Seek Geo
Entertainment, Life Story, Travel & News
Airlines: Safety Rights For Deaf Needs
Apr - 03 | By: Seek Geo | 82 comments.
Summary: It’s regarding for our safety needs not to be met due to lack of subtitles on TVs in planes, etc.
Safety Briefing with subtitles
ATA Safety: Click here
US Airways Safety: Click here
Safety Demo Video: Click here
NW Airlines Safety: Click here
Hawaiian Airlines Safety: Click here
Buy me a cup of coffee82 Responses to “Airlines: Safety Rights For Deaf Needs”
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David-
Sorry to hear he is diabetes. However denied booking is based on whoever checked in last and in the order of that down the list. Was your partner one of the last folks to check in? SWA policy for denied boarding is we will never, ever deny someone boarding without trying to seek those first, voluntarily. Every airline overbooks though, except jet blue airways.
Then if we cannot find anyone, we then start to deny boarding in order of the last person to check in, down the list, exceptions are those traveling on active military duty, sometimes, those who have connections on other airlines or SWA even.
What his compensation? It should be his one way ticket voucher plus 200 dollars because they could not get him a flight out within two hours. Actually getting someone out the same day and under 5 hrs is VERY good and considered excellent, though I understand you guys were not happy with that. Most airlines who overbook, will strand you over night and you are forced to sleep over night in the city at a hotel.
But I don’t want to take this off topic, sorry!!
Back to the captions and subtitles!
Does anyone else also find the electronic gates useful for texts? When gate agents make announcements, I always ask them if they are deaf or HOH to come to the desk so I can personally help them and relay any information as best as I could. Of course that doesn’t always work out!
Alex
Alex,
ATL has electronic gates with annoucments on HDTV. If they need passengers, they would put thier last name and inform to meet them at the gate, etc. They’re wonderful!!! Very impressive airport. yes it is a huge airport..
yeah I am not alone..I used to read pamphet many times..Thank you for sharing me..i will check the list of videos..
thanks
karla64
Alex:
I read your comments with great interest… Could you explain what SSSS is. What do we expect in this situation? Thanks.
Mish,
Today, Our TDD is still installed already in airport.. but new VRS in just already announed new installing for deaf travel much easir.. New update with sidekick or text is much easier but, problem that deaf travel have a hard time to use tty to find somewhere.. Cell is ready to call .. No worry but they often hung you up VRS is much better .. Sea Tac airport has not installed with VRS,yet.
It is hard to type with cell phone for IP-Relay Service always tell me it is already hung up before I say to person when they answered. hung up fast. My finger has not 100 wph! That’s sucker
M:
It means the airline has selected the owner of the boarding pass for secondary security screening. There are a number of factors that will cause someone to be flagged for secondary screening, but of course they won’t tell us exactly what they are. Speculation shows the following are influencing factors:
How the ticket was purchased (cash, credit card etc)
Where the ticket was purchased
How long before travel it was purchased
Country of residency/citizenship
One-way vs round-trip ticket
Membership of the airline’s FF program
Direction of prevailing wind at the time of ticket purchase
It is all pre-determined by the airline’s computer system before you check in and is not manually triggered by the check-in agent. I believe it cannot be changed by the check-in agent. There is a very good chance that if they computer has selected someone once, they will be selected again if the tickets are purchased in the same manner.
M-
Hello! No problem, I will be happy to explain quickly. SSSS is a acronym for Secondary Screening Safety Security. (I think I might be a bit off).
SSSS is assigned to passengers, any one, doesn’t matter if you are white, black, deaf, hearing, blind, etc etc it is assigned randomly and to anyone, but it is focused specifically on passengers whom are traveling without any ID of some sort, generally a picture ID. Also if the ID has expired, or if the passenger purchased this ticket with Cash, or if the ticket purchased or being used as a one way ticket.
If you are assigned an SSSS it will be printed on the boarding pass usually in black bold on the lower right hand corner of your boarding pass/security document. This signals to the TSA officials (Transportation Security Admin) that you need to be pulled over for secondary screening.
