Seating Accommodation Methods

Most airlines provide advance seat assignments. There are two types of seating methods to accommodate individuals with disabilities for carriers that provide advance seat assignments:

Block

Under this method, airlines block an adequate number of seats used to provide seating accommodations required for passengers who qualify under 14 CFR Part 382.81

These include the following types of seats:

• Moveable aisle armrest

• Adjoining seats

• Bulkhead or other seating for a fused and/or immobilized leg or service animal travel

Up to 24 hours (or more) before the scheduled flight, airlines:

• Must not assign the blocked seats to passengers who do not qualify for the seating accommodations listed above; and
• Must assign the seat at the time the passenger makes the initial request.

Less than 24 hours before the scheduled flight, airlines must meet the qualified individual’s request to the best of their ability; but are not required to reassign a seat that is already assigned to another passenger.

If a passenger does not have a disability listed in 14 CFR Part 382.81, airlines:

• Are not required to offer that passenger one of the blocked seats if the reservation is made more than 24 hours before the scheduled flight; and
• Must assign another seat that accommodates the passenger’s needs, even if that seat is not available to the general population at the time of the request

Priority

Under this method, airlines may designate an adequate number of seats used to provide seating accommodations required for passengers who qualify under 14 CFR Part 382.81.

These include the following types of seats:

• Moveable aisle armrest

• Adjoining seats

• Bulkhead or other seating for a fused and/or immobilized leg or service animal travel

Airlines must provide notice to all passengers assigned to these seats that they may be reassigned to another seat, if necessary, to accommodate an individual who qualifies for one of the above seats.

Airlines:

• Must provide a passenger with an accommodation at the time he or she makes a request.
• May require a passenger to check in and request a seating accommodation at least one hour before the standard check-in time for the flight.
• Must do their best to accommodate a passenger’s request if the passenger checks in less than an hour before the standard check-in time, but are not required to reassign a seat already assigned to another passenger.

Note: If you assign seats to passengers, but not until the date of the flight, you must use the priority seating approach.

If a passenger does not have a disability listed in 14 CFR Part 382.81, but needs a seating accommodation to readily access and use a carrier's services, airlines must assign another seat that accommodates the passenger’s needs, even if that seat is not available to the general population at the time of the request. However, airlines may require such a passenger to check in one hour before the standard check-in time.

However, some airlines do not provide advance seat assignments.

No advance seat assignment

Under this method, airlines are required to allow passengers who qualify under 14 CFR Part 382.81 to board the plane before all other passengers so that the individuals needing additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or obtain seating accommodations may select the seats that best fit their needs.

Note: DOT requires its written concurrence if airlines wish to use a different method of providing seating assignment accommodations for passengers with disabilities.

Airline Disability Seating Methods