Facilitation to passengers with disability or reduced mobility is provided as per DGCA CAR, Section 3, Series M, Part I.

• You are required to notify your needs at least 48 hours before the scheduled time of departure to enable airline make necessary arrangements for special assistance.
• Ask your airline for assistance to meet your particular needs and seamless travel from the departure terminal of the departing airport up to the aircraft and at the end of the journey from the aircraft to the arrival terminal exit.
• If for any reason off-loading has to be done by the airline, you hold the highest priority for transportation, including your escorts, if any.
• Please ensure that you are suitably briefed about safety and emergency evacuation procedures on board the aircraft.
• If you wish to travel without an escort and only require special assistance at an airport for embarking/disembarking and a reasonable accommodation in flight, you are not required to produce medical certificate or fill up special forms.

For more details, refer to the regulation on “Carriage by air of passenger with disability and/or person with reduced mobility” as per DGCA CAR, Section 3, Series M, Part I.

• As a senior citizen, expectant mother and disabled passenger, you may ask for automated buggies in the terminal building for your access up to the boarding gate.
• Airport operators provide the automated buggies free of charge at airports having annual aircraft movements of 50,000 or more.
• You may ask for automated buggies if you feel that the boarding gate is located beyond reasonable walking distance.
• For your convenience, you can make use of small trolleys provided by the airport operator after security check for carriage of hand baggage up to the boarding gate.
• Please look for signages in the Terminal Building to locate automated buggies and small trolleys.

For more details, refer to the regulation on “Facilities/Courtesies to esteemed travelling public at airports” as per Air Transport Circular 01 of 2014

• If you have purchased ticket through a source other than the airline website/office, you may verify the fare details including refund policy from airline website/office in case of doubt of being overcharged.
• If airline levy any charge over and above the single consolidated fare, you may clarify with the airline concerned.

• Rule 135 (2) of the Aircraft Rules 1937 requires airlines to display a 'single consolidated fare' and give its break-up also for consumer's benefit.
• You must check the total fare and its break-up on your air ticket.
• For the purpose of fare, tax is always payable to the Government and fees is payable to the service providers for provision of any service or facility rendered to the passengers.

For more details, refer to Rule 135 (2) of the Aircraft Rules 1937 - "tariff for air transportation.”

• Airlines are required to maintain current insurance for an amount adequate to cover its liability towards passengers and their baggage, crew, cargo, hull loss and third party risks in compliance with the requirements of the Carriage by Air Act, 1972 or any other applicable law.
• Your ticket is an evidence of the contract of carriage between the airline and you.
• Please ensure that ticket issued to you contains conditions of carriage including the liability of the operating airline.
• You are also requested to read carefully the terms & condition of carriage by air on the website of airline of your choice before booking.
• By doing so, you enter into a contractual agreement with the airline for air carriage.

For more details, refer to the regulation on “The carriage by air act, 1972.”

A disruptive passenger is a person on-board aircraft who carries out any action or pursues a course of conduct which is unlawful according to the Aircraft Rules 1937 or any other regulation issued by the Government which is likely to endanger the safety of the aircraft or of any person or jeopardizes the good order and discipline on board the aircraft.

Following actions have been specified as unlawful behaviour under the Aircraft Rules 1937:

Rule 22: Assault and other acts of interference against a crew member

• Assault, intimidate or threaten, whether physically or verbally, of a crew member affecting his performance to perform duties.
• Refusal to follow a lawful instruction given by the Pilot-in-Command, or on behalf of the Pilot- in-Command by a crew member, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the aircraft or of any person or property on board.

Offences punishable under the provision of Rule 161 with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or with fine not exceeding five lakh rupees, or both.

Rule 23: Assault and other acts endangering safety or jeopardizing good order and discipline

• Assault, intimidate or threaten, whether physically or verbally, of any person.
• Intentionally causing damage to or destroy any of property.
• Consume alcoholic beverages or drugs.

Offences are punishable under the provision of Rule 161 with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or with fine not exceeding five lakh rupees, or with both.

Rule 29: Acts likely to imperil the safety of aircraft

• Interference with the pilot or with a member of the operating crew of an aircraft, or tamper with the aircraft or its equipment or conduct himself in a disorderly manner in an aircraft or commit any act likely to imperil the safety of an aircraft or its passengers or crew.
• Offences are punishable under the provision of Rule 161 of the Aircraft Rules 1937 with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or with fine not exceeding ten lakh rupees, or with both.