Your carry on bags will be searched in front of you, with a wand and a finger printing machine to pick up any bomb power residue. Your bags will be swiped down for any evidence, you will be asked to take off your shoes, jacket, belt anything “baggy” on your body. You be wanded down, and patted down as well. Your checked bags will be pulled out of the line to be opened and checked in the same procedure also.
This is the basic gist of how it goes, and procedures are always a case by case example based on the situations.
Hope this helped a bit!
Alex
David K. from Las Vegas
My head shaken. It is not acceptable about diabetic is not fun.. It could be fatal and can be mess up diabetic. if the diabetic person have to bring the extra food in case for emergency. as such orange juice or one wrapped candy. It is very serious issues about airplane while it travel.
They doesnt have a doctor or nurse inside at all. I know it is kind of scary for diabetic issues!
They have back up some of food for person who have a trouble delay.
I agree with you, David K
FYI,
Sad things that flight attendtion often misinformation that deaf mean = deaf and blind.
Tassie, I know how feel deaf people recieved a brialle. It is really confusion and embrassment :oops:
But, I will be annoyed if the person gave me for that. I will give back and write a note.. I am not blind.
I’ve heard of that I never had a expereinced with flight attention or other place.
Sometime too far to judgement that you are blind and deaf are same as Helen Keller.. Whoa! Wait mintues. I will have to confront to person who gave it to me.
Time to educated them instead of mad or angry. It is hard to deal with hearing people knew nothing about deaf only. They have to learn from us. Be patient and uneasy for something like that if the person insulted as native or give you a brialle if you were not aware of that person can see without sound ear.
I will write down and tell them that I am not blind.. “Be firm straightforward and nice note.” I think some deaf misunderstood sometime. I think it is normally for us learn or learn from misunderstood issues.
Wow, thanks, Alex. Very informative. I suppose heavy people with loose (or “baggy”) clothing are more likely to be subject to be searched than those wearing clingy clothes? I love to wear comfy clothes LOL
Interesting…
I think it would be better to let cabin crew know that you’re deaf. They will be more than happy to tell you about safety brief (one by one). I flew Singapore Airlines, cabin crew introduced her name and told/show me about where the life vest, oxygen mask, emergency doors and belt are. She would take care of me for the rest of the flight. I also flew other airlines such as Qantas and Air New Zealand (only international), they also did the same things.
However ALL the domestic airlines, cabin crew didn’t care about hearing impaired people because it’s only short flight.
Singapore Airlines, ANA, Japan Airlines and Malaysian Airlines have sign language interpreter in their safety demo. But they sign in their own language.
Also, Japan Airlines and ANA have Magna Doodle for the deaf people to communicate with cabin crew.
M-
No Problem. Type of clothing isn’t neccesarily key in terms of who gets searched (this is considered a form of racial profiling and as you know is considered Illegal. However it COULD make it harder to be searched due to the very reason you stated, that it is to baggy to wear.
Qantasky- I was not surprised to read international airlines generally take great care of their passengers, of all kinds. Foreign Airlines do a MUCH better job usually then our domestic and American Airliners unfortunatly. In the times of low cost and poor Customer Service, these members severely lack good judgment and common sense when dealing with Customers.
Alex
your information is a little out of date. TWA stopped flying in 2001, and ATA stopped as of this week. It would be nice if you provided only the most up to date information.
Also, it is up to judges to determine if laws are broken, not individuals.
Hi quatasky,
Yes that is correct as I heard depending on who would be willing to go over safety briefing with deaf passengers. I asked once and one of attendants just said to look at pamphlets. So, it depends on who you run into, some would be willing to work with you while others, let’s say are too busy.
-SG
Kong,
It doesn’t matter what airlines exist or not, and at the time of the video, ATA still existed. I posted those videos to show EXAMPLES of how subtitles were featured on safety videos. In fact, these were the ones that I can only find that has subtitles available out there. In general, safety briefing is still the same over the years except a thing like no smoking for TWA part.
