Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop

1. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Travel Tips for People of Size

2. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Mission: The mission of the Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR) is to promote fairer customer service and accessibility standards in the airline industry and to improve passenger satisfaction. Purpose: The purpose of the AAPR shall be to educate policymakers on travel-related information important to airline passengers, improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities and protect the consumer rights and responsibilities of airline passengers.

3. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Travel Tips for People of Size DOWNLOAD BROCHURE Air travel is no longer convenient, customer friendly or fun, especially if you are a passenger of large body size. NAAFA, in association with AAPR, has developed a new Travel tips for people of size brochure to help make traveling easier and more pleasant, while improving the air travel experience for everyone.

4. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop The once “friendly” skies are a thing of the past, so know your rights, get informed and prepare yourself!

5. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop What does SeatGuru recommend? SeatGururecommends that as travelers research their flight options they check the seatmaps on SeatGuru.com to compare the seat pitch and seat width offered on different aircraft. This is a great first step in determining if seats on a particular airline and aircraft would be a match for your individual travel needs. In addition, the seatmaps on SeatGuru are color-coded based on flier feedback, so you can tell the best seats (in green) from the worst seats (in red). We also highlight seats with some drawbacks (in yellow). SeatGuruhas a guide with additional tips for booking the best airline seats available at the following link: http://www.seatguru.com/articles/booking_airline_seats.php.

6. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop • Keep in mind that the same aircraft may have drastically different seat configurations on different carriers. For instance, JetBlue offers 34" of seat pitch and 17.8" of seat width on its A320 aircraft, while Spirit Airlines offers just 28" of seat pitch and 17.5" of seat width on its newer version of the same A320. • For passengers of size, it's a good idea to check with airlines directly regarding their policies for customers requiring extra space. Most policies can be found on airline websites. • Tall passengers should investigate exit row seats and bulkhead seats, which often offer more legroom and sometimes do not come with an extra fee. There are also options like JetBlue's Even More Space seats and premium economy cabins, like the new Economy Comfort from Delta, which offer additional legroom for a charge. SeatGuru's comparison charts can also help travelers find out which standard economy class seats have the most seat pitch and width.Source: SeatGuru.com

7. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Did You Know? In U.S. from 1960-2002, average male weighed 25lbs more and average female weighed 24lbs more. The average height of a man aged 20-74 years increased from just over 5'8” in 1960 to 5'9½" in 2002 Commercial airline seats in coach class have either remained unchanged since 1958, or even decreased in size. Most coach class seats range from 17 inches to 18.5 inches. New Boeing 737-800s have 12 more coach seats despite being same size, pushing total seats to 160 (impacts American, Delta, and Continental). Commercial airlines are now charging “premium” fares for exit rows and bulkheads. • There are no federal protections for passengers of size, including tall passengers • Commercial airline POS policies are tailored to the “horizontal” dimensions of the seat (width) and not the “vertical” dimensions of the seat (pitch) • There is no set weight limit for passengers on commercial flights • POS policies are completely subjective

8. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Commercial Airlines’ POS Policies Only four major commercial airlines make their POS policies readily available on their websites: • American Airlines:http://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/specialAssistance/extraSpace.jsp • Continental Airlines:http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/specialneeds/customersize/default.aspx?SID=9E02A753641F4D08BB3960B53CFCF58E • Southwest: http://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/extra-seat/index-pol.html • United:http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52985,00.html

9. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop What is the Air Carrier Access Act? The Air Carrier Access Act is Title 49, Section 41705 of the U.S. Code. ACAA prohibits discrimination by air carriers against “otherwise qualified individual[s]” on the basis of disability.1The statutory language regarding the scope of “disability” was the same under the ACAA as under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)2prior to the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act on September 25, 2008.3

10. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop How does ACAA Define Disability? • “has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,” • “has a record of such an impairment,” or • “is regarded as having such an impairment.”4

11. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Does ACAA Protect POS (Height/Weight)? In Tudyman v. United Airlines, 608 F. Supp. 739, 746 (1984), U.S.D.C, C.D. Cal., it was ruled that being overweight is not a disability. Furthermore, Fredregill v. NationwideAgribusinessIns. Co., (1997 USDC SD Iowa), 992 F. Supp. 1082, determinedthatweight was a ‘physicalcharacteristic’ unlesscoupled with other conditions to create a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.5

12. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Does ACAA Protect POS (Height/Weight)? With respect to seating, ACAA does NOT protect a person’s height or weight. Section 382.87 – Other Seating Accommodations stipulates that a person who requires more than one seat for any reason (e.g., because of obesity or a disability) can be required to pay for all of the seats used.6

13. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Canadian “one-person, one-fare” policy • Canadian Transportation Authority rendered decision in January 2008. • Canadian Supreme Court upheld decision in November 2008. • Ruling applies to Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet. • Ruling does not specifically apply to charter carriers. • Ruling applies to “disabled people, including the severely obese, who require two seats to accommodate them.” • Exception applies to people who are "not disabled as a result of their obesity” and airlines get to make this decision. • Estimates suggest ruling will add $0.44 to $0.77 per fare. Also under the "one-person, one-fare" policy, they don't have to pay extra for medical attendants that must be seated with them on flights.* The One Person One Fare program is not for guests who are not disabled as a result of their obesity.**

14. Association for Airline Passenger Rights NAAFA 2012 Convention: Travel Workshop Join Us Today! www.flyfriendlyskies.com