Accessibility Rights for In-flight Mobility

It’s the right of every passenger to have access for mobility aboard an aircraft served under an airline, a matter which becomes prominent in case of passengers with disabilities rendering them hardships in getting around when needed. Under standard protocol airliners do have special on-board wheelchairs. Passengers with reduced mobility are recommended to travel with a companion who would give them the necessary support in any occurrence of an emergency.

As for the seating arrangement, the flight attendants ensure that the elderly as well as reduced mobility passengers are seated as close to the toilets as possible. This goes for all class categories and sub-class categories in the passenger cabins. These seat locations are also nearer to the cabin crew stations so that they can be reached in far lesser reaction time when needed. The cabin crew is also instructed to register elderly and disabled passengers with special attention and a higher priority for regularly checking their status, and whether they are in need of anything.

For such long haul flights, the attention of the cabin crew is also kept under consideration. Therefore in order to ensure a cabin crew being fully alert and refreshed to attend every passenger with the utmost regard and concern, these cabin crews are replaced at stopovers between long haul destinations. Under conventional measures passengers are required to duly inform their air carrier beforehand while booking their flights so as to ensure that their needs are completely met.

This creates flexibility for the airline to coordinate with airport staff to coordinate the facilitation of the passenger till he or she reaches the aircraft. Mobility for disabled personnel is not just restricted to wheelchairs; other prominent options for mobility aids include scooters, walkers and crutches. Ambu-lifts are also available to lift such passengers directly to the entrance door of the aircraft instead of walking down series of terminals at the airport.

Apart from focus on mobility, airlines are making progress in their readiness for dealing with other disabilities. Cabin crews are being trained to deal with patients suffering from autism, or are subjected to seizures. First aid training would allow attendants to deal with any emergency related to allergies. Another precautionary measure against the same is the option of providing the choice of in-flight menus for passengers while they book their cheap flights. Medically impaired passengers often tag along guide dogs on board for their travels, which prove to be a worthy companion of assistance for overcoming their disability.

Apart from airlines, airport authorities are also subjected to critical analysis for adequate facilitation of disabled personnel. There are organizations allocated for monitoring these standards and complaints from the general public are always welcome to bring forward problems as a matter of concern. Otherwise, all of UK’s and most of Europe’s airports have brought forward facilities for attending disabled passengers as well as commuters. Only responses and regulations over a cyclical basis will bring forward the respective administrations of these airports to overcome lapses wherever present.