I don't know if I should file a complaint against Delta Airlines or not but here is what happened.

On JUNE 26, 2004, I was at Frankfurt Airport and was on my way home to Hawaii. I approached Delta Ticket counter. She looked at me and said she has some security questions for me. I told her I am deaf. My travel companion, Ken, is hearing and is an interpreter. Ken was interpreting what she asked me. Then she told Ken not to interpret at all. Ken stopped interpretering. She told me not to pay attention to Ken. She demanded me to read her lips. I could not read her lips very well because of her German accents. Yes she can speak English but it was difficult to read her lips. She started asking me security questions. I could read her lips (about 20 percent) but not all of it so I just nodded my head. Then she called one of her staff and talked to her in German (go figure). The other lady told me to follow her so we followed her. I was puzzled and confused. When I realized we were walking around the ticket counter and was behind the ticket counter. I got worried and panicked. The lady asked me to put my bag on the counter so she can opened and inspected my bag. She opened and took almost everything out of my bag.. She inspected everything. Then she dumped everything back in my bag.

Now, I feel she picked me because of my deafness. I feel discriminated. Should I file a complaint against Delta or what? any idea or input would be greatly appreciated.

Now, I feel she picked me because of my deafness. I feel discriminated. Should I file a complaint against Delta or what? any idea or input would be greatly appreciated.


KD --

I am hearing-impaired, though not deaf by any definition (bilateral otosclerosis). However, I can certainly empathize. I would certainly encourage you to file a complaint with Delta and with the FAA (and let them sort things out between themselves).

Since you were in Germany when this happened, that obviously complicates the legal picture if you were planning any sort of legal action. You might want to consult with an attorney before deciding how to proceed; a qualified attorney could advise you of your rights and options and perhaps write a letter on your behalf. Delta's response to your complaint might then help you determine if any further action on your part was necessary (assuming it is possible, given that you were out of the US when this happened).

Based on what you've told us, it does appear to me that the ticket agent decided to screen you based on your disability, but Delta will want to perform its own investigation. Still, I can't believe that a ticket agent would deny you an interpreter (under any sort of formal DL policy). Not all hearing-impaired people can lip-read, and it seems quite presumptuous of the agent to insist that you do so. :(

I'm terribly sorry that you were treated that way, and I do hope that Delta responds constructively. Good luck.

I don't know if I should file a complaint against Delta Airlines or not but here is what happened.

On JUNE 26, 2004, I was at Frankfurt Airport and was on my way home to Hawaii. I approached Delta Ticket counter. She looked at me and said she has some security questions for me. I told her I am deaf. My travel companion, Ken, is hearing and is an interpreter. Ken was interpreting what she asked me. Then she told Ken not to interpret at all. Ken stopped interpretering. She told me not to pay attention to Ken. She demanded me to read her lips. I could not read her lips very well because of her German accents. Yes she can speak English but it was difficult to read her lips. She started asking me security questions. I could read her lips (about 20 percent) but not all of it so I just nodded my head. Then she called one of her staff and talked to her in German (go figure). The other lady told me to follow her so we followed her. I was puzzled and confused. When I realized we were walking around the ticket counter and was behind the ticket counter. I got worried and panicked. The lady asked me to put my bag on the counter so she can opened and inspected my bag. She opened and took almost everything out of my bag.. She inspected everything. Then she dumped everything back in my bag.

Now, I feel she picked me because of my deafness. I feel discriminated. Should I file a complaint against Delta or what? any idea or input would be greatly appreciated.

You certainly felt discriminated against on this entire thread here by the airlines.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=315963&referrerid=5479

I get stopped constantly by Delta (I fly them as often as I fly JetBlue) and I get the full security "treatment" including the wanding as well as the bag dumping. The bag dumping is nothing compared to the wanding which I find unfathomable. For some reason they pull me aside. I just deal with it; at least you weren't wanded. Instead of looking for discrimination, just accept that there are good people and there are jerks we all have to deal with. If you feel you were treated badly, then write a letter and speak about that.

Well this seems pretty crappy. I'd definitely complain to Delta. At the very least, they should explain what their security policy is for future reference, since they refused to let your friend interpret for you, and you probably don't want to get into that situation again.

I'm not disabled, but as I was scrolling by, your topic it caught my attention.

You should absolutely complain. I'm not sure it would be easy to prove that you were targeted because of being hearing disabled but what really caught me was not being allowed to use an Interpreter. If you were blind, what right would they have not allowing you to use your Seeing Eye dog? None if you ask me, so an Interpreter is kind of the same thing (as an analogy).

Anyhow Good Luck as I think they owe you an answer and an apology.

A bunch of idiots at FRA. Last year, they ran my carry on through the screener 4 times saying there was something they couldn't find. I told them I had to make the flight and they finally let me go. Dunkoffs!

A bunch of idiots at FRA. Last year, they ran my carry on through the screener 4 times saying there was something they couldn't find. I told them I had to make the flight and they finally let me go. Dunkoffs!

Dumkoffs at FRA pre-existed the idiots at US security checkpoints.

I was flying from DEL-FRA-CPH (I think) a few years ago and I had checked in all the way but I had time to burn at FRA so I decided to go outside the airport to get some fresh air. When I came back to get into the terminal and to clear security they gave me a headache and wanted me to throw away my Gilette Mach 3 razor blades (3 of them) from my carryon since they were not permitted allegedly. I told them their rule was asinine and pointless since not but 15 minutes before these very 3 Giletee Mach 3 razor blades were inside the secured area and it would be no problem for me to continue on my final journey with these items and with them none the bit wiser if I had not just happened to leave the secured area for some fresh air. I suggested they follow Heathrow's example if they care to enforce such a ban.

I would have thrown a fit on the spot (which wouldn't have done any good). Delta needs to know that their people in Germany are 1) rude and 2) in violation of US laws (and human decency!)

I wrote a letter to Delta Airlines and complained. I'll let you know when I hear from them I am sure they'll respond my letter...

I wrote a letter to Delta Airlines and complained. I'll let you know when I hear from them I am sure they'll respond my letter...


Yesterday I got a letter from Delta. They were very sorry about it and gave me $500 travel voucher. :)

Good for you - and good for Delta in responding to your valid complaint. Hopefully they will now institute better training for their personnel in Frankfurt.

Congratulations on the good results you got. Here in US at least you have the protections of ADA and ACA ... however when you are in foreign countries, you're kind of at their mercy.

My wife has a cochlear implant and has been very fortunate to not be "overly searched" when she flies. Although nobody really understands what they're looking at, everyone's been very accomadating.