Stop Discrimination Against Disabled Passengers By Southwest Airlines

 

 

 

 

 

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the discrimination and neglect faced by disabled passengers, particularly manual wheelchair users, at the hands of Southwest Airlines. The current policies of Southwest Airlines have resulted in direct harm to 2,200 passengers who had their mobility equipment damaged or destroyed from January 2023 - August 2023 alone. Based on 2022 DOT data, 1.77% of wheelchair users will have their "legs" broken by Southwest Airlines between take-off and touch-down. This negligence has resulted in weeks, months, and years of lost mobility, lessened/lost quality of life, and lost opportunities for disabled passengers with no avenue for recourse or reparation.

We are calling out the blatant discrimination by Southwest Airlines against disabled passengers through their policy that protects passengers' musical instruments through the seat-strapping method but explicitly prohibits the seat-strapping of manual wheelchairs for disabled passengers, despite FAA guidance authorizing this as a safe method.

While Airlines are required to cover the repair/replacement cost for damaged wheelchairs, nothing can make up for the weeks, months, or years of freedom that disabled wheelchair users lose while waiting on the repairs/replacement to customized medically necessary mobility equipment to be made. 

In a 46s audio recording, Southwest Airlines Complaint Resolution Officer confirmed their policy:
Passenger: I want to confirm one more time, Southwest Policy does allow for the seat strapping of musical instruments
Southwest Employee: Correct
Passenger: But does not allow for the seat strapping of medically necessary mobility equipment
Southwest Employee: Correct, now if there was an extra seat you need because of a disability, like lets just say that you would have to extend your legs more across the seats then that you are able to do for an extra fee, but as far as the mobility equipment, you wouldn’t be able to strap it in.
Passenger: But I could strap a Tuba?
Southwest Employee: Correct.  

The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986, Title 49, Section 41705 of the U.S. Code, prohibits commercial airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities. The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) grants airlines the choice of retaining manual chairs on board by storage in a closet (for folding chairs and small rigid frames) or by seat-strapping, a method where the frame can be safely secured to an empty seat on the aircraft using a seatbelt (as per 14 CFR 382.67). 

Desired Policy Revisions: Immediate revisions to Southwest Airlines policies to protect disabled passengers and their medically prescribed, necessary, and essential mobility aids, i.e., manual wheelchairs. 

• Safe Storage of Manual Wheelchairs: Southwest Airlines must prioritize the safe transport and handling of wheelchairs and mobility devices, allowing onboard stowage through seat-strapping or closet storage as per the FAA guidelines (14 CFR 382.67). 
• Safe Handling of Essential Mobility Equipment: All luggage handlers have mandated training on the safe handling of mobility equipment. If mobility equipment must go in the cargo hold, the employee loading the chair should be required to meet with the passenger and follow instructions for safe loading, unloading, and securement of the chair in the cargo. Southwest Airlines should hold a zero-tolerance policy for the mistreatment and handling of mobility equipment by employees.
• Compensation for Time and Quality of Life Lost: Southwest Airlines should provide monetary compensation to the passenger for time, opportunity lost, and medical expenses directly resulting from the damage of their specialized mobility device (e.g., compensating for missed work due to damaged mobility aid or repair appointments, compensation for refunding events/travel/activities the passenger cannot attend due to the damage to their specialized mobility device, compensation for medical costs incurred due to injury from the lack of specialized mobility equipment).

By signing this petition, we stand in solidarity with the disabled community and demand fair, respectful, and inclusive policies that ensure equal access to air travel for all passengers. Discrimination against disabled individuals in air travel must end. Together, let's make it clear that disabled passengers and the wheelchairs that grant them safety and independence are inherently more valuable than musical instruments.