Do wheelchair passengers board first?

A: Most airlines allow passengers with a disability, including those who use a wheelchair, to board first. This enables you to take your time and find adequate space for your luggage or equipment. However, the policy may vary depending on the airline and the flight.



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Preboarding is available for Customers who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft or stowing an assistive device. Customers who are traveling with assistance and emotional support animals qualify for preboarding.

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Also, keep in mind that wheelchair users exit the aircraft last. The deplaning process can easily take 25 minutes or more, so when booking a connecting flight, always allow ample time.

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The right to preboard the airplane before all other passengers is a civil right guaranteed to disabled people by the Air Carrier Access Act. But, like all other civil rights, it can be waived by the individual if they so choose.

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Skip the queues If you have a disability, you can ask to skip the queue at security as part of your Special Assistance. Alternatively, you can pay a small fee to use priority or 'fast track' security lanes at many airports. It's often cheaper to book this in advance by contacting the airport.

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Airlines are also required to provide passengers with disabilities many types of assistance, including wheelchair or other guided assistance to board, deplane, or connect to another flight; seating accommodation assistance that meets passengers' disability-related needs; and assistance with the loading and stowing of ...

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Wheelchairs. Please let a gate or Reservation agent know if you need onboard wheelchair assistance during your trip. Flight attendants can provide assistance in transfers between your seat and an onboard wheelchair, and in moving the onboard wheelchair to and from the lavatory door.

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All passengers flying in a premium cabin get priority boarding. But the group you'll be assigned to depends on which class of service you're flying. Passengers in the front cabin board with Group 1.

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Priority Boarding is marketed to those passengers who do not have any other elite status or card membership, and it would allow them to board ahead of their assigned group. Passengers who purchase Priority Boarding will be able to board with Group 2.

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Don't hesitate to ask for accommodations.
Early boarding helps him stay calm, he explains, because standing in line in the jet bridge is intensely stressful for him. It's a simple request: He just asks for priority boarding at check-in, and “80 percent of the time,” he says, the airline is happy to grant his request.

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Generally, airline personnel may not ask what specific disability the person has, but they can ask questions regarding the person's ability to perform specific air travel-related functions, such as boarding, deplaning or walking through the airport.

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A person with a disability may have a physical or mental impairment that impacts a major life activity - such as walking, hearing, or breathing. This may be on a permanent or temporary basis. For example, a person with a temporary disability may have a broken leg that is temporarily fused or immobilized.

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For example, a carrier may ask the passenger: “How does the requested wheelchair service assist with your disability?” If the passenger does not have a disability, the carrier may refuse to provide the wheelchair service.

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We recommend that you request wheelchair assistance in advance, by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip online. You can also let a team member at the airport know on the day of travel that you need wheelchair assistance.

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How to Navigate the Airport When You Have Accessibility Needs
  1. Request assistance in advance. ...
  2. Give yourself plenty of time at the airport. ...
  3. Be vocal at check-in. ...
  4. Speak up at the security checkpoint. ...
  5. Request a ride to your gate, if needed. ...
  6. Arrange for help at your destination. ...
  7. Remember to tip.


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Do I have to pay extra to fly with a wheelchair? It's free to check up to two wheelchairs, scooters or mobility devices, including sports wheelchairs and personal medical equipment, in addition to your checked bags. We recommend any mobility device not needed for assistance to your gate be checked in the airport lobby.

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Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) certain airlines are required to provide certain seating accommodations to qualified passengers with disabilities who self-identify as needing to sit in a certain seat in order to better accommodate their disability-related needs.

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