It will be instructive to see how this particular lawsuit plays out. The National Federation of the Blind, and a quartet of blind individuals, allege Las Vegas McCarran International Airport discriminates against sightless passengers.
Here’s the essence of it according to a prepared release from the Federation: McCarran employs common-use self-service (or CUSS) ticketing kiosks – kiosks that use visual touch screen interfaces. The Federation says there is no other way to use the machines, such as a voice-guidance program. The result is the kiosks “cannot be used by blind passengers,” says the Federation.
Kiosks are increasingly important these days, with airlines — and passengers — relying on them more and more to speed the check-in process. The National Federation of the Blind and the four other plaintiffs note that flyers who use kiosks can check flight information, check-in, print tickets and boarding passes, select seats, check bags, and upgrade on their own at the airport – provided they can use the kiosks.
CUSS kiosks are “unique” says the Federation’s release. That’s because they’re owned or controlled by the airport, not the individual airlines.
From a convenience point of view for sighted passengers, this makes sense. In most cases at Las Vegas there’s no need to queue up at a particular airline’s kiosk, just use the first one that’s open.
The lawsuit alleges that McCarran, the Clark County Board of Commissioners, Clark County, and the Clark County Department of Aviation are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The remedy for the problem? The National Federation for the Blind says McCarran could “easily add” an audio interface, a tactile keypad, interactive screen reader technology, or just buy machines with the features. So far, the Federation says the Las Vegas airport “has neglected to do so.”
The airport did not return Cheapflights’ telephone call regarding the suit, nor did it provide a written statement responding to the allegation.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image credit: jakeprzespo)
