Disability Travel - Delta fined $2 million for ACAA violations

Largest fine ever levied by DOT on a carrier for ACAA violations:

DOT Fines Delta $2M for Violating Air Travelers with Disabilities Rules (http://www.travelpulse.com/dot-fines-delta-2m-for-violating-air-travelers-with-disabilities-rules.html)

The text of the consent order:

2011-2-10 Consent Order (Delta Air Lines, Inc.) - Violations of 14 CFR Part 382 and 49 U.S.C. §§ 41310, 41702,41705 and 41712 (http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=DOT-OST-2011-0003-0007)

Candy Harrington's commentary: Will $2 Million Finally Make Delta Wake Up and Serve Disabled Passengers? (http://barrierfreetravels.com/serendipity/archives/620-Will-2-Million-Finally-Make-Delta-Wake-up-And-Serve-Disabled-Passengers.html)

Candy Harrington's commentary: Will $2 Million Finally Make Delta Wake Up and Serve Disabled Passengers? (http://barrierfreetravels.com/serendipity/archives/620-Will-2-Million-Finally-Make-Delta-Wake-up-And-Serve-Disabled-Passengers.html)
Will Delta change?

No.

What's needed is attitudinal change, from the CEO down. What we're getting instead is a compliance/checklist mentality, which will not substantively change understanding.

From Bill Forrester's TravAbility site:
Procedures and compliance will never replace a genuine interest in a group who are regarded as valuable customers. A culture of customer service will result in innovation and a care and understanding that would have seen staff actively making sure no one was left at the wrong gate, or left stranded on board the aircraft. Letters of complaint would have been responded to quickly in the hope of restoring faith of that customer in the airline. Further valuable customers are treated with respect and the aim is always to delight them beyond their expectations with the level of service they get.

Where a particular group is perceived as a compliance problem the opposite occurs and attempts to ensure compliance result in procedures and systems. In other words a traveler with a disability in those circumstances is no better than an oversized piece of luggage that requires "special" care. These systemic breaches that keep occurring within the airline industry will not be fixed until they adopt an inclusive culture and recognise that a traveler with a disability is just another valuable customer who should leave the destination airport terminal delighted with their experience.
http://www.travability.travel/blogs/delta.html