For many people, the prospect of flying is exciting, signalling the start of a holiday or a reunion with family or friends. For Perth Hills resident Mel Rea, the prospect of flying is dreadful, and it is an event that requires extensive planning, time and expense.
Mel has been a wheelchair user for four years due to a spinal cord injury. Her previous life as an able-bodied traveler has given her an understanding of what air travel can and should be like. However, her experience as a passenger with a disability is very different, despite the best intentions of airport and airline staff.