[Blindtlk] Fw: [Travelandtourism] Spirit Airlines is no longer accessible using speech [Incident: 120307-000422]

[Reese]

Please circulate this message where ever you feel its appropriate.

----- Original Message ----- 

Hello list:

Here's the final word from Spirit Airlines regarding there inaccessible
website.  It will follow my final reply to them.  Again the US Department of
Transportation has dropped the ball on this one just like they did with the
accessible airport boarding.

Reese

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peachtreetravel.net" <reservations at peachtreetravel.net>
To: "Spirit Airlines" <spiritair at mailnj.custhelp.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2012 1:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Spirit Airlines is no longer accessible
using speech [Incident: 120307-000422]


Dear Michelle:

First I want to thank you for researching this serious matter both for me
and all of the members of my Organization.   Regretfully I'll have to inform
the 50,000 members of my organization to do business else where until Spirit
Airlines website is accessible once again.  For this is the only way to
achieve fare and equal access.

I will check back from time to time to see if true access ever returns to
spirit Airlines and will keep my members up to date.  It has been good doing
business with you and hopefully we
can resume doing business again in the future.

Sincerely yours,

Maurice P Shackelford

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Spirit Airlines" <spiritair at mailnj.custhelp.com>
To: <reservations at peachtreetravel.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 9:38 AM
Subject: [Travelandtourism] Spirit Airlines is no longer accessible using
speech [Incident: 120307-000422]



Subject
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[Travelandtourism] Spirit Airlines is no longer accessible using speech


Discussion Thread
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 (Michelle 62611) - 03/27/2012 09:38 AM
Dear Mr. Shackelford,

Thank you for your patience as we investigated this matter thoroughly.

We sincerely regret that you are unable to access the check box for the $9
Fare Club membership and or the check box at the end of the booking.
However, this is not a violation of DOT's disability rule. Please be advised
that airlines are governed under the Department of Transportation and their
disability rule, 14 CFR 382, and are under no legal obligation to provide an
accessible website. We are required, under 14 CFR 382.31(c), to disclose
web-based discount fares to any prospective passenger who contacts the
carrier via other normal channels for inquiring about fares, making a
reservation, or purchasing transportation (e.g. telephone reservation line,
airport ticket counter) and states that he or she has a visual impairment
and is unable to use the website. The carrier must sell a
web-based discount fare to such a person if his or her itinerary qualifies
for the fare as it is offered on the web (e.g., same cities and dates).

Our IT Department has reviewed your claim and they have informed me that
they changed the boxes on our booking path to styled check boxes which don't
work in the browser types you've attempted to use. The change was made
nearly a year ago and this has been the first complaint brought to their
attention on the matter. They are reviewing options to allow these types of
browsers to work with the needed functionality for our customers with visual
impairments.

I regret that I cannot offer more information on the matter, but thank you
for bringing this to our attention.

Please note, if you ever encounter problems when traveling with us, feel
free to ask our Spirit Airlines customer service personnel for a Complaint
Resolution Official (CRO). Our CROs have been specially trained and are
aware of applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of
Transportation (DOT) disability regulations. Our CROs are available at all
airport locations and will be glad to respond to your concerns.

We trust we have addressed you concerns in a satisfactory manner; however,
if you choose to pursue enforcement action, you have the right to contact
the Department of Transportation, in accordance with ACAA and DOT rule 14
CFR Part 382.

Please feel free to contact me if you ever require assistance. We know you
have a choice in air travel and are grateful you choose Spirit Airlines.

Sincerely,

Michelle 62611
Disability Specialist/
Corporate Escalation Officer
Spirit Airlines