Blog · 24 October 2026 · 4 min read

How to book wheelchair and airport assistance for a parent

Airport assistance is one of the most useful services for older travellers, and one of the most often missed. Many parents can walk perfectly well, but long corridors, stairs and queues at a large hub airport are a different matter. Assistance staff also take them through immigration and to the right baggage belt.

It's usually free

On flights to and from the United States, US Department of Transportation rules require airlines, including foreign airlines, to provide wheelchair assistance free of charge to passengers who need it. Most airlines on other routes offer it free too. You do not need to prove a disability.

How to ask

• When booking, look for "special assistance" or "wheelchair" in the passenger details. If booking through an agent, ask them to add it.
• Call the airline at least 48 hours before departure to confirm it is on the booking for every flight, including connections operated by partner airlines.
• Choose the right level. Airlines use codes: help over long distances only, help with steps as well, or a passenger who cannot walk at all. Describe what your parent can manage and let the airline pick the code.

Making sure it turns up

• Ask again at the check-in counter, and check it is noted for the connecting and arrival airports.
• Tell the cabin crew before landing. They radio ahead.
• Tell your parent to stay seated after landing until assistance staff come on board or meet them at the door.
• Wait times at busy hubs can be long. Give your parent your number to show staff, and a little patience goes a long way.

Assistance and a companion work together

Assistance staff move your parent between points in the airport. They don't stay with them at the gate, sit with them on a 15-hour flight or help them call you. A travelling companion covers those gaps, which is why Saathi works alongside airline assistance rather than replacing it.