Getting through an airport is the part of a trip that tests any plan. For a passenger with reduced mobility, a sensory sensitivity, or a recent injury, and for the people traveling with them, it is usually the first place where things go wrong.

The demand for travel that gets this right is growing. A new report from Fora, the travel advisor network, surveyed 1,359 of its advisors and, with YouGov, a nationally representative sample of 2,592 U.S. consumers. Among families planning a multigenerational trip in the next three years, 55 percent said someone in their group would need an accommodation. Of those, 78 percent said they would pay more for a trip that meets everyone’s needs properly.

This guide covers what airport assistance for passengers with accessibility needs actually looks like, whether you are traveling on your own, with an elderly parent, or with a child who struggles with crowds. It also explains what you need to arrange with your airline and where a Meet and Greet service fits in.

Passengers with Accessibility needs: Is not only about age

It is easy to assume this is a story about older travelers. It is not. In the Fora report, 64 percent of consumers with an accessibility need in their group pointed to an older adult, but 36 percent named an adult between 18 and 64, and 23 percent named a child or teenager. One in five said the needs span more than one generation.

In practice that can mean someone recovering from surgery who is traveling alone, a business traveler with a temporary injury, a teenager who finds crowds and noise overwhelming, or a grandmother who walks fine but not for 20 minutes across a terminal. Each situation changes how the airport should be planned.

Why the airport is the hardest part of the trip

Hotels and cruise lines have made real progress on accessibility. Advisors in the Fora survey gave hotels the most credit for improvement over the past two years. The airport is different. It is not one company. It is the airline, the airport operator, security, immigration, and ground handlers, each responsible for a different piece.

That is why information is the biggest pain point. In the report, 86 percent of consumers planning an accessible trip said confirming accessibility details before booking was important. At the same time, 90 percent of advisors who book this kind of travel said online accessibility information can be incomplete, outdated, or contradictory. Even after confirming in writing, 31 percent of advisors have had a client arrive to find a promised feature missing or unusable.

At an airport, the equivalent is arriving at the gate and finding no wheelchair, no one to guide you to the connecting flight, or a long walk nobody warned you about.

Step one: request wheelchair assistance with your airline

This is the most important thing to know. Wheelchair assistance at the airport is a service provided by the airline, not by a concierge company. You request it directly from your airline, ideally when you book and at the latest a couple of days before departure, following the airline’s own policy.

When you request it, be specific. Airlines usually ask whether the passenger can walk short distances, climb stairs, or needs assistance all the way to the seat. The more accurate the request, the better the support on the day.

At Royal Airport Concierge, we do not provide wheelchairs. What our greeter does is make sure the wheelchair you requested is actually there when you arrive, and stays with you so you are not left waiting at a counter or a gate wondering who is coming.

Step two: plan the terminal, not just the flight

Once the airline request is in place, think through the parts of the journey that happen on foot.

Distances. Large hubs can involve long walks between check-in, security, passport control, and the gate. Look at the terminal map before you fly and note where the moving walkways and elevators are.

Connections. A tight connection is stressful for anyone. For a passenger who needs more time, it can mean a missed flight. Give yourself more time than the airline’s minimum connection time suggests.

Passport control. Border checks on arrival can involve waiting, and procedures vary by country and airport. Fast track lanes exist at some airports but not all, so plan on the possibility of a queue and make sure the person who needs support is comfortable during that time.

Luggage. Carrying bags while managing a mobility limitation, or while helping someone else walk, is hard. A porter or luggage assistance removes one thing from your hands.

Sensory needs. For a child or adult who struggles with crowds and noise, ask your airline about quieter waiting areas and whether the airport has a sensory room. Many major airports now do.

Step three: decide who is guiding you on the day

This is where time gets lost. In a group, everyone assumes someone else knows where to go. Traveling alone, you are the navigator, the bag carrier, and the person managing your own needs at the same time.

For passengers who would rather not carry that role, that is what a Meet and Greet service is for. A greeter meets you at the curb or at the aircraft door, has your details in hand, and provides an Escort through the terminal. At the airports where Fast track is available, the greeter takes you through it. At all other airports, the greeter walks with you through the standard process so you never have to figure out the next step on your own.

Whether you are traveling alone or with a group, the practical value is simple: the wheelchair is ready, the route is known, the bags are handled, and one calm person is watching the clock.

What this means for travel advisors

If you are an advisor, the Fora data is worth a second look. Sixty-seven percent of advisors surveyed have booked a trip for a client with an accessibility need, and 44 percent of those said their largest such booking in the past year topped $10,000. These clients also come back. Ninety percent of consumers who worked with an advisor on an accessible trip said they would use that advisor again, compared with 68 percent for other trip types.

The airport is the one part of the itinerary most advisors cannot personally check in advance. Adding airport assistance to the plan is one way to close that gap and protect the experience you designed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to request wheelchair assistance separately from an airport Meet and Greet?
Yes. Wheelchair assistance is requested through your airline. A Meet and Greet greeter makes sure it is ready when you arrive and stays with you through the terminal.

Is Fast track available at every airport?
No. Fast track is available at selected airports only. At other airports, the service is Meet and Greet with an Escort through the terminal.

Does airport assistance help with connections?
Yes. A greeter guides you from the arrival gate to your next departure, which is especially useful at large hubs and for passengers who need more time.

Can a greeter help with luggage?
Yes. Luggage assistance and porter service are part of the Meet and Greet experience.

Plan the airport with the same care as the rest of the trip

Travelers are telling the industry what they want: trips where everyone’s needs are met, and the willingness to pay for them. The airport should not be the exception. Request your wheelchair with the airline, give yourself time, and decide who is guiding you.

If you would like someone to handle that last part, you can get an instant quote for Meet and Greet at your departure or arrival airport.

Source: Fora accessible travel report, as reported by Travel Agent Central, September 22, 2026.