Non-Discrimination in Air Travel
Airlines are prohibited from subjecting a person in air transportation to discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry.
Passengers’ Rights to Fly Free from Discrimination
Federal law prohibits airlines from discriminating against airline passengers based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), or ancestry. To learn more about your right to fly free from discrimination, including how to appropriately respond to airline personnel in the event you are subjected to additional questioning or asked to leave an airplane after you board, please click the PDF document below.
If you believe you have been discriminated against by an airline employee or contractor, you may file a consumer complaint. The Department provides information regarding the number of discrimination complaints that it receives each month in its Air Travel Consumer Report.
Guidance for Airline Personnel on Non-Discrimination in Air Travel
Airlines must carry out their responsibility to provide safe and secure air travel in a non-discriminatory manner. Federal law prohibits airline personnel such as customer service personnel or flight crews from discriminating against airline passengers based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including sexual orientation), or ancestry. Please click the PDF document below to learn more about what constitutes illegal discrimination in air travel. The guidance document also includes practical decision-making techniques to use when determining whether a legitimate safety or security concern exists or whether the concerns are based on assumptions and stereotypes.
