Last updated: October 25, 2026
By Sylvia Johnson, LagosMove Senior Editor
Travelers with reduced mobility can request mobility assistance through their carrier when booking. Contact it as soon as you know you need help. For flights from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), request support at check-in, security, boarding and arrival. Keep the confirmation with your travel documents.
Give your carrier clear details about what you can do and where you need assistance. FAAN says you can also ask at the special assistance desk when you arrive, but treat this as a fallback, not a substitute for advance notice.
Key takeaways
- Request wheelchair assistance when booking, or contact your airline at least 48 hours before departure.
- Describe whether you can walk long distances, climb steps and transfer into an aircraft seat.
- The airport authority says wheelchair services cover check-in through boarding and arrival, with dedicated staff and priority at security and boarding gates.
- FAAN’s Passenger Experience Hub lists local-flight arrival guidance of two hours and international guidance of three hours. Another provider recommends at least three hours for wheelchair users.
- Airport wheelchair help is listed as free by Alternative Airlines, but staff aren’t required to provide personal care or medical treatment.
Request mobility assistance before your flight
Ask for assistance when booking your ticket. If you booked without adding the request, contact the airline using the support details on your booking and ask for the assistance to be attached to your reservation.
ALTERNATIVE AIRLINES recommends giving at least 48 hours’ notice. Some carriers and airports need time to arrange the right staff and equipment. The airport authority also advises passengers to notify the carrier in advance.
Tell the airline what help you need
Describe the specific tasks you need help with. For example, say whether you can walk to the gate, manage stairs, transfer into a seat, or move only with a wheelchair. If you use your own chair, tell the airline whether it is manual or battery-powered.
Ask it to confirm the request for every flight in your itinerary, including return and connecting flights. Keep its written confirmation with your ticket and booking reference. A request recorded against the booking gives carrier and airport staff something clear to check.
Use the special assistance desk if you didn’t request help earlier
If you forgot to ask when booking, contact the airline as soon as possible. If you reach the airport without a confirmed request, tell carrier staff and visit the special assistance desk or FAAN help desk in your airport building. FAAN says passengers can also make requests at the desk on arrival.
Late requests may take longer to arrange. Don’t assume that reaching a desk will guarantee the same support as a request made in advance.
Choose the wheelchair assistance that fits your needs
Airlines may use assistance codes to describe the level of mobility support requested. ALTERNATIVE AIRLINES lists these common codes:
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| WCHR | You can climb stairs but can’t walk long distances, such as the distance to a gate. |
| WCHC-S | You can’t climb stairs and need a Passenger Aid Unit to board. |
| WCHC-C | You’re immobile and need full assistance. |
Use the description that matches your needs, not the code that sounds most familiar. If you can walk a short distance but need help across a large terminal, say so. If you can’t use steps or need help transferring into your seat, state that clearly.
Ask what the assistance covers
Ask your airline whether assistance covers help from a meeting point to the gate, security, immigration and customs where applicable, boarding, stowing a cabin bag, and leaving the aircraft.
Support may also include help retrieving checked luggage and mobility equipment.
Ask the airline where staff will meet you and whether your request covers both departure and arrival. An assistance code describes the support requested, but it doesn’t explain the exact meeting point or process at MMIA.
Follow the assistance process at the airport
FAAN announced that wheelchair services would be available from check-in through boarding and on arrival. The announcement also describes dedicated staff and priority at security checks and boarding gates. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE reported these details following FAAN’s announcement.
Start at check-in and stay with the assistance plan
Tell airline staff at check-in that mobility assistance is recorded on your booking. Keep your documents and confirmation accessible, then follow staff directions through security checkpoints and to the boarding gate.
If you need help with your cabin bag or boarding, state that before you reach the aircraft. The announcement describes priority at security and boarding gates, but the specific support you receive depends on your request and the carrier’s arrangements.
Confirm the arrival and connection arrangements
Assistance isn’t only for departure. Ask for support after landing, including help leaving the aircraft and retrieving your wheelchair and luggage. If you have a connection, ask, “Will a wheelchair attendant meet me at the aircraft door and take me to the next gate?”
A connecting flight in the United States has a specific protection: the US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION says airlines must provide wheelchair and guided assistance between flights. That legal requirement applies to US airlines and routes covered by US rules. Don’t treat it as a guarantee for every connection elsewhere.
