I Can Walk—So I Never Thought Airport Assistance Was for Me: Travel Help You May Not Know You Can Ask For

I Can Walk—So I Never Thought Airport Assistance Was for Me: Travel Help You May Not Know You Can Ask For

Sea-Tac International Airport is massive. With several levels, long corridors, and trains to get you to different parts of the airport, getting from security to your gate can feel like a journey of its own. If you have mobility issues, cognitive disabilities, or chronic illnesses, navigating a large airport can be particularly frustrating.

The last time I flew through Sea-Tac, I was heading to New Orleans to visit a friend. I love visiting New Orleans, but the beginning of this particular trip was difficult.

Several of my chronic illnesses were flaring. My congestive heart failure wasn't as regulated as it needed to be, and I had gained a lot of weight. I had my compression socks on, but I still felt slow and sluggish. My lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia were working overtime. On top of everything else, my back was bothering me.

I knew I wasn't moving very quickly, so I made a point of getting to the airport early. I wanted plenty of time to make it to my gate.

I needed it.

After getting through security, I glanced at my boarding pass and realized my gate was on the far side of the airport. It was going to be a trek, and my body was not feeling it.

But I started walking.

It felt like the longest walk of my life. I would walk as far as I could and then stop to rest. As I made my way through the airport, I saw people being pushed in wheelchairs.

I walked a little farther.

Then I noticed people riding on airport carts.

I rested again.

I remember looking at them and wishing I could get assistance like that. A wheelchair would have made things so much easier. A ride on one of those carts would have been wonderful.

But in my mind, that help wasn't for me.

I could walk.

So I pushed on.

Eventually, I made it to my gate. I got to New Orleans, rested, my flare subsided, and I had a great time in a city I love. For more information on a great experience in New Orleans, check out my article, New Orleans--The Big Easy.

But here's what I didn't know then:

I had suffered through that airport for nothing.

Some of that assistance I saw other travelers receiving was meant for people like me, too.

I didn't have to be unable to walk. I didn't have to use a wheelchair in my everyday life. And I didn't have to prove that I was "disabled enough" before I was allowed to ask what assistance was available.

I simply didn't know.

And I'm willing to bet I'm not the only traveler who has made that mistake.

Have you ever struggled through an airport and desperately needed help but thought your condition wasn't serious enough to ask for it?

Maybe you can walk, but not comfortably for half a mile through an enormous terminal. Maybe standing in a long security line leaves you exhausted before your vacation even begins. Maybe pain, fatigue, brain fog, sensory overload, balance problems, or another condition makes navigating an unfamiliar airport much harder than it appears to everyone around you.

Or maybe you've decided flying simply isn't worth the hassle anymore.

You stay home. You choose a different vacation. Or you don't take the trip at all because you imagine the airport and think, I can't do that.

Before you give up on the trip, think again.

There may be assistance available that you've never thought to ask for.

That's what we're going to talk about—what help may be available, who can ask for it, what it actually provides, what it doesn't provide, and how to request it before your next trip.

Because sometimes making travel fit your life doesn't mean pushing your body harder.

Sometimes it means knowing when you're allowed to ask for help.

You Don't Have to Use a Wheelchair Every Day to Need One at an Airport

This was the misconception I had.

I associated airport wheelchairs with people who couldn't walk.

I could walk. Therefore, in my mind, the wheelchair wasn't for me.

But there's an enormous difference between being able to walk across your living room and being able to comfortably navigate a huge airport while carrying belongings, standing in lines, going through security, getting to a distant concourse, and then boarding an airplane.

The U.S. Department of Transportation specifically advises passengers who are unable to walk long distances to request airport wheelchair assistance when making their reservation.

Under the Air Carrier Access Act, airlines must provide certain assistance to passengers with disabilities. That can include wheelchair or guided assistance through the airport, help boarding and deplaning, assistance making connections, and help getting to important areas such as baggage claim.

The key isn't whether you can take steps.

It's whether you have a disability-related need for the assistance.

