Disability Access Facilitation Plan for Australian Operations
Introduction
Air India's Disability Access Facilitation Plan for Australian Operations (Facilitation Plan) provides information to our passengers in respect of:
- Assistance that the Airline will provide to customers who need help in order to travel with us
- Their role in facilitating Air India's assistance
This Facilitation Plan is a summary of the Airline’s policies and the assistance that will be provided to its customers to assist their travel with us in as dignified and non-discriminatory a manner as possible.
Air India will provide such assistance as far as is reasonably possible, and in accordance with its policies applicable from time to time.
This Facilitation Plan does not form part of the Airline’s Conditions of Carriage. Air India Limited reserves the right to amend this Facilitation Plan from time to time. The applicable and most recent version of the Facilitation Plan will be available atwww.airindia.in
Reservations and Pre-Flight Planning
Passengers who require Special Assistance
Every effort is made to make your journey comfortable and all necessary arrangements are made in advance to facilitate them.
Passengers who require additional assistance at the airport or during the flight must notify Air India at the time of booking and at least 3 days prior to the intended departure date.
The Air India Australian Call Center number is 1800247463. Call Center daily operating hours are from 0001 Hrs to 2400 Hrs (24 X 7).
Passengers can also make travel bookings as follows
- Via the website –
www.airindia.in
- Via a travel agent
Please note, for any bookings made through the internet or via a travel agent, it is the passenger’s responsibility to advise Air India directly of their specific needs. This will ensure the passenger’s booking has all the relevant information so that the
appropriate level of assistance can be provided.
For those passengers with a hearing, speech or vision impairment phone reservations to our Call Center can also be made through theNational
Relay Service
Passengers will not be charged a convenience or booking fee for notifying the Call Center.
For further information on traveling on Air India please visit our website www.airindia.com or contact us direct.
Retention of Information
We do not retain information regarding prior special requests of a particular passenger. Accordingly passengers with particular needs are advised to provide this information for each booking with us.
Confidentiality
Information about a passenger is disclosed to relevant employees and contractors for operational reasons and on confidential terms. Air India complies with the requirements of the Privacy Act at all times. Please see our Privacy Policy on our website for
more details.
Passengers with Limited Mobility
Passengers requiring wheelchair assistance are required to report at least 02 hours before departure for smooth handling.
At the time of booking, passengers will need to advise what level of assistance is required, such as:
- Do you require assistance from kerbside to check-in
- Do you require use of a wheelchair from check-in to the aircraft
- Do you require assistance to board and disembark the aircraft
- Details of any wheelchair or mobility aid you will be bringing with you
Air India may refuse to carry passengers in certain conditions.
Information on carriage of passengers with reduced mobility is set out in our website athttp://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm
With the information provided by you, Air India can make the required arrangements in advance for the necessary facilities to assist passengers at both the port of origin and destination.
Air India is not able to provide supervision for those passengers who cannot travel alone, but we are able to provide limited direct assistance.
In accordance with safety requirements, the number of passengers requiring wheelchairs that we are able to carry on board is limited. Seehttp://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm
Please call us for further information prior to booking.
Passengers with a Vision and/or Hearing Impairment
You must let us know at least 3 days in advance if you have a vision or hearing impairment. This will ensure airport staff are ready for your arrival and provide everything necessary for your safety and convenience.
Passengers Traveling with a Service Dog
Appropriately trained and certified service dogs may travel free of charge, subject to compliance with our policy. A service dog may not occupy a seat.
Al individual country regulations for carriage of a dog must be complied with. All permits are required to be presented at the time of reservation.
For more information for passengers traveling with a service dog, please see
http://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm or contact us direct.
Passengers with Medical Conditions
All passengers must be medically fit to travel in order for Air India to accept them for carriage.
Most people with existing medical conditions are able to fly on commercial aircraft without difficulty. However on the flight the cabin air is pressurized and precautions are sometimes needed if you have a respiratory or heart problem.
For more details, if you have a medical condition see
http://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm or contact us.
Passengers Requiring an Extra Seat
For purposes of comfort and/or carriage of baggage in the cabin which does not fit in the overhead bin, passengers may book an extra seat. The fare to be paid is the normal fare which would have been charged to a passenger, occupying such a seat. In case
the seat is booked for carriage of baggage, the maximum weight of any such baggage shall not exceed 75 kilos per seat. The baggage is subject to security clearances for carriage in the cabin.
