Flying can be exciting, and a great start to the holiday. But the enjoyment is somewhat sucked out the plane door if you find yourself travelling from an inaccessible airport. So, we’ve asked regular disabled traveller Cory Lee to round-up the 7 most wheelchair-friendly airports in America.
Today, when time is the most valuable belonging to everyone, most people prefer flying as it is a much quicker way of getting somewhere. Some airports are more wheelchair friendly than others and America has a wide number of accessible ones. Today, most airports are designed in such a way that they are accessible to all people and comprised of any and every kind of facilities for the travelers. All of these airports have websites that list all the services available and help the people decide which airport they want to travel from one destination to another.
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport (more frequently referred to as LAX) is one of the biggest and most engaged airports in America. The airport is wheelchair friendly and has comfortable lounges and companion care restrooms available. The companion care restrooms are located in terminal 2 and in terminal 6. Along with that, there are wheelchair friendly taxi cabs usually available if you need one when leaving the airport. There are shops and restaurants too, most of which are spacious enough for a wheelchair. Besides that, there are pet parks, so if you have a guide dog they will have an enjoyable time as well.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
As the busiest airport in Arizona, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is also one of the biggest airports in America. The airport has almost all the services that one can imagine. Designed with a beautiful layout, the airport has automatic entrances as well as comfortable restrooms and family lounges. There is accessible ground transportation and wheelchair friendly buses. There are pet parks near all the terminals. The airport has medical facilities available too. Different passages and pathways have been designed for people with disabilities for their convenience.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
This is the sixth busiest airport in America, named after former President John F. Kennedy. The airport is wheelchair friendly with easy access to each of the airport’s terminals. One can rent accessible vehicles or wheel right into city buses from this airport. The airport has pet relief areas, renowned food outlets and shops, Wi-Fi in each terminal, lounges, medical centers and the like. The airport also has restrooms for persons with disabilities located in each terminal. As you can see, JFK has accommodations for every wheelchair user.
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Like all other airports mentioned above, this airport also comes with a facility of Wi-Fi, ground transportation, plenty of handicapped parking spaces, terminal maps, restaurants and cafes, shops, pet assistance services, medical care services and so on. There are services for persons with disabilities available everywhere in the airport. If you require assistance with getting to your gate, just notify the airline personnel at ticketing and they will happily find someone to assist. Wheelchair accessible companion care restrooms are located across from gates T-11, A-8, C-11, D-5, and D-31. There are also telephone booths that are specially designed for disabled persons and offer wheelchair assistance.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Situated in Chicago, this airport has amazing transportation services like parking services, rental cars and accessible taxi cabs, shuttles, and buses. Like all the big airports, this airport also has quality restaurants and shops consisting of everything that is needed to travel. There are banking systems, lost and found and medical services, lounges, areas for business events like conference rooms and the like, along with Wi-Fi services, public art exhibits for entertainment purposes and airport transit systems. This airport has the Purple Airline program, which facilitates everyone with a disability. All disabled people receive extra care from the staff at the airport and do not face any problem at any security checks or terminals. There are special buses available for wheelchair users to travel to and from the plane.
O’Hare also has a sustainability program, where the airport is working their best to save the environment from any pollution. There are also facilities for animals and pets that are traveling with the passenger.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
This airport is also a renowned airport in America and comes with all the services and amenities that a wheelchair friendly airport has. There are diners, shops, Wi-Fi services, and transportation services available at the airport. The airport also has a massage service, play area for kids, animal relief areas, a barber shop, yoga studio and medical center. The disabled community is assisted after they request it before traveling. There are companion care restroom facilities, special telephone booths, permission of taking an assistant along, and accessible taxi cab services. The airport management makes sure to provide every kind of care to wheelchair users.
San Francisco International Airport
San Francisco International Airport is probably one of the busiest airports in America. The airport has commendable facilities of transportation, dining, shopping and so forth. The airport has different exhibitions on art, history and science that serve as entertainment for the passengers. There is an aviation museum, a library, reflection rooms, kids play area, spa services and yoga rooms. The airport also has outlets of many known restaurants and cafes. There are pet centers, medical services and a business areas for people traveling with business groups. The airport has visual and audio paging services for disabled persons, wheelchair services, buses and rental cars, and personal care assistants.
All of these airports have a big range of passengers who prefer these to many others because of the exceptional services and the comfort they offer to all their passengers without any discrimination. Consider flying out of one of these airports the next time you’re planning a wheelchair accessible getaway!
By Cory Lee
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I have to SERIOUSLY disagree with Chicago O’hare being on this list. For the past 5 years, I have flown into O’hare twice a year and, not only has my power wheelchair been damaged by the O’hare ground crew every time, I have also been treated rather poorly on numerous occasions by Chicago based flight attendants. Not only do they not take care of my power wheelchair, the Chicago based crews often treat me as an inconvenience. This attitude has been consistent every time I have flown in or out of O’Hare.
Can you please tell me if any of the airport has Eagle 2 aviation wheelchair lifter??
Hi Priti,
We recommend you join our DH Tribe Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/DHorizonsTribe) and ask the community. They may be able to give you specific answers to your question.