A person may walk independently in everyday life but have a condition that substantially limits mobility, stamina, vision, cognition, or another major life activity. Someone else might have no visible sign of disability at all.

That is why judging who "looks disabled" enough to receive assistance doesn't make sense. Read my article, "But you don't look sick": How to handle judgement when you live with an invisible illness, will help you set boundaries and live confidently with chronic illness.

And it's also why we shouldn't judge ourselves that way.

Start With Your Airline: Wheelchair and Guided Assistance

If walking long distances through an airport is difficult because of a disability, your airline should be one of your first calls.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) says airlines must provide requested assistance to passengers with disabilities as they navigate different portions of an airport.

Depending on your needs, that can include assistance from the terminal entrance or vehicle drop-off point to your departure gate, through the security checkpoint, onto the aircraft, between gates when making a connection, and from an arriving flight to baggage claim or the terminal exit.

Airlines are also required to provide assistance in key functional areas of the airport, such as ticket counters and baggage claim.

This is important: airport wheelchair assistance is not just for someone bringing a personal wheelchair onto the airplane.

You can request an airport wheelchair because walking the distances involved is difficult for you.

You can also ask what other guided assistance is available if a wheelchair isn't the appropriate solution for your disability.

DOT notes, for example, that someone who has difficulty walking long distances but can use stairs might sometimes be assisted by an airport cart rather than a wheelchair.

Availability of motorized carts and the way assistance is delivered can vary, so don't assume that because you once saw a cart in an airport, you'll automatically be able to flag one down on your next trip.

Ask your airline what assistance is available and explain what you need help doing.

That's much better than trying to figure out the airport's system after you're already exhausted.

You Usually Don't Need to Wait Until the Airport to Ask

For many common disability accommodations, airlines generally cannot require advance notice. There are exceptions for certain specialized services and equipment.

But there's a big difference between what you are legally required to do and what can make your travel day easier.

If you know you'll need wheelchair or guided assistance, request it when you book your flight or contact your airline ahead of time.

Be specific.

Instead of simply saying, "I need some help," explain what you have difficulty doing.

For example:

"I can walk short distances, but because of my disability I can't manage the long distances through an airport. I need wheelchair assistance to my gate."

That communicates the actual limitation without requiring you to give a stranger your complete medical history.

Then confirm the request with your airline before you travel.

And when you arrive at the airport, identify yourself to airline personnel and tell them that you requested assistance. Having it noted on your reservation doesn't mean airport staff will automatically know which passenger you are when you walk through the door.

TSA Cares: Help With the Security Part of Your Trip

This is another service I wish more travelers knew about.

TSA Cares is different from airline wheelchair assistance.

TSA Cares is a Transportation Security Administration program for travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, and other circumstances who need information or assistance with the security-screening process.

That distinction matters.

Your airline may help arrange wheelchair or guided assistance through the airport. TSA is responsible for security screening.

If you are concerned about how you'll get through screening with a medical condition, disability, medical device, medication, or another special circumstance, TSA Cares can help you understand what to expect.

Travelers can also request assistance from a Passenger Support Specialist, or PSS. These are specially trained TSA employees who assist passengers with concerns related to security screening.

TSA advises contacting TSA Cares at least 72 hours before travel when requesting Passenger Support Specialist assistance at the checkpoint.

And if a PSS isn't available when you arrive, TSA says you may ask for a supervisory TSA officer.

This could be especially useful if security is one of the reasons you dread flying.

Knowing what will happen before you arrive can remove at least one unknown from an already demanding travel day.

The TSA Notification Card

TSA also offers a Disability Notification Card that a traveler can use to discreetly communicate a medical condition, disability, or other circumstance that may affect screening.

The card does not exempt you from security screening.

Think of it as a communication tool.

That can be particularly helpful when explaining your situation out loud is difficult, stressful, or simply not something you want to announce to everyone standing around you.

Travelers can also tell TSA officers about medically necessary items or concerns before screening begins.