They pretty much covered basics evacuation, number of doors, oxygen masks, safety cards, and exit signs and doors.
Right now, laws are NOT broken, I was addressing an issue that should BECOME a law or rather.. to meet our needs. I stated in the video how I feel is all.
-SG
Hmmmm… SG, you made me think! Wake up my lazy brain
When a person with CI goes through security check, does the TSA “cop” ask if he has a bomb inside his head?? Do they try to remove the CI, to prove it is safe?
Just wondering….
Hi I_C_Voices!
Oh, this is a very good question so I went ahead and dig up what I can find regarding cochlear implants, it sounds like it is not concern for TSA.
Here’s the quote I found on the site
“Security Officers should not be asking you to remove your orthopedic shoes, appliances, or medical device (insulin pump, feeding tube, ostomy or urine bag, or exterior component of cochlear implant) at any time during the screening process.”
which is on this site:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1370.shtm
So it’s all good.
-SG
Well, I would assume the bomb sniffing dogs would clear any CI’er of terrorism before anyone demands removal :lol:
Anyway, the older models of the CI there were cases of the programs being wiped from the processor (external piece) while going through the security scanner. I hear many people going through scanners with their CI on and hasn’t had a thing happen to it. In the case where you would like to be extra cautious, you would hand TSA the cochlear implant identification card which proves that you have one and not a bomb in your head. You can take the external piece off and turn off your CI and walk through the scanner or have them wand you down manually
I come in contact several times a day with a x-ray and metal detector scanner and I haven’t had an issue.
SG! Here is the link for the crash / incident / what ever you want to call it :)
http://www.wbtv.com/news/topstories/17282719.html
Hey Geo!!! Sorry I was gone again!!! My show was on tour and I do not have a laptop!!! :cry: but just now a friend of mine gave me his.. whoo! Now I am able to check your site once in a while!! No wireless! but better than no computer!
You growing your hair now??? :mrgreen:
Funny of all times I check your site!!! I just had a bad experience using Southwest on Thursday when I flew to L.A. from Texas.
When I got there to board the plane, they did the same thing as you mentioned no caption, or anything but i saw the pamplets many times so nothing new about it so I just looked out the window as they explain the safety.
However when we were on the runway about to take off, we stopped!!! then the announcement speaker came on!! All I can hear is the muffled voices over the speaker and I can see some of the passengers groaning but no idea!!! then waited about another 5 mins nothing, no movement and here I am paranoid sitting in middle of runway?? then pilot came out of his pit making a long announcement, no idea what he was saying, flight attendants or southwest made no attempts to explain to me what’s going on. Of course I had to ask the lady next to me, to tell me there was a minor mechanical error on the plane. That’s all I know, and I was terrified since I am not fond of planes, making it sound like it’s something wrong with wings or motor. I decided to walk up to the flight attendent and ask why are we heading back to the port? he said lights and indicator is not working and they are fixing it. I sat back down and we waited about another 15 to 20 mins. then another long announcement came on, again no attempt to include me. I again asked the lady what is going on? They said we are exiting the plane and switching to another plane.
We get off the plane and yet I still have no idea what I am doing and on another plane now??? and I had to ask around over and over and over… to find out my plane will leave another hour… so I fixed my target on people I see on the plane with me so I know if they are in the waiting area with me, I know I didnt miss the plane. Then there is a screen that says to LA at 130pm… so it was relieved…then I never heard of the announcement but it changed to 230pm… 3 and half hours worth of being clueless and lost! Finally on the plane and arrived to LA…8 and half hours worth of misery because I was not included in the situation!
I like your idea Geo, TEXT box where they roll words where we can read it!
Hi Brain C.
How awfully you go through the situation something you hate to fly. I am not fear airplane. I thought I love it.. but not have trip since 1976.
By the way I thought SG is really excellent to brought this topic. I never knew they have problem in the past or recent.
