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Yes, you can request a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines and airports offer a variety of options for individuals seeking wheelchair assistance. You can request a wheelchair if you use one regularly or if you would like assistance with travelling around the airport. If you need wheelchair assistance to get off the aircraft, airlines generally provide this assistance after all other passengers have deplaned. In the US, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits airlines from discriminating against individuals with physical or mental impairments. To receive assistance, you must self-identify as a person with a disability. It is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip online or via an app. You can also inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can request a wheelchair | Anyone who needs a wheelchair or has difficulty walking long distances at the airport |
| When to request a wheelchair | At least 48 hours before your flight or as early as possible. Some airlines allow you to request assistance when booking your trip |
| How to request a wheelchair | Call the airport and airline, or request assistance on their websites or apps. Some airlines may require a wheelchair information form |
| Wheelchair availability | All airports have wheelchairs for customer use |
| Wheelchair assistance | Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities as they navigate through the airport |
| Additional services | Some airports have electric carts for customer use |
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What You'll Learn
Airlines must provide assistance to passengers with disabilities
Yes, you can ask for a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines must provide assistance to passengers with disabilities, and this includes providing a wheelchair if you need one.
In the United States, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities. The act also states that airlines are not obligated to provide assistance that does not align with a passenger's disability or if the passenger does not have a disability. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities as they navigate through different areas of the airport. This includes assisting passengers from the terminal entrance to the gate, through security, and onto the aircraft to their seat. If you need assistance, you must self-identify to airline staff at the airport as the person with a disability needing this service. Airlines are also required to provide assistance with the loading and stowing of assistive devices, such as wheelchairs.
In the European Union, persons with disabilities are considered Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) under Regulation 1107/2006 and are entitled to assistance at airports across member states. According to this regulation, no passenger may be turned away due to their disability, and each passenger is entitled to two personal assistance devices, including a wheelchair. Assistance should be provided either through the airport or a third party hired by the airport, and passengers must notify the airline 48 hours in advance to ensure appropriate assistance is given.
American Airlines recommends that passengers request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing their trip. However, passengers can also inform a team member at the airport about their wheelchair needs on the day of travel. The airline also offers special assistance coordinators to help make arrangements for customers with disabilities, medical requirements, service animals, or pregnancy.
Overall, it is important to recognize that there are no worldwide uniform standards regulating the provision of assistance for airline passengers with disabilities. Different regions have varying levels of regulation, and it is always a good idea to check with the specific airline or airport to understand their policies and procedures for providing assistance to passengers with disabilities.
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Requesting a wheelchair in advance
Yes, you can request a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines are required to promptly provide assistance to passengers with disabilities who request it. This includes guide assistance for individuals who are blind and wheelchair assistance for those with mobility impairments.
It is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip online or through an airline's app. You can also inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel. If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport 1 hour prior to the normal check-in time.
When you arrive at the airport, it is important that you self-identify as a passenger with a disability requiring assistance. Although the airline may have noted in your reservation that you need assistance, they will not know that you are the person who requested it unless you self-identify. You can do this by informing a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs.
If there is uncertainty about the access needs of a passenger, a carrier may ask for credible verbal assurance that the passenger needs the service and how the service will assist with their disability. Carriers are not obligated to provide assistance to passengers who do not have disabilities or where the assistance does not assist with the passenger's disability.
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Asking for a wheelchair at the airport
Yes, you can request a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines and airports offer a variety of options for individuals seeking wheelchair assistance, from reservations to boarding equipment. It is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip online or on an app. Alternatively, you can call the airport and airline at least 48 hours in advance to arrange for wheelchair services. If you are unable to request assistance in advance, you can inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel.
When you arrive at the airport, make your way to the check-in desk and inform the staff that you need assistance. Every airport has wheelchairs for customer use, and some also have electric carts. If you have not confirmed your assistance in advance, arriving early will ensure that you can receive your wheelchair promptly.
If you are requesting assistance due to a disability, the airline is required to promptly provide the requested assistance. This may include guide assistance for individuals who are blind or have low vision, or wheelchair assistance for individuals with mobility impairments. You may be asked to complete a wheelchair information form, which can be found on the airline's website, to speed up the time it takes to get assistance. The form will ask for information such as your name, flight number, flight location and destination, departure and return date, and assistance needs.
