The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has outlined the rights of disabled passengers in a new bill aimed at giving all travelers a better experience in the air.
The DOT announced the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights on July 8, 2022. The bill summarizes the existing law with the aim of helping disabled passengers to “understand and assert” their rights. However, the document does not expand or restrict the rights of passengers with disabilities, the authority notes.
The Bill of Rights applies to all flights of US airlines, to flights to or from the United States by foreign airlines, and to their contractors.
It lists 10 main areas of rights for passengers with disabilities:
- The Right to Be Treated with Dignity and Respect.
- The Right to Receive Information About Services and Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations.
- The Right to Receive Information in an Accessible Format.
- The Right to Accessible Airport Facilities.
- The Right to Assistance at Airports.
- The Right to Assistance on the Aircraft.
- The Right to Travel with an Assistive Device or Service Animal.
- The Right to Receive Seating Accommodations.
- The Right to Accessible Aircraft Features.
- The Right to Resolution of a Disability-Related Issue.