Turkish Airlines didn’t let him board without a doctor’s note.
Airlines can deny boarding to passengers if they are deemed unfit to fly, but a passenger alleges Turkish Airlines recently used a medical condition to turn him away at the gate.
Former British presenter Mark Mardell says he was prevented from boarding his flight from Istanbul to London because he did not have a note from his general physician confirming he was fit to fly. But it did not stop there—he says he was left alone at the airport to retrieve his baggage and spent seven hours trying to figure out where he needed to go.
“I feel so humiliated. It’s this terrible feeling that you are so vulnerable. I nearly burst into tears about five times,” he said.
Mardell, 68, traveled to the Turkish capital on October 20 with his son Jake on Wizz Air, which did not ask for any doctor’s note. Later that week, the father and son went to the airport for their respective flights—Jake lives in Berlin and had to travel for work. On return, Mark was flying with Turkish Airlines, and when Jake went to the desk to request assisted boarding for his father, explaining he had Parkinson’s, staff told him Mardell needed a doctor’s note to board. Since Mardell was not carrying such a report, the staff allegedly denied him boarding.
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The former BBC journalist was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three years ago, and he has started using assisted boarding as his disease has progressed. Parkinson’s is a progressive movement disorder of the nervous system, affecting people differently. Symptoms include tremors, muscle stiffness, speech changes, cognitive issues, fatigue, and mental health problems.
Mardell recalled a staff member at the airport being particularly unkind and telling him, “Look at you—your hands are shaking.” He does not experience tremors, and it is likely that he was shaking due to the stress of the situation. His main symptoms are slow movement and a weak voice.
Mardell insisted that Jake board his flight, and Mardell was left to retrieve his luggage at the airport without assistance. He spent hours trying to locate where to go and said he wanted to stop walking and sit down. Parkinson’s can cause fatigue and freezing, or an inability to walk. “The odd thing was that they say it’s for your own good and then they let you stagger around an airport.” Another passenger helped him find the right area, where he had to wait several more hours before his bags arrived.
His son booked him a hotel for the night and another flight with Wizz Air the following day. Mardell made it home on October 26 without the carrier asking for any additional documents.
Since then, he has complained to the airline and received a full refund for his missed flight. He has also complained to the U.K.’s Civil Aviation Authority, which called the policy unlawful and raised the issue with the airline.
Related: Cruising With a Disability: What to Know, What to Book, and 11 Questions to Ask
Traveling With Parkinson’s
People with Parkinson’s disease can travel—even by air—without causing harm to themselves or others. The American Parkinson Disease Association advises travelers to visit their doctor to “confirm medication supplies, discuss timing adjustments for time-zone changes, and even get the names of local doctors at your destination (especially for international trips).” It also recommends using wheelchair assistance, even for those who don’t normally need it.
It’s a good idea to have a doctor’s note explaining your condition, medications, and potential complications when traveling. However, airlines typically don’t request it if you can travel independently.
Until recently, Turkish Airlines required passengers with Parkinson’s disease to have a report from their doctor declaring they were fit to fly. The report had to include “a statement specifying that the passenger can travel accompanied or unaccompanied” along with the doctor’s name, diploma number, and signature. No other airline requests such a note from passengers with Parkinson’s. After this story became public, the airline removed the requirement from its website.
United Airlines specifies that boarding may be denied if a passenger cannot complete the flight without urgent medical assistance, poses a risk to the health and safety of other travelers or crew, or does not submit a medical certificate at least 48 hours before the flight.
Airlines such as SAS, Air Canada, and KLM include information about medical clearance on their websites, but they do not single out any particular condition like Parkinson’s. They may require a medical certificate if a passenger has had surgery, is suffering from a contagious disease, or has a cognitive impairment.