For those of us traveling with chronic illnesses, the important lesson is this:

Don't wait until something becomes a problem to explain what you need.

Prepare ahead of time.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: A Quiet Way of Saying "I May Need Extra Help"

Some disabilities and medical conditions are obvious.

Many aren't.

A person might have autism, dementia, hearing loss, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, or another condition that isn't apparent to the person standing next to them.

That is one reason the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program exists.

A sunflower lanyard or other Sunflower identifier discreetly communicates that the person wearing it has a non-apparent disability and may need additional time, patience, understanding, or assistance.

SEA became the first U.S. airport to introduce the Sunflower lanyard program in 2019, which makes it especially relevant to my story. Today, the program is recognized at a growing number of airports and other locations.

At SEA, the lanyards are currently available free at designated airport information desks.

But here's the part I don't want anyone to misunderstand:

A Sunflower lanyard is not the same thing as requesting wheelchair assistance, TSA Cares, or another specific accommodation.

It doesn't automatically arrange an escort to your gate. It doesn't replace contacting your airline. And it shouldn't be treated as a magic pass through airport lines.

It's a signal.

If you need a specific accommodation, request that accommodation separately.

Also check the airport you're actually using before your trip. Programs and availability differ from airport to airport.

What About Cognitive Disabilities, Brain Fog and Sensory Issues?

Mobility is only one reason an airport can be difficult.

Airports are loud.

They're crowded.

Signs are everywhere. Announcements are coming over speakers. Gates change. Screens change. You're watching your belongings, finding identification, remembering where you're going, listening for boarding announcements, and trying to follow directions.

Now add brain fog, memory problems, autism, sensory processing difficulties, low vision, hearing loss, anxiety associated with a disability, dementia, or another cognitive or neurological condition.

The physical distance might not even be the hardest part.

Some airports have developed additional accessibility programs that can help. Depending on the airport, you may find sensory rooms or quiet spaces, visual or auditory assistance, social stories that let travelers preview the airport experience, information-desk assistance, wayfinding help, or participation in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.

SEA, for example, offers a sensory room and several resources for travelers with visible and non-apparent disabilities.

But these services aren't identical nationwide.

Before you fly, search the accessibility section of the websites for both your departure and arrival airports—and your connecting airport if you have one.

You may be surprised by what you find.

Don't Forget About Your Connecting Airport

This is easy to overlook.

You research the airport you're leaving from. You know how you're going to get through security and reach your first gate.

Then you land somewhere enormous and discover that your next flight is departing from another concourse.

If you have a connection, include it when arranging your assistance.

Under DOT rules, airline assistance for passengers with disabilities can include getting from an arriving aircraft to the gate for a connecting flight and then assisting with boarding that next aircraft.

This can be especially important when you have limited stamina.

A connection that looks completely reasonable when you're sitting at home booking the ticket can feel very different after you've already spent several hours traveling.

You May Also Qualify for Preboarding

Here's another service people sometimes think is reserved for someone who "looks more disabled."

If you self-identify at the gate as a passenger with a disability and need additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment, or be seated, airlines must give you the opportunity to board before other passengers.

Think about what that could mean for someone with chronic pain, limited mobility, balance problems, or another disability.

Instead of being caught in the rush while dozens of people are trying to get down the aisle and put bags into overhead bins, you may have additional time to get settled.

Again, the purpose isn't getting a perk.

It's removing a disability-related barrier.

If you need preboarding, tell the airline personnel at your gate.

What If You Need to Use the Restroom While You're Being Assisted?

This is one of those practical questions that doesn't get talked about enough.

According to DOT guidance, if airline personnel are assisting you to your departing flight and you ask to stop at a restroom, they must stop at the entrance to a restroom if it's on the way to your destination and doing so will not cause an unreasonable delay.

That doesn't mean the employee provides personal bathroom assistance.

But it does mean needing wheelchair or guided assistance doesn't necessarily mean you have to choose between getting to your gate and making a reasonable restroom stop along the way.

