United Airlines Commits to Facilitating Access for Wheelchair Passengers

With so many disabled passengers having terrible experiences on planes, United's commitment to enhancing wheelchair accessibility is long time.

After a federal inquiry into several disability complaints, United Airlines stated that it will considerably improve accessibility for wheelchair-using customers.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said that he was pleased to hear that the carrier was working to better accommodate customers who use wheelchairs on flights.

In order to help customers find flights with cargo hold doors big enough to accommodate individual wheelchairs, United has announced a new flight filter that will allow customers to specify the particular measurements of their wheelchairs during the flight search. UA has also agreed to reimburse the difference if a more expensive ticket is required to fit a certain wheelchair dimension.

According to the Department of Transportation, between 2019 and 2022, the top carriers in the United States and its code-share operators confirmed improperly handling 32,640 wheelchairs while operating domestically at an average rate of 1.45%.

When compared to other domestic airlines, United and the companies it partners with under the United Express brand had the third-lowest percentage of wheelchairs being mishandled (1.2% on average) throughout that time period.

United will launch a six-month trial program at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport later this year to investigate how the airline can better accommodate passengers in wheelchairs in the event that they are damaged or delayed. In 2022, United transported almost 150,000 wheelchairs.

In July, the Department of Transportation announced that it will mandate wider restrooms on future single-aisle aircraft for passengers with disabilities. Future laws will as well be drafted to ensure that passengers with mobility impairments may travel in their own wheelchairs.

 

Source: skift.com