Health | Disability |
Compaints and Compensation
Health
Cabin Air Quality
Studies have shown that cabin air quality is at least as good as, and
often much better than, that found in domestic or office environments.
However, passengers should be aware that at cruising altitudes, air pressure
in the cabin is lower than at sea-level (equivalent to an altitude of
between 6,000 and 8,000 feet) and humidity is also low.
There is little independent scientific evidence to support the view that
flying has an adverse effect on health. The aircraft cabin is the normal
place of work for tens of thousands of UK cabin crew and pilots and we see
no trends in sickness rates or causes which would indicate a link.
The UK Department for Transport’s Aviation Health Working Group (AHWG) is
addressing the concerns about the possible acute and long term health
effects, particularly on flying crew, of occasional bad smells or "fume
events. The independent Committee on Toxicity (COT) has undertaken a
substantial review of the existing evidence on behalf of the AHWG. The COT
estimates that "fume events" occur on 0.05% of flights overall and at
present the available evidence does not establish a link with pilot ill
health one way or the other.
The AHWG Research Sub-Group has commissioned research which aims to
sample cabin air in both normal operation and during fume events, using the
latest technology. Whilst this research continues it is clear that claims by
individuals, both in the media and elsewhere that "passengers and crew
inhale toxic fumes whenever they fly" are simply not supported by the facts
or the science.
The Department
for Transport has a list of answers to frequently asked questions about this topic
on its website.
UK airlines consider the health and safety of both its
customers and staff as its absolute priority. They take all reported
incidents of fumes seriously and investigate them as a matter of urgency.
Incidents have been fully investigated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
which found no health implications associated with these cases. UK airlines
will continue to support the work of Government Departments in their work
and research in this area.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Research has confirmed that the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is linked to
immobility and not to the mode of travel. The House of Lords Science and
Technology Select Committee Inquiry into Air Travel and Health in 2000
looked at all the evidence available on DVT and concluded that there was no
proven link between air travel and DVT, but recommended further research.
A major, international research project was undertaken under the auspices
of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva. The work, carried out by a
consortium of medical experts called the WRIGHT project, was partly funded
by the UK Government. The results of the work were presented to a medical
science conference in Sydney, Australia in August 2005. The research
confirmed that the risk of DVT is linked to immobility and not to the mode
of travel.
We recommend that anyone planning to take a long journey (by whatever
means - air, rail, coach or car) who feels they have personal factors which
make them more at risk from blood clotting or DVT should take the advice of
their GP about any additional measures that may be necessary to manage the
journey.
Disability
Disabled Passengers & Passengers with Reduced Mobility
BATA members are committed to meeting the objectives of the Government’s
Code of Practice “Access to Air Travel for Disabled Persons and Persons with
Reduced Mobility”, which was published in 2008 and can be found
here.
The Code was developed by government and industry including the Department
for Transport, BATA, ABTA, CAA, airports, and the Disabled Persons Transport
Advisory Committee amongst others. It is aimed at helping those in the
aviation industry meet their legal obligations regarding disabled passengers
and those with reduced mobility.
Under European law, (Regulation
EC1107/2006), which came into effect on 26 July 2008, air passengers can
receive assistance if they are disabled or have difficulty moving.
The
Regulation, which sets out rights for "disabled persons and persons with
reduced mobility when travelling by air" applies to any journey from, to or
through any airport in the EU. The main parts also apply to a journey from an
airport outside the EU to an EU airport on an EU airline.
It applies to the
whole air travel process, not just the flight itself. It also covers booking
your flights, arriving at the airport, checking in, getting on and off the
plane and leaving the airport. Tour operators and travel agents are included
within the scope of the Regulation, meaning that they must pass on passenger
information to airlines who must in turn inform the airports of the
individual services required.
The general rule is that airlines must not
refuse to accept a reservation or to carry a passenger on the grounds of
disability or reduced mobility. However, an airline may refuse to honour
your reservation or allow you to board the aircraft if:
- you have not told
your booking agent, tour operator or airline of your disability at least 48
hours before travel;
- there are safety reasons;
- the aircraft doors
are too small.
It is worth noting that under the Regulation airports are
responsible for the provision of services for disabled passengers and PRMs
for the journey through airport.
The Regulation requires EU Member States to
nominate a body to enforce it. In the UK, this is the
Civil Aviation
Authority. The Regulation also requires Member
States to nominate a body to which a passenger may complain if they think
they have been denied their rights. The
Consumer Council for Northern
Ireland handles complaints from the public about airports and airlines
in Northern Ireland. For complaints about airports and airlines in the rest
of the UK please contact the
Equality and Human Rights Commission.
The Regulation does not provide any automatic rights to compensation.
Special Needs and Requests
If you are likely to have any needs for which you think an airline might
have to make special arrangements you must discuss them with the airline or
travel agent as soon as you start to plan your trip.
You may find that your choice of airline will have to be based on which
one can best meet your particular needs. And before you book, ask if the
airline is going to charge extra for any special services it has agreed to
provide for you.
Some examples of the sorts of needs for which airlines might have
to make special arrangements for are if:
- you are physically disabled and may need help getting around airport
terminals, on and off the plane, or moving around inside the cabin;
- you will be travelling with babies or very young children
(particularly if you will need a cot);
- you are buying a ticket for an unaccompanied minor (you will need to
check the age limit with the airline concerned);
- you have special dietary needs.
If you are not sure whether your particular requirements fit into the
category of 'special requests' ask the airline or the travel agent.
Complaints and Compensation
Complaints
The main body to which UK air passengers can go for advice or to make a
complaint is the Air Transport Users Council
(AUC). In 2009, the Government proposed that the AUC’s functions should be
transferred to Passenger Focus
which represents rail passengers and some bus, coach and tram
passengers. It is as yet unclear when this change will occur.
Details of how to make a complaint about a flight or an experience
at an airport are given on the AUC website. The AUC recommends that you
gather as much information as possible when the problem occurs and make a
note of staff names, times and other relevant information. You should then
refer to the airline/airport website for details of how to make a complaint
to them. If you are not satisfied once you have made your complaint and have
received a response you should then contact the AUC which may be able to
assist, although it has no powers to compel service providers to accept its
views.
The AUC cannot take up certain complaints regarding delays or
cancellations of flights that originated outside the UK. If the
flight originated in another EU country, the national enforcement body for
that country should be contacted instead.
Complaints about a tour operator or travel agent should be taken up with
the relevant trade association such as ABTA
or the Association of Independent Tour
Operators. These associations have codes of conduct for their members.
The tour operator’s brochure or travel agent’s invoice should indicate if
they are members of an association.
Compensation
Compensation as a result of problems experienced with baggage, overbooking or delayed or cancelled flights is dependent upon a number of
factors such as the departure and destination airports, the airline, the
length of any delay, external events such as weather and the date any claim
is put in.
Please check the AUC website for more
detailed information.
This section of the BATA website uses material produced by the Air
Transport Users Council, the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and the
House of Commons Library and which is available from their websites.