Aussie traveller's 2.5 hour airport 'trauma' leaves him 'worried' about flying again

Most of us have been infuriated by long queues, baggage limits and flight delays at airports. But those experiences likely pale in comparison to one Aussie traveller’s 2.5-hour nightmare at Tokyo’s main international airport.

It was so bad that disability advocate Shane Hryhorec is now "worried" about ever flying again. Shane has previously spoken out about his upsetting experience at Disneyland Tokyo but his followers will be disappointed to know that his troubles did not end once he left the famous theme park.

“The ordeal made me so upset, angry, frustrated, and confused. I experienced every emotion you could imagine. By the time I got my ticket, I was so physically and emotionally exhausted that I just wanted to sleep,” he told Yahoo Lifestyle.

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Because of his wheelchair, Shane regularly experiences problems with international travel. So he was the first to arrive at the check-in gates to board an Asiana Airlines flight on June 21.

But despite his travel agent telling the airline that his electric wheelchair required two batteries to operate, staff at the airport told him they exceeded the carry-on allowance.

Thousands shocked by Aussie traveller's airline experience

Video of the ordeal, which Shane uploaded to his Wheel Around the World travel blog on TikTok has gone viral, with over 810,000 people tuning in. Many of his able-bodied followers are regularly left stunned by the difficulties he experiences.

Responding to his airport video, most of those commenting were stunned at how patient he was, as the hours ticked down and he faced missing his flight and having to take a ferry across the Sea of Japan instead.

“You are so calm I’d be off my brain,” one person wrote. “Your patience and kindness is truly admirable,” another said.

Traveller busting for toilet as staff prepare to close boarding

Speaking with Yahoo Lifestyle, Shane confessed he felt he had “absolutely no chance” of making his flight. He lost count of the number of staff members he spoke to, but he estimates it was between seven and ten.

“Many of them kept asking the same questions over and over again! Some even asked the same question three times, as if hoping the answer might change! It was painful but also a bit comical,” he said.

Worried he’d have to spend another night in Tokyo, Shane didn’t want lose his spot in the line, but at the same time he became busting to use the bathroom, and didn’t know what to do. And then there were all the eyeballs on him as other travellers wondered what his problem was.

“Every passenger on the flight saw me waiting the entire time. Everyone had checked into the plane, and I was still sitting at the check-in counter… You can see in the video that there was no one behind me at the end,” he said.

In his TikTok, Shane can be seen explaining to staff that his batteries have been travel certified and that he needs his chair to get around.

“I’m stuck in one spot without my mobility,” he explains.

“You have prohibited items,” an airline staff member responds.

“No I don’t,” he maintains.

Concern mounts about flying in future

While the airline relented and rushed him to the gate moments before the flight took off, Shane was still desperate to use the bathroom as he boarded. But worst of all, he's been left feeling uncertain about flying in future.

“The manager came up to me and told me I would be able to fly, and her boss had approved the batteries,” he said. “She huffed and puffed in a way that made it sound like it was a relief for her, not for me. She also said they were making an exception today and today only, which makes me worry about every other time I fly.”

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Yahoo Lifestyle has attempted to contact Asiana Airlines but it is yet to hear back. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance which has a condition of carriage listed on its website designed to help disabled passengers fly.

“Passengers with disabilities who have advised us of any special requirements they may have at the time of ticketing, and been accepted by us, shall not subsequently be refused carriage on the basis of such disability or special requirements,” it says.

The Star Alliance did not respond to questions from Yahoo Lifestyle before deadline.

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