Icelandair Wheelchair Assistance – How to request?

Air travel can be exhausting, but for passengers with mobility limitations, it may also present a series of unique challenges. Navigating large airports, managing security checks, or boarding a plane can be daunting without the proper support. This is where an airline’s commitment to accessibility becomes crucial. Icelandair, the national airline of Iceland, provides a range of services to ensure that travelers who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids have a smooth and dignified experience. As accessibility in aviation gains more global attention, Icelandair continues to refine its offerings to ensure passengers with mobility limitations are treated with respect and care.

Passengers can request wheelchair assistance online through www.icelandair.com or Icelandair’s contact number +1-800-223-5500. This in-depth guide provides a comprehensive overview of Icelandair Wheelchair Assistance services, covering everything from how to request help and the types of support offered to onboard accommodations and the handling of mobility equipment, as well as compliance with international standards.

How to Request Wheelchair Assistance with Icelandair?

Here’s a step-by-step, detailed process through which you can request Icelandair Wheelchair Assistance easily at the airport or online.

During Booking

Wheelchair Assistance can be easily booked at the time of booking a flight, whether online or through an agent. You can follow these steps to book wheelchair assistance.

• Visit the Icelandair official website (www.icelandair.com), and book the preferred flight.
• While booking the flight, look for the “mobility assistance” or “wheelchair assistance” section.
• This section will provide a list of options for the type of assistance, so choose it according to the requirements. 
• You can indicate the need for wheelchair assistance by selecting the relevant special services request (SSR) option, and also submit all the related documents as requested. 
• Lastly, submit the request and wait for confirmation from the airline.

After Booking

If your needs arise after you’ve already booked your ticket, then you can still add wheelchair assistance by contacting Icelandair’s Special Assistance team through phone or email. It is also advised to make wheelchair assistance requests at least 48 hours before your departure. You can follow the steps given below to book wheelchair assistance after booking the flight. 

• Visit the official website of Icelandair, log in with your booking ID, and navigate to the “support” section of the website.
• Click on the Contact Us or Claims and find the ‘support request form’.
• Fill the form with the necessary details, including types of assistance, booking details, contact information, and more. 
• After filling the form, do the reCAPTCHA test and submit the form. 

Required Information for Wheelchair Assistance

• The type of wheelchair assistance needed (e.g., unable to walk at all, able to walk short distances).
• Whether you’re traveling with your own wheelchair or mobility aid.
• Specifications of any battery-powered devices (e.g., type of battery).
• Whether assistance is needed during boarding, deplaning, or both.

Icelandair will log this information into your booking, ensuring the airport staff and cabin crew are prepared to assist you on your journey.

Icelandair Contact Details

You can contact Icelandair in various ways, like,

• Through an online special assistance form.
• Calling the Icelandair customer service number.
• Emailing the airline’s support team.
• Through travel agents.

Icelandair Wheelchair Assistance Options

Not all mobility needs are the same, so Icelandair follows standard international codes to define the level of support passengers may need. By categorizing the need properly, Icelandair ensures customized and efficient assistance for every mobility profile. Here’s about some of them. 

• WCHR (Wheelchair-Ramp): You can walk short distances and up/down stairs, but you need assistance through the Icelandair Terminals to and from the gate.
• WCHS (Wheelchair-Steps): You cannot walk up or down stairs, but can move around the cabin. You’ll require assistance from check-in to the aircraft seat, including up/down steps.
• WCHC (Wheelchair-Cabin Seat): You are completely immobile and require full assistance to and from your seat, including an aisle chair to get into the aircraft and onboard movement.
• BLND / DEAF Assistance: For travelers who are both visually and hearing impaired, staff can be assigned to provide personal assistance through the airport.

Elements of Icelandair Wheelchair Assistance

You might need wheelchair assistance at the different stages of your journey, so here’s what to do and how the airline will help you to ensure a smooth and comfortable journey.

Airport Assistance Services

Icelandair operates from several major hubs, and its special assistance offerings are available across all serviced airports and often in coordination with local airport authorities.

You can get help at the departure airport with check-in and baggage drop. You can also ask escort through the securty screening process. Assistance is also available to get help with navigating to the gate and priority boarding. The staff of the airlines are always present at the airport to assist the passengers. However, you can also get assistance at the time of boarding. If you are unable to walk down the narrow aircraft aisle, then you can use an aisle chair. A lift or ramp is also available, especially for passengers with reduced mobility.

