Guest Blog: Air Traveling with Justin

Today we continue our guest blog series regarding air traveling with a disability.  Our guest blogger today, Justin a self-described die-hard Orioles, Ravens and Penn State football fan is an IT professional who lives locally.  


Justin writes for fly HIA blog about his experiences traveling as a deaf man and shares some fantastic tips that have made flying less stressful for him and others.

For last many years, I have heard many good, bad and funny stories from my Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing friends regarding their flying experience especially the service they received from staff of the airline itself.  One of the common stories I have heard is that the Deaf traveler had to ride in the wheelchair pushed by the airport worker to the destination gate or from one gate to another one at the airport when he or she can walk.  Another story is that the Deaf traveler was asked if he needs help being carried from the check-in desk all the way to the gate.  Another Deaf traveler was asked if he needs help getting off the plane when it landed at the destination.  These and other stories happened because the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing travelers did not first inform the airline or travel agent that they accessible communication services. That is how the airline or travel agent starts with assuming of what kind of services they would need for their safe journey when they could mistakenly provide the wrong services without asking them.

If you are a Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing air traveler that needs to require for accessible communication services during your flying journey with an airline, you can kindly notify them at the time of booking, and ticket counter or check-in desk at your destination gate upon your arrival at the airport.  They can arrange for one of their people helping you through check-in, baggage check, security-check and your awareness at the time of the boarding announcement.  At most airports, there are electronic monitors that display flight information and gate areas with their electronic displays that show the specific flight information of the destination you are traveling to.  Upon your arrival at your destination gate, it is important that you inform the check-in agent you are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing so he or she can provide accessible communication services in case your flight is delayed or the departure gate has been changed.

When you get boarded on the plane, it may be a good idea to explain your accessible communication needs to the cabin crew, especially flight attendants, so they can keep you informed of any import announcements like delays or emergency landings.  Most of the planes have TVs with their pre-recorded video aircraft safety briefings which are captioned.  If no TV, the flight attendant can provide you a visual brochure with the safety information for you to prepare in case an emergency arises.  The airline would provide onboard headphones that would be helpful for you as you switch your hearing aids to the ‘T’ position.

If you would like to take the advantages of these accessible communication services as explained above you can inform the airline of your needs at the time of booking, at ticket counter or check-in desk.  Please inform them for your own sake to save yourself and the airline from being embarrassed if you end up in the wheelchair being pushed to your destination gate.  That would be unnecessary even though you can walk.