The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against passengers with disabilities by airlines. Enacted in 1986, it requires airlines to accommodate disabled passengers and establishes specific requirements for accessible air travel.
The ACAA prohibits U.S. and foreign airlines operating flights to, from, or within the United States from discriminating against passengers on the basis of disability.
Any person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This includes:
- People with mobility disabilities
- Deaf and hard of hearing travelers
- Blind and low vision travelers
- People with intellectual or developmental disabilities
- People with psychiatric disabilities
- People with chronic illnesses
- People with temporary disabilities
- All U.S. airlines
- Foreign airlines operating flights to or from the United States
Note: The ACAA applies only to airlines. Airports are covered by the ADA (as public accommodations or government entities).
Airlines must:
- Not refuse transportation based on disability
- Not require advance notice of disability (though notice can help ensure services are available)
- Provide information about aircraft accessibility on request
- Allow you to book flights the same ways as other passengers
- Not charge for disability-related services
When advance notice helps:
While not required, providing 48-72 hours notice helps ensure:
- Electric wheelchair battery accommodations
- On-board wheelchair for certain aircraft
- Specific seating accommodations
- Interpreter or other assistance
Assistance services:
Airlines must provide:
- Assistance with boarding and deplaning
- Help navigating the airport
- Assistance with connections
- Help with carry-on baggage
- Assistance at security checkpoints
- Wheelchair or escort service
Request assistance:
You can request assistance at check-in, at the gate, or when booking. Identifying your needs helps ensure smooth service.
Current rules (as of 2021):
- Only trained dogs qualify as service animals on flights
- Emotional support animals are no longer required to be accommodated as service animals
- Airlines can require DOT Service Animal form (up to 48 hours before flight)
- Airlines can require service animal to fit within passenger's foot space
- Airlines can deny service animals that pose a direct threat
What you may need:
- DOT Service Animal Transportation Form
- DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form (for flights 8+ hours)
¶ Mobility Devices and Equipment
Wheelchairs and mobility devices:
- Airlines must accept wheelchairs and mobility devices as checked baggage at no charge
- Assistive devices do not count against baggage limits
- Manual wheelchairs should be stored in cabin if space permits
- Airlines must return wheelchairs and mobility devices at the aircraft door (for many airports)
Electric wheelchairs:
- Airlines must accommodate most battery types
- May require advance notice for battery handling
- Some restrictions on certain battery types—check with airline
Damage to wheelchairs:
- Airlines are liable for damage to wheelchairs and mobility devices
- Document condition before travel (photos)
- Report damage immediately
- Airlines must provide temporary replacement if possible
- Compensation should cover actual repair/replacement cost
Airlines must provide seating accommodations for passengers who:
- Use an aisle chair to board and need accessible armrests
- Travel with a service animal
- Cannot travel in certain seats due to disability
- Have a fused or immobilized leg
- Need extra space for a personal care attendant
- Are traveling with someone providing assistance
Bulkhead seating:
May be available for passengers who need the legroom, but airlines have different policies about who qualifies.
Seat assignment:
Request specific seating at booking or as early as possible. Airlines should accommodate disability-related seating needs but cannot always guarantee specific seats.
On aircraft with 60+ seats, airlines must have:
- Movable armrests on at least half of aisle seats
- Priority space for assistive devices in cabin (when possible)
- Accessible lavatories on wide-body aircraft (international flights)
On-board wheelchairs:
Aircraft with over 60 seats and accessible lavatories must have on-board wheelchairs available.
Airlines must provide:
- Information in accessible formats
- Assistance with visual and auditory announcements
- TTY access for telephone communications
- Captioning on in-flight entertainment with captions capability (for newer content)
For deaf and hard of hearing passengers:
- Gate announcements should be communicated visually or individually
- Safety briefings should be accessible
- Flight crew should communicate essential information
For blind and low vision passengers:
- Individual safety briefings available
- Assistance with reading materials upon request
Airlines cannot:
- Refuse transportation based solely on disability
- Require medical certificates except in specific circumstances
- Require disabled passengers to travel with an attendant (except specific situations)
- Limit the number of disabled passengers on a flight
- Require you to sit in certain seats solely because of disability (unless for safety)
- Charge for services required by ACAA
- Treat disabled passengers less favorably than others
Airlines may require medical documentation only when:
- There is reasonable doubt that the passenger can complete the flight safely without extraordinary medical assistance
- The passenger has a communicable disease that poses a direct threat
Airlines cannot require medical clearance simply because someone uses a wheelchair, is blind, is deaf, or has a visible disability.
