TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Debbie Austin

British Airways Fulfills Dream of Passenger Flying With A Service Dog

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British Airways has proudly assisted customer Brian Hickman to take his first flight in 15 years, accompanied by his service dog Lily, after he got in touch with the airline to ask for help fulfilling his dream of flying again, and showing others that flying can be accessible to everyone. Read More.

Our Takeaway: British Airways exemplifies the positive impact of going above and beyond to accommodate passengers with disabilities. This gesture showcases the significance of providing exceptional service and support to travelers with unique needs and will attract attention from customers who appreciate goodwill.

What are the Best and Worst Airlines Handling Wheelchairs

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Some airlines have a worse track record than the rest. Spirit Airlines mishandled approximately one out of 16 mobility aids, and JetBlue mishandled around one in 22. This is 12 and 7 times more frequent than the rates at which these airlines mishandled bags, respectively. Read More.

Our Takeaway: The mishandling of wheelchairs only broadens the gap in travel ability between the able-bodied and the disabled. Understanding the impact of wheelchair damage on travelers with disabilities is essential in creating a more inclusive travel experience.

Passenger says Air Canada tried to count her Crutches as two Carry-Ons

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One customer says she was subjected to absurdly strict treatment regarding the items she was bringing into the cabin of her overnight flight from Toronto to Paris this month — namely, a set of crutches. Read More.

Our Takeaway: This dismissive attitude is not only harmful to the travel industry’s reputation, it’s completely unjust and removes the ability of the mobility impaired to travel via air. You cannot charge for the ability to walk.

The Best Podcast about Accessible Travel: Barrier Breaking Accessibility

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“As service providers, as business owners, and as professionals, we always need to consider that accessibility and inclusion is something that will impact our lives sooner or later. And that’s why it’s so important, right? That’s why we need to consider it [in] every aspect of our society.” Listen for a conversation around considering disabilities in travel, the importance of accessible travel experiences, and how you can help make travel open to all. Read More.

Our Takeaway: Accessibility in travel matters, because accessibility matters everywhere – impacting almost everyone at some point. If we don’t know how to become accessible, we won’t know how to welcome tomorrow’s guests.

How to Change Attitudes about Accessibility

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This research, focused on the role of media and advertising in improving attitudes, found the following principles to be important: raising the status of disabled people; sharing stories and personal experiences; encouraging people to think about how they would feel facing inequality, but not asking people to imagine being a disabled person; and taking care when talking about injustice and using facts and figures. Read More.

Our Takeaway: Embracing these principles can lead to a more inclusive and welcoming environment, attracting a diverse customer base and enhancing overall business success.