Flying with Cystic Fibrosis: Know Your Rights

I just got done reading Talana's blog about her issue with United Airlines and the problems they gave her regarding her carry-ons and medical equipment. Check it out, it's quite a story.

With so many of us traveling, I wanted you guys to have access to the Federal Law and what it states regarding us bringing on our medical equipment. I copied the parts of the document that I felt applied to us. I encourage you to read through the full document when you have the time.

To read the full document from the U.S. Department of Transportation click here.

14 CFR Part 382

Nondiscrimination on the Basis

of Disability in Air Travel

§ 382.41 Stowage of personal

equipment.

(a) All stowage of qualified individuals

with a disability wheelchairs and other

equipment covered by this Part in aircraft

cabins shall be in accordance with 14 CFR

121.589 and 14 CFR 121.285(c) or 14 CFR

135.87, as applicable.

(b) Carriers shall permit qualified

individuals with a disability using personal

ventilators/respirators to bring their

equipment, including non-spillable batteries

that meet the requirements of 49 CFR

173.159(d) and any applicable FAA safety

regulations, on board the aircraft and use it.

(c) Carriers shall permit qualified

individuals with a disability to stow canes and

other assistive devices on board the aircraft in

close proximity to their seats, consistent with

the requirements of FAA safety regulations

for carry-on items.

(d) Carriers shall not, in implementing their

carry-on baggage policies, count toward a

limit on carry-on items any assistive device

brought into the cabin by a qualified

individual with a disability.

.....

(3) Wheelchairs and other assistive devices

shall be stowed in the baggage compartment

with priority over other cargo and baggage.

Where this priority results in passengers’

baggage being unable to be carried on the

flight, the carrier shall make its best efforts to

ensure that the other baggage reaches the

passengers’ destination within four hours of

the scheduled arrival time of the flight.

....

(c) Carriers shall not require qualified

individuals with a disability to sign waivers of

liability for damage to or loss of wheelchairs

or other assistive devices.

If you have anything in addition to this, please send it to me and I will add to this post. I would also like to hear your stories- Have you had any problems when it comes to flying with your medical equipment?

And remember to take a look at today's Thankful Thursday...seems like quite the cowinky-dink that I listed "airplanes" today.