Changes Coming to Air Travel for Wheelchair Users

I was reading this month’s newsletter from The World is Accessible and ran across an article titled "United Airlines To Launch Industry-First Travel Tool For Wheelchair Users." It is a great read, but here's an overview of it. United Airlines New Digital Flight Filter is a tool on their website. It is intended to make the travel experience easier for passengers who rely on wheelchairs, especially larger, more complex wheelchairs. This new tool will be on United.com and will let travelers enter the dimensions of their wheelchairs as part of the flight search.

Some may ask why, well the cargo opening on different airplanes may or may not allow certain wheelchairs into the cargo hold. While using this option, results for flights will prioritize flight options on aircraft with cargo hold doors large enough to accommodate their own wheelchair’s dimensions. This is very important for CRT wheelchairs that need to be transported upright. The new flight filter tool on United.com will let travelers enter the dimensions of their personal wheelchair as part of the flight search. Using this option, search results will prioritize flight options on aircraft with cargo hold doors large enough to accommodate the wheelchair’s dimensions. According to the article, United goes on to say “it will refund the fare difference if a traveler needs to book a more expensive flight to accommodate a specific wheelchair size." This tool will roll out early next year. This last part will put those in a wheelchair on the same playing field as everyone else.