Delta Airlines Special Assistance

Delta Airlines follows quite a liberal policy with respect to people requiring special assistance. For passengers who need this assistance, the carrier suggests that the same be communicated to the airline at the time of making reservations and at least 48 hours before the flight departure. It also suggest passengers to come to check in 1 hour in advance of the travel time. The carrier takes special care to ensure that assistance is provided at the airport and that the aircraft is easy to access as well. Some of the elements which ensure this are electronic displays at the airport, gate agents to provide information verbally, telecommunication device for the deaf, security screening at the airport. At the airport, this assistance takes the form of helping the passengers to embark and disembark from the aircraft including providing the service of wheelchair to the disabled. Going an extra mile, the carrier ensures that even the aircraft remains accessible to the passengers with special needs. Moveable aisle arms, priority wheelchair stow away service, onboard wheelchair and accessible lavatories are some of the features of the Delta Airlines.

Seating for the disabled: Some of the measures taken by Delta for people with special seating requirements are:

a) Seating on a seat that has a moveable seat armrest.

b) Providing a side-by-side seat to the passenger and to his/her attendant.

c) Passengers with a service dog or immobilized or fused leg can be seated on bulkhead seat on request.

Wheelchairs are provided by Delta. However, if you want to use your own, then you are requested to provide the chair at the time of check in and get it from the departing date. Instructions might also be required to be provided for disassembly or assembly of the parts of wheelchair. Special precautions also need to be taken in case of wet cell and dry cell powered batteries which are used in wheelchairs.

Service Animals: Service animals are allowed inside the cabin of Delta Airlines, without a kennel, provided that they are properly trained and are meant for assisting passenger with visual, hearing and/or mobility disabilities. Only dogs, cats and house birds are accepted in passenger cabin.

Pregnant Women: Delta Airlines follows a liberal policy for allowing pregnant women to travel. There is no requirement of providing a medical certificate, certifying that you are fit to travel. However, it does require you to check with your doctor whether it is safe to fly after 8th month of pregnancy.

Children: Following points summarise the carriage condition of children of different age groups by Delta Airlines:

a. Unaccompanied children under the age of 15 years are not accepted. The child of in that age group has to be accompanied by a parent/guardian/passenger above 18 years of age. If there is a need for the unaccompanied minors to travel, then the Unaccompanied Minor Service of Delta has to be bought by the parents/guardians. Service charge will be $100 each way both for non-stop and connecting flights.

b. Maximum of 2 infants (less than 2 years of age) are allowed to be carried by one passenger, though it is only 1 infant who is not charged, the other one will be charged a fee.

c. Air fare for a child of more than 2 years of age will be the same as that for an adult.

d.Children under the age of 5 have to be accompanied. They are not accepted for travel unaccompanied.

e. Children of 5 to 7 years of age can travel unaccompanied only on non-stop flights and that too only of Delta. Children of 8-14 years of age can travel unaccompanied on connecting flights as well but these shall be operated by Delta, Delta Connection, KLM and Air France only.