To help us provide you with the necessary service for your needs, please let us know how we can help. You can find all the information you need to get the right assistance so you can have a stress free journey.
Flights operated by our airline alliance or franchise partners may have their own restrictions so please contact us before you fly.
Mobility and wheelchair assistance
If you would like assistance please let us know when you make your booking, or at least 48 hours before you travel. This is so we can notify the airport authority or service provider of any assistance you might need, so we can provide you with the best possible service.
If you have any seating requirements due to your disability please contact us as soon as possible after your booking is made.
Some wheelchairs and mobility aids contain ‘non-spillable’ (gel electrolyte), ‘spillable’ (wet) or Lithium batteries. Whilst spillable batteries are becoming less common, all types can be transported providing certain conditions are met.
To assist with the safe stowage of your wheelchair, please provide us with sufficient information at least 48 hours before you travel. The type of wheelchair you have will determine how we are able to load your wheelchair on to the aircraft.
Regardless of the type of battery your mobility aid or wheelchair uses, please give us the following information at least 48 hours before you travel:
To protect the wheelchair/mobility aid from inadvertent activation, please remove the key, deactivate using the joystick or deactivate using an isolation switch or buttons, or other isolation mechanism (such as Neutrik plug).
To protect the wheelchair/mobility aid from inadvertent operation, please remove the key, deactivate using the joystick or deactivate using an isolation switch or buttons, or other isolation mechanism (such as Neutrik plug).
In the unlikely event that the wheelchair cannot be stowed in the upright position in the hold, special measures will need to be taken to ensure safe carriage – this will include the removal of the battery and the protection of the battery terminals against short circuit.
To ensure safe carriage of your wheelchair/mobility aid it would be very helpful if you brought the manufacturers instructions (re: disconnection of batteries) with you to the airport.
Please note that you cannot travel with wet-cell batteries for any purpose other than for powering wheelchairs.
You can choose whether to give us your wheelchair when you check in or use it until you reach the departure gate. If you choose to surrender your wheelchair at check-in, an airport wheelchair can be provided to assist you to the departure gate.
You are welcome to board the aircraft at your leisure; however if you would like to, you will be able to board first. A pre-boarding announcement will be made at the departure gate.
In the event of loss or damage, any mobility aids or any equipment relating to your disability that is placed into your luggage and checked in for travel in the hold are not covered for anything more than the maximum liability under the Montreal Convention. Please make sure you have suitable travel insurance for any equipment you are travelling with.
If you are unable to do any of the following:
you will need to travel with a safety assistant to help you do this.
All our aircraft have a number of seats with moveable armrests for ease of access. Unfortunately, we will not be able to seat you in emergency exit rows due to safety regulations.
All our aircraft have wheelchairs to assist you on-board. Please ask our cabin crew if you would like any help to stow your hand luggage, to move between your seat and the toilet or if you need help to open any parts of your onboard meal. Our cabin crew are unable to assist you with personal care during your flight.
If your wheelchair has been stowed in the hold, we'll make every effort to return your wheelchair to you as close to the aircraft door as possible. If it is not possible to bring your wheelchair to the door for safety reasons, we will make sure there is a wheelchair available to assist you to the baggage reclaim area.
Visually impaired
If you would like assistance, please let us know when you make your booking, or at least 48 hours before you travel. This is so we can notify the airport authority or service provider of any assistance you might need, to ensure you have the best possible service.
You can reserve your seat, for free, at any time after your booking is made.
If you are travelling on your own, we can arrange for an escort to guide you through the terminal from when you check in through to the aircraft door. We understand that everyone likes to be guided differently so please let us know on the day how we can help.
If you would prefer, we can provide individual safety briefings before the flight departs. Please ask our cabin crew if you would like any help to stow your hand luggage, to move between your seat and the toilet or if you need help to open any parts of your onboard meal. Our cabin crew are unable to assist you with personal care during your flight.
An escort can be provided on your arrival at your destination to guide you through the terminal. If you would like an escort to accompany you, please contact British Airways, we’ll be pleased to organise this for you.
Deaf or hard of hearing
If you would prefer, we can provide individual safety briefings before the flight departs. When we use the onboard screens for our safety information, this is displayed with subtitles. The headphones provided in the seatback pack are compatible with hearing aids switched to the 'T' position. This will increase the volume and improve sound clarity.
Guide/assistance dogs
Certified Assistance Dogs for blind, deaf or disabled passengers travel free of charge in the aircraft cabin on all British Airways services within the UK.
In addition Assistance Dogs that are compliant with the Pet Travel Scheme may be carried, in the cabin of the aircraft on certain international routes.
Learning disabilities
Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help you.
If you are travelling on your own, we can arrange for an escort to guide you through the terminal, from when you check in to the aircraft door. We understand that everyone likes to be guided differently so please let us know on the day how we can help.
Other disability assistance and information
Not everyone will need mobility assistance or an escort to assist them through the airport – some disabled customers have requirements linked to their disability that require other assistance or special seating requirements. Please contact us for any advice regarding this.
Should you require any additional assistance please let us know at least 48hours in advance.
The divider we use between Club Europe and EuroTraveller means that the seats at the front of EuroTraveller are not bulkhead seats – and are less accessible than normal seats.
In the event of loss or damage, mobility aids or any equipment relating to your disability, placed into your luggage and checked in for travel in the hold is not covered for anything more than the maximum liability under the Montreal Convention. Please make sure you have suitable travel insurance for any equipment you are travelling with.
British Airways is covered by this rule for any flight that begins or ends at a US airport. A full copy of the rule is available for viewing on request at our airports serving the US.An accessible copy of the rule can also be obtained from the US Dept of Transport directly using the following methods:
It is now the responsibility of the airport operators, within the EU to assist anyone with a disability during their time at the airport. This includes intellectual disability or impairment, age or any other cause of disability.
Airlines should provide the airport operator with advance information so that the appropriate service can be offered. To enable us to pass your request to them, where possible, please contact us 48 hours in advance.