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How Do You Notify Airlines?

When it comes to informing the airlines of your hearing impairment, all of the major U.S. carriers encourage the same thing: let an agent know at each stage of your trip from the booking agent all the way to the gate agent and flight attendants. All too often it is the airlines who fail to alert airline crews or other personnel. Avoid any such screw-ups by letting an airline employee know about your impairment wherever you are, whether it be at the ticket counter or on the plane.

Start by giving a heads-up to the reservation agent or travel agent that you're hearing-impaired and let them know of any accommodations you might need. The agent will make a note on your reservation so that anyone who pulls it up will know your background.

For airlines such as Southwest, you'll have to shell out more money to reserve a ticket over the phone. But you can avoid the fee by first booking online, then calling the airline with your confirmation number and asking that your request be indicated on your reservation.

Most airlines do offer hard-of-hearing passengers phone assistance so that you can book your own ticket or ask any questions. Here's how you can contact them. TTY stands for teletypewriter, TDD is an acronym for telecommunications device for the deaf and TT means text telephone.

· American: TDD 800-543-1586
· Continental: TDD/TT 800-343-9195
· Delta: TDD 800-831-4488
· JetBlue: TTY/TDD 800-336-5530
· Southwest: TTY 800-533-1305, the airline also offers a video relay service at SWAVRS.TV, a videophone that allows you to do American Sign Language to a video interpreter, who in turn will communicate your message to Southwest customer service reps
· United: TDD 800-323-0170
· US Airways: TTY 800-245-2966
· Virgin America: None available, but the airline advises calling 711, a free service provided by the federal government. Like dialing 411 to get info, calling 711 allows access to all telecommunications relay services anywhere in the country.

What do you think about the options, or lack thereof, for hard-of-hearing passengers? Do you think more should be done to accommodate them? What are some of the problems you've encountered as a hearing-impaired flyer? Let us know in the comments!