Women in Travel: It’s Airline Activist, Bella Tipping!
We chat with airline activist Bella Tipping on raising awareness for those travelling with disabilities, and why as a 13-year old she’s taken on the task to fight for social change, all in conjunction with the inaugural Women in Travel Awards in November.
On a recent trip I realised that not everyone shares my excitement for plane travel. A few rows from us, a man with impaired mobility was being harnessed into a seat and began to slip out of the chair.
It was a terrible thing to witness his distress; he was painfully aware of how undignified it looked and how powerless he was to help himself.
I didn’t realise planes were the only form of public transport that do not allow for travel in modified wheelchairs. I didn’t know that disabled people had to be lifted into a standard seat by airport staff and harnessed in place.
The whole process of transferring the passenger into a standard seat comes with significant risk of injury for the passenger and staff.
My uncle Denzil was injured in a diving accident. His life, as well as those of his whole family, changed in an instant. He wants to travel to South Africa to see his ageing father but he is fearful of the journey.
I recently went on a Carnival Cruise and saw first-hand how well facilitated their ships are for people with a disability. But the reality is there are some amazing places in the world that are not readily accessible by water.
I set up a change.org petition to ask the major airlines to equip upgraded planes with spaces that allow modified chairs to be locked into place.
I am a 13-year-old girl who will fight for social change. I am determined to make a difference for those who have a disability.
Travel Weekly is proud to present the inaugural Women in Travel Awards in Sydney on 17 November, and are calling on women from any level across the industry to enter.
You don’t have to be nominated to enter, it’s open to all women at any level, and entries are FREE. ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER!
View criteria for each of the 18 categories here: women-in-travel-criteria-categories
Or, if you know or work with any exceptional Women in Travel, be proactive and acknowledge excellence in their field by nominating them to enter.
Click here to Nominate Now
The 18 categories are NOW OPEN and individuals can enter in more than one category.
Winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on 17 November in Sydney. Earlybird tickets are on sale.
Any questions, contact Daisy Melwani on 0401216294 or drop her a line here.
Read other Women in Travel interviews in this series:
Simla Sooboodoo, Hands On Journeys
Eliza Woodward, SmartFlyer Australia
Jennifer Vandekreeke, Carnival Cruise Line
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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POSTING COMMENT C/O CHRISSY@dissapxxxx.biz
If this young lady Bella Tipping doesn’t win we will be very surprised.
She has just opened a huge can of worms!
We have a family member with a disability and they have to pay 2 fares, one for their carer, and one for themselves, to travel anywhere, whilst able bodied people only pay one! Is that fair? NO!
Additionally, because most airlines do not have any means of transferring most disabled people with proper slings, they severely risk being dropped, or dislocating/breaking bones when being transferred.
It is nothing short of disgusting and sickening that our Federal Government Tourism and Disability Ministers DO NOT care, let alone intervene and do something about this IMMEDIATELY!
Well done Bella to get the ball rolling…or maybe this should be… get the wheelchairs rolling, properly for 1 in 4 people with disabilities and their families in Australia.
Keep up the good work with the online magazine.
Thanks
Christine