Airport and airline assistance
Free special assistance at UK airports, how to book it, and how wheelchairs and mobility equipment are handled.
Applies to: UK-wide. Last reviewed 1 August 2026. This is information, not legal advice; rules can differ by council and operator.
Your right to assistance
Disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility have a legal right to free assistance at UK airports and on flights departing from them. This covers help from arrival at the airport, through security, to the aircraft seat, and the same in reverse on landing.
Booking it
- Tell your airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before departure. Assistance is still provided if you have not booked, but there may be a wait.
- Say whether you use a wheelchair, whether it is manual or powered, its weight, and its battery type.
- Say if you need to stay in your own wheelchair to the aircraft door, need an aisle chair, or need help with communication.
- Ask for the assistance reference number and keep it with your booking.
Wheelchairs and mobility equipment
- Mobility equipment is carried free and does not count towards your baggage allowance.
- Label your wheelchair with clear handling instructions and your contact details.
- Photograph your wheelchair before you travel, in case it is damaged.
- If your wheelchair is damaged or lost, report it before leaving the baggage hall and get it recorded in writing.
If assistance goes wrong
Complain to the airport or airline first. The Civil Aviation Authority regulates assistance at UK airports and publishes annual accessibility performance ratings for them.
Official sources and where to apply
Find providers
Search the accessible transport directory for air travel and airport assistance and other services in your area.
Other transport guides
Rail Passenger Assist
Free assistance at stations and on trains across Great Britain and Northern Ireland, including help boarding, ramps, and someone to meet you.
Accessible buses and coaches
Your rights on local buses and long-distance coaches, wheelchair spaces, priority seating, audio-visual announcements and free travel passes.
Ferries and water transport
Assistance on ferries to the islands, Northern Ireland and Europe, including notice periods and what to check about the vessel and terminal.
Blue Badge
Who can get a Blue Badge, how eligibility differs across the four nations, how to apply and how to use it.