For more details, refer to the regulation:

Rule 161 of the Aircraft Rule 1937 on “Penalties”

Schedule VI to the Aircraft Rules on “Penalties”

If the Pilot-In-Command (PIC) of aircraft has reasonable grounds for believing that a passenger has done or can do anything that may jeopardize safety of the aircraft or persons or property on board, or the good order and discipline on board, then he/she is empowered under provisions of Rule 141 of the Aircraft Rules 1937 to take all reasonable measures, which may include physically restraining or de-boarding of unruly passenger.

NOTICE TO PASSENGER

Airlines may wish to brief you on the following:

Any offence committed on the ground is also an offence, if committed on the aircraft.

If your behaviour falls into one of the following categories, you are likely to be breaking the law and could be arrested on arrival at the destination, or at any other airport where the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of aircraft may choose to land:

• Endangering safety of an aircraft and persons therein.
• Drunkenness in aircraft
• Smoking in an aircraft.
• Failure to obey commands of PIC.
• Acting in a disruptive manner by:
  
  • Use of any threatening, abusive or insulting words towards a member of the crew.
  • Behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting or disorderly manner towards a member of the crew.
  • Intentionally interfering with the performance of a crew member.

• Read the safety briefing card provided near your seat. It gives vital safety information on location of exits and emergency equipment.
• You are required to fasten the seat belt during the flight especially when the seat belt sign is turned “ON”.
• After landing, you should remain in your seat till the seat belt sign goes off.
• While opening the overhead bins during the flight, please take utmost care to ensure that cabin baggage do not fall on seat and inadvertently hurt the fellow passenger.
• Always pay attention to announcements made by the flight/cabin crew during the course of flight.
• Please try to keep nearby area of your seat neat and clean.
• Please help in assisting your fellow passenger in case of need.

• If you are a habitual smoker, never smoke inside the aircraft or in the toilets.
• Do not ask for service when seat belt sign is on and crew are required to be at stations.
• Do not position your hand baggage in a way it restricts movement of crew or fellow passengers.
• Do not change seats, without permission of crew as some seats may be vacant due to load penalty at destination station.
• Do not cause obstruction to fellow passengers or crew by standing in the aisle or galley area.
• Do not try to enter cockpit.
• Do not lose your temper.
• Your behaviour should not cause inconvenience to fellow passengers and crew.

• DVT is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) in a vein, predominantly in the legs.
• On long fights, you tend to remain seated for extended period of time.
• Prolonged period of your immobility can slow down blood flow in the leg veins leading to DVT.

• DVT can cause pain and swelling of the leg.
• Clots in the legs are not serious but occasionally break-off and travel to the lungs (called pulmonary embolism) causing chest pain and shortness of breath.

• Avoid placing baggage underneath the seat in front of you as it can reduce the ability to move the legs.
• Exercise the legs by flexing and extending the ankles at regular intervals while being seated.
• Walk in the cabin periodically during longer duration flights or when the flight conditions permit.
• Avoid sleeping in a cramped position.
• Increase intake of liquids to maintain good hydration.
• Avoid or minimize the use of dehydrating drinks like alcohol, coffee, etc.
• Request for aisle seat to ease walking (if available).
• Wear loose clothings and avoid tight & restrictive garments.

In case you are a DVT patient, as a preventive measure, consult you physician before travel.

Domestic Flights		International Flights

• If you consume alcohol in large quantity during flight, your body may not use oxygen efficiently, leading to what is known as histotoxic hypoxia.
• Alcohol can dehydrate and may interfere with your ability to sleep.
• You must have seen in print and electronic media cases of “air rage” incidents on account of alcohol consumption.
• So you may avoid or minimize alcohol consumption during air travel.

• Before take-off, cabin pressure is equal to the air pressure at ground level.
• After take-off and during climb to cruising altitude, the cabin pressure in most of large transport airplanes drops until it reaches equivalent of the air pressure between 6,000 to 8,000 feet.
• Cabin pressure is maintained at this level, even if the airplane flies at a much higher cruising altitude.
• During descend, the cabin pressure rises until landing when it again equals the pressure on the ground.
• During air travel, you may experience such changes in air pressure.

