I am disabled and walk with a cane. I\'m also a psychotherapist needing to travel to lecture at national and international conferences. And I, like many others, struggle with anxiety issues around flying.

I had a lecture in San Francisco and decided to fly Frontier. I went online to purchase “Classic Plus” tickets because this more expensive ticket allowed me to select my seat. I chose seats in row 1 to make it easier to get on and off the plane with my cane and to help ease my anxiety about flying.

However, when we (my husband and son went with me) got to the counter at the airport and entered our registration number, we were given seats in row 11.

The ticket agent, Andy Fresquez, seemed friendly to the person he was helping, so I felt hopeful. When he finished, I asked him if he could help us. I provided him with our receipt showing that we\'d paid for seats in row one and asked if we might get those seats. He said there was a change of equipment and we were in row 11 now.

I explained that I am disabled and would like the seats I\'d requested. He said the seats I\'d requested didn\'t exist. I asked for seats closer to the front to make it easier for me as well as the other passengers. We\'d arrived 4 hours ahead of time and the counter wasn\'t busy, but he simply repeated that there was a change of equipment and the only seats available were in the 11th row. He said people would have to give up their seats in the front in order for us to have the seats I\'d paid for. Most concerning, his manner was rude and dismissive to us but kind to the people both before and after us.

We tried to explain again that due to my disability, row 11 would be difficult for me. We further explained that I hadn\'t flown in about 10 years and due to being a nervous flyer, it would be helpful if we could sit closer to the front of the plane. We asked him to consider how he could help us. We also explained if he couldn\'t help us, we would probably have to rent a car and drive home from San Francisco to Denver.

He rolled his eyes, began talking very slowly – saying “”There was a change in equipment. Those seats don\'t exist. We\'d have to move someone who\'s already sitting in the front of the plane.” He told us to print off the tickets and then see if they could fix it at the gate.

We did as he asked but as we walked away we heard him complaining about us to the next person in line. When my husband looked back, he saw Mr. Fresquez again rolling his eyes as he talked about us. We felt this was not only unfriendly but wholly unprofessional. Not at all what we expected from Frontier which, we thought, prided itself on exceptional customer service.

Once we got to the gate, we inquired about our seats, but learned the gate attendant was finishing his shift and Mr. Fresquez would be the gate agent for our flight. We realized we wouldn\'t get much help from him. We considered renting a car and driving home, but hoped we could resolve things somehow.

Another gentleman – Roberto Moreno – came to the gate and we appealed to him for help. He looked at the seating on the plane and said he could easily move us to the front. The people who had been assigned seats in the front of the plane had not checked in yet and didn\'t even know where they were sitting so it would be no problem.

We were confused because when we explained how challenging it would be for me not to sit towards the front of the plane at a quiet check-in counter, Mr. Fresquez was rude and refused to help.

I just wanted to advise you of this problem. I realize it\'s just one unpleasant person that I ran into and appreciate that our problem was resolved, but unless disabled people speak up, this sort of behavior will continue. The impression I got from my first experience flying with Frontier is that they are rude and unfriendly to people with disabilities.

I don\'t want others to experience the same problems. When you\'re disabled, it\'s difficult to travel and there is a sense of powerlessness.

I don\'t expect anyone to go out of their way to help me. I can take care of myself. However, I do expect to receive what I have paid for and to be shown the same respect as anyone else.

I wanted to share this information to let other disabled people know that in my experience, Frontier was not disabled friendly.