London planes

Airport advice overview 

London and the surrounding areas are covered by 5 airports: Heathrow (Central West), Gatwick (South and Surrey), London City (East), London Luton (Northwest and Bedfordshire) and Stansted (Northeast and Essex).

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 

Always allow plenty of time to plan your journey. It may be worth considering:   

• If you will need help whilst in the airport and on the plane. Will you be travelling with mobility equipment?  
• Booking Passenger Assistance in advance through your airline or tour operator. Make sure you provide at least 48 hours’ notice of any help you need.  
• When booking assistance, you should be able to provide the size of your mobility equipment, including the total weight with or without the user.  
• What local transport do you need once you arrive at your destination? Can you pre-book an accessible taxi?  
• Make sure that all your equipment and baggage has flight labels attached. 

Remember, your local Hubs Mobility Advice Service can provide helpful advice and information. 

Nearest airports 

London Luton Airport 

www.london-luton.co.uk

Blue Badge parking is available in all car parks. Disabled spaces cannot be booked. Blue Badge drop-off is available.

Stanstead Airport 

www.stanstedairport.com

You can book Blue Badge parking online. Blue Badge drop-off is available at the front of the Express Set Down – Zone C, nearest the Assistance Desk inside the Terminal. Vehicles cannot be left unattended. There is a fee for Express Set Down. 

Heathrow Airport 

www.heathrow.com

Blue Badge parking is available in all car parks but cannot be booked. For assistance when you arrive at the car park, contact 020 8757 2700 (all terminals). 

There is no dedicated Blue Badge drop-off. Drop-off areas are located outside the terminal. A charge applies every time a vehicle enters the Heathrow terminal drop-off areas. 

Gatwick Airport

www.gatwickairport.com

Blue Badge holders are exempt from drop-off charges. You should register your number plate in advance. 

London City Airport

www.londoncityairport.com

Blue Badge holders receive 30 minutes free parking in the main car park. Passengers should take their Blue Badge to the Information Desk in the terminal to be validated.

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.  

Further information regarding travelling with restricted mobility or disability, and the assistance provision in place at each London airport, can be found via the links below.

• Accessibility and Mobility Help – Heathrow Airport  
• Special assistance – Gatwick Airport
• Special Assistance – Stansted Airport
• Special assistance – London City Airport
• Special Assistance – London Luton Airport

Sunflower lanyard Scheme

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 an airport whilst knowing that if you need any additional support during your journey, staff can provide this.

You can pick up a lanyard from Terminal Assistance Desks at London airports or purchase online from Hidden Disabilities. 

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. 

Transfer equipment 

Hoists and additional seating support are generally available, but you will need to check with specific airlines. You can lease equipment for the flight as well, but check with your airline to make sure it can be used.  

Batteries on aircrafts 

The batteries used in power wheelchairs and mobility aids are permitted for carriage by passengers provided certain safety requirements are met. Passengers may only travel with a battery-powered mobility aid with the airline’s approval. 

Medications 

You are allowed to carry essential medications including medicinal liquids over 100ml in your hand luggage and any medical equipment if it is essential for your journey. You will need a letter from your doctor to travel with the medicine to prove this is prescribed. 

Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website. 

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.