretty much the only thing I can do.

Update: after being apart from my chair, I finally have it back

Airlines desperately need a different approach to assistive devices. cc: @thepointsguy @WaPoTravel @nytimestravel @TravelLeisure My story is not unique but can no longer be accepted

I finally have my chair back but this ordeal has been one of my worst nightmares come true. I'm so so sorry to others with similar experiences. Full breakdown coming tomorrow. I have LOTS of recommendations for the airlines on how to move forward & be better