At the Airport

Try and get to the airport as early as possible. Passengers requiring special assistance are requested to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before the flight. This will allow you plenty of time to check in your luggage and any other items such as wheelchairs, without having to queue.

By contacting the airline in advance, we will be glad to meet you upon your arrival and provide a wheelchair for use throughout the airport.

A standard, foldable electric wheelchair will be carried for free and will not be taken as part of your luggage allowance.

Supply assembly instructions with the chair, particularly in those cases where it will be necessary to dismantle your wheelchair – this is highly probable, if your wheelchair is battery operated.

After security checks, you will be able to carry physical aids such as crutches, braces and canes on board as part of your hand luggage. For safety reasons, these must be stowed in the cabin during the flight.

You should always carry all medication for your trip as part of your hand luggage, along with any necessary medical documents. Asthmatics and diabetics should also be particularly careful that they carry insulin and inhalers as hand luggage.

Inform staff that you are autistic or suffer from Asperger’s Syndrome and that it is difficult for you to be in noisy and crowded places. Explain that you have difficulty interpreting facial expressions or emotions in the voices of others, which is why you require clear, simple and logical explanations and messages. Providing this information will help you avoid stressful situations and misunderstandings. You will be able to go through security checks out of queue order. You will also be given a priority boarding pass.

Security screenings

Security screening for disabled travellers can take a little longer than for the average traveller. Disabled travellers are required to pass the same level of security checks as able-bodied travellers.

Of course, if you are able to pass through the security metal detectors without activating them, then no additional checks will be required.

The easiest way for security staff to check travellers unable to pass through the security metal detector, is by using hand-held detectors.

Passing through a security point, as a disabled traveller doesn't need to be a problem, however, it is inevitable that wheelchairs and some walking canes etc, will set the metal detectors off, resulting in a required additional security test to ensure that no prohibited goods are being concealed.

Like many aspects of travel for people with disabilities, simply allow a little more time to pass through security.