Top tips to ensure your summer travels go without a hitch
Summer’s here! Thousands of people across the UK are gearing up for their annual summer holiday. For many, the journey is part of the holiday, whether that’s treating yourself to a duty-free perfume, enjoying an in-flight pint, or indulging in a trashy beach novel during take-off. But for disabled travellers, the process of getting to and from your destination can leave you in need of another holiday to recover.
Thankfully, disabled passengers travelling through UK airports (and many airports across the world) have legal rights. The challenging part can be knowing what to ask for, when to ask for it, and what to do if things don’t go according to plan.
Disabled passengers (including people with hidden disabilities, like neurodivergence and chronic pain conditions) and people with reduced mobility are legally entitled to free assistance when flying from a UK airport on any airline, or flying to a UK airport on a UK or EU airline. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), “similar rights apply in the EU and the US, but not all countries offer assisted travel.”
BEFORE YOU BOARD
Assistance should be tailored to individual needs, and it can begin before you even reach the terminal. When booking and flying, there’s plenty to think about, such as the airline’s policy on carrying medical oxygen or medication, whether there’s an accessible bathroom on the plane, and how boarding will take place.
Many flight operators and holiday companies have dedicated teams to support disabled travellers. You might need support from the car park or drop-off point, assistance with check-in and security, or help with boarding the aircraft, finding suitable seating, and disembarking at your destination. Notifying these teams at least 48 hours before you fly gives them the chance to organise support. However, even if you arrive without pre-booking assistance, they should still make reasonable efforts to help.
WHEN THINGS GO WRONG
As a disabled passenger, you can travel with up to two pieces of mobility equipment free of charge (in addition to your standard baggage allowance). However, barely a month goes by without a news report of a passenger’s wheelchair being damaged in transit, or a disabled person being left stranded on an empty plane. Despite legal protections, disabled passengers continue to report problems. If something goes wrong, keep records of what happened – take photos, keep receipts, and make a note of the staff involved. Your first port of call should be a complaint to the airport or airline, but you can escalate your complaint to the CAA if needed.
Bear in mind that assisted travel isn’t the airline or airport doing you a favour – it’s your legal right. With a little preparation and a clear understanding of your rights as a disabled passenger, you should be able to start (and end!) your holiday smoothly, with dignity and confidence.