You Don't Have to Struggle Through the Airport
Airports can be exhausting at any age. Large terminals may require long walks, security lines can take time, gates can change without much warning and connecting flights may require traveling from one end of an airport to another.
For older travelers, those challenges can become even more difficult. A person may be perfectly capable of walking around home, going shopping or enjoying everyday activities but find that walking through a huge airport while carrying luggage is simply too much.
The important thing to remember is that you can ask what assistance is available.
Being able to walk does not mean you have to prove how far you can walk through an airport.
What Is Airport Assistance?
Airport and airline assistance can take different forms depending on your needs, the airline and the airport.
Assistance may include wheelchair service, guided assistance, help traveling between gates, assistance reaching baggage claim or help boarding and leaving an aircraft.
Passengers with qualifying disabilities have specific rights under the Air Carrier Access Act. Age by itself does not automatically create those disability-related rights, so travelers should describe the assistance they actually need rather than assuming that being a senior automatically qualifies them for every service.
How to Request Airport Assistance
Whenever possible, begin before you arrive at the airport.
When booking your flight or managing an existing reservation, look for options such as Special Assistance, Accessibility, Wheelchair Assistance or Special Services.
If you cannot find the appropriate option online, contact the airline and ask what assistance is available for your particular situation.
Then, when you arrive at the airport, identify yourself to airline personnel and explain the assistance you requested or currently need.
A Simple Way to Ask
“I have difficulty walking long distances. What assistance is available to help me get through the airport and to my gate?”
Can You Request Wheelchair Assistance If You Can Walk?
Needing assistance does not necessarily mean a person is completely unable to walk.
Someone may be able to walk short distances but have difficulty covering the much greater distances sometimes required inside airports.
If a disability or mobility limitation makes those distances difficult, explain that clearly when requesting assistance. Depending on the circumstances, appropriate assistance might involve a wheelchair, cart or another form of help.
Ask Before the Day of Your Flight
It is often easier to arrange assistance while making your reservation rather than waiting until you are standing inside a busy terminal.
Contact the airline early and explain exactly what you need. For example:
“I can walk short distances, but I have difficulty walking long distances through airports. I'd like assistance getting to my gate.”
Specific information is usually more useful than simply saying, “I'm a senior and need help.”
Don't Forget Connecting Flights
Connections can be one of the most stressful parts of air travel.
Your arriving flight may be late. Your next gate may be in another terminal. The airport may be unfamiliar. What looked like a comfortable connection when you bought the ticket can suddenly become a race.
If you need assistance making connections, include that when arranging your travel.
Ask This When Booking
“Will the assistance continue through my connecting airport, or do I need to make a separate request for that connection?”
Ask About Preboarding
Passengers with disabilities who need additional time or assistance to board may be entitled to preboard.
If that describes your situation, identify yourself to the airline staff at the gate and explain what assistance or additional time you need.
Boarding before the main crowd can provide additional time to reach your seat and get settled without feeling rushed.
Give Yourself More Time
Assistance can make airport travel easier, but it does not eliminate waiting.
Arriving early gives you time to check in, identify yourself to airline personnel, arrange assistance, go through security and reach the gate without turning the trip into a race against the clock.
Extra time can be especially valuable when airports are crowded, assistance personnel are busy or your departure gate is far from the security checkpoint.
What If the Gate Changes?
Gate changes are another reason to remain in communication with airline personnel.
If you are receiving mobility or guided assistance and your gate changes, tell airline staff that you need help reaching the new gate.
Don't wait until boarding begins to mention the problem.
What If You Have a Problem?
If you are a passenger with a disability and believe required assistance is not being provided, ask to speak with the airline's Complaints Resolution Official (CRO).
Airlines operating flights covered by U.S. disability rules are required to make a CRO available during their operating hours.
The CRO is trained to handle disability-related accommodation issues.
The smartest traveler isn't necessarily the traveler who does everything alone. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is simply ask what help is available.
Useful Questions for Senior Travelers
You don't need to memorize complicated terminology. Start by describing what you need.
“I have difficulty walking long distances. Can I request assistance to my gate?”
“Can someone help me make my connecting flight?”
“Where do I meet the person providing assistance?”
“Do I need to request assistance again on my return flight?”
“I need extra time or assistance boarding. How do I request preboarding?”
Frequently Asked Questions About Airport Assistance for Seniors
Do airports provide assistance for senior citizens?
Assistance varies according to the traveler's needs, airline and airport. Disability-related assistance is protected under federal rules for qualifying passengers, while age alone does not automatically establish eligibility for every accessibility service. Ask your airline what assistance is available for your circumstances.
How do I request wheelchair assistance at an airport?
You can usually request assistance while booking or managing your airline reservation. You can also contact the airline directly. Once at the airport, identify yourself to airline personnel and explain the assistance you need.
Can airport assistance help with connecting flights?
For passengers with disabilities who require assistance, airlines may provide help moving between gates and making flight connections. Explain your connection needs when arranging assistance.
Should I request airport assistance in advance?
When possible, yes. Although advance notice is generally not required for many disability accommodations, arranging assistance ahead of time can help the airline prepare for your needs. Some specialized accommodations do have advance-notice requirements.
Travel Smarter, Not Harder
Many older travelers have spent their lives being independent. Asking for help can sometimes feel uncomfortable.
But accepting assistance doesn't take away your independence. It can help preserve your energy for the part of the trip you actually want to enjoy.
That's one of the central ideas behind The Smart Senior Travel Guide: knowing what to ask, when to ask and how to communicate what you need can make travel considerably easier.
The Smart Senior Travel Guide
How Travelers Over 60 Get Better Treatment, Less Stress, and More Help Simply by Using the Right Words
Bruce Goldwell's guide helps older travelers prepare for airports, airlines, hotels, cruises and other travel situations by showing them practical questions to ask and simple ways to communicate what they need.
Continue Exploring Smart Senior Travel
Return to the Smart Senior Travel Guide to discover more practical ideas for making travel easier, less stressful and more enjoyable after 60.