Airport assistance

[Freddiefan]

Hi , just wondering if anyone has experience of using the airport assistance here and in Greece. I have requested it for our holiday flying to a Greek island and looking for any personal experience you may have had.

Thanks in advance x

[Lizard28]

My husband has reluctantly used it when he is bad. They were super with him. We got on the plane first, carried his hand luggage, had to get off the plane last where assistance was waiting to take us to get our luggage. Thought it was a super service.

[Freddiefan in reply to Lizard28]

Yes I’m also reluctant but unable to stand for very long so - here goes . Thanks for your reply.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Freddiefan]

I have used an airport service before for priority access to the plane and using an “ambulift” so you don’t have to climb up into a transfer coach or high plane steps if no airbridge from terminal gate. The airport booked it for me and called it a Sierra Assist or Passenger Assist, which can include wheelchair too if requested/required. Your GP may need to provide a letter to your travel company.

Oh and no one sees you except anyone else in the ambulift vehicle and you go on first anyhow. Not that it would bother me one bit.

[Madmusiclover]

They were amazing! I thankfully don’t need it now but both train and flying assistance were very very helpful.

[rounder]

I've used it in UK airports several times and always valued the support. It helps to get through security without standing in long queues, and similarly boarding the plane. At overseas airports it's been more bit and miss, but when it works well it's fantastic, Dubai airport assistance was amazing after a 17 hour flight reroute from New Zealand. It's definitely worth booking if you have some mobility limitations.

[AgedCrone]

It depends very much on which airport you use.My main concern was that nobody I knewc would see me!!

One thing I would say ….is make sure you book well ahead- particularly with the holiday season coming up which seems as if it might be very busy ….there are only a certain number of facilities available….especially at smaller airports.

I have used the facility at Birmingham and Heathrow Airports and both were excellent.

I haven’t used them going to Greece so I don’t know what the facilities are like over there.

Happy holidays!

[Goldsky]

I use it each time I travel, which isn’t often, and they have always been magnificent. My mobility is very poor and so a wheelchair is essential in these circumstances.We go to Australia to see our daughter and at each stop they are ready for me, I get on the aeroplane first and off last.

Give it a go if you have too, I was dreading it but was very pleasantly surprised. Good luck Freddiefan.

[Runrig01]

I’ve used it both here and abroad. The U.K. end on the outbound flights have been great. You have to be prepared for the rest of those travelling with you to make their way to the plane separately, due to the numbers needing assistance my hubby has never been able to travel on the buggy with me. If you don’t have an air bridge to the plane you are taken by bus and they use a lift to take you up to the doors. The problem I’ve had twice is on my return, the airport I’m travelling from were great and had full support, however when I landed there was no one there to meet me, and my last trip we were last off and no Gatwick staff available to ask. I ended up having to walk the long distance, ending up a sweaty breathless mess. When we did eventually get to enquire the foreign airport had not related the info to them. Even just wearing a sunflower lanyard will save you having to stand in queues, which is one thing I can’t do. I would also book it all well in advance.

[Happy5]

Been a while for me used it at Heathrow but despite asking for it before arriving at Heathrow was asked to check in first. Meant I was standing for a while to check really not a good experience (was on my own so unable to get help from anyone), once checked in hen supplied wheelchair and assistance.

It was very good after that.

[lupus_01]

I live in greece so have used athens airport and our local airport kalamata. Both were good with assistance. Stansted airport assist were a bit crap a few years back. I had ordered assistance but nothing turned up! Heathrow and gatwick were good but dont expect to be able to browse airport shops. Gatwick sometimes gives you a pager so you can go and eat somewhere. Dont know about the greek islands but usually they are good.