New Rule Requires Airlines to Report Mishandling of Mobility Equipment

The U.S. Department of Transportation is implementing a rule that requires air carriers to disclose publicly how many wheelchairs and motorized scooters they damage, lose or otherwise mishandle each month.

Source Los Angeles Times

Jan. 15, 2019

Each time I board a flight and relinquish my power wheelchair to people responsible for loading it, I pray it will be returned to me in one piece.

Sometimes, it’s in several pieces. I wish these occurrences were flukes. The reality is that every day, passengers who travel with mobility equipment take a calculated risk when flying. Will our devices be loaded and unloaded carefully or tossed around like a piece of luggage?

Some airlines are better at this than others, but it’s hard to know.