United Airlines has expanded accessibility services for blind and visually impaired travelers.
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United Airlines becomes the first U.S. airline to offer Braille in its aircraft cabins.
Twelve planes have been fitted with Braille markings for seat rows and numbers, as well as inside and outside the lavatories, the start of a plan to have Braille on all aircraft by 2026.
The measure is aimed at making travel more accessible to people with disabilities: About 27 million people with disabilities took air trips in 2019, according to the US Department of Transportation.
“By adding tactile signs throughout our cabin, we’re making the flying experience more inclusive and accessible for everyone,” said Linda Jojo, United Airlines executive vice president and chief customer officer.
The latest accessible upgrade
For United Airlines, installing Braille in its cabins is just the latest in a series of initiatives in the airline’s inclusivity plan, and it comes as no surprise to the airline’s employees.
For the eighth consecutive year, United has been named a Best Place to Employ People with Disabilities and received the highest score possible on the Disability Equality Index benchmarking tool.
United Airlines’ booking app was recently updated to make it more accessible to people with visual impairments. Adjustments include adding space around graphics, increasing color contrast, and improving compatibility with screen reader technology. In-flight entertainment already features a range of visual enhancements, including audio-described movies and closed captioning.
What challenges do visually impaired travelers face?
According to a 2019 European study by the EBU, visually impaired passengers have to deal with multiple issues at every stage of the flying process.
The study found that most booking websites and mobile apps are not designed for the visually impaired, which not only makes it harder for them to search for and book flights but also highlights the barriers that visually impaired people face and the need for assistance at the airport and on board.
They also found that help desks within airports were often difficult to find on their own and were understaffed.Furthermore, visually impaired passengers often require wheelchair assistance, whether their disability is mobility-related or not.
While many major airlines have implemented disability policies aimed at making the flying process smoother for travelers with disabilities, there still seem to be some discrepancies between the services listed and the actual experience.
Before boarding a plane, travelers with disabilities should review these tips for travelers with disabilities to help plan their trip.