Australian airline wouldn't allow blind couple to board with their guide dog

From Cheapflights Ltd. in the UK:

Australian carrier Jetstar is at the centre of a row over rights for disabled people after employees turned away a blind couple from its check-in counter.

Glen Bracegirdle and Kathryn Beaton, who are both blind, were denied permission to board a flight from Melbourne when they arrived at the airport with a guide dog.

Despite Jetstar's own policy stating that guide dogs are allowed on flights, the clerk on duty shouted "no dogs, no dogs, no dogs" as the couple approached.

Rather than get into an argument at the airport, Ms Beaton and Mr Bracegirdle hastily booked themselves onto a flight with a different airline.

They later received a formal apology and offer of free flights from Jetstar, the no-frills wing of Qantas, but still plan to report the incident to the Human Rights Commission.

''People with disability have the same right to travel by air as the rest of the population," commented Bill Shorten, the Australian government's parliamentary secretary for disabilities. "They should not be treated like children or as an inconvenience."

Noting that this is the second time in as many weeks that Jetstar has been accused of mistreating disabled passengers, he added: "I'm furious. I'm sick of hearing about it."

Last month, champion disabled athlete Kurt Fearnley crawled through Brisbane Airport on his stomach in protest of Jetstar's decision to seize his wheelchair.

Airline spokesman Simon Westaway insisted that both reports were isolated occurrences, telling the local press that Jetstar has a "great record" for handling disabled passengers. But the federal government has rejected claims the incidents are unrelated.

While Jetstar's recent track-record is particularly alarming, the problem appears not to be confined to Australia. Earlier this year, Cheapflights Ltd reported a surge in the number of complaints received by disabled passengers flying from British airports.