Dignified Air Travel in the US - Thoughts?

Sarah Tuberty

The US Department of Transportation took in effect the Dignified Air Travel in January 2025. Air travel has long been notorious for horrendous travel experiences for persons with disabilities. As a flight attendant I have witnessed many broken wheelchairs and failed transfers – a few leading to passengers being dropped by airport representatives. The Department of Transportatin reports that airlines damage or destroy 10,000-15,000 mobility devices every year, a rate of 1.4% in 2023.

The new rule has the following:

Safe dignified and prompt assistance

Enhanced training for airport representatives

Rebuttable presumption – airlines are assumed at fault for damaged equipment

Passenger notifications – to increase communication about expectations and if a device has been mishandled

Aircraft cargo hold information – airlines are required to publish size and location information for cargo areas

Prompt return of delayed mobility devices – 24 hours on domestic flights and international flights less than 12 hours and have 30 hours to return devices on international flights more than 12 hours.

Ground transportation reimbursement for services required as a result of lost or damaged mobility equipment

Prompt repair or replacement of damaged mobility devices (however the definition of “prompt” was not outlined in this article)

Loaner accommodations

Reimbursement of fare difference – if a mobility device does not fit on an aircraft and the passenger has to chose a different flight, the cheapest itinerary is the one paid by the passenger

Rebooking requirements

Airport seating

Onboard wheelchairs

While these are good improvements, they are only surface level to some of the major problems of deeply inaccessible air travel.

What are your thoughts? What further work needs to be done? What parts of this rule are you excited about?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2024/12/16/department-of-transportation-airline-wheelchair-regulations/76965714007/