Manchester Airport Special Assistance: From Arrival to Boarding

Airport special assistance is free for disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility. Support can also be relevant for non-visible disabilities; it is not limited to people who use wheelchairs.

Tell your airline, travel agent or tour operator when you book, ideally at least 48 hours before departure. If you have less notice, contact them anyway. Help should still be sought, but arranging the right support may take longer.

Describe what you can and cannot comfortably do rather than simply asking for a wheelchair. Explain whether you need help with long distances, cannot manage stairs, need assistance transferring into an aircraft seat, or find queues and unfamiliar instructions difficult.

Request help for every relevant flight, including your return journey and any connections. Ask for confirmation that the request has been added to your booking, and keep a copy accessible. If your flight changes, check that the assistance request has carried over.

Check your terminal with the airline and Manchester Airport shortly before travel. Do not rely on the terminal used for a previous trip: departure and return arrangements can change.

Follow the arrival time provided by your airline or assistance service. Allow time to get from your vehicle to the designated assistance point, as well as for check-in and security. There is no single arrival time that suits every passenger or flight.

Use Manchester Airport’s current special assistance information and terminal maps to identify the appropriate assistance desk or designated help point. Confirm where you must report and how to contact staff when you arrive. Pre-booking assistance does not mean someone will automatically meet your car.

If you need help from a drop-off area or parking location, ask before travelling whether support is available from that exact point. Save the relevant contact details and keep your booking reference and flight number handy.

Check the airport’s current accessible drop-off and collection arrangements, including any Blue Badge conditions, charges and waiting restrictions. Do not assume that displaying a Blue Badge makes every vehicle access area free or allows a driver to wait indefinitely.

If someone is driving you, agree how luggage and mobility equipment will be unloaded. Your driver may need to use a suitable parking area if they intend to accompany you inside, rather than leaving the vehicle in a drop-off lane.

Meet & Greet parking involves handing your car to a driver at an agreed location, then collecting it after your trip. It is separate from airport special assistance: a vehicle handover does not include wheelchair support, lifting or personal care. Our [guide to how Meet & Greet works](/guides/how-does-meet-and-greet-parking-work) explains the process.

If you choose this option, check the handover location, route to the assistance point and arrangements for unloading your equipment. The [Manchester Meet & Greet parking page](/parking/manchester/manchester-meet-and-greet-parking) is a starting point for reviewing parking arrangements, but confirm any accessibility requirements before booking.

Tell the airline if you are bringing a wheelchair, powered mobility aid or other specialist equipment. Provide its dimensions, weight and, where relevant, battery type and instructions for disconnecting or securing it. The airline must assess carriage requirements; do not assume that every device can travel on every aircraft.

Ask how long you can keep your own wheelchair and where it will be returned at your destination. If staff need to handle or dismantle it, attach clear instructions and explain any parts that must not be lifted or adjusted. Photographs can help record its condition before handover.

Keep essential medicines, travel documents and necessary items with you rather than in checked baggage, subject to the airline’s cabin baggage rules. Check current airport guidance for liquid medicines and medical equipment, including any supporting documentation needed.

If you need help with eating, taking medication or using the toilet, discuss this with the airline before travel. Airport assistance staff and cabin crew do not provide all forms of personal care, so you may need a travelling companion.

On arrival, report to the agreed assistance point and make yourself known to staff. Explain any immediate needs and confirm how you will reach check-in, security and the departure gate. If you can walk only short distances or cannot stand for long, say so even if you are not using a wheelchair.

You must still complete security screening. Before screening begins, tell security staff about mobility restrictions, medical devices, pain or difficulty following instructions. Ask them to explain the process and discuss any adjustments you need. You can request private screening if appropriate.

For non-visible disabilities, describe the support that helps you: clear step-by-step instructions, extra processing time or help navigating the terminal. A Sunflower lanyard can indicate a non-visible disability, but it does not replace an assistance booking or guarantee priority through queues.

For a child who needs assistance, tell the airline about both mobility and communication needs. Keep familiar comfort items accessible, and ask staff what happens next so you can prepare your child for each stage.

Before reaching the gate, confirm what help you need to board and transfer into your seat. Do not assume the aircraft will be reached by a level walkway: boarding arrangements can vary. Remind staff if you cannot use steps or need specialist transfer support.

Ask where to wait and whether you should remain there until assistance staff return. If you leave the agreed waiting point, tell staff so they know where to find you. Keep an eye on flight updates, but ask for help if screens or announcements are not accessible to you.

At your destination, follow the crew’s instructions while the arranged assistance is coordinated. Confirm where your mobility aid will be returned and who will help you through arrivals.

For your return to Manchester, request assistance through the airline in advance. Agree where airport support ends and how you will reach your onward transport or vehicle collection point.