Sad I have not fly since 1976. 31 years passed. I never had expereinced what looking like if they barrier deaf or something like that.. I remember one of blog have a usher sydromone. I learn from her that she was asked the front desk to write black marker pen. so she can see it better they refused to accomated her instead of pencil. How can rude they refused because she is blind and deaf. It is hard to communicate with a pencils. It is not work for her vision limits quiet diffiuclt time, I realized If I turn usher sydromone I will give her a black marker pen and asked her it give me back it is my belong pens! the front desk was mad at her.. she did not realized she is legal blind.
Poor things, I forgot her blog was .. I think her blog is Cocho or Coho. I am not sure which correct one. Her blogs taught me and learn alot from her.. I completed understood how frustrated some of employee doesn’t really understand about deaf and blind combine is very harder!
Well, for the last-minute announcements the cheap and affordable way I could think of is to have one of those rolling-across text boxes that would announce whatever changes had occurred. An attendant at the gate desk could type it out.
Brian C-
First, I want to apologize this incident happened. What you described in terms of the incident of the aircraft in question is actually normal and you were not in any example in danger.
An indicator light is like a light bulb going off, or you needed to get your oil changed light turned on. It is not dangerous to go on but for safety reasons the flight must not resume and they must do an aircraft swap.
2ndly, I am assuming you specifically pre boarded the flight as a disabled passenger to make the time to communicate to the flight attendant about your needs as a Deaf Passenger. Assuming you did so, I am very sorry to hear they failed to alert you and let you know. The 2nd time around when you went to ask the F/A what was going on, I assume you also reminded that F/A and again he failed to communicate with him.
Southwest is normally very good about communicating with the disabled Customers on board and I would urge you to write a complaint letter to the airline stating specifically what happened, the communication barrier and how the F/A failed to alert you and let you know even though you had told them you were deaf.
You will get a response from them, what the response is I am not sure. SWA and like any other airline will not change their ways until we get the complaints like your’s so we know what to do and change it to make it better for everyone included.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Alex
Seekgeo- I agree. I
Hi Seekgeo- I understand how you feel about flying and the safety. I was recently flown to Albany, New York and back to Minnesota. I always had to ask one of the flight attendance, told then that I was deaf and where I’m sitting. Once, the attendance went by and made sure I was okay. Every time I get off, I always follow the people going to the baggage claim, and I always check the computer screen every 15 minuts or so to make sure there was no delays, etc. I also was assigned twice to sit in the exit row, and I knew I wasn’t suppose to be in that area, because once you sit in those rows, those people are the ones who take control of the doors and taking care of the evactuation if it’s needed. So I had to ask a clerk to exchange my seat, and it wasn’t a problem. The pamphics that I have seen looks soo basic, and nothing in details of evactuation, etc. So I agree that it needed to be fixed or a way that to be informed to a deaf if there’s something going on. Keep up the good work Seekgeo!
Hey Brian C.!
It was good to see you on here.. finally! :-) Sound like all goes well for you which is good and keep you busy in past weeks!
Wow, that was crazy. I wonder if they knew you are deaf beforehand? Even after the time you told them you can’t hear and yet they did not tell you on next announcement. That is exactly what I am concerned about for all of us for last minute announcement.
I’d suggest for you to contact SWA regarding this and I am sure they will have it taken care of and straighten it out with you. Best to let them know so it won’t happen again, that’s what I did a couple of times.
Sound like you had a long, long flight!! Geesh.. at least you made it home safe and hope to see you on here more! :-)
-SG
It seems I’m late in replying to this so maybe no one will see this! But just wanted to say:
THANK you for linking to the various videos. I have flown a great many times, but very nearly always have the bad luck of ending up on a plane without captioned safety videos.
Because I had flown so many times I already knew most of what was in the video that I chose to watch (I didn’t watch all, just the first one). It probably helps that I ALWAYS try to review the pamphlet even if I feel I already know it. And over the years I have had chances to have people explain some of the information to me. But two things I wanted to make note of:
1. For many YEARS, I honestly believed that the reason why you need to pull those chords on the oxygen mask was because that was how you got the air to start flowing! In other words, I thought the cords were the signal to the mask to turn itself on! It was not until I had been on many flights, reading many many pamphlets over and over and watching many many non-captioned videos and watching many many stewardess gestures that someone finally explained to me, after something I said, that no, the cords are just to tighten the mask.
