Special assistance
Book your trip
If you have reduced mobility and require special assistance during your flight, you must provide this information when booking your trip. According to EU regulations, individuals with reduced mobility have the right to aid if the booking is made at least 48 hours before the specified departure time.
This applies, for example, if you:
- Require special assistance to get to and from the aircraft and to board
- Use portable oxygen equipment
- Are wheelchair-bound and use a wheelchair or an electric/battery-powered wheelchair
- Have visual or hearing impairments and require direct information
- Travel with a guide dog
If the booking isn’t made in time, you will still receive assistance at the airport – but the airport may not be able to provide the exact service you desire. Please contact the airline or your travel agency, to ensure assistance.
Meeting Point at the airport
A meeting point is a location where individuals with reduced mobility can register their arrival at the airport and request assistance. At Kristianstad Österlen Airport, the meeting point is located at the information desk in the departure hall.
Manual Wheelchair
Often, it’s possible to use your manual wheelchair to the aircraft. If you prefer to check in your wheelchair, you can borrow one of the airport’s wheelchairs to reach the aircraft stairs.
Security Check
All passengers must pass through the security checkpoint before entering the gate area. Passengers using manual wheelchairs will inevitably trigger the metal detector, and security personnel must conduct a manual pat-down for individuals who set off the alarm. You can request the pat down in a private room if you prefer.
Restroom Visits
Airport staff can assist in pushing the wheelchair to the restroom but do not assist inside. If you require restroom assistance, it’s recommended to travel with a companion.
Assistance during Boarding
Airport staff typically board with you before other passengers. Then, the plane is empty, providing ample space to position yourself in your seat. You will be escorted to the aircraft, lifted from the wheelchair onto a transport chair, manually carried up the aircraft stairs, and transferred to your seat.
Upon Arrival
Upon arrival, airport personnel will meet you at the aircraft and provide the assistance you require. If you have an electric wheelchair, you typically switch to the airport’s manual loan wheelchair at the aircraft door, and you will receive your electric wheelchair back at the baggage claim. You should be able to provide clear instructions on assembling the wheelchair. If assembly is complex, you must inform us beforehand, so that you receive the necessary assistance.
You will be assisted from the aircraft, through immigration if applicable, to the baggage carousel to collect your baggage and to customs control if necessary. The assistance concludes at the airport’s meeting point upon arrival, conveniently located for your next mode of transportation, whether it’s a taxi, bus, or train. The staff will also assist you with connecting flights. Remember to plan onward transport from the airport to your hotel or destination after arrival.
Please check with your airline or travel organizer for information about specific regulations applicable to your journey.
Oxygen Equipment
If you use oxygen equipment, it’s important to declare this during the booking process. If you have personal oxygen equipment, specify the type you have. If you don’t require oxygen throughout the journey, you don’t need to bring your cylinders into the cabin. Oxygen cylinders for emergency use are available onboard. If you’re taking a longer international journey, or changing planes, check with the travel agency or airline to confirm that the batteries and oxygen equipment are approved by the airlines you’re traveling with. Different rules apply to airlines, so you must ensure that the airline you’re traveling with allows your equipment onboard. If you’re traveling with multiple airlines, you need to contact each one of them.
Medication
Medication should always be carried in your carry-on baggage in the aircraft cabin. Checked baggage can be damaged or lost along the way, causing delays. Medication in liquid form should be presented at the security checkpoint. You might be asked to taste-test your medication or provide a medical certificate showing your need for them during the journey. If your liquid medication is stored in a container larger than 100 ml, you should show the bottle to the staff at the security checkpoint.
Service Dog
It’s important to inform if you’re traveling with a service dog during the booking process. The rules for bringing a service dog can vary depending on the airline you’re flying with and the destination country. Therefore it’s crucial to contact the airline well in advance if you’re traveling with a service dog.
Complaints
An airline cannot refuse your booking due to reduced mobility. The airline also cannot deny you, as a person with reduced mobility, boarding if you have a valid ticket. If you need to get in touch with airport staff, you can do so here.
Electric/Battery-Powered Wheelchair
An electric wheelchair may not be accommodated on all types of aircraft. Please carefully check with the airline for their specific regulations. Passengers with reduced mobility cannot bring their wheelchairs into the cabin. The wheelchair is transported in the baggage compartment at no extra cost and is not counted towards the allowed baggage weight. Airport personnel handle your equipment with care during loading and unloading. To minimize the risk of damage, it’s recommended that you disassemble all loose parts from your wheelchair before leaving it at the airport. The airport is responsible for providing a temporary replacement for any damaged or lost assistive devices if the damage occurs during assistance. However, these replacements may not always be identical to the lost items. When booking your trip, you must indicate the type of electric wheelchair you have, as well as its dimensions and weight. The dimensions and weight of the electric wheelchair determine whether the airline can transport it or not.