It’s no secret that flying can be challenging for everyone. But flying poses specific challenges for people flying with a hearing impairment or loss. Let’s look at some tips for the hearing impaired, including what the airlines do to help make your trip more manageable.
Table of Contents
- Items to Pack for the Hearing Impaired
- Things to Do Before You Depart
- Things to Do at the Airport
- What to Know About the In-Flight Experience
- What Each Airline Does for the Hearing Impaired
- What are Your Rights as a Traveler with a Hearing Impairment
1. Items to Pack for the Hearing Impaired
Especially when traveling internationally, you want to have everything you might need in a pinch handy. You do not need the extra stress of trying to track down medical supplies in unfamiliar surroundings. Set aside the following items to make sure you’re properly prepared for your trip:
Hearing aid storage case
Small hearing aid dehumidifier
Adapter for your charger
Extra batteries for your charger
We recommend you pack extra batteries and chargers in both sets of bags (your carry-on and checked bags, in case bags go missing. If you have an older hearing aid device, and have plans for a more extended trip, you might want to bring that device as a backup.
2. Things to Do Before You Depart
Visit your doctor
It might be a good idea to check in with your hearing healthcare professional, especially if you’re making an international trip or plan to be gone for a while. You can make sure your devices are in tip top shape, and will offer their best performance.
Book a hotel room with hearing accessible features
The United States does require that hotels set aside hearing accessible rooms for the hearing impaired. These rooms typically include a typing/text telephone (TTY phone); sensors to alert you if someone is knocking, calling or there is an emergency situation; and a television with closed captioning capabilities.
If the hotel you plan to stay in the U.S. does not have availability on your travel days, it may be better for you to choose another hotel. If you’re traveling outside the U.S., make sure to check which hotels offer this service (regulation around these sorts of services vary wildly by country).
3. Things to Do at the Airport
Use the check-in kiosk
Technological advancements at the airport can really help you be more efficient. If you utilize the kiosk option for check-in, you can eliminate communication struggles with airline staff.
Download the airline and airport apps
You’ll not stress about hearing gate change announcements or important flight updates if you have the app in hand.
If available, make use of Airport Hearing Loops
Some airports provide hearing loop systems (audio induction loops). This system can help people with hearing aids and cochlear implants to hear more clearly in places with lots of background noise. The system provides a wireless magnetic signal that is received directly by your hearing device. To connect to the system, you’ll need to set your hearing aids or implant to the “T” (Telecoil) setting.
Keep your hearing aids in when going through security
The TSA agents should know not to even ask you to remove your hearing aids. There is some evidence that some hearing aids can interfere with the signal that some airport scanners emit. For that reason, we do recommend turning down the volume on your hearing aid before going through.
It’s also a good idea to let security officers know that you do have a hearing impairment. If your hearing aid does require extra screening, you’ll be wanded in a separate screening procedure. This will not harm your hearing aid, though it will beep when wanded.
You can also ask to bypass the scanner and have a more hands-on security screening if you have a cochlear implant.
If you do decide to take your hearing aids out when going through security, do not place them on the screening belt. Hearing aids should be inspected by hand.
4. What to Know About the the In-flight Experience
Keep your hearing aids on during your flight
Hearing aids do not interfere with the airplane’s communication systems and should remain operational throughout your flight. This will help keep you in the loop with any important in-flight announcements that you might need during your time on the plane.
Introduce yourself to the flight attendant
Hearing impairment is a somewhat “invisible” disability, so as an extra precaution, it’s a good idea to self-identify on a flight. The flight attendant’s number one priority is keeping travelers safe. If you let someone know of your status, they’ll make sure you get reinforcements on any important announcements.
5. Airline Policies for the Hearing Impaired
Alaska Airlines
Asks that hearing impaired or deaf passengers self-identify in the airport and on the airplane so the best communications can be provided.
Allegiant Airlines
Specific accommodations for hearing impaired not provided on the Allegiant site.
American Airlines
- Early boarding
- Individual updates on important flight news and safety instructions
- Onboard safety videos with subtitles
- Special considerations for seating
Delta Air Lines
- Early boarding
- Personalized assistance with check-in, boarding, deplaning, and connecting to another flight
- Seats at the front of the plane for customers with a service animal
- Adjoining seat for assistive companions, such as interpreters
Frontier Airlines
The Frontier Airlines website offers the following statement regarding the hearing impaired:
“Because it is sometimes difficult for our employees to know if you are unable to hear, identify yourself to one of our customer service representatives at the ticket counter and departure gate. Also identify yourself to our flight crew while onboard, so we can be sure to establish an acceptable means of communication to provide you with important flight information. If you need assistance at the airport, during boarding, or onboard the aircraft, let us know.”
Hawaiian Airlines
The Hawaiian Airlines website offers the following statement regarding the hearing impaired:
“Guests with hearing and speech difficulties may dial 711 for relay services (available via phone and TTY).”
JetBlue Airways
- Early boarding
- Personalized assistance with check-in, boarding, deplaning, and connecting to another flight
- Special seats for customers with a service animal and adjoining seat for assistive companions, such as interpreters
Southwest Airlines
- Early boarding
- Personalized assistance with check-in, boarding, deplaning, and connecting to another flight
- The option to purchase an additional seat If you need more than one to accommodate a disability
Spirit Airlines
- Early boarding
- A free of charge, “Meet and Assist” service for more personalized assistance with check-in, boarding, deplaning, and connecting to another flight
United Airlines
- Early boarding
- Personalized assistance with check-in, boarding, deplaning, and connecting to another flight
- Adjoining seat for assistive companions, such as interpreters
- Captions and subtitle options on the in-flight entertainment
- At least one telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) in each domestic airport
6. What are Your Rights as a Traveler with a Hearing Impairment
In July of 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation published a Bill of Rights that describes the fundamental rights of air travelers with disabilities under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA or Act).
The Bill of Rights:
- The Right to Be Treated with Dignity and Respect
- The Right to Receive Information About Services and Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations
- The Right to Receive Information in an Accessible Format
- The Right to Accessible Airport Facilities
- The Right to Assistance at Airports
- The Right to Assistance on the Aircraft
- The Right to Travel with an Assistive Device or Service Animal
- The Right to Receive Seating Accommodations
- The Right to Accessible Aircraft Features
- The Right to Resolution of a Disability-Related Issue
For more information on flying with a disability, read our post on wheelchair services at the airport. Please let us know what topics we should address next. We aim to make air travel as transparent and clear as possible for all travelers.
