Guide to the Air Carrier Access Act: What it Means for People with Hearing Loss

Editor: If you want to know your rights as an airline passenger, this article by NVRC and the referenced website are outstanding sources of information.

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March 2010

The Guide to the Air Carrier Access Act is a wonderful resource for anyone with a disability who wants to learn more about their rights when traveling by air.

You can find it at the website for ILRU's DBTAC Southwest ADA Center:
http://www.dlrp.org/html/guide_to/acaa.html

Among the information available at the website:

Laws and Regulations

- A link to a copy of U.S. Code section on Discrimination Against Handicapped Individuals (with updates passed by Congress on January 8, 2008) which apply to air transportation by both U.S. and foreign air carriers. (49 U.S.C. Sec 41705)

- A link to the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations implementing nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in air travel. (14 CFR Part 382)

Complaint Filing

- A form for filing a complaint, the address where it should be sent, and the toll free voice and TTY numbers for the Aviation Consumer Disability Hotline.

Other Information

- An Overview of the Air Carrier Access Act (May 2009)
- A webcast on Air Carrier Access Act Update and Impending Changes (April 2009) by Bill Burnell, Continental Airlines
- A webcast on Air Carrier Access Act: Protecting the Civil Rights of Airline Passengers with Disabilities by Mike Spollen, US Dept. of Transportation (September 2006)
- A link to the TSA website for Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions
- New Horizons Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability (brief guide from Dept. of Transportation)

Links to US Airline Websites on Accommodating Travelers with Disabilities

Domestic: Air Tran, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Jet Blue, Southwest, Spirit, United, US Air, Virgin America.