Quote:
Originally Posted by getoutthere
The airlines don't supply wheelchairs. It is always through a outsider contracted vendor. We used to check the flight manifest and call with radios as to how many wheelchairs we needed. Sometimes there weren't enough for everyone right away so it took longer.
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That doesn't matter. As far as the DOT is concerned they work for the airline, and therefor are part of the airline. Per the regulations the airline cannot keep someone needed a wheelchair waiting longer than 15 minutes.
In the case of the original post, there is no reason Delta couldn't have had this waiting. I can understand a flight with 10 passengers needing wheelchairs landing in someplace cornfield airport, but Atlanta has plenty of staff.
To the original poster - you need to call Delta and tell them you want to file a complaint with their Complaint Resolution Officer for a disabilities violation. Word it just like that. The CRO is NOT there for general complaints, much as the term sounds. Those people deal with any complaint with regards to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The airlines are required to have at least one of their agents trained in this function, but they will also have someone at the corporate level. If you encounter even a hint of a problem getting ahold of that person on the first phone call, then include this with your complaint to the DOT.
The ACAA also provides very strict rules for them to follow up.
After you have called Delta, then file a complaint with the DOT at
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/escomplaint/es.cfm