Please note that while you are not required to disclose your medical history or reasons for requesting a wheelchair, it is important to use this service responsibly and only if you truly need it. By using the service when you do not need it, you could be making someone who really needs a wheelchair wait.
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Rights under the Air Carrier Access Act
Yes, you can request wheelchair assistance at the airport. Airlines are required to promptly provide the requested assistance to passengers with disabilities who need help moving through the airport. This includes assistance from the terminal entrance or vehicle drop-off point to the gate location, through security, and onto the aircraft to your seat. On the other hand, airlines are not obligated to provide assistance to passengers who do not have a disability or when the service does not assist with the passenger's disability.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits U.S. and foreign air carriers from discriminating against individuals with disabilities in air travel. The Act ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to air transportation and prohibits carriers from denying transportation to a person on the basis of disability. Here are some key rights under the ACAA:
- Prohibition of Discrimination: The ACAA prohibits discrimination by air carriers on the basis of physical or mental disability. This includes prohibiting carriers from denying transportation or providing discriminatory treatment to individuals with disabilities.
- Right to Accommodation: Airlines are required to provide reasonable accommodations to passengers with disabilities. This includes providing assistance with boarding, deplaning, and making connections. Airlines must also accept battery-powered wheelchairs and allow the use of FAA-approved Portable Oxygen Concentrators during the flight.
- Accessible Lavatories and Wheelchair Storage: New twin-aisle aircraft must have accessible lavatories, and new aircraft with 100 or more seats must have priority space for storing a passenger's folding wheelchair in the cabin. Aircraft with more than 60 seats and an accessible lavatory must have an on-board wheelchair, especially when a passenger with a disability needs assistance to reach an inaccessible lavatory.
- Accessible Airport Facilities: Airlines must ensure that the airport facilities they own, lease, or control are accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes providing accessible services and ensuring that contractors providing services to passengers comply with accessibility standards.
- No Advance Notice Requirement: Airlines may not require advance notice that a person with a disability is travelling. However, they may request up to 48 hours' advance notice for certain accommodations that require preparation time.
- Right to Information and Safety Briefings: Individuals with vision or hearing limitations have the right to receive important flight information and safety briefings in an accessible format. This may include providing open captioning for safety videos or other forms of assistance.
- Complaint Resolution: If you believe your rights under the ACAA have been violated, you have the right to speak with a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). Airlines are required to make a CRO available to you, at no cost, to address disability accommodation issues.
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Alternatives to wheelchairs
If you need assistance getting around the airport, you can request a wheelchair or cart. However, if you are looking for alternatives to a wheelchair, there are a few options available.
Firstly, you can request guide assistance if you are blind or have low vision. This service helps individuals navigate through the airport, including security checkpoints and the terminal, to reach their gate. It is important to self-identify as a person with a visual impairment to receive this assistance.
Secondly, if you have your own mobility device, such as a cane, walker, or crutches, you can bring them to the airport. These devices can assist you in moving through the airport without needing a wheelchair. Some items may be stored on board the aircraft, while others will need to be checked at the gate.
Additionally, some airlines offer \"meet and assist\" services, where you can request help from a representative to reach your gate or transfer point. This service can be useful if you need occasional assistance but do not require a wheelchair for the entire duration.
For those with electric or battery-powered mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, carts, or scooters, it is important to arrive at the airport early and check these devices in at least 45 minutes before departure. Non-electric devices typically have a 30-minute check-in requirement.
Lastly, if you have difficulty hearing important flight information, you can inform a gate agent or flight attendant. Open captioning is available for safety videos, and it is recommended to notify the airline if you are deaf or hard of hearing to ensure you receive necessary updates.
While these alternatives are available, it is important to note that individuals who self-identify as having a disability and requiring assistance are entitled to wheelchair or cart services at the airport. These services can be requested in advance or upon arrival, depending on the airline's specific procedures.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can ask for a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines and airports offer a variety of options for individuals seeking wheelchair assistance.
You can request a wheelchair at the airport by calling the airport and the airline at least 48 hours in advance. You can also inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel.
Some airlines may require you to complete a wheelchair information form, which can be found on the airline's website in the "accessibility" section. The form will typically ask for information such as your name, flight details, and the type of assistance you need.
It is recommended to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight to ensure that you can promptly receive your requested assistance.
According to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), carriers are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with physical or mental impairments. However, carriers are not obligated to provide assistance that does not align with the passenger's disability or if the passenger does not have a disability.
