Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Air Travel Rules, Holiday Travel and Lemurs
Greetings from Florida this holiday season, and thoughts on the DOT's newly released final rule for accessible air travel.
Hello, everyone!
The “holiday season” started with Thanksgiving Day in the United States and continues worldwide with the celebrations of Advent, Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s Day fast approaching — it’s an exciting time to be with friends and family, and one of the busiest travel periods in the year.
Yesterday, I took to the skies for the first time in nearly a month after battling a cold or flu bug that really knocked me for a loop. The sickness kept me from my family during Thanksgiving, but I am happy to be visiting with them in Florida now (sadly, the turkey is long gone!). My next few weeks will be bit hectic as I make trips to Tennessee and Georgia, which I look forward to sharing with you.
Holiday Air Travel Tips and Resources
If you are planning to travel this holiday season, be sure to read my Wheelchair User’s Guide to Accessible Air Travel. With the total number of U.S. airline passengers now eclipsing pre-pandemic figures, airports are sure to be hectic and it’s important to arrive early for check-in.
Many TSA airport security checkpoints feature dedicated lanes for wheelchair users, so be sure to utilize them where available. If you’re new to traveling with a disability or would like extra support at the checkpoint, you can request to be met by a TSA Passenger Support Specialist by calling the TSA CARES Helpline in advance of your travel. It’s an often overlooked benefit that is free to use. If you’re a frequent traveler, you should look into signing-up for TSA PreCheck, which allows wheelchair users to skip the airport security pat-down. As a Global Entry and PreCheck member for nearly a decade, I’ve passed through many security screening lines with ease and efficiency.
Road Trip to the Duke University Lemur Center in North Carolina
I recently traveled with my girlfriend to the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina for a tour of the Duke Lemur Center (DLC), an award-winning research center that is home to more than 200 lemurs — the most diverse population of the primates outside of their native Madagascar.
We attended the DLC’s All About Aye-ayes Wild Workshop, which focused on one of the most unique lemur species (aye-ayes). The evening tour was intimate (our group numbered six people total) and provided an opportunity to learn all about aye-ayes and to make treats which research center staff fed to a lucky lemur.
The treats we created were enjoyed by Nirina, who came to the DLC just over one year ago. The 19-year-old lemur was born at Ueno Zoological Garden in Tokyo, Japan before transferring to the San Diego Zoo and most recently the DLC.
While not all tours offered at the DLC are wheelchair accessible, many tours including the year-round General Tour are accessible thanks to paved pathways, accessible routes and a wheelchair-friendly visitors’ center with accessible bathrooms. The DLC asks that disabled visitors reach out in advance of purchasing tickets so that accommodations can be made — the DLC team was very helpful in our case, and we enjoyed a wonderful experience during our “Wild Workshop” and tour. For more information or to plan your visit, check out the DLC’s website for upcoming Lemur Tours and Workshops.
DOT Announces “Landmark” Expansion of Accessible Air Travel Rights for Wheelchair Users
Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a final rule that will require airlines to meet more rigorous standards for accommodating wheelchair users and passengers with disabilities. This rule, together with the historic $50 million fine levied against American Airlines for mistreatment of disabled flyers, will be key pieces of Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s legacy at the Department of Transportation.
On Tuesday, the Secretary held an event at DOT Headquarters in Washington, D.C. to discuss the new rule, which will be effective on January 16, 2025. You can watch a recording of Sec. Buttigieg’s remarks here:
Earlier this year, I discussed the proposed rule at great length with readers of this newsletter over a series of Accessible Travel Chats which you can watch on YouTube at the following links:
Some highlights of the final rule, which you can read it its entirety on the DOT website, include the following:
Publication of Information Related to Aircraft Cargo Holds: Airlines must provide the relevant dimensions of the cargo holds for all aircraft types operated by the carrier on their websites. (If you don’t want to wait, check out my List of Airplane Cargo Door Dimensions on WheelchairTravel.org, which was published nearly a decade ago).
Reimbursement of Fare Difference: If a passenger traveling with their own wheelchair is required to book a more expensive flight than the one desired due to airplane cargo hold dimensions, the carrier must reimburse the passenger for difference in fare.
Safe and Dignified Assistance Standard: Airlines must provide safe and dignified assistance to disabled passengers, with the rule defining “safe” as assistance that does not put them at heightened risk of bodily injury, and “dignified” as assistance provided in a manner that respects a passenger’s independence, autonomy, and privacy. I look forward to testing what the DOT considers to be violations of this rule.
Enhanced Training for Airline Personnel and Contractors: The rule requires annual training, including hands-on training, for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with mobility disabilities or handle passengers’ wheelchairs or scooters. All airline employees and contractors who provide physical assistance or handle wheelchairs/scooters must receive training no later than June 17, 2026.
Rebuttable Presumption of a Violation for Mishandlings: The rule reinforces that airlines must return all checked wheelchairs and assistive devices to passengers in the condition in which they are received. It specifies that whenever a mobility device is not returned in the same condition, there is a rebuttable presumption that the airline mishandled the passenger’s wheelchair or other assistive device in violation of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Some airlines have recently begun refusing to repair cosmetic damage to devices (which is often a sign of more significant or structural damage), and this rule should render those policies null and void. If I hired a company to transport my car and it arrived with scratches and dents, I would expect to be compensated — the same is true for airlines mishandling my wheelchair!
I am currently working to update my Air Carrier Access Act Guide with the revisions included in this final rule, and will alert you once that has been completed.
The November election of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States means that Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s tenure at the DOT will end in January. Following the formal nomination of his successor, I will assess Secretary Pete’s legacy and offer my thoughts on where accessible air travel policy is likely to go under the next administration (sneak peek: it’s unlikely to change much, either for good or bad).
Final opportunity to travel with me to Greece
Nearly 30 travelers have signed-up to join me on the three wheelchair accessible group trips to Greece next year — it has been my most popular tour yet! I am excited to explore this beautiful and ancient land with everyone who has signed up, and it’s not too late to join the group!
I have ONE accessible room remaining on the Fall 2025 tour, which takes place from September 26 to October 5, 2025. To learn more and to claim the last remaining spot, head on over to the Fall 2025 Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Greece Tour Details and Booking page. It would be a pleasure to welcome you into our group!
Take care and travel safely this holiday season,
— John
Thank you
Which ships provide the best excursions for wheelchair bound travelers?