TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Airlines

MSP Earns Highest Industry Accreditation for Accessibility

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After reviewing MSP Airport, the ACI has given the airport a Level 3 accreditation. “On behalf of the entire MSP team and our partners, we are honored that ACI recognized MSP Airport for providing the highest level of airport accessibility,” said Brian Ryks, CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP Airport. “Accessibility is about working collaboratively with our traveling public, our airlines and our business partners to ensure everyone has equal access to the benefits of air travel. MSP has been at the forefront of creating an accessible passenger experience through investing in technology, infrastructure, training, and service.” Read More.

Our Takeaway: MSP’s attainment of the highest level of ACI accreditation sets a positive example for other airports and transportation facilities to follow. Ensuring that airports are accessible and inclusive is crucial in creating a seamless travel experience for passengers with disabilities, promoting equality and diversity, and removing the barriers that keep this community from traveling.

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.

Delta’s Support of Roll-in Wheelchair Securement System Creates Burst of Hope for Disabled Travelers

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Our Takeaway: The new Wheelchair Securement System unveiled at an annual trade show in Germany gained spectacular credibility once Delta Airlines announced its support.

TravelAbility provided part of the funding that helped advisory board member John Morris’ travel to the Hamburg Aircraft Interiors Show so he would be the first to test drive the securement system in real time.

Here’s what he found:

Delta Flight Products, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines that was established to re-think aircraft interiors, announced it was backing the Air4All wheelchair securement system on commercial jets — the company plans to unveil its design prototype at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany next week. Chris Wood, my friend and colleague in accessible travel advocacy, is a partner in the Air4All seating product. Last year, he spoke to me about his design innovation — you can watch our conversation here and read my initial reporting on Air4All here. With the announcement that Air4All will debut in Hamburg, I decided that I needed to be there — critical reporting on this product, its advancements, features and opportunities for improvement should come from within the disability community. I look forward to seeing, touching, and testing the Air4All system myself, and sharing my insights with each of you. Read More.