What is required by airlines regarding the boarding process for individuals needing assistance?

Airlines are required to provide mandatory assistance for boarding and deplaning to individuals needing help, as stipulated by the Air Carrier Access Act. This law aims to ensure that passengers with disabilities have equal access to air travel services without facing discrimination or additional barriers.

The requirement for assistance means that airlines must actively facilitate the boarding and deplaning process, including providing support to passengers who might need help due to mobility impairments or other conditions that affect their ability to navigate the airport or aircraft independently. This obligation emphasizes a proactive approach, ensuring that individuals requiring assistance can travel comfortably and safely.

In contrast, the other options suggest a limited or non-existent obligation on the part of airlines, which would not comply with the requirements set forth by the Air Carrier Access Act. Therefore, the reliance on requests for assistance or restricting help to premium passengers fails to align with the intent of providing equal access for all passengers, thus highlighting why assistance is deemed mandatory during these processes.