United's Excuses.
From time to time, I will be collecting excuses airlines give for NOT putting my chair in the closet. This is a good one.
It's against FAA regulations. Some people might do it, but it's against the rules. They can fine us $11, 000.
Purser: United 907.
Since when does the FAA countermand the ADA?
EDIT: as all the commenters remind me (thanks..:-)) I should have referred to the Aircraft Carrier Access Act.
Point remains the same though. The FAA is an administrative and not a legislative organization.
9 comments:
one might think that this would be just the sort of thing that would be heavily regulated, forms in triplicate, and such.
it's always strange to see what kinds of people, situations, and things authorities just throw up their hands at...
Oh, we don't know what to do with *you*
As if you're the only person in the world with such concerns.
How often do airlines actually do it right?
Oooh, that makes me mad. I'm sure they have room for the occasional stroller. Who wants their equipment thrown onto the plane, where it very well may not emerge intact?
See United's policy on pg. 10, 382.41 (e). A manual wheelchair is not a terrorist threat.
Also, carry a copy of the Air Carrier Access Act with you. I've had trouble n the past, so have resolved to do so myself when I can travel next.
http://www.dlrp.org/html/guide_to/acaa.html
You can file a complaint through the resources on the website above. You can also file a complaint with the airline (be sure to ask for employees' names; they become ever so nice as soon as you ask for them). If you have a problem before boarding, ask them to contact a confict resolution officer (a CRO)--all airlines are supposed to have them on hand. I haven't had to use any of these procedures, but probably should have on one specific flight (they wouldn't even allow people with disabilities to preboard at all).
Simply citing your rights and having the documentation might help.
See this section of the act:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=14&PART=382&SECTION=41&YEAR=1999&TYPE=TEXT
(b) Carriers shall permit qualified individuals with a disability
using personal ventilators/respirators to bring their equipment,
including non-spillable batteries that meet the requirements of 49 CFR
173.159(d) and any applicable FAA safety regulations, on board the
aircraft and use it.
It must be Monday...the United website is:
http://www.united.com/ual/asset/AirCarrierAccessAct_030925.pdf
and the Air Carrier Access Act is:
http://www.dlrp.org/html/guide_to/acaa.html
Sorry about that!
actually i think airlines are not covered by the ada.
They are subject to ADA, too. See, no one knows--it's a big secret. :). Being quite doltish though impassioned today, I keep pasting the wrong excerpts/links (I meant to link to wheelchairs, not respirators earlier).
What I think I am posting now is a link to the FAA website giving its regulations on disability and supporting the Air Carrier Access Act; it might be useful to have on hand, too, when they claim the FAA says something different:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/passengers%5Fdisabilities/
Occasionally, United gets it right. But the people who get it right are the ones with whom I have flown a gazillion times. The ones who share a joke with me about themselves and their lives. I *like* these people and they want to do the right thing because they know me.
Sigh.
So far, EOS airlines has 3 times out of 4 done the right thing.
And, you know, in a weird way, I am actually coming to believe that, for any given crew, the number of disabled people they see is fairly limited. I'm not the only person with such concerns, of course, but I may as well be.
Fridawrites -- I think I may try the laminated card approach, though it is more in your face than I would usually be. I'm braver in my prose than in person.
:-)
WCD
Next time for sure I am going to carry a copy of the Air Carrier Access Act. And thanks for the tip about the Conflict Resolution Officer.
I find it overwhelmingly stressful to have my chair get thrown into the baggage compartment.
Speaking of United -- this was just brought to my attention by a reader.
http://barrierfreetravels.com/serendipity/archives/335-UAL-to-Charge-for-Medical-Equipment.html
It may effect folks who travel with extra med equip such as commode chairs or portable lifts.
Candy Harrington
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