02-15-2021
12:32 AM
1 Love
I think SWA should re-consider this policy to be in alignment with the latest guidance from the CDC, specifically for people with developmental disabilities and to comply with the Air Carriers Access Act. I have a developmentally disabled (Angelman Syndrome) 5 year old, I would love to take my child to see their neurologist in BOS @ Mass General, but we can not easily make it there from MKE due to SWAs unrelenting absolutely no exceptions policy on masks for travelers over the age of 2. If I could get my child to wear a mask, believe me I would, I have tried EVERYTHING. My child removes any mask within one second or less. My child has the cognitive abilities of a 18-24mo old, so in essence they align with SWA policy. However since she is obviously much larger then a child under age 2, there are no exceptions or considerations. SWA continues to willfully violate the Air Carrier Access Act ,specifically 382.19(a), which states that carriers “must not refuse to provide transportation to a passenger with a disability on the basis of his or her disability.” Although airlines are permitted to refuse disabled passengers who pose a “direct threat” to the health and safety of others, they are required to conduct an “individualized assessment” of each disabled passenger. SWA is clearly willfully violating this law, there is no option to have an individualized assessment, there is no documented determination that my child is a direct threat to others. (Child already has had covid, so the threat level is almost zero BTW. will happily isolate her and get her tested for covid before traveling) SWA just has a blanket ban on disabled individuals who due to their disability are unable to wear a mask. Anyways SWA has the best schedule for nonstop flights between MKE and BOS for us, not super early am or late night. I guess we will just have to wait until SWA decides to follow the law again. Additionally, for an airline that is based on ‘love’, SWAs lack of empathy, compassion or understanding in this scenario makes me want to never fly them again. I am not trying to buck the system, like SWA reps seem to imply, just looking for a medically indicated exception, or at least an individualized assessment by SWA as required by federal law, which all most all other airlines honor (Delta, American, United, etc). We are trying to get my child the healthcare she needs for her extremely rare neurological condition. Anyways rant over.
... View more