Passengers with disabilities will no longer have to ask for help when travelling with Virgin Atlantic — the airline has designed a special symbol that can be worn as a pin or tucked into a passport to alert staff to the passenger’s need for assistance.
Virgin Atlantic has introduced the scheme in an effort to make flying easier and less stressful for those who might face additional obstacles while travelling, due to hidden disabilities such as autism or Asperger syndrome.
The programme also includes extensive training for Virgin staff to ensure these passengers and their families feel taken care of every step of the journey.
Passengers can work with the Virgin Atlantic’s
Special Assistance team prior to take-off to ensure escorts, priority boarding
and reserved seating for those with physical or intellectual disabilities.
On board, inflight entertainment is provided for
blind passengers, and sign language-trained crew can be pre-booked for
hearing-impaired passengers, according to The Independent. The programme
is available for all Virgin customers.
“We are committed to giving all customers easier access to travel,” explains Geraldine Lundy, passenger accessibility manager at Virgin Atlantic.
“The Hidden Disabilities scheme is one of a series of initiatives that Virgin Atlantic is planning on introducing over the coming years, to help those with disabilities overcome any key challenges they may face,” adds Lundy.
