Somerset planes

Airport advice overview

The closest airports to the county of Somerset are Bristol Airport and Exeter Airport. 

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 West of England Hubs Mobility Advice Service can provide helpful advice and information.

Nearest airports

Bristol Airport

www.bristol-airport.net

Contact: 0371 334 4444 

Exeter Airport

www.exeter-airport.co.uk

Contact: 01392 367 433

Special assistance

Bristol Airport

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.

• Contact EasyJet Customer Services: 0330 3655000
• Contact Ryanair Special Assistance: 01279 358 588
• Contact KLM Customer Services: 0800 556 22 737 
• Contact Lufthansa Customer Services: 0371 945 9747
• Contact Tui Airways Customer Welfare: 020 3451 2585 

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.  

For additional information about travelling with hidden disabilities, contact Bristol Airport on brs-hiddendisability@ocs.co.uk or call 01275 473403.

Further information can be found on the Bristol Airport website.

Exeter Airport

Special travel assistance should be arranged with your airline or travel company no less than 48 hours prior to the day of departure. Your requirements will be forwarded to the airport and assistance from trained staff will be made available on the day of travel from the point of arrival. 

For any late assistance arrangements, you should contact the airport’s Passenger Services Department. Contact: assistance@exeter-airport.co.uk or 07896 168 326.

Further information can be found on the Exeter Airport website.

Hidden disabilities

Hidden disability assistance cards and lanyards are available to passengers at both Bristol and Exeter Airports. 

These allow staff to identify passengers who may require additional services or awareness. Passengers should attend the Special Assistance Desk at Exeter Airport and the OCS Reception Desk at Bristol Airport, to register their requirements and obtain a lanyard. 

Passengers on the Autistic Spectrum may book a familiarisation tour tailored to their needs prior to a flight at Exeter Airport. This should be arranged at least two weeks prior to the day of travel. Contact 07896 168 326 or assistance@exeter-airport.co.uk

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.