Traveling by Air When You Have a Disability

If you’re one of the 180 million or more people worldwide who have a disability, the thought of air travel might be scary. It can be hard to get accommodations for your disability in day-to-day life, let alone in the airports that work like machines to get as many people to their destination as quickly as possible.

Take hope, however — you can fly too!

First, consider what type of disability you have, and what accommodations you need. Be reasonable, but don’t struggle unnecessarily. For those with a hearing impairment or who are deaf, a flight attendant can personally notify you of important announcements over the loudspeakers that you might not hear, but they can only do so if you let them know you need this service. If you have a mobility impairment, you can get a wheelchair or scooter past security and onto the airplane with less hassle if you tell them about your disability in advance. People with other types of disabilities can receive similar accommodations, too.

When booking the tickets or checking in, tell them what accommodations you need, as there is usually a way for the flight attendant to note this on your record.

If you are traveling with special disability accommodation equipment, prepare to be stopped at security if it sets off the metal detector. With this in mind, ensure you arrive at the airport early and leave plenty of time for secondary searches to be performed without the stress of worrying about missing your flight!

If you have no visible disability but require medications, be careful when going through airport security. If possible, keep medications in their original containers and ensure you have proper ID that matches the name on the containers’ prescription labels.

Most airports will accommodate travelers with disabilities, so you can contact the airport or the airline you are traveling with and ask about the screening procedures, accommodations, and what to expect.

With a little planning, air travel is possible and even enjoyable for people with disabilities too!