Desperate Brits ‘pull unacceptable trick in attempt to beat airport queues’ as travel bosses order in more wheelchairs
HEARTLESS passengers desperate to beat whopping airport queues are pretending to be disabled, it's reported.
Bosses at Birmingham airport say there's been a 20 per cent rise in people asking for assistance.
Chiefs have even had to buy more wheelchairs in and take on extra staff to help, reports.
One travel industry insider, who joined a meeting with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps this week, has blasted the alleged crooks behind the mean scheme.
The leak told the paper: "If people are pretending it's potentially stopping genuinely disabled people from getting a place, and that's pretty grim.
"You can't just say to people, 'No, you're lying'."
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Another industry boss said: "There should be a special place reserved in hell for people who pretend to be disabled."
All passengers with disabilities can skip queues at security.
They can also use fast track lanes and access help to get through customs and baggage - for a fee.
Holiday-makers heading away for sunshine breaks have faced scenes of "total carnage" over the past couple of weeks.
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There are problems around the UK, with would-be travellers urged not to arrive more than three hours early - despite facing horrific five-hour queues that snake through terminals into car parks outside.
Even when they do make it to departures they still face a gruelling getaway lottery, with hundreds of flights scrapped.
Tui has binned off 34,000 hols. Some passengers were told they wouldn't be heading away after huge waits inside the terminal or even on planes.
Easyjet has cancelled more than 200 flights over the half-term.
It axed another 36 from Gatwick today, with those hoping for breaks in Nice, Marseille and Montpellier told they'll have to stay home.
Planned walkouts could also disrupt British Airways services. Hundreds of staff are threatening to strike in a row over pay.
It comes as...
- We reveal the full list of flights cancelled today - including services by Tui and Easyjet
- Cops tell exhausted Tui passengers their flights have been axed - after eight hours of waiting at the airport
- Summer holiday plans are up in the air as travel chiefs admit flights may not take off in July
- And Ryanair has warned passengers could face huge disruption next month
- Brits heading away are urged to check their insurance now
Earlier this week, travellers returning to Manchester Airport climbed onto the baggage carousel in a desperate bid to get their stranded luggage back.
Armed cops were called to the terminal amid the furore.
Jet2 boss Steve Heapy has allegedly blamed the chaos on "lazy Brits who live off benefits and sit on their arses".
He's said to have made the explosive comment in talks this week — as BA and Easyjet demanded more powers to hire visa-free workers from Europe.
The industry has struggled to replace staff lost in the pandemic.
Many unemployed cabin crew in Spain are seen as an alternative labour pool.
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But Mr Shapps rejected the call for European workers at Thursday’s talks.
It saw Mr Heapy slam Brits for not turning up to job interviews or taking the application process seriously.