However, until I saw the video, I STILL did not realize how important it was to make SURE that the mask is secured *tightly*. Even after that one above-mentioned explanation, I did not realize that it was something specifically needed. Even after being told that the cords were just to tighten the mask I was thinking that that was just to make sure it stayed in place–I didn’t realize you had to make sure it was “as tight as possible” which is a little different from just making it tight enough that it won’t move around too much.
Okay, I guess it makes sense — you want to be sure that all the oxygen is going to your breathing passages and that none of it is leaking out and going to waste. But I can very easily imagine that if I had ever actually needed to use a mask before seeing this video, I might not have secured the mask tightly enough. Suppose I had been responsible for putting a mask on a child (who might not know enough to alert me that s/he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. That’s scary.
Another thing I had never known before seeing this video is that you’re not supposed to inflate your vest while you’re still on the plane. I do wish they had explained WHY because that doesn’t make sense to me. But I can easily picture in an emergency that I might have gone ahead to inflate my vest while waiting for instructions to evacuate–because I simply wouldn’t have known that I was supposed to wait to do that.
Yes, ALL airlines MUST caption their safety videos. The pamphlets by themselves are not quite enough — although the videos are not that much more detailed (most of it IS just repeating what’s in the pamphlets), the particular video I viewed did still have nuances that the pamphlets just don’t EVER have.
I have made definately dozens, possibly 100+, separate flights, especially if you count each new take-off as a new “flight.” And I always read the pamphlet and watch the video or stewardess. And there were still nuances I COMPLETELY missed for all these 20-plus years because the videos are so rarely captioned! I have flown from DC to Hawaii … from DC to Costa Rica … from Boston to San Franscisco and back, several times … from Boston to Chicago and back, several times … Boston to Nebraska and back, several times … DC to New Hampshire … DC to New York … and so many more, and still didn’t know!
Andrea–
WOW! Those are P-E-R-F-E-C-T examples of why it is an absolute must to caption the videos and such. I also have flown so many times, and you are the first person to make me realize wow how confusing it could be if it is not explained properely.
As for this part..”Another thing I had never known before seeing this video is that you’re not supposed to inflate your vest while you’re still on the plane. I do wish they had explained WHY because that doesn’t make sense to me. But I can easily picture in an emergency that I might have gone ahead to inflate my vest while waiting for instructions to evacuate–because I simply wouldn’t have known that I was supposed to wait to do that.”
Just wanted to say because, if the water invades the aircraft and you inflate your vest, you will float and not manuever as well inside the aircraft and possibly not be able to fit through the door or window with it inflated. It is a safety issue also.
Thanks for bringing up so many issues and examples, and if you have any other questions about the safety videos and stuff PLEASE ask them here we all would be happy to help and assist and get them straightened out!
Alex
I liked this video, and you are right that the need of the deaf passenger are ignored. I too experienced same things with almost all airlines, as far as i know Turkish and Malaysian airline used sign language, and Hongkong Cathy pacific use cartoons that helps but need careful consideration to address all the needs for deaf passenger.
keep u the good work it is raising the awareness.
also you may like to read my paper on similar issue at DANISHKADAH website
http://danishkadah.brinkster.net/activitiesProjects/papers_publications/ICAT2007/index.html
thanks
Akram
Great video, thanks for posting it.
My mother has very little hearing – she’s lost her hearing progressively over the past 30 years.
I started writing an online column about accessible travel about 16 months ago, and while most of the queries I get are about wheelchair accessibility, I try to write about other accessibility issues sometimes, including those arising from sensory loss.
I just wanted to say, I’m trying in my small way to make some noise for all of us. I don’t want anyone’s travel to be unnecessarily stressful, for any reason.
Love what I have seen of this website and I look forward to returning for more.
Cheers,
Jill
Canada