Airport assistance and other members of party

[Catcherintherice]

Does anyone know how many people can accompany the one needing assistance?

I have tried Googling but can’t get a conclusive answer.

I will shortly be going on holiday with my friend, who will need wheelchair assistance as she is unable to walk more than a few paces, or stand in queues for more than two minutes or so, and her elderly mother.

I can provide physical help if needed, eg getting in and out of chair, carrying her bag, pushing the wheelchair if necessary. Her mother isn’t capable of doing this. She doesn’t have any particular problems except she is elderly and not that strong. She can walk reasonable distances and stand unaided. She is NT but is nervous and would be very stressed and upset to have to be separated from her daughter.

I know that one person can accompany as I have been the companion previously.

I am trying to work out logistics. My friend and her mother are sitting together on the plane so it makes sense for them to board together if only one companion is allowed. I think boarding will be via a vehicle with a lift, and assume places are limited.

If the person accompanying her through security and passport control, etc has any flexibility I feel fairly confident that I can explain why it’s desirable for us all to be together.
Also if the member of staff took full responsibility for all wheelchair pushing, handling of luggage and assistance through security then I wouldn’t be needed.
This wasn’t our last experience though, which would have been almost funny if it had not caused my friend pain. The man pushing the wheelchair went through security with the chair and her stick - leaving her clinging to the table. I had to get through and ask him to go back for her.

I’d request airport assistance for both your and her mother. You said her mother isn’t very strong anyway. That would take care of all you and keep you all together.

As above, both request assistance and you go as a companion. The buggies take at least four passengers.

Thank you. I requested assistance for my friend as she has a Blue Badge, but didn’t realise I could also ask for it for her mother.
I have looked at the guidance and it does include elderly passengers, so I think that’s my answer. Thank you very much.

Depends what country you are in. In the UK the format was person in wheel chair was pushed compared to in eg Dubai they’d put the whole party on a golf buggy!

It depends on the airport. At Gatwick they use a wheelchair and the whole family can stay together. In the French airports we’ve used someone whisks the person in the wheelchair through a different security route and you don’t see them until you get to the gate.

There is no criteria to request assistance. You do not need a Blue Badge or to get PIP.
I would request it for both as well. Although her mother has to agree to this.
Also if it is difficult to get up the stairs I would request a tail lift.

In terms of boarding via a lift, there is no limit on number of people. If there are too many, which is unlikely, they will just load people and come back to do a second run. So don't worry about that.

I agree it varies. Brussels Airport I was given the choice of leaving my mother with them and meeting them at the gate or being given a wheelchair and pushing her myself. I chose the first and it was easy and we used the special lanes etc but in this case you would be better getting assistance for both.