I was invited to go down to Birmingham to do some graphic design training and help people to design their own book covers using Canva.
I booked easyJet flights on their website.
I also downloaded the easyJet app to look at updates about the flights etc. I used the app to check in as well.
My flight was at 6.05 in the morning, so early! Got to the airport and went to go up the escalator to go through security. I came across a TV screen of a woman talking but there were no captions/subtitles which I was really surprised about, as you would think the airport would be trying to be accessible, but there were no captions/subtitles for deaf and hard of hearing people. I assumed she was talking about the safety of using the escalator as it was right beside it and if they were thinking about safety, then adding captions/subtitles would not only benefit deaf and hard of hearing people, but actually benefit everyone.
I went straight through security. This is the worst part of travelling for me because of the communication barrier and I don’t want to just nod my head in case I have misunderstood the staff. So I have to lipread extra carefully here. I also can’t go through the security barriers because of my cochlear implant. I have to do an x-ray instead.
Do you find going through security scary or is it just me? I think I have also watched too many border control programmes which scare me even more! I think my issue is definitely the communication barrier. I would feel better if there more information how deaf people can go through security especially with cochlear implants for their peace of mind. At the moment its not very clear what we can or not do. For example when I go through security with my family it's even more stressful. Me and my son who is 8 have cochlear implant can't go through the machine but my husband have hearing aids and my daughter who is 5 and she is hearing. When its so busy we don't even know how to get organised and who goes first especially with young children.
I used both the app and screen to check my flight. The app seemed to update quicker than the airport screen because it was the easyJet app.
I can never relax until I am actually on the plane. I really need to stop overthinking and try to relax a bit more. When my gate number appeared, I went to the gate and stood near the disability section. When the voice started to speak through the tannoy I went to the desk to let the agent know I was deaf and to ask if she could let me know what the announcer was saying. She never did, she just said to come through to go onto the plane. Part of me wanted her to repeat the tannoy message so I would know for another time.
When I got on the plane, I told the flight attendant straight away that I was deaf, so they were aware. They knew which was great because I had filled in the form - I can’t even remember what it’s called, think it’s ‘special assistance’ or ‘more info about disability’. I ticked “I am deaf and can’t hear the tannoy or speakers on the plane”. The flight attendant took me to my seat and asked if there was anything they could do for me. I said I was OK and checked where the flight attendant would be standing to do the demonstration, and it was in good position for me to see clearly.
This is the bit I find a bit harder.
Tannoy comes on again - no idea what it said. I get anxious because I am confined to my seat and yes, I could have asked someone next to me, but I was definitely out of my comfort zone here. I didn’t want to press the buzzer and be annoying. It could have been a random announcement about food and drink or more about takeoff. Actually, this is something that needs to be improved upon because as soon I got on the plane, I had no clue as to what was happening at all during the flight until when the buzzer came on later, I knew it meant we were nearly landing.
It’s not relaxing for me sometimes on the flight and I do find this exhausting always having to use my eyes to see what’s going on and sort of work it out for myself. I just wish there was a way to help people with hearing loss. It is 2023 after all, and technology is amazing now, so hopefully one day!
Being deaf can be hard because it’s an invisible disability and you have to find the confidence to tell people “I am deaf, and could you let me know what that person said” but you don’t want to bother people by keeping asking when the tannoy goes off.
When it was time to land and, you can probably guess, the tannoy came on and I still didn’t have a clue, but the overhead button did come on to put seat belts on, so I guessed we must be landing soon. Could the flight attendant maybe have come to tell me that, and keep me updated? I don’t know, I would love your thoughts and advice here as to how I could be included and get what the tannoy announcement is saying.
When we landed, and this is another bit I don’t know, are we getting the steps to walk down to go on a bus or will we walk through the air bridge directly into the airport? I always just follow people here. When I got to the door, this time I could see the steps and the bus.
I got onto the bus and then we reached the airport entrance and the bus stopped but the doors weren’t opening, everyone was just waiting. I am used to not knowing what is going on but we were waiting for ages though and I could see some people getting fed up wondering what was going on since there were no loudspeakers or announcements on the bus. I was thinking, this is my life, when I could see people looking around to see why the bus had stopped and them not getting any info.
After a long day and going for my return flight home leaving at 9.15pm, I went through the NEC walkway to the air rail link to get to the airport. I went through security, again I was nervous. Got to the bit when you put your items in the box. I told the man I was deaf and had a cochlear implant and I can’t go through the machine. He told his colleague I was deaf and couldn’t go through. He let me through the accessibility gate and this is where Birmingham Airport is different from Glasgow Airport, the lady body searched me instead of using the body x-ray and now it got me thinking, what machines can I go through or can’t? I went on Google, and it doesn’t seem to be clear so I am going to research this more by asking the professionals and I will talk more about cochlear implants in my next blog.
You can check out my reel 'Day in the Life of Deaf Business Woman' below
I did some work at the airport and kept my eye on the flight screen. I was still waiting for my gate number but then my app mentioned it, but the screen didn’t. I saw some people from the morning flight walking to the gate number the app had said. I went to the gate as well and now this was when it got confusing. Got to the gate but it didn’t have a screen confirming the flight details, it was just a gate with a corridor to the end with tape across. We all went back up and waited in the next departure area that was for those going to Edinburgh. I thought, here we go again, I need to keep my eye out and follow the people that were on the same flight as me. I saw them all getting up and going back to the gate, so we all went along. It turns out this corridor takes you outside to the plane. But before that, the boarding gate agent shouted something past us and I was like, er right I need to ask someone behind me! So I asked the man behind, and he said it was for priority boarding.
Waited in the line and then we started to move and before getting on the plane, I was thinking maybe I wouldn’t say anything about me being deaf this time because I wanted to see if the special assistance process was going to work. Glad I didn’t say anything because I had a really good experience! I went to find my seat and sat down. To be honest I did feel nervous though because I hadn’t told them I was deaf. Just when the plane was ready to move, I saw the flight attendant with an iPad, and it got me thinking that this was different. She walked down the aisle and went past me, and I was thinking, er maybe not, but I felt I really needed to let them know. When she started to turn, she came to me and asked whether I flew often, and I said yes. She showed me the iPad and asked whether I had read this before. I had a quick look and it was about the flight, safety and the demonstration etc. I felt really good that they were aware. She also said if I had any problems to press the buzzer and they would come and help. I said thanks, but it got me thinking, when can I press the buzzer? Is it for more info when the tannoy comes on, or to ask for help like if I needed something? Because I was so tired at this point, I shut my eyes and had a wee sleep. Then when the tannoy came on and the seatbelt buzzer sounded, it was time to land. Landed at Glasgow Airport, got off the flight and walked to meet my dad at the drop off/collect car park.
Check out my selfie in the Airport
My overall experience? easyJet staff had been really good and very helpful. However, I do think airports need to improve their accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people. Some deaf people are OK with flying and feel confident but some, like me, aren’t. I think I am more scared in case I miss the flight or misunderstand the security staff and feel excluded on the flight with no updates or information about what the tannoy is saying at each step.
Going on holiday abroad is on another level, as this was only a day trip to Birmingham! When it’s a holiday abroad I do feel more stressed. I will keep that for a separate blog. Looking at holidays just now and I will be writing another blog about travelling, especially with cochlear implants.
I would love to do a podcast with a travel agent or flight attendant. Be good to know more about how they can help deaf and hard of hearing people when they are travelling. If anyone knows of anyone, please contact me, I would love to learn more and help people who have hearing loss and love travelling to feel more included.
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