Safety regulations stipulate that passengers with additional seats shall not be seated at emergency exit seats. Seehttp://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm
andhttp://www.airindia.in/International-Extra-Seats.htm
Traveling Without a Carer
Air India will provide assistance, as far as is reasonably possible and in accordance with our policies.http://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm
Assistance will be provided in as dignified and non-discriminatory a manner as possible, within the constraints of available resources.
We are not able to provide supervision for those passengers who cannot travel alone, but we are able to provide limited assistance. Passengers traveling alone must be independent so far as personal needs are concerned including: being able to self-toilet,
administer their own medication, eat or drink without assistance, be able to man oeuvre themselves from check-in to the boarding gate and, be able to evacuate unassisted in the case of a ground or in-flight emergency. Otherwise a carer may be required.
Traveling With a Carer
If passengers are traveling with a carer, they must advise us so we may ensure the carer is sitting next to the passenger. Please note: A carer must be physically able, independent and a responsible person of at least 18 years of age, able to assist the
passenger with his/her personal needs including assisting with transfers to and from mobility devices and seating as required and, in the case of a ground or in-flight emergency. For safety purposes, we are not able to seat the passenger and his/her carer
in an emergency exit row.
You must notify us at least 3 days prior to the travel date that the passenger has a disability and is traveling with a carer. The booking for the carer needs to be made at the same time as the booking for the passenger with the disability.
Seating Requests
For your safety and comfort you will be seated in the most appropriate seat available having regard to your needs. We will do all that is reasonably possible to accommodate seating requests but this may not be guaranteed for operational, safety or security
reasons. Please note, due to air safety regulations, any passenger with specific needs and/or requiring special assistance, has an injury or requires a carer, cannot occupy exit row seats.
If the passenger is traveling with a carer, the carer will be seated next to the passenger.
Kerbside Processes
A meet and assist service can be provided, if assistance is required at departure and on arrival.
Please refer to the Disability Access Facilitation Plan of the relevant Airport for further information on the assistance they may provide.
Check-In & Security Screening
Check-In
Air India check-in counter opens 3 hours prior to the scheduled time of departure and closes strictly 1 hour prior to departure by which time all passengers should have completed the check-in process.
It is recommended for passengers requiring additional assistance to arrive 2 hours prior to the scheduled time of their departure flight so the required level of assistance can be provided, subject to adequate notice having been given to us, as set out above.
Check-In Counters
All check-in counters are accessible to passengers with disabilities. Whilst check-in counters are not at wheelchair height, check-in staff is trained to accommodate the needs of passengers with a disability.
Please refer to the Disability Access Facilitation Plan of the relevant Airport for further information regarding their terminal facilities.
Assistance at Check-In for Passengers with Limited Mobility
Please ensure that your request for a wheelchair is made at the time of booking and confirmed before you travel, to enable us to provide the required assistance throughout your journey. Seehttp://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm
Security Screening
Air India is not a screening authority and is not responsible for any security screening activities in any Australian airport.
Please refer to the Disability Access Facilitation Plan of the relevant Airport for further information related to security screening.
Medical Equipment
Carriage of Medical Equipment
See http://www.airindia.in/International-Passengers-Requiring-Medical-Attention.htm
Access to Aircraft
Assistance with Boarding and Disembarkation
In order to facilitate a smooth and dignified boarding, passengers with disabilities and/or requiring special assistance are requested to be present at the boarding gate at least 60 minutes prior to departure and will generally be boarded before other passengers
and disembarked after all other passengers.
In order to facilitate a smooth and dignified disembarkation, passengers requiring special assistance will be disembarked after all other passengers, with such assistance as may be reasonably required and available.
Direct Assistance
Direct Assistance
Air India will provide limited direct assistance, as far as is reasonably possible and in accordance with our policy to our customers who need help in order to travel with us. We will do so in as dignified and non-discriminatory a manner as possible, within
the constraints of our operation and available resources.
Disruptions
Every effort will be made to minimize the effects of disruptions such as flight delays and cancellations for passengers requiring additional assistance. It is recommended for passengers to make themselves known to staff and to remain in either the check-in
or boarding gate areas as required.
Service Delivery
Staff Skills and Training
Air India staff and crew undertake training in customer service delivery and disability awareness to meet the needs of all passengers including those requiring additional assistance.
Security Environment
Please refer to the Disability Access Facilitation Plan of the relevant Airport for further information.
Communication Strategies
Feedback and Complaints
Passengers are welcome to submit feedback including comments and/or complaints. You may also wish to contact our Call Center seehttp://www.airindia.in/customer-support.htm
Expected Improvements
Air India is always looking to improve the ways in which we cater to the needs of passengers with special needs. We will update this Facilitation Plan and our Policies from time to time.
