Hampshire planes

Airport advice overview

Southampton Airport is situated in Hampshire, providing flights within the UK and to international destinations.

Passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are legally entitled to support, commonly known as ‘Special Assistance’. Airports and airlines must provide help and assistance, which is free of charge and helps ensure you have a less stressful journey.

Special assistance is available to passengers who may need help to travel, such as older people, those with a physical disability, including wheelchair users, and those who experience difficulty with social interaction and communication, such as people with autism or dementia.

Key tips

• Research the individual airline and their accessibility provision, or call your local Hub Mobility Advice Service so they can assist you with this.
• Make sure you give the airport 48 hours’ notice of any help you need.
• Arrive early, as it can take more time to get to your gate. 
• Ensure you inform your airline of any mobility equipment you need to take on the plane.
• Wearing a sunflower lanyard enables staff to recognise that you have a hidden disability without you needing to declare it. This allows you to travel independently through the airport whilst knowing that if you need any additional support during your journey, staff can provide this. You can pick up a lanyard from Airport Assistance Desks.

When planning your flight, you also may wish to consider:

• What equipment, mobility aids or support you may need upon arrival at the airport and during the flight.
• Arranging special assistance at the time of booking your flight.
• Whether you need to complete a Medical Device Awareness Card, if you are travelling with a hidden medical device.
• What arrangements you may need to make for onward travel once you have landed at your destination.

Nearest airports

Southampton Airport

www.southamptonairport.com

If you have any queries about mobility assistance at Southampton Airport, call OCS on 07458 129739.

Parking for Blue Badge holders

Blue Badge parking is available in the short stay car park, on the ground floor close to the terminal and in the long stay car park adjacent to bus stops A and B. 

Special assistance

If you require special assistance while at the airport, you should inform your airline, tour operator or travel agent at least 48 hours before you fly. It is best to give as much notice as possible both for your outbound and return journeys, so the necessary arrangements can be made to give you the assistance you require.

Your airline will pass on your special assistance booking prior to your arrival at the airport. If you arrive at the airport and have not booked in advance, all reasonable efforts will be made to assist you.

If you require assistance on arrival at the airport, you should locate the nearest call point to request assistance and you will be assisted to your chosen method of check-in. 

Most of the airport is on one level. Within the departure lounge, there is a lift for passengers to gain access to the first floor. Accessible toilets are located on the main concourse and within the departure lounge.

Further information can be found on the Southampton Airport website.

Travelling with mobility equipment

For those passengers taking a mobility aid – such as a scooter or wheelchair – onto the aircraft, your airline must be advised in advance, preferably at the time of booking. 

You should provide details to your airline, tour operator or travel agent which outline the dimension, weight, make and model of the mobility aid. You will be able to travel with your mobility aid from arrival at the airport up until the point of boarding the aircraft. 

The ground handling team will ensure your mobility aid is made safe for carriage on the plane and you or a person in your travelling party may be required to liaise with the team to ensure the mobility aid is immobilised.

You will be reunited with your mobility aid at the aircraft side after disembarking. In the unlikely event there is any damage to your mobility equipment, the airport’s Special Assistance team will make every effort to provide you with a temporary replacement.

Assistance dogs

You may take your Assistance dog into the terminal with you. It is important to remember that guide dogs can only travel if they are registered with the Pet Travel Scheme and if allowed by your airline and holiday destination. 

For further information on travelling with an assistance dog, please visit the dedicated webpage on the Gov.uk website.