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Air Canada offers a number of services for people with
disabilities. The identification of your special needs, at the time of
booking, will enhance our ability to offer the services that best meet your
requirements. Our customer service personnel will gladly describe services
available and help make arrangements.
Although we ask for 48 hours notice, we'll make
every effort to accommodate requests made within that time frame. Customers
should arrive early at the airport to allow ample time for check-in and
boarding.
Special services include assistance in:
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registering at the check-in counter
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proceeding to the boarding area
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proceeding to the general public area on arrival,
or if in the same terminal, to a representative of another carrier
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boarding and deplaning
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stowing and retrieving luggage and mobility aids
At your request, we will:
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Make periodic inquiries about your needs and
attend to them
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Arrange for the use of your own wheelchair until
boarding the aircraft and for the delivery of your wheelchair at the
gate upon arrival
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Disassemble and package batteries on your
motorized wheelchairs, unpack the batteries and reassemble the
wheelchair on arrival
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Where space permits, stow your manually operated
folding wheelchair in the passenger cabin (feature available on certain
aircraft only)
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Stow your small mobility or other aid in the cabin
We will also:
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Assist you in transferring between mobility aids
or onto and from the aircraft seat
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Assist you in moving to and from the aircraft
washroom (except by carrying) with the use of the on-board wheelchair
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Arrange for alternate transportation for your
large mobility aid when travelling on an aircraft with less than 60
seats that cannot accomodate the aid
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Escort customers with intellectual disabilities
travelling without an attendant to the aircraft door. We will introduce
them to a flight attendant and we will escort them to the person
responsible for meeting them on arrival
In addition, Air Canada offers the following
services for people with special needs:
Aircraft seating
You can preselect your seat when you make your
reservation. To choose one that best suits your needs, Air Canada's computer
system has information on the location of seats:
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with liftable or removable armrests for ease of
transfer to and from an on-board wheelchair and passenger seat
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with additional floor space to accommodate a
service animal
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close to the washrooms and exits
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with extra legroom
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for customers using stretchers and their
attendants
Attendant fares
An attendant who accompanies and cares for a
customer with a disability during a flight may be able to travel on a
reduced fare within North America. Ask your travel agent or call us for more
details.
Carriage of Mobility aids
Air Canada will carry the following aids as
priority baggage without charge and in addition to the free baggage
allowance:
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wheelchairs
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walkers, canes, crutches and braces
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communication devices
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prostesis or medical device
Due to special handing of wheelchair batteries,
please be sure to mention when making your reservation if you wish to
transport an electric wheelchair.
Baggage identification tags
Tags are supplied to all our customers at check-in
counters and we ask that you use them to identify your luggage and any
equipment, including a wheelchair. A specially-designed tag for wheelchairs
alerts our customer service agents whether your chair must be delivered to
the aircraft door or the baggage room.
Boarding cards
The special needs or condition of a person can be
identified by customer service employees through a special notation on the
customer's boarding card.
Safety briefing in alternate format
In addition to an individual safety briefing
provided by a crew member prior to flight departure, flight attendants on
all aircraft will also offer braille and large print safety cards for
passengers who are blind or have a visual impairement.
Oxygen service
"Medipaks" of oxygen for customers with respiratory
conditions are available at an extra charge with 48 hours advance notice.
Please contact Air Canada directly.
Passenger lifts
A passenger access lift available at certain
airports allows people in wheelchairs to safely board smaller connector
aircraft.
Personalized computer profile
Frequent travellers who require medical approval
prior to air travel will appreciate this special feature. One call to
Reservations will eliminate the need for medical approval each time you fly.
TDD - Reservations
If you have a telecommunications Device for the
Deaf (TDD), in Canada and the United States call 1-800-361-8071 toll free.
Service animals
Certified, professionally trained service animals
which are assisting people with disabilities are carried, free of charge, in
the passenger cabin at the customer's feet. Flights to Britain, Hawaii and
Hong Kong are the exception.
Special meals
Air Canada offers specially prepared meals,
available on 24 hours notice. If requested, flight attendants may assist by
opening packaging, identifying items and cutting food.
Stretcher service
Stretchers can be accommodated on most Air Canada
aircraft. 48 hours notice is required and special charges apply.
Washrooms on board
Most aircraft have facilities which are accessible
to customers with disabilities. Door handles, grab bars, soap dispensers,
faucets, flush controls and call buttons are designed to be operable with
minimal single effort. Washrooms on some aircraft are fully accessible to
passengers using the on-board wheelchair.
Wheelchairs on board
All Air Canada flights have an on-board wheelchair
which can be used to move around the cabin if required. |