If you need one, ask.

What If You Didn't Request Help Before the Trip?

Ask anyway.

Maybe you felt fine when you booked your flight.

Then your condition flared.

Maybe you landed after a long flight and realized there was no way your body was going to handle the distance to baggage claim.

DOT recommends arranging assistance ahead of time, but if you realize during a flight that you'll need help at your destination or connection, tell the flight crew.

And at the airport, self-identify to airline staff as a passenger with a disability who needs assistance.

This is particularly important for people with fluctuating chronic illnesses.

Our bodies don't always follow our itineraries.

If Something Goes Wrong, Ask for the Airline's CRO

Here's another term worth remembering:

Complaint Resolution Official, or CRO.

A CRO is an airline's expert on disability-accommodation issues.

If you believe your rights under the Air Carrier Access Act are being violated, DOT advises asking to speak with the airline's CRO.

Airlines are required to make a CRO available at no cost, either in person at the airport or by telephone during operating hours.

You don't need to memorize every federal regulation before taking a vacation.

Just remember those three letters:

C-R-O.

If you're having a serious disability-accommodation problem with an airline and ordinary conversations aren't resolving it, ask for the CRO.

What About Paid Airport Assistance Services?

There are also private companies offering airport concierge and traveler-assistance services.

These are different from the disability-related assistance that airlines, TSA, and airports may provide.

Some travelers may find paid concierge services helpful for things such as meeting them at the airport, helping with baggage, navigating an unfamiliar terminal, or providing more individualized assistance.

But don't start by assuming you have to pay.

First find out what assistance your airline, TSA, and airport already provide.

Some of those services are free or are rights afforded to qualifying passengers with disabilities.

Only after you understand those options would I consider looking at a private service.

And investigate private companies carefully before handing over your money or personal travel information. Services, pricing, airport coverage, cancellation policies, and the exact assistance provided can vary significantly.

During the research for this article, I contacted Travelers Care, one company offering traveler-assistance information/services. I was directed back to the company's website for information. Because I haven't personally used or fully vetted the service, I'm not going to recommend it as though I have.

If I eventually try a private airport-assistance company myself, I'll tell you exactly what my experience was—the good, the bad, and whether I thought it was worth the money.

Make Travel Work for Your Body

If you've been pushing yourself through airports because you didn't realize help might be available, you're exactly the kind of traveler I created The Single, Sick & Broke Traveler for. Become part of the community and get more when you travel. Sign up with your email below.

Don't Wait Until You're Exhausted to Start Asking Questions

If I could redo that trip through Sea-Tac, this is what I would change.

I wouldn't wait until I was sitting somewhere in the terminal exhausted, watching other people receive assistance and wishing I could have it too.

I would start before leaving home.

I'd look at my body realistically and ask:

How am I doing right now?

How far can I comfortably walk?

How long can I stand?

What happens if my gate changes?

Could I handle a long connection?

What part of the airport is likely to be hardest for me?

Then I'd arrange help around those answers.

That's very different from asking yourself:

"Am I disabled enough?"

You don't need to compare your body with the person sitting next to you.

You need to understand your own limitations and ask about the assistance designed to address them.

A Wheelchair Doesn't Define You

I think this deserves its own section because I know I'm not the only person who has thought this way.

Using a wheelchair at an airport doesn't necessarily mean you've "become a wheelchair user."

It doesn't mean you've given up.

And it doesn't erase the fact that you can walk.

It means that for this particular environment, on this particular day, walking an enormous distance may not be appropriate for you.

You might walk around New Orleans once you arrive.

You might explore a museum tomorrow.

You might feel considerably better after a night's sleep.

And you might still need a wheelchair to get through a massive airport today.

Those things can all be true.

For people with fluctuating chronic illness especially, what we can do today may be very different from what we can do tomorrow.

Travel is easier when we stop demanding that our bodies prove something.

Airport Assistance Checklist: Before Your Next Flight

Use this checklist as a starting point. Because services vary by airline and airport, always verify the details for your particular trip.

