What To Consider For Special Needs Travel Customer

By Kenneth Baker


When we are traveling, many people require special needs and wants to make their journey more enjoyable. However, there are people who are sensitive and require more understanding of their travel to be bearable. This group of people demands special treatment and special needs travel arrangements need to be made for their own comfort during the journey.

Some of the customers who require this kind of arrangement done for them include people who use wheelchairs, people with visual, hearing or speech impairment, or people of different cultures who may not speak English. In some cases, parents traveling with young children may also require special attention or even minors traveling on their own. Customers with special dietary needs are also included in this group.

Anyone traveler in this group requires some level of sensitivity and additional customer service for their journey to be bearable. In this case, it is best to make plans for such a traveler in advance and notify the transport company of any special needs that may have to be met throughout the journey. The travel agent or company can, therefore, make the necessary adjustments well ahead of time and also notify the transport crew of the presence of the traveler.

There are laws and guidelines that have been set up to ensure that special needs individuals are treated equally and get the same opportunities as the ordinary folks. The guidelines and laws have made it possible for them to access public transport and accommodation easily. A lot of changes have also been made on the different modes of travel such as air, road, and water to accommodate the different special needs.

Public transport companies such as airlines have been making changes to their operations and even planes to cater to the special needs of these individuals. A notable structural change in the planes is the adjustment of the aisle seats to have removable arms that make it possible for an individual with mobility issues to be comfortable. Meals are also adjusted to cater for any passenger traveling that may have special dietary needs.

Airline companies also make it easier for wheelchairs to be gate checked easily and make them accessible for the travelers at their destinations. They are usually offloaded first at the destinations or when changing planes. When making travel plans for a traveler with mobility issues, it is best to plan for the most direct route and possibly give the traveler ample time to change planes where necessary.

Other adjustments that have been done by transport companies include the different communication methods available. For those who are visually impaired or have hearing problems announcements are made in a way that they also include them. Some trains, for example, are equipped with braille signs that help the special needs travelers also get the important announcements made. Those traveling with their guide dogs by train are not charged extra for the dogs to accompany them.

When using road transport, the special needs of the traveler can also be catered for through the use of the right car. For example, vans that have wheelchair accessibility and hand-controlled cars are available to those that need it from the transport companies. Cruise ships and boats have also adjusted accordingly and made cabins for those that need wheelchairs and also made it their public areas more accessible for those that have special needs.




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