Podcast Summary: Hadley Presents – Episode: Air Travel and Vision Loss

Title: Air Travel and Vision Loss
Release Date: February 13, 2025
Host: Ricky Enger
Guest: James Ashworth, Vice President of Customer Care for Southwest Airlines
Transcript Duration: Approximately 24 minutes

Introduction

In the episode titled "Air Travel and Vision Loss," host Ricky Enger engages in an insightful conversation with James Ashworth, the Vice President of Customer Care at Southwest Airlines. This episode delves into the unique challenges faced by individuals with vision loss when preparing for and navigating air travel. James Ashworth brings a wealth of experience from both the airline industry and personal experience with macular degeneration, offering practical tips and empathetic guidance for travelers with vision impairments.

Guest Introduction and Background

Timestamp: [00:24]

Ricky Enger introduces James Ashworth, highlighting his extensive career spanning three decades in the airline industry. James holds the crucial role of Vice President of Customer Care at Southwest Airlines, overseeing all customer communications across various platforms. Importantly, James shares his personal journey with macular degeneration, providing him with firsthand experience in navigating travel with vision loss. This dual perspective enriches the conversation, blending professional expertise with personal insights.

Notable Quote:
"I've been in the industry for more years than I want to account for, but it's been three decades, Ricky, that I've been in the industry." — James Ashworth [01:21]

Booking and Preparing for the Flight

Educate Yourself on the Airline and Airport

Timestamp: [03:44]

James emphasizes the importance of education and experience in building confidence for air travel. He advises travelers to familiarize themselves with the specific airline and airport they will be using. Understanding the rules, regulations, and layout of the airport can significantly reduce anxiety and enhance the travel experience.

Notable Quote:
"Most carriers have very accessible websites as well. So I always think that to get started, you want to educate yourself on the airline that you're going to travel on." — James Ashworth [04:51]

Sign Up for Notifications

Timestamp: [06:10]

James recommends signing up for flight notifications to stay informed about any delays or cancellations. This proactive step ensures that travelers receive timely updates through their preferred channels—be it email, text, or phone calls—allowing them to adjust their plans accordingly.

Notable Quote:
"Most airlines have very accessible websites as well... sign up for notifications related to delays or cancels." — James Ashworth [06:10]

Navigating the Airport

Using Assistive Technology

Timestamp: [09:07]

James discusses the role of technology in facilitating independent navigation through airports. He mentions applications like Aira, Seeing AI, and Be My Eyes, which leverage smartphone cameras to provide real-time assistance. These tools enable travelers to read signs, locate concessions, and even identify rideshare vehicles without relying solely on human assistance.

Notable Quote:
"I can be extremely helpful for me when I'm looking for an Uber or any rideshare service. I will typically utilize aira because I want to make sure I'm getting in and out of the right vehicle." — James Ashworth [12:32]

Interacting with Airport Personnel

Timestamp: [13:37]

Beyond technology, James underscores the importance of engaging with airport staff. He assures that airline employees are trained to assist travelers with accessibility needs, ensuring a smoother and more supportive travel experience.

Notable Quote:
"Let them know if you have accessibility needs. So the personnel at the airline will be aware of what your accessibility is." — James Ashworth [14:17]

Managing Baggage

Tactile Markers and Technology

Timestamp: [14:42]

James provides practical advice on managing checked baggage, suggesting the use of tactile markers, color striping, or employing devices like AirTags and Tile. These tools help travelers quickly identify and locate their bags, minimizing the stress of baggage claim.

Notable Quote:
"Use tactile markers on your particular bag... some more advanced things that you can do, like AirTags." — James Ashworth [15:07]

Additional Insight:
James shares a personal anecdote highlighting the importance of properly setting up AirTags to avoid confusion about the bag's location:

"If you have something as sophisticated as an airtag, that you set it up in such a way that it knows that your bag is traveling with you." — James Ashworth [16:20]

Handling Disruptions

Flight Delays and Cancellations

Timestamp: [17:04]

James acknowledges that disruptions like delays and cancellations are inevitable in air travel. He highlights Southwest Airlines' commitment to minimizing such occurrences and emphasizes the importance of staying informed through travel notifications.

Notable Quote:
"Probably the single most important thing that I think travelers should do is sign up for Travel notifications with the individual airline." — James Ashworth [18:42]

Rebooking and Communication

Timestamp: [19:53]

In the event of a disruption, James advises a combination of using airline mobile apps and directly communicating with customer service. He praises Southwest's user-friendly rebooking process, which allows travelers to adjust flights conveniently via the app or website.

Notable Quote:
"For Southwest... we try to make rebooking yourself after a disruption really, really fast and easy." — James Ashworth [20:25]

Building Confidence and Encouragement

Timestamp: [22:17]

As the conversation draws to a close, James offers heartfelt encouragement to listeners apprehensive about air travel due to vision loss. He recommends traveling with a companion for initial trips and gradually building familiarity with frequently used airports to boost confidence.

Notable Quote:
"The more you go in and out of a particular airport, you'll just get familiar with the airport layout, you'll get familiar with the concessions... I would absolutely encourage your listeners to just try it, give it a try." — James Ashworth [22:17]

Conclusion and Takeaways

Ricky Enger wraps up the episode by acknowledging the valuable insights shared by James Ashworth. He emphasizes that the plethora of tips and strategies discussed can empower individuals with vision loss to travel more confidently and independently. Ricky encourages listeners contemplating travel to leverage the discussed resources and take the first step toward their journeys.

Notable Quote:
"If you are listening and you've been on the fence about travel... this will serve as that catalyst to say, hey, I think I could do it." — Ricky Enger [24:13]

Key Takeaways

1. Education is Empowering: Understanding the airline and airport procedures is crucial. Utilize accessible airline websites and airport resources to familiarize yourself with travel environments.

2. Leverage Technology: Utilize assistive technologies like Aira, Seeing AI, and Be My Eyes to navigate airports independently. Additionally, tools like AirTags and Tile can aid in baggage management.

3. Stay Informed: Sign up for flight notifications to receive real-time updates on delays or cancellations. This proactive approach ensures you can adapt to changes swiftly.

4. Engage with Personnel: Don't hesitate to seek assistance from airline and airport staff. Inform them of your accessibility needs to receive the necessary support.

5. Build Confidence: Start by traveling with a companion and gradually increase independence as you become more comfortable with airport layouts and procedures.

6. Handle Disruptions Gracefully: Use airline mobile apps for efficient rebooking and stay connected with customer service to manage unexpected changes.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Hadley Presents serves as an essential guide for individuals with vision loss contemplating air travel. Through a combination of professional expertise and personal experience, James Ashworth provides actionable strategies to overcome common challenges, fostering a more inclusive and accessible travel experience. Listeners are left with a sense of empowerment and encouragement to embark on their travel journeys with confidence.