A few thoughts on using wheelchair assistance at airports

This May, after DW got out of the hospital on our trip to Scotland and waiting a couple more days until she could fly, we got flights Glasgow to Dublin to Seattle. She used the wheelchair assistance at all 3 airports.

I had to walk quickly to keep up with the assistants. Yes, there were shortcuts involved. Normally, we would stroll on our way to the gate. This time with the extra time at the gate, I had plenty of time to shop and search for food.

Perhaps this depends, to a degree, on the airports. I have needed to use wheelchair assistance for well over 10 years. Some airports rely solely on wheelchairs. Others use a combination of chairs and carts, where the companion also rides. I've never had a wheelchair attendant refuse to slow down when asked. I've also had attendants ask, en route to the gate, if either of us needed to stop at a restroom, or make a detour through duty free. When we fly BC, they will drop us at the lounge and return to take us to the gate. It never hurts to politely ask. And please tip these people. They work very hard.

Thanks for adding that about the tipping, CJean! I neglected to include it, but we did tip because these people really earn their money!

I'm glad to see comments from folks who have more experience with these procedures. I had not seen this topic come up before, so it seemed like it might be a useful discussion for someone out there.

I also wonder if there was a particular issue in Boston? There was almost nothing by our international gate, and the distance was horrendous. On the return trip we were taken a different way and realized that we may have actually walked to a different terminal on the way over. Maybe someone knows about this and we just need to avoid transferring planes in Boston.

We are also at the doorstep of needing this service, especially when transferring between international and domestic carriers. Prior to this year, we’ve always had our outbound direct flight to an international destination and our return connection the same path. This year my husband decided that due to price we’d have one our connecting flights in the US (he’s 79 with an iffy knee). What an eye-opener in terms of making connections at both Phoenix and Chicago! Fortunately, he flagged down a cart at Phoenix and it quickly became apparent that we should have booked assistance based on the distance. It was the same at ORD. He considers himself pretty fit and works out regularly, but those distance really caught him off guard and would have been a hindrance if the connections had been tighter. He’s not thrilled with the idea of using a wheelchair, but is something we’ll need consider for the future.

My wife used wheelchair assist coming back from Rome via Newsrk. I only requested it at 3:00 AM of the morning because she could barely walk after a rough day walking at Pompeii 2 days before. It was excellent at all three airports, altho at Newark the attendant was a little fast.

Thank you for the discussion and thank you to all who replied.

I know that I am eligible for wheelchair assistance but still am too stubborn to request.

However that might change. I am thinking of requesting it when I arrive in Chicago (from Austin) to transfer to JAL flying to Tokyo.

I realize that this might vary but about what is considered an appropriate tip.

We had good experiences when I needed wheelchair assistance several times when I had a broken ankle in 2019 and my husband had severe plantar fasciitis in 2024. In some cases I was offered stops for the restroom or food. I think it does vary based on the airport and attendant. I just left Boston Logan and some gates are far from good food options, so I see how that could be a concern.

Your idea of meeting at the gate makes sense to me.

Yes, BarbaraN, upon arrival in Paris the attendant was great about offering a bathroom stop and asking if we needed anything else. The ones in Boston seemed to be in quite a rush, so I now realize that I should have spoken up.

Bostonphil7, we tipped each one $10, except we gave 20euros to the extra helpful young man in Paris. I don't know if that's right either, it's just what we guessed would be appropriate.

I also tipped between $10 and 20 based on the amount of time it took and whether they offered to stop etc. I think for one very short gate to curb trip that took less than 10 minutes I tipped $5.

I don't know if this is relevant or not, but my partner usually uses "pushers" in the the departure from JFK and the arrival in Spain, or Italy.

He tips in the US airport, either $10 or $20, depending on amount of stops.
We do not tip in European airports.

At both ends of the flights, we often make a stop in a lounge. We stay at the lounger for a snack or bathroom service, and then are collected just before departure time. We request the departure time from the lounge to the gate and convey that time to the attendant. I like arrive at the gate just before boarding, not sit for an hour waiting to board....

I am able to walk but most often accompany him, walking on my own...and I do have to run to keep up with the people pushing the chairs, especially in Madrid!!! I do often make my way with him through security and then browse in duty free while he waits either at the lounge or the gate...

I'm not sure if I am explaining this correctly but one thing I've found out with experience, is that the timing is up to you.....you are the person who can dictate the times you want to be moved from one spot to another.

We've also used the service when taking IRYO trains in Spain and it's phenomenal....once or twice we've offered tips but those are usually waved away by the workers, whose kindness has been amazing to me..to us both.

At MAD we have had connections as short as 40 minutes between flights from other Spanish airport to USA airport.....with the efficiency of the AENA workers we have never missed a flight in the last four years or so....

Tremendous thanks to the AENA workers in Spanish airports...

We order a wheelchair for my 96 year old MIL - not because she cannot walk, but because she can get confused with way finding in an airport (honestly, a hazard for all ages.) If you specify being transported only from check-in to gate, not onto the plane, then you should be left at the actual gate and easily able to venture out to find food, a restroom, etc. And if you do get lost at the airport, a combo of using Apple Maps on the "walk" setting, and the Find my Friend app can help you find your way back to your gate/travel companion.

I totally agree with the idea of making your way to the gate separately, rather than trying to keep up with the attendant. They have a job to do, so I don't even try to keep up with them and wouldn't ask them to slow down.

SeaTac has added some robot wheelchairs to their fleet - I wonder how fast they go and whether they respond to requests to stop for a bathroom break?

Wow, I never knew that any one else but me had the same experiences I had trying to keep up with the wheel chair runners.

Interesting.

Nobody has mentioned the obvious, asking if you can get a wheelchair as well as the person you accompany.

Problem about not keeping up, solved. And it seems they would prefer it so both of you can get there faster and not wait on the slower person.

Probably the ingrained "not needed!". Or is it not possible?

RobertH, yes, that's what DH suggested and I understand the logic. However during some of the transports, I observed multiple people who were obviously handicapped or quite elderly waiting for service and worried about getting to their flight on time. I am reluctant to take their spot if I don't really need it. The alternative of just meeting at the gate seemed to avoid that situation.

Also, as an example, at my previous home airport DFW, all of the extra services are located after security, quite near the gates. However Boston had almost nothing in sight. So if you need to pick up food or other items on a longer layover, it may be preferable to have the partner go the regular way where all of the shops & restaurants are located.

I had to laugh, Linda, reading your description. I can't tell you how many times I have had to gallop through airports following my husband and his wheelchair. After the second or third time, I insisted that he carry as many bags as I can pile on his lap and/or under his chair. It doesn't really slow them down, and I still have to manage my rollaboard, but at least I arrive at the gate a little less disheveled.

I was able to push my BFF instead of a wheelchair attendant when she flew home from upstate NY, I know that's not always an option but it was in Albany.

Oh Linda. Remember that wonderful direct Delta flight from sweet, manageable IND airport to CDG. So sorry to see it killed off a few days before the first Paris lock down. RIP. I hope you find a way to keep up with that chair and continue your adventures.

Wanderlust58, it's been so great to read the replies saying that I am not alone in my struggles! I confess that I also piled all of the non-wheeled bags on DH. And gallop is the perfect word for this experience!

Elizabeth, yes, I got to take that nonstop Delta once and it was great! Now at least there's the nonstop Aer Lingus as far as Dublin, so that's some consolation.

And thanks to Everyone who told us about your experiences with wheelchair assistance. I had never seen this topic discussed in detail on the Forum. It's been very informative for me. I'm also hoping that all of your insights may be helpful to someone in the future if they search for information about this topic.