Gilmanshin
After safety, the comfort of all our passengers is foremost among Iberia‘s priorities, including those living with physical challenges. We work closely with airports and specialised personnel at those airports to increase accessibility, as well as fitting out our aircraft to maximise that accessibility.
One of the best examples of this is the measures we take to accommodate passengers with reduced mobility, for example by providing free wheelchairs or transporting their own wheelchairs (electric or otherwise) or other assistance equipment, also gratis.
Of course, these accommodations are subject to space and safety considerations in our aircraft cabins. In the case of space, for example, some of our regional and domestic aircraft may be too small to allow certain types of equipment to fit in the cabin. In that case, it may be necessary to store it in our luggage hold, and passengers should make their needs clear when booking flights.
In the case of electric wheelchairs, this needs to be done at least 48 hours before the flight, due to the need to properly prepare the hold to receive them, and include a copy of the wheelchair’s instruction manual in case any disassembly and reassembly is required. In the case of manual wheelchairs, while there’s no requirement to advise us in advance, there is a limit on the number of wheelchairs at any one time on a given flight, so you’ll want to be sure to get yours included in that quota. Otherwise, you can use your wheelchair to embark and disembark, but the chair would have to be stored in the hold.
It’s worth noting that this kind of checked luggage takes priority over other types of luggage – and in the unlikely event it should be lost or damaged, equipment of similar characteristics will be provided to the passenger until the incident is resolved.
Circling back to wheelchairs we provide for free, we ask that you register this request – again, at least 48 hours before your flight – with Serviberia (at this link for Britain or here for the USA). Also keep in mind that according to new rules of the European Union, ground assistance to passengers with limited mobility is the responsibility of airport authorities as well as any agents contracted by airlines to provide such services.
Finally, in order to best avail yourself of such ground assistance, it’s a very good idea to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight.
Happy flying – for all!