DOT has first-ever bill of rights for airline passengers with disabilities

The U.S. Department of Transportation has published the first-ever Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights.

The Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights is an easy-to-use summary of the fundamental rights of air travelers with disabilities under the Air Carrier Access Act, which empowers air travelers with disabilities to understand and assert their rights, and help ensure that U.S. and foreign air carriers and their contractors uphold those rights, according to the DOT. 

It provides a convenient, easy-to-use summary of existing law governing the rights of air travelers with disabilities.  

The Bill of Rights — announced last week  — was developed using feedback from the Air Carrier Access Act Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of passengers with disabilities, national disability organizations, air carriers, airport operators, contractor service providers, aircraft manufacturers, wheelchair manufactures, and a national veterans organization representing disabled veterans.  

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints with the USDOT if they believe their rights have been violated. Additional information and resources on the rights of consumers, including information on how to file a complaint, can be found here.