Just for once I’d like to tell the gate agents and flight attendants that my folding wheelchair is going into the onboard closet and not have them tell me there’s “no room”. Bitch that’s a wheelchair closet, not a “your bags” closet. Move your damn bags where they belong.
Ok, so according to my friendly aviation expert, this is a Big Fucking Deal. In fact, if an airline argues with you about putting your wheelchair in the wheelchair closet or even suggests there may not be room, unless there is already another passenger’s wheelchair in that closet, they have violated federal law.
CFR Title 14, Chapter II, Subchapter D, Part 382, Subpart E, Section 382.67, Subsection (e)
“As a carrier, you must never request or suggest that a passenger not stow his or her wheelchair in the cabin to accommodate other passengers (e.g., informing a passenger that stowing his or her wheelchair in the cabin will require other passengers to be removed from the flight), or for any other non-safety related reason (e.g., that it is easier for the carrier if the wheelchair is stowed in the cargo compartment).”
Source
This is hugely important because it means that if this happens to you, you should report their asses to the DOT. Why? Because these statistics are published every year for every airline, and the airline gets a huge ass fine for every violation. If we want to see change, we need to make airlines literally pay every time they treat us this way.
This, folks. This kind of ableist bullshit is what I deal with on a daily basis. I have explained the law. I have quoted the law. I have given you links to the Federal website that lists the entire Federal law. And still, some entitled shit who works for the airline industry is going to “explain” to me how that is not a wheelchair closet.
Hey @ayr0 - You know that closet you flight attendants like to put your luggage in? The one you hang the rich folks’ jackets in? That’s not the first class closet. That’s the wheelchair closet. There’s literally a picture of a wheelchair on the closet - posted by law - along with an explanation that the closet is for wheelchairs. Are you closing your eyes every time you use it?
There is no “may” as in “Larger aircraft (like a Boeing 737) MAY have a first class cabin closet the MAY fit the wheelchair.” The word you’re looking for there is must. By law - by FEDERAL LAW - any plane with 100 or more seats that was ordered after April 5, 1990, or which was delivered after April 5, 1992 (for a US airline) or any plane with 100 or more seats that was ordered after May 13, 2009, or delivered after May 13, 2010 (for a foreign carrier) must have a wheelchair closet. (Source) This covers pretty much any aircraft this size still in service in the US. If your aircraft has over 100 seats, was ordered/built after these dates, and somehow miraculously doesn’t have a wheelchair closet, by law you have to strap the wheelchair to seats on the plane even if that means you have to pull passengers off the flight to make room. (Source)
For those not in the aviation industry (like @ayr0 who definitely knows better) there’s not a Boeing-737 in the world flying with less than 100 seats unless it’s some kind of crazy first-class only configuration or a cargo plane.
Once again, for the willfully ignorant in the back, here’s what the Federal law has to say about wheelchair stowage inside the cabin of an aircraft.
§382.67 What is the requirement for priority space in the cabin to store passengers’ wheelchairs?
“(a) As a carrier, you must ensure that there is priority space (i.e., a closet, or a row of seats where a wheelchair may be strapped using a strap kit that complies with applicable Federal Aviation Administration or applicable foreign government regulations on the stowage of cargo in the cabin compartment) in the cabin of sufficient size to stow at least one typical adult-sized folding, collapsible, or break-down manual passenger wheelchair, the dimensions of which are 13 inches by 36 inches by 42 inches or less without having to remove the wheels or otherwise disassemble it. This section applies to any aircraft with 100 or more passenger seats and this space must be other than the overhead compartments and under-seat spaces routinely used for passengers’ carry-on items.”
“( c ) If you are a carrier that uses a closet as the priority space to stow a manual passenger wheelchair, you must install a sign or placard prominently on the closet indicating that such wheelchairs and other assistive devices are to be stowed in this area with priority over other items brought onto the aircraft by other passengers or crew, including crew luggage, as set forth in §382.123.“
(Source)
§382.123 What are the requirements concerning priority cabin stowage for wheelchairs and other assistive devices?
(a) The following rules apply to the stowage of passengers’ wheelchairs or other assistive devices in the priority stowage area provided for in §382.67 of this part:
(1) You must ensure that a passenger with a disability who uses a wheelchair and takes advantage of the opportunity to preboard the aircraft can stow his or her wheelchair in this area, with priority over other items brought onto the aircraft by other passengers or crew enplaning at the same airport, consistent with FAA, PHMSA, TSA, or applicable foreign government requirements concerning security, safety, and hazardous materials with respect to the stowage of carry-on items. You must move items that you or your personnel have placed in the priority stowage area (e.g., crew luggage, an on-board wheelchair) to make room for the passenger’s wheelchair, even if these items were stowed in the priority stowage area before the passenger seeking to stow a wheelchair boarded the aircraft (e.g., the items were placed there on a previous leg of the flight).”
(Source)
Now here’s what you’re going to do @ayr0. First, you’re going to go home and offer up prayers/sacrifices/offerings of thanks to whatever deity you believe in that no one ever reported your ignorant ableist ass to the DOT for violating federal law by discriminating against passengers in wheelchairs. How do I know this? Because your airline would have gotten a hefty fine from the DOT and with any teeny bit of luck, you would have been fired. Next, you’re going to sit your ass down and read the federal laws that you, as a person who works in the airline industry, are required by law to know. Here is the entire set of Federal laws (CFR 382) covering Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel.
Read them. Memorize them. Then go forth, stop being an ableist shit, and obey the goddamned law.
Signal boost TF out of this. 💙
For reference for the holidays!
@chronicillnessmemes @chronicillnessproblems