You can also get assistance with hand luggage storage if you need it. Not only these, but wheelchair assistance is also available for you upon arrival. The in-flight crew will provide you with deplaning assistance, such as an aisle chair and, disembarkation ramp. You will also get escorts which helps you through customs and immigration. You will also get assistance with baggage claim and ground transportation. If connecting through airports, Icelandair coordinates with those facilities to ensure continued assistance, minimizing passenger stress.

Onboard Accessibility Facilities

Icelandair excels in providing onboard accessibility facilities to all of its passengers and especially to passengers with reduced mobility. Icelandair operates a fleet including Boeing 737 MAX, 757, and 767 aircraft. While none of the aircraft currently offer fully wheelchair-accessible lavatories but the cabin crew is trained to assist passengers as needed. For WCHC passengers, an aisle chair is used to help board and access seating. These are narrow, specially designed wheelchairs that fit between aircraft aisles and are operated by trained crew. Cabin crew receive training in communicating with passengers who may have hearing, visual, or cognitive disabilities. If you have a communication preference (e.g., written instructions), it’s best to inform the airline in advance or upon boarding, or 48 hours before scheduled departure.

Traveling with Personal Mobility Devices

Passengers’ comfort and convenience are the airline’s priority, and passengers with reduced mobility find comfort with their wheelchairs. So, Icelandair allows you to bring your wheelchair for your travel. But you need to inform the airline in advance, at least 48 hours before departure, about carrying your wheelchair and about its details. If you use manual wheelchairs, then you can be brought with that wheelchair to the aircraft door in most cases. It can also be transported in the cargo hold at no extra cost. Your wheelchairs are handled with care by the trained staff of the airlines.

If you use battery-powered wheelchairs, then you should inform the airlines at least 48 hours before the scheduled flight. Icelandair accepts dry cell, gel, and lithium-ion batteries in wheelchairs, but with certain limitations. Also, remember that the batteries of the wheelchairs may need to be disconnected or removed, depending on the type of wheelchair. Specific packing requirements are also to be applied to batteries. The mobility aids, like canes, walkers, and crutches, are allowed in the cabin if they fit under the seat or in overhead baggage. The cabin crew can also assist you with storage and retrieval.

Service Animals and Companion Travel

Passengers with certified service animals, like guide dogs, can travel with them in the cabin at no additional cost. Documentation may be required depending on the destination. The animal must behave appropriately and fit within the passenger’s foot space or under the seat.

Customer Reviews and Real Experiences

Generally, travelers have reported positive experiences with Icelandair’s special assistance team. Passengers have appreciated their friendly and respectful staff, their well-managed boarding processes, and their responsiveness to pre-flight requests. 

However, passengers have isolated experiences of delays in wheelchair delivery, or communication gaps have been noted. So it is recommended to you to arrive early, confirm assistance 48 hours before travel, and keep all correspondence and battery specs handy.

Additional Tips to Consider for a Smooth Travel Experience

Air travel becomes easy and convenient when you have extra tips and tricks about the airline. Here are some of the tips or factors to consider while travelling with Icelandair. 

• Book Early: Give the airline plenty of time to arrange the proper support, so you should request wheelchair assistance at least 48 hours before the scheduled departure. Also, there are no additional charges for booking wheelchair assistance, so it is advised to book the assistance at the time of flight booking only.
• Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with EU and U.S. PRM regulations. So If you face any problem at any point of the travel, then you can easily tackle the problem. Though the airline staff is always there to assist you but it’s better to be aware of the rights and regulations to avoid any problem. You can learn everything about the airline’s policies through the Icelandair official website.
• Label Equipment: Tag your wheelchairs with your name and contact number, so that it becomes easy to navigate. In another case, if the wheelchair goes missing, then there are high chances of navigating it smoothly.
• Document Everything: Carry medical notes, battery specs, and assistance confirmation, so that you can easily show the documents at the time of screening and checking. However, there are very chances that the airline will ask for documentation, but it’s advised to keep all the documents ready.
• Travel Insurance: You should consider the coverage that includes insurance for mobility equipment. This contributes to a smooth and stress-free travel. 

Conclusion

Icelandair has demonstrated a consistent commitment to ensuring accessibility for all its passengers, including those with limited mobility. Icelandair Wheelchair Assistance services are designed with the traveler in mind, providing support from the moment you arrive at the airport until you reach your destination. From personalized airport escorting and boarding services to handling of mobility equipment and in-flight accessibility, Icelandair strives to deliver a travel experience that is both comfortable and respectful. For passengers who rely on mobility assistance, early planning and communication with the airline are essential. By understanding Icelandair’s policies and services in advance, travelers can ensure a smooth, stress-free journey.

Frequently Asked Questions