How soon after an incident must passengers file a complaint regarding ACAA violations?

Passengers must file a complaint regarding violations of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) generally within 180 days of the incident. This timeframe is established to ensure that complaints are addressed in a timely manner and that the relevant facts and circumstances surrounding the incident are still clear and available for investigation.

Filing within this 180-day period allows the appropriate authorities, such as the Department of Transportation (DOT), to effectively assess the complaint, gather necessary information, and take any potential corrective actions. This timeframe is important for both the passengers bringing forth the complaint and for airlines to respond appropriately and maintain accountability regarding accessibility issues.

Timely filing of complaints also helps in identifying patterns or recurrent issues that may need to be addressed at a broader level, thereby promoting enhanced compliance with the ACAA across the aviation industry.