With an enormous range of flight destinations and it’s location in West Essex, London Stansted Airport is a convenient choice for people from Essex looking to fly abroad. As one of the largest airports in the UK, however, some older people may feel worried about navigating their way around it. Thankfully, there is plenty of special assistance available for elderly people who need help getting to and around the airport.
There is also specialist support available for people who struggle with their vision or hearing, or have invisible disabilities such as anxiety, autism or dementia. On this page you can find out about all the support available at London Stansted Airport, and how your relative can go about accessing it.
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Special Assistance at London Stansted Airport
London Stansted Airport can provide customers who need special assistance with the support they require from when they arrive at the airport, to when they leave after their return flight home.
Departure
For departing flights, customers with reduced mobility can be met when they arrive at the airport and receive support through to the moment they have safely reached their seat on the aircraft.
When you arrive at the airport, you can request help getting to check-in from any of the Help Phones, located beside the main terminal doors and in each zone of the Short Stay Car Park.
For more information on special assistance departing from London Stansted Airport, you can visit the website below.
When your relative lands at Stansted, the airport service provider, ABM, can assist passengers from the aircraft back to the terminal, through immigration and on to the baggage reclaim hall.ย
Upon arrival at London Stansted Airport, passengers requiring assistance are met by a minibus, which will transport them directly back to the terminal building. They will arrive at the Assistance lobby to be directed straight through to immigration.ย One family member will be able to accompany an assisted passenger on the minibus. Other travelling companions will be asked to make their way with all other passengers to the terminal building.
For more details on special assistance arriving at London Stansted Airport, you can visit the website below.
How to Book Special Assistance
Special assistance needs to be pre-booked through your relative’s airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before their flight.
If required, you can find a List of Contact Numbers for all the airlines that serve London Stansted Airport, in order to request special assistance.
Accessibility at London Stansted Airport
Guide and hearing dogs are permitted in the terminal buildings. You can call the airport on 0844 335 1803 for any specific enquiries about accessibility. There is also a dedicated Assistance Lane at security, which you or your relative can request access to by speaking to a member of staff at security.
Hidden Disability Assistance
London Stansted Airport operates the Sunflower Lanyard Scheme to support people with hidden disabilities. Wearing the Sunflower lanyard indicates to the airport staff that someone has a hidden disability, such as autism or deafness, and would like or may need some additional support.
You do not need to pre-book a Sunflower Lanyard for your relative – they can be picked up from the Information Desk in the International Arrivals area of the terminal, or at the Assistance reception in zone A.
Please note that due to high demand, these can’t be posted out ahead of travel. Sunflower lanyards do not automatically grant access to the security FastTrack lane, however if you feel you would benefit from using the dedicated Assistance lane please speak to a member of staff at security.
Travelling with Mobility Aids at London Stansted Airport
As mentioned, London Stansted Airport has a designated lane for passengers requiring assistance. This is for passengers who are making their own way through the terminal, as well as those being assisted by the airport’s Special Assistance agents.
If your relative is travelling with their own mobility aid, then this needs to be pre-booked with their airline or travel agent. It is important that the dimensions and weight of the mobility aid is supplied to their airline or travel agent prior to travel, so that they can be prepared for it.
Disabled Parking at London Stansted Airport
There are Blue Badge parking spaces available in all of the car parks at Stansted Airport, though full prices do apply. For some of the car parks further from the terminals, there is a fully accessible bus service that can transfer your relative to and from the airport.
There are Help Point buttons located at the pay stations and the car park barriers which can be used to request help.
Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
If you haven’t already, it is recommended to get travel insurance when travelling abroad. When travelling with a disability, you will need to get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition. This ensures that you are covered effectively for any eventuality.
