Can your personal care attendant fly for free? Now that “One-Person One-Fare” is the law of the land in Canada, the answer to that question is a qualified yes. In fact, many wheelchair-users can now qualify for free personal care attendant airfare on Canadian domestic flights. And although there are still rules and regulations to follow; once you know the procedures, it’s easy to take advantage of this new program.
Do All Wheelchair-Users Qualify?
Under the new regulation, passengers defined as “people with severe disabilities” may qualify for free personal care attendant travel, as long as an attendant is needed for their in-flight personal care or safety, “as required by the carriers’ domestic tarrifs”. It does not apply to:
• Passengers who prefer to travel with a companion
• Passengers who only require a personal care attendant at their destination
The airlines are responsible for determining eligibility; however there isn’t a publicly available list of qualifying disabilities. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, but the documentation at least implies that it will apply to quadriplegics.
The Canadian Transportation Agency estimated the rule would only affect approximately 0.09 percent of Air Canada's annual passengers. Considering those numbers, it’s believed that some wheelchair-users won’t make the cut; however, since the exact eligibility standards aren’t a matter of public record, it doesn’t hurt to apply. The worst thing that can happen is that you will be turned down. Best case scenario – your personal care attendant will fly for free.
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