U.S. fines Delta Air $2 million over disabilities rules

Source: Reuters via MSNBC

WASHINGTON — The Department of Transportation fined Delta Air Lines $2 million for violating federal rules on passengers with disabilities, the agency said on Thursday.

The fine is the largest ever imposed against an airline in a case not related to safety.

The DOT said it had found many violations of the requirements, in 2007 and 2008, to provide assistance to passengers while getting on and off airplanes.

The government also found Delta frequently did not respond adequately to disability complaints from passengers.

Delta agreed to settle the case without admitting wrongdoing.

Most of the fine can be used by the airline to improve its service for travelers with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs.

Delta said in a statement it has made "significant investments" to address the issue since it was raised and would "continue to coordinate" with regulators.




Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41650407/ns/travel-news/

The problem is that for the little regional planes (typically flying 20 to 30 passengers), the passengers have to carry their own carry on bags down about 20 steep steps to ground level and haul them across the tarmac, regardless of weather, to the planes, and then up the planes' own flimsy fold down steps. Same in reverse for arriving flights. There are no elevators to take passengers between the waiting areas and the tarmac. When these same small planes arrive at other airports,, like Newark, enclosed ramps/tunnels are available and are attached directly to these small planes. Other airports, like Cleveland, have small elevators connecting waiting areas to gates, or escalators down to waiting areas for several gates for the small commuter planes. Other airports also provide large umbrellas for passengers to use who must go through rain or snow to get to the planes.

Pittsburgh International has many, many unused gates with access to enclosed boarding ramps which could be used for these smaller planes. But they save money by inconveniencing their passengers, a good proportion of whom are elderly and have to take extra care with steps. I flew those small planes in and out of Pgh twice a month for many years. Nearly every flight I would see passengers who were surprised, appalled and had to struggle greatly to manage the stairs and their luggage on their own. Once I had a heavily bandaged sprained wrist, and asked a USAir employee to direct me to an elevator. None available, I was told, and there was no one to help me get my bag up the steep steps. Thankfully, a kind young man/fellow passenger lugged my bag up for me.

Pittsburgh International also regularly saved money by shutting off power in the early morning and mid-evening to their very long moving walkways from the parking lots, and shutting off escalators between the floors of their arrival building and from their high speed "people mover" and central terminal hub. That meant having to somehow get all your luggage, check through and carry on, up to the main terminal by hauling it yourself. If a terminal is open for business, the escalators and moving walkways should be in operation. Many of the parking spots in the close-in, enclosed, short term parking garage were roped off for years because the contractor building it had used sub-standard pre-cast concrete.

The Airport Authority received $7.5 million in 2001 to settle a lawsuit over problems in the garage due to defects in the concrete. So I think they could have afforded to keep the power on to the moving walkways and escalators! However the parking building problems remained uncorrected until last year, meaning more people had to park farther out and rely on the moving walkways to get them into the airport.

I rarely fly now, but when I do, I park at an off-site, private parking facility which is cheaper than parking at the airport. The van drops me off at my airline's main entrance and the driver unloads my bags for me. I also know enough not to book flights on the smaller planes. When I return, the private operation picks me up and drops me off at my car, with the engine warmed up, and the driver loads my bags into my car. Even with the tips, it's cheaper than the airport parking.

I live near Pittsburgh and fly out of this airport frequently - I totally agree with the issues of getting on and off the planes - especially now that there are tons of empty terminal areas - many of those small planes could easily pull up to these gates but the airlines don't want to pay the fees to have the extra gates (Delta rep told me this the last flight I had in January).

From the parking standpoint - are you aware that anyone with a "handicap placard or plates" can park in short term parking (right up by the main entrance) for long term rates? Now they still have issues with the overall parking garage as you mentioned but I didn't know this until one of by WC basketball friends told me this - there seems to be no marketing about this option. I've parked for almost a month in short term parking numerous times and paid the long term rate when leaving - you have to give them placard or they have to take down you license plate info as part of the check out but it makes a world of difference to be able to park that close and skip trying to get on the buses or wheel in from the other lots. They don't give me a hassle about it either. Just make sure if you use a placard that you put it up - I forgot once and got ticketed (like the guy couldn't see the hand controls on the car?!) The kicker was I had to go to court to contest the ticket and I couldn't get into the court house because it wasn't accessible! I met the issuing officer and judge in a file room on the first floor after it took three people to get the second outer door open because one door wasn't wide enough for my A4 - no elevator in the building to second floor so I was put in the closet! Incredible!!

As Johnny Carson used to say, "I did not know that."
On Edit: I just checked current rates. The airport rates are $12/day long term and $8/day for extended parking lots.
By contrast, Charlie Brown's has always had discount coupons available on its website.

"Print and present this entire coupon to Charlie Brown's cashier to park for ONLY $7 per day up to a maximum of $45 for the first 7 days. After the 7th day, the daily rate is $6.25 with no weekly rate. 11.5% parking tax and once per visit $2 airport access are fee added to all parking fees."

So if you're parking for a week, their rates beat the airport's even when you factor in taxes and the $2 fee. An added advantage in the winter is that CB will give you a free jump start if necessary, and clears your car of ice or snow, plus warming it up for you. It does add 1/2 hour travel time both ways, though. My only trip this year will be going to Europe for 10 days next fall - Driving my 10 year old Saab, I just may need that free jump start!

Safe travels to us all!