Prepare your wheelchair and personal care needs
Airport mobility support covers movement through the airport and boarding, but it doesn’t include personal care, medical assistance or treatment.
Disclose battery details for powered equipment
When you book, tell the airline if you travel with a battery-powered wheelchair or scooter. Give the battery type and any requested mobility equipment details. Wet-cell spillable batteries may need to be removed and packed in a secure container, according to ALTERNATIVE AIRLINES.
The carrier needs the battery information to assess how the equipment can be carried. Keep any instructions it provides with your travel documents.
Plan for the aircraft seat and personal support
You must sit in a standard aircraft seat during take-off and landing. Your mobility equipment is carried in the aircraft hold and returned after landing. Ask the airline how it will handle your equipment and when you should expect it back.
Airport and airline staff aren’t required to provide personal care or medical treatment. If you need help with medication, eating, using the toilet or other personal needs, travel with a companion who can provide that support. Don’t assume an airport assistant can take on those responsibilities.
Find FAAN assistance at your Lagos terminal
The Passenger Experience Hub provides disability assistance and accessibility services for older passengers, passengers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors. It covers MMIA, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri.
The FAAN PASSENGER EXPERIENCE HUB lists customer service desk locations at the Lagos airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2), including domestic and international areas. Its directions include T1 departures, left after Gate C beside the screening machine; T2 departures, in the centre of the concourse beneath the flight-display boards; and T2 arrivals, opposite the lift. T1 arrivals desks are listed near the baggage carousels.
The Hub also provides WhatsApp support, a complaints route and call support described as available 24/7. Its published numbers are 080 0000 3226, toll-free, and 0201 330 3226, pay as you go. Use the building name on your itinerary when asking for help.
The Lagos airport has separate facilities, so check which building your flight uses. Use our Lagos airport terminal guide to plan where to go. If someone is meeting you after landing, share the arrival terminal and agree on the pickup point using our Lagos airport pickup and drop-off guide.
Set your arrival time with the conflicting guidance in mind
Arrival recommendations differ. FAAN’s Passenger Experience Hub lists two hours before departure for local flights and three hours for international flights. Alternative Airlines recommends at least three hours for wheelchair users.
| Guidance source | Local flight | International flight |
|---|---|---|
| FAAN Passenger Experience Hub | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Alternative Airlines, wheelchair users | At least 3 hours | At least 3 hours |
For a domestic flight, the Hub’s general recommendation is two hours, while the wheelchair-specific recommendation is three. Allow three hours if you want to follow the longer wheelchair guidance. For an international flight, both sources point to at least three hours.
Your terminal, check-in cutoff and traffic can affect your schedule. Give your driver the exact building name shown on your itinerary, not only “Lagos airport.” For more planning on local departures, see our Lagos domestic airport terminal guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do you request airport assistance for a disabled passenger?
Ask for wheelchair or reduced-mobility assistance when booking, then contact the carrier if you need to add or clarify the request. Give the passenger’s flight details and explain what support is needed at departure, during boarding and on arrival.
Is airport wheelchair assistance free?
Alternative Airlines’ FAQ says airport wheelchair support is free. That statement covers wheelchair assistance at the airport, not personal care, medical treatment or separate transport services.
What if you forgot to request wheelchair help?
Contact the carrier as soon as you notice the omission. At the airport, you can also approach airline staff or the special assistance desk on arrival. The airport authority permits requests at the desk, but late notice may limit how quickly assistance can be arranged.
Can you remain in your wheelchair during the flight?
No. You must transfer to a standard aircraft seat for take-off and landing. The wheelchair travels in the hold and is returned after landing.
Does every airline provide the same level of assistance?
No. The codes describe common support categories, but airlines may differ in how requests are arranged and what details they need. Give the airline your exact requirements and ask it to record assistance for each flight.
Confirm the details before travel
Request mobility assistance early, describe the tasks you need help with, and keep the airline’s confirmation accessible. At MMIA, FAAN’s help desks provide another point of contact, but your carrier remains the first place to arrange flight assistance.
Clear details matter more than a general request for help. Confirm where staff will meet you, your boarding needs, and your arrival arrangements before you leave for Lagos airport.