Airlines may require a safety attendant only when the passenger is unable to:
- Comprehend or respond to safety instructions
- Assist in their own evacuation
- Establish a means of communication with crew members
If airline requires an attendant, they must consider passenger's self-assessment. If the airline still insists, passenger can provide their own attendant or accept airline-provided attendant at no charge to passenger.
First step: Contact the airline's Complaints Resolution Official (CRO)
- Every airline must have a CRO available at each airport
- CRO must respond to disability-related issues
- Request to speak with CRO if you experience problems
CRO contact:
- Available in person at airports
- Available by phone during flight operations
- Can make immediate decisions on many issues
If you can't resolve the issue with the airline:
How to file:
- Online at DOT Aviation Consumer Protection website
- By mail to Aviation Consumer Protection Division
- By phone at DOT hotline
What to include:
- Your contact information
- Airline name and flight information
- Date of incident
- Description of what happened
- What accommodation you requested
- How the airline responded
- What resolution you seek
Timeline:
- File as soon as possible (no specific deadline, but promptly is better)
- DOT investigates complaints
- Airlines must respond to DOT inquiries
DOT tracks complaint patterns and can:
- Require airlines to change practices
- Issue fines for violations
- Issue guidance clarifying requirements
- Conduct airline-specific compliance reviews
Research the airline:
- Check aircraft type for your route (accessibility features vary)
- Review airline's disability assistance policies
- Note phone numbers for assistance
Communicate your needs:
- Make assistance requests at booking
- Confirm requests before travel
- Note any special equipment needs
Document your equipment:
- Photograph wheelchair/mobility device before travel
- Know battery type and specifications
- Have any required documentation ready
Arrive early:
- Allow extra time for assistance
- Confirm assistance arrangements at check-in
- Know where to go for assistance
Be specific:
- Describe exactly what assistance you need
- Don't assume staff know what you need
- Ask for CRO if issues arise
Know your rights:
- Crew should accommodate disability-related needs
- Essential information must be communicated accessibly
- Assistance should be available for movement on aircraft
For connections:
- Confirm connecting flight assistance
- Communicate timing needs
- Gate agents should coordinate assistance
Equipment:
- Check wheelchair/mobility device immediately
- Report any damage before leaving airport
- Get written documentation of damage
Problems:
- Document issues while fresh
- Get names and details
- File complaints if warranted
What to do:
- Report damage immediately to airline staff
- Take photos of damage
- Get written documentation from airline
- Request temporary replacement if needed
- File damage claim with airline
- If not resolved, file DOT complaint
Compensation:
Airlines must pay for repair or replacement. Keep receipts and documentation.
What to do:
- Ask for specific reason (must relate to safety criteria)
- Explain how you can meet safety requirements
- Request to speak with CRO
- If airline insists, you can accept airline-provided attendant at no cost or provide your own
- File complaint after travel
What to do:
- Ensure you have required documentation
- Ask for specific reason for denial
- Request CRO
- If legitimate service dog with proper forms is denied, file complaint
What to do:
- Remind airline of your request
- Request immediate assistance
- Request CRO if issue isn't resolved
- Document the failure
- File complaint after travel
ACAA applies to all flights to, from, or within the United States on U.S. and foreign carriers.
ACAA does not apply to flights that don't touch the United States. Other countries have their own accessibility regulations:
European Union: EC Regulation 1107/2006 establishes accessibility requirements for flights within, to, and from EU.
Canada: Canadian Transportation Agency regulations cover Canadian carriers and flights within Canada.
Other countries: Vary widely—research before travel.
- Research destination country's accessibility
- Consider travel insurance that covers disability-related issues
- Carry essential equipment documentation
- Know your rights in each jurisdiction
- Consider direct flights when possible
- Paralyzed Veterans of America (air travel advocacy)
- Open Doors Organization (travel accessibility)
- National Council on Independent Living
- DOT's "Fly Rights" publication
- Airline-specific accessibility pages
What's your experience with air travel accessibility? What tips would you add? What problems have you encountered?
Share through our [contribution form] or email [email protected].
Last updated: November 2025
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