Here is the list of the airlines that provide sign language airline staff use to communicate with the hearing-impaired passengers.  You can find different type of “sign languages” on the badges under the staff names on their uniforms.

• Air Canada (Badge reads ASL with fingers spelling)
  
• Air China
• American Airlines (Badge reads ASL)
• ANA (All Nippon Airways) – Japan
  
• British Airways
• China Eastern Airlines
• Delta (Badge reads ASL and other sign languages)
• Japan Airlines (Pink badge with one hand that says I Love You/airplane symbol)
  
• Lufthansa
• Qantas (Badge with two hands that shows “sign language interpreter” symbol)
  
• Turkish Airlines (Red badge with two hands that shows “I know sign language”)
  
• United Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic (British Sign Language only)
• Virgin Australia (Badge with two hands that shows “sign language interpreter” symbol)
  

Extra: When you are watching the inflight safety demonstration that talks about where the emergency exits are, how to wear a lift jacket and how to use an oxygen mask, you can see a small sign language interpreter somewhere at the corner of the screen in most Asian airlines.

You must know the new rules before you travel by air after Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. It will not be the same as before. Things will look very different at the airports and planes. It is called the “new” normal. Some experts believe that it will last for two or three years. There will be less contact between you and the airline employees for protection against Coronavirus disease.

Before you travel, you need to know: –

• • If you are sick, DO NOT travel. Call the airlines to postpone or cancel your trip.
  • If you are well, you may have to bring: –
    • • some face masks (Most European, Asian and North American must wear them – see their government websites)
        
      • pairs of rubber gloves
        
      • a small box of tissue paper or anti-bacterial wipes
        
      • a small bottle of hand sanitiser
      • your digital boarding pass (by using online check-in on either computer, your mobile phone, tablets).

At the airport, you may find signs/floor markings that tell you what to do and may need to: –

• • bring your digital boarding pass (in your mobile phone or tablets)
    use a self-service check-in kiosk to print your bag tags for your checked luggage. Do not worry about touching the screens. They are cleaned frequently.
    
  • put your checked luggage in the Bag Drop.
  • Then walk to the gate (DO NOT FORGET the Social distance – keep 1.5m (or 2m) away from you and the people around you)
    

At the departure gate, you may find the signs/floor markings that tell you what to do and may: –

• • find hand sanitising station if you want to clean your hands.
    
  • sit on seats if you want to. Do not sit close to the passengers – still keep 1.5m (or 2m) distancing between two people.
    
  • keep safe distance while walking, queueing up to the gate door.
    
  • bring your digital boarding pass to scan on the ticket machine.
  • walk through the passenger bridges.
  • If the passengers stop in front of you, then you must stop in 1.5m (or 2m) away from them and wait.

On board, you can: –

• • Smile and say hello to flight attendant at the entrance door. You can see flight attendants wearing face masks and other personal protective equipment. It is not easy for deaf people like me to hear what they are saying because it is impossible to lipread!
    
  • Do not hand out your digital boarding pass to a flight attendant. They do not want to touch it. Just show them on your mobile phone screen and KEEP DISTANCE between you and the flight attendant. He/She will guide you to find your seat.
    
  • You can see that passengers are not allowed to seat together. The middle seat should be empty between two passengers. (Some airlines cannot guarantee this kind of distancing).
    
  • After the plane door closed, you are not allowed to change seats and must stay on your seat until after landing. Try to reduce your walking around in the aisle throughout the flights except going to the toilet!
  • You will notice that the air looks refreshed and clean because it has been disinfected by using hospital-grade HEPA filter that can kill viruses and bacteria including Coronavirus inside the cabin every three minutes. All the seats, armrests, tray tables, overheads and windows are all cleaned by hand.
    
  • The inflight service will be simple – food and drink have been reduced and no inflight entertainment.
    
  • Some airlines do not accept cash anymore. Please use a credit card for any purchases (such as ordering food).

Happy flying. The most important is to bring your digital boarding pass in your mobile phone or tablet in order to avoid queues and save time and bring your spare masks with you. You can find more information from your airline’s websites.

All photos were taken from a Star Alliance video clip.

Finally, it is time to break the barrier – Delta has introduced a language badge with options for more than 300 sign languages on their employee’s uniforms. It is placed under their name tags.

A deaf couple complained and planned to sue Delta because they felt that they were being discriminated by the Delta gate agent. The Delta gate agent, however, said that there was a communication issue with this deaf couple in January 2019. Though there was no further details for this incident, it still a relief to hear that Delta did listen to the customers’ feedback and has hoped to improve communication (or to make a better connection) between Delta team members and deaf customers.

I know that Virgin Australia and Qantas staff also wear a sign language badge on their uniforms if they know sign language. However, not all deaf people sign: some lipread or prefer things written in notes for them. Not all the airlines staff know sign language, here is the link to the list of airlines that has trained sign language airline staff.

I (as being deaf) have flown with Virgin Australia, Qantas and other foreign airlines. I have never seen any single flight attendant who knows sign language or wears a sign language badge on their uniforms. (I have always let airlines know that I’m hearing impaired on the airlines’ itinerary and the airlines also acknowledge my special assistance request). Wish I could meet or chat with them one day.

Flying with disabled children can be very stressful for parents.

A Delta flight attendant, Amanda, went above the beyond when she saw an autistic child who refused to be calmed down during flying. No matter how hard his mother tried, this child kept crying. Amanda felt empathy and wanted to help this mother. She told mum that she would show him around the cabin but mum warned her that her son could be aggressive as he was not accustomed to other adults outside his immediate family. Amanda did not mind and invited him to take a tour of the plane. She comforted mum that she had experiences as a volunteer with Special Olympics in high school.

The mother was surprised to see her son became calm and well behaved quickly. He was able to make friends with Amanda and mum thanked her for being so kind to her son.
Another surprise for Amanda was when another passenger from a few rows away told her that “he has never seen a flight attendant do this and that he really appreciated it”. This passenger also has a son who is autistic.

Senior Vice President of Inflight service was pleased with Amanda’s kindness and wrote “This exemplifies Delta difference in every way” and she said “Service from the heart is what we’re all about and I’d like to thank Amanda and Delta employees around the globe for showing thoughtful service like this to the world”

Delta News

Four local Special Olympics athletes were so happy to see their images on the 787 aircraft. It is for the promotion of the Special Olympics World Game which was held between 14-21 March 2019 at Abu Dhabi (where Etihad’s home is) for the whole world to see their local heroes.

All Etihad flight attendants had done e-learning course so that they can understand how to assist passengers with intellectual disability.

Etihad is proud to be the official airline partner of the Special Olympics World Game Abu Dhabi 2019.

From Etihad youtube

Etihad News

A deaf and blind girl was upset with the Jetstar situation. She had informed Jetstar call centre twice to make sure that call centre staff could understand her special needs. Unfortunately, Jetstar had a glitch with the reservation system: that is only one of her disabilities was recorded. Jetstar cabin crew had no idea how to deal with a deaf and blind passenger as she was flying alone.

I can feel her frustration at the airport because I know that was supposed to be her first flight alone!! I think airlines may need to work harder to find out how to cater for the needs of multiple-disabled passengers who want to be independent in travelling the world. I know most airlines have assistance service at check-in counters to look after their disabled passengers; however, this incident shows that a lot more needs to be done by airlines for travellers with multiple-disabilities.

ABC News