A new passport-sized travel guide for disabled people has been launched by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Aimed at making journeys by air as smooth and trouble free as possible, the guide outlines what services disabled people, individuals with reduced mobility and their families can expect from airlines, travel companies and airports.
It also highlights what facilities travel organisations are legally obliged to provide and has been developed in association with the Civil Aviation Authority and endorsed by the Department for Transport.
The guide contains 15 top tips for a smooth journey, covering areas such as assistance dogs, accessibility, getting mobility and other essential equipment on board, and seating arrangements.
As well as being distributed through airports, travel companies and organisations working with disabled people, the guide can be downloaded from the Commission’s website.
Lord Chris Holmes, disability commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “Dignity and respect are values we all share, yet too many disabled travellers experience the opposite.
“Passengers and travel companies all want to make the experience of flying as enjoyable and trouble free as possible.
“Our new guidance should make journeys as smooth as possible – from the outset when booking flights or holidays all the way through to returning home.
“The tips it contains for travellers on what they should think about, as well as guidance for companies on what they need to provide, should help disabled flyers and their families have a trouble free flight.
“Avoiding things going wrong is good for disabled people and good for the travel industry.”