It is pretty shocking to think that in 2022 airlines still haven’t got a clear and workable approach to passengers with disabilities. Every day we hear stories of poor transfers, damaged mobility aids and wheelchairs, and generally bad attitudes from staff members when they are required to do extra to assist someone with a cognitive, ability or social disability. Our support workers on the Gold Coast are well aware of the trials and tribulations that can be faced when attempting to navigate and travel, so we are pleased to see that Delta, American, United and other airlines have come together to work on a series of plans to ensure that travelling is made accessible to everyone regardless of ability or disability.
American Leading the Way
Although this new policy is being implemented in America, it will help airlines all over the world improve the service they offer. At this early stage, seven passenger airlines in the US have pledged their support and are working together through airlines for America, the industry trade group. The plan starts with an advisory group that will be working closely with people from the disabled community to find out what issues they are running into and look at ways of how they can be remedied.
Avoidable Issues
Although it is easy to say when not closely involved, the majority of issues encountered by passengers with disabilities could easily be avoidable. For example, due care and attention should be fundamental when it comes to any passenger’s possessions. So, suitcases, wheelchairs, musical instruments, bikes and more should all be able to be safely loaded and unloaded and survived the duration of the flight without any damage. So why is it that so many wheelchairs are damaged, which can have massive impacts on the passenger? Due to the size of mini wheelchairs, it is impractical for them to be carried in any other way but stowed in the cargo hold. As soon as this happens, you take away the independence of the passenger and therefore, it should also not be too much to expect that the airline staff are all trained and on hand to make the passenger transfer with the smaller, portable wheelchairs without causing any distress or embarrassment to the traveller.
Other Changes
At the start of 2022, the Department of transport in the US proposed further changes to our travel for those with disabilities, including accessible lavatories being made available on more planes. In July, the first-ever bill of rights for travellers with disabilities was issued by the agency. They have also suggested that the immediate future plans include enabling people to board the aeroplane in their own wheelchair and remain in it for the duration of the flight, which would undoubtedly make a lot of people more comfortable. The current pledge has been signed by American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Air group, Delta Airlines, United airlines holdings and Southwest airlines and certainly seems to be a step in the right direction.