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Yes, you can request a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities or limited mobility, including wheelchair services. This assistance can be requested when booking your flight or on the day of travel by informing a team member at the airport. However, it is recommended to request in advance to ensure timely service. Some airlines offer online or app-based options to request wheelchair assistance, while others may require a phone call. It is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability and clearly communicate your accessibility needs to the airline staff.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to request a wheelchair | When making your reservation or in advance |
| Who to request a wheelchair from | The airline |
| How to request a wheelchair | Online, via an app, by phone, or in person at the airport |
| Who can request a wheelchair | Individuals with a disability or those who cannot walk long distances |
| Wheelchair services provided by airlines | Assistance from the terminal entrance or vehicle drop-off point to the gate, security checkpoint, aircraft, and seat |
| Personal mobility devices | May be transported by the airline but must be checked in advance |
| Additional services | "Meet and assist" service, aisle chair, and early boarding |
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What You'll Learn
Requesting a wheelchair in advance
Identify Your Needs
Before requesting a wheelchair, assess your mobility needs. Consider whether you require assistance for long distances or specific areas like security checks and boarding. If you have your own mobility device, such as a cane or walker, you may still benefit from additional support at the airport.
Inform Your Airline
When booking your flight, inform your airline of your need for a wheelchair. Many airlines offer options to request special assistance during the booking process, either online or through their mobile applications. You can also contact the airline directly by phone to ensure your needs are noted in advance.
Provide Necessary Information
When requesting assistance, be prepared to provide relevant information. For example, Delta Air Lines asks passengers to submit their request through "Accessible Services" in "My Trips," where specific services like curbside assistance or in-flight wheelchair assistance can be selected. If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you may need to provide measurements and arrive at the airport earlier than usual.
Confirm Your Request
After making your initial request, confirm your accessible services request with the airline prior to your travel. This ensures that your service is planned and allows you to address any concerns or make adjustments if needed.
Communicate Upon Arrival
Even if you have requested a wheelchair in advance, it is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability needing assistance upon arrival at the airport. Approach a team member or ticket agent to confirm your needs and request any additional support. This step is crucial, as it helps the airline provide timely assistance and ensures they are aware of your specific requirements.
By following these steps, you can effectively request a wheelchair in advance and navigate your travel with the assistance you require. Remember to be as clear and communicative as possible throughout the process to ensure a smooth and accommodating travel experience.
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Wheelchair services at the airport
When booking a flight, passengers can request wheelchair assistance by selecting the "Add special assistance" option or by calling the airline directly. It is recommended to request wheelchair assistance in advance to ensure that the necessary accommodations are made. However, passengers can also inform a team member at the airport about their wheelchair needs on the day of travel.
Passengers who require a wheelchair or mobility assistance for their connecting flights should confirm their request for accessible services prior to travel. This ensures that their mobility needs are addressed throughout the airport during their connection. Airlines are committed to offering a smooth travel experience and complying with disability regulations.
It is important to note that passengers must self-identify as individuals with disabilities who need assistance. Airlines will provide assistance in a timely manner after the passenger has identified themselves as needing assistance. In some cases, airlines may ask for credible verbal assurance of the passenger's need for the service without inquiring about the nature of their disability.
Passengers who bring their own mobility devices, such as manual or battery-powered wheelchairs, can check in using the airline's app or at an airport kiosk before proceeding to their gate. Some airlines may require measurements of the device or a completed Mobility Device Handling Form to ensure proper accommodation. It is recommended to arrive at the airport early to allow time for checking any baggage, going through security screening, and boarding the plane.
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Bringing your own wheelchair
If you are bringing your own wheelchair, you may be able to store it on board if it is non-battery-powered and manually collapsible. Ask a gate agent about this option on your day of travel. You may also need to bring an assistive device, such as a cane, walker, or crutches, which are also welcome. Some items may be stored on board, while others will be checked at the gate as you board the plane. If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport one hour prior to the normal check-in time.
If you bring your own mobility device, you can check in on the Fly Delta app or at an airport kiosk and then head to your gate. If you requested a wheelchair service, meet with a representative for guidance to the Special Services check-in or the closest wheelchair staging area. If you have completed a Mobility Device Handling Form, pass it to the ticket agent if you check your device at the counter, or give it to the gate agent when boarding if you bring the device to the gate.
Some battery-operated devices may be stowed upright in the cargo hold of the aircraft, while others may need to be disassembled and checked before you fly. Check with the device manufacturer before you travel about whether or not your device may be stored on its side, and see an agent at the airport for help with your battery-operated device. You may also need to measure the height and width of your chair at its smallest size (not expanded) and input the measurements when booking.
If you have requested wheelchair assistance, a carrier may ask you for credible verbal assurance that you need the service and how the service assists with your disability. This inquiry must not be focused on the nature of your disability. For example, a carrier may ask: "How does the requested wheelchair service assist with your disability?" If you do not have a disability, the carrier may refuse to provide the wheelchair service.
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Connecting flights
If you have a connecting flight, you can still request wheelchair assistance. According to the US Department of Transportation, airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities as they navigate through different portions of the airport, including assisting you from your seat on an arriving flight through the airport to the gate location of your connecting flight.
It is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability who needs assistance. You can do this when you arrive at the airport, but it is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance, if possible, when booking your flight. This will ensure that your service is planned. If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport one hour prior to the normal check-in time.
If you are travelling with Delta Air Lines, your request for wheelchair assistance should address your mobility needs throughout the airport for connecting flights. If you experience problems with your wheelchair service, a trained Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) is available at all Delta airports to help resolve any issues.
American Airlines also provides wheelchair assistance for connecting flights and can help customers with cognitive or developmental disabilities to board, deplane, and connect flights. You can request a courtesy wheelchair, arm assistance, or directions when booking or managing your trip on their website or app, or when you arrive at the airport.
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Disability regulations
Yes, you can request a wheelchair at the airport. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities as they navigate through different portions of the airport. This includes helping passengers who have requested assistance from the terminal entrance or vehicle drop-off point to the gate location, including the security checkpoint, and onto the aircraft to their seat.
The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits US and foreign carriers from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities in a timely fashion after they self-identify as needing assistance to airline staff. This assistance may include guide assistance for individuals who are blind or wheelchair assistance for individuals with mobility impairments.
Passengers should request wheelchair assistance in advance when making their reservation. If you travel with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport 1 hour prior to the normal check-in time. It is important to confirm your accessibility needs with all airlines involved in your journey. Passengers should also be alert to gate and flight time changes and notify airline personnel of their need to move to a different gate, if necessary.
In situations where there is uncertainty about the access needs of a passenger, a carrier may ask the passenger for credible verbal assurance that they need the service and how the service assists with their disability. This inquiry must not be focused on the nature of the passenger’s disability. For example, a carrier may ask the passenger, "How does the requested wheelchair service assist with your disability?" If the passenger does not have a disability, the carrier may refuse to provide the wheelchair service.
Additionally, passengers with mobility devices such as canes, walkers, or crutches are welcome to bring these devices, and some may be stored on board while others will be checked at the gate. Passengers should review the guidelines for medical devices and medication to prepare for their trip.
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Frequently asked questions
You can request a wheelchair at the airport by informing a team member about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel. It is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking your trip.
No, you do not need to provide a reason for your wheelchair request. Airline staff are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities and cannot ask about your medical history. However, you may be asked to provide credible verbal assurance that the wheelchair assists with your disability.
Yes, you can bring your own wheelchair or mobility device to the airport. If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport 1 hour prior to the normal check-in time. Some battery-operated devices may be stowed upright in the cargo hold of the aircraft, while others may need to be disassembled and checked before your flight.
