Budget airline tells disabled man he must pay extra - for his false legs

Mick Skee is furious after being told his prosthetic legs will count as excess baggage

A disabled man has condemned a budget airline that told him he must pay to take his spare prosthetic legs on holiday.

Double amputee Mick Skee is angry that airline Jet2 will not waive the excess baggage charge when he travels to Majorca next May.

He lost both his legs after contracting meningococcal septicaemia in 2006.

The 47-year-old said today: 'In my opinion, the prosthetic legs are a disability aid. A wheelchair is classed as that and can be transported free of charge.

'It is ridiculous. The legs weigh less than a wheelchair, but I have been told that Jet2 are not prepared to budge.

'If I wanted to take a spare pair of prosthetics, I will have to pay an extra £10 for each way.'

Mr Skee, a father-of-four from Wardley, Gateshead, plans to write to Jet2 to protest and to highlight the problem with his local MP.

The catering manager for Tyne-and-Wear Fire Services and his wife Sandra, 40, booked their trip through a holiday website called On The Beach.

Mr Skee said: 'After getting confirmation details, I contacted them to say I needed special assistance for transportation of prosthetic limbs.

'They emailed me for my medication condition and contacted Jet2, who in turn told them they were not prepared to transport the legs for free.

'On The Beach have said they will pay the extra baggage charge, but that is not the point.

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

Jet2 told Mr Skee it would charge him £10 each to transport his spare legs

He had a pair of limbs specially made and fitted with training shoes. He is having another pair made at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital so he can wear dress shoes.

He said: 'I wanted to take a spare pair on holiday because if one pair gets damaged I could use the other pair. But also if I want to take my wife out for dinner and get dressed up, I can put the other pair on.'

A spokesman for Jet2 said the airline would not comment on individual cases.

But the company advised Mr Skee to make a formal complaint to its customer services department and said it would endeavour to provide a response within 21 days.