When booking your flight

☐ Think realistically about how far you can comfortably walk and how long you can stand.

☐ If you have a disability-related need for wheelchair or guided assistance, request it from your airline.

☐ Tell the airline what you actually need help doing rather than assuming all "airport assistance" is the same.

☐ If you have connecting flights, ask how assistance will work during each connection.

☐ Check whether you have any specialized accommodation or equipment that requires advance notice.

A few days before departure

☐ Reconfirm requested assistance with your airline.

☐ If you need help or have concerns about TSA security screening, contact TSA Cares.

☐ When requesting Passenger Support Specialist assistance, contact TSA Cares at least 72 hours before travel when possible.

☐ Look up the accessibility pages for your departure, connecting, and destination airports.

☐ Check for airport-specific resources such as sensory rooms, quiet spaces, wayfinding assistance, visual or hearing assistance, or the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.

☐ If useful to you, download or print the TSA Disability Notification Card.

☐ Review TSA requirements for medications, medical devices, medically necessary liquids, and other supplies you plan to carry.

On travel day

☐ Give yourself extra time. Assistance makes an airport more manageable; it doesn't make airport delays disappear.

☐ When you arrive, identify yourself to airline personnel and let them know you've requested assistance.

☐ Don't be embarrassed to explain your functional limitation: "I can walk short distances, but I can't manage the distance to my gate."

☐ Tell TSA personnel about medical devices, medications, or screening concerns before screening when appropriate.

☐ If you need assistance with security screening, ask for a Passenger Support Specialist or supervisory TSA officer.

☐ At the gate, tell airline personnel if your disability means you need additional time or assistance to board.

☐ If your gate changes, tell the personnel assisting you rather than trying to make the new distance on your own.

☐ If your condition changes during the flight and you realize you'll need assistance when you land, tell the flight crew.

☐ If you encounter an unresolved airline disability-accommodation problem, ask for the airline's Complaint Resolution Official (CRO).

☐ Most importantly: don't wait until you're completely exhausted to ask for help.

You Don't Have to Prove How Tough You Are

I made it across Sea-Tac that day.

Technically, I could do it.

But I've realized that's not really the point.

The question shouldn't have been, Can I force myself to make it all the way to the gate?

The better question would have been:

Is there assistance available that could help me get there without using up so much of the energy I need for the actual trip?

There was.

I just didn't know to ask.

That's why I'm writing this article.

Maybe you've walked through airports in pain because you thought the wheelchairs weren't for you.

Maybe you've stood in security struggling with a medical condition because you didn't know TSA Cares existed.

Maybe you've avoided flying altogether because the airport feels more intimidating than the destination.

Or maybe you've looked at another traveler receiving assistance and quietly thought, I wish I could get some help, too.

Find out.

Call your airline.

Check your airport's accessibility services.

Contact TSA Cares when you need screening assistance.

Ask what is available for your particular disability-related needs rather than deciding ahead of time that you don't qualify.

I still love New Orleans.

But knowing what I know today, if my body were struggling like it was before that trip, I'd do something very differently.

I'd ask for help.

And then I'd save my energy for New Orleans.

Get there your way.

Travel Should Work for You—Not Against You

If you’re trying to travel with chronic illness, limited energy, a tight budget, or simply need a little more help making travel fit your life, you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

Join The Single, Sick & Broke Traveler community for practical travel tips, free resources, checklists, and encouragement to help you travel in a way that works for your body, your budget, and your life. Sign in with your email below.

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Medical Disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individual medical conditions, disabilities, medications, mobility needs, and travel risks vary. Talk with your physician or other qualified healthcare professional about your individual health needs and whether air travel is appropriate for you, particularly if you have a chronic or unstable medical condition. Airline, airport, TSA, and accessibility policies and services may also change, so verify current requirements and available accommodations directly with your airline, airport, TSA, and other appropriate providers before traveling.

The Single, Sick & Broke Traveler

Travel stories for the brave and budget-conscious.

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