• Pressure changes from take-off to landing may cause discomfort in your ears and sinuses as the pocket of air inside the middle ear is very sensitive to changes in the surrounding air pressure.
• During climb, you may feel as if air is escaping from the middle ear, resulting in a popping sensation in your ear.
• During descend, you may feel blockage of ears and sinuses and pain until the pressure is relieved and air flows back into the middle ear to maintain equal pressure on both sides of the ear drum.

 

• Use nose sprays or drops.
• Chewing gum and swallowing may help normal flow of air and relief in pain of blocked ears.
• Avoid sleeping during descent as it reduces the number of times you automatically swallow.
• Avoid flying if you develop cold or ear, nose or sinus infection as the inability to equalise pressure may result in pain and injury.

• Commercial airplane cabins are usually pressurized to altitudes between 6,000 and 8,000 feet depending upon the actual altitude of the airplane. At this altitude, oxygen supply in the air is decreased and so is the oxygen carried in the blood.
• If you are healthy, your body will be able to compensate by increasing the heart and respiratory rate. However, this may not be true in case you have significant heart disease such as angina, recent heart attack, heart valve disorder, etc.

In case of significant heart disease, you should consult your doctor before air travel.

Observe the following guidelines during flight:

• Carry sufficient quantities of cardiac medications in the cabin baggage.
• Take all the medicines as per schedule.
• Adjust interval of medication if crossing time zones, in consultation with the doctor.
• Carry a copy of most recent ECG.
• Request the airline regarding special needs such as diet, medical oxygen, etc.

Limit walking around, especially at altitude.

• Infants less than two days old.
• Women after the 36th week of pregnancy.
• Recent recipients of coronary bypass graft/angioplasty unless cleared by the doctor to undertake flight.

If you are suffering from any of the following conditions and planning to fly, you must consult your doctor for positive clearance to travel by air:

• Unstable angina or chest pain,
• Recent heart attack or stroke,
• Infection of sinuses of ear and nose,
• Recent surgery or injury where trapped gases may be present (e.g. abdominal trauma and gastrointestinal surgery, eye surgery involving penetration of the eyeball),
• Severe chronic respiratory disease,
• Any active contagious disease,
• Frequent or poorly controlled asthmatic attacks, etc.

• Jet lag is an inconvenient side effect of air travel across several time zones.
• It is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder, which is due to imbalance of the internal body clock.
• You may recover from jet lag depending on number of time zones crossed while travelling.
• Your body will adjust to the new time zone at the rate of one or two time zones per day.

You may feel fatigued, headache and insomnia at your destination.

• Stay hydrated, adjusting to the local time as quickly as possible and eating at the local time.
• Avoid drinking alcohol and coffee before, during or just after the flight as they can cause dehydration and disrupt sleeping schedules.
• While seated during the flight, exercise your legs from time to time.
• If feasible, break up your trip on long haul flights across more than eight time zones, with a stay at a place about halfway to your destination.

• Air inside the airplane is changed about 20 to 30 times per hour.
• There is no evidence that organisms pass from one individual to another through the aircraft ventilation system.
• The cabin air is carefully controlled and in a commercial airplane, 50% of the air in the cabin is recirculated and passes through highly efficient filters which trap bacteria, fungi and viruses.
• You may catch infection from your fellow passengers who are seated next to you when he/she sneezes or coughs or by a touch.
• If you are concerned and are sitting beside someone who is ill, you can ask the cabin crew for change of seat.
• To avoid spread of infection, you are advised to carry antiseptic wipes and antibacterial hand gel.

Physical stress of noise and vibration and turbulence on an airplane can lead to motion sickness.

You may feel motion sickness when your motion sensing organs of inner ear, eyes and nerves of the limbs communicate conflicting signals to the brain, which may upset your stomach, cause nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, vomiting, etc.

• Request a seat over the wing (if available).
• Travel on larger airplanes.
• Request for a window seat (if available).
• Direct the air vent onto your face.
• Avoid excess liquids and gas producing food stuff.
• Avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior to and during flight.

• Drink lots of water, which will keep you hydrated and helps your body function optimally.
• Stretch whenever possible, especially on long flights for proper blood circulation.
• Wear comfortable clothing as the temperature inside the airplane may be quite cold.
• Carry medication in your cabin baggage.
• In case of a significant medical history, carry a copy of recent medical records.
• Inform the airline in advance of any special needs.
• As far as practicable, avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks.
• Take a decongestant before you board an airplane, especially if you have cold or swollen sinuses.
• Remember to swallow chewing gum.
• Eat light meals or snacks before and during the flight.