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Traveling with a disability or reduced mobility: your rights by plane, train, bus and boat

In the EU you're entitled to free assistance when traveling by plane, train, bus or boat, and you can't be refused a booking or boarding because of your disability except for safety reasons. The key is to give notice in time.

General information, not legal advice. What you’re entitled to depends on your trip, the country, the carrier and the rules in force. If your case is complicated, check with the relevant authority or a professional. More in the terms of use.

By plane

Free assistance at the airport and on board: from the airport's arrival points to your seat, through check-in and controls, boarding and leaving the plane, connections and baggage reclaim. The airport is in charge of it.

The airline carries your assistance dog, your medical equipment and up to two pieces of mobility equipment free of charge, electric wheelchairs included, and if you travel with a companion it tries to seat them next to you.

Tell the airline, the agency or whoever sold you the ticket at least 48 hours in advance, and check in at the time they give you in writing or, if they give you none, one hour before departure. Without notice, they must do everything reasonable to help you.

What it doesn't include: help with eating or taking medication during the flight.

Can they refuse you boarding?

Only for safety rules or if the aircraft or its door is physically too small. As an alternative, they may ask you to travel with a companion, and on a plane they don't have to carry them for free. If you're refused, you're entitled to a refund or another flight, and so is your companion.

If your wheelchair is lost or damaged

The airport must give you a temporary replacement, even if not identical, and compensation follows international, EU and national rules. Tell the airport or the airline.

If it was your suitcase that got lost

By train, bus and boat

  • Train: free assistance getting on and off, changing trains, on board and at the station. Give notice at least 24 hours in advance (some countries ask for 36) and, if you're not told when to arrive, be there at least 30 minutes before. If the company requires a companion, they travel free.
  • Bus or coach: free assistance on long-distance services (at least 250 km), at designated stations and getting on and off. Give notice at least 36 hours in advance; the company must let a companion travel free if that solves a safety problem.
  • Boat: free assistance boarding, disembarking, transferring, on board and at the port. Give notice at least 48 hours in advance; if the ferry company requires a companion, it must carry them for free.
Your other rights on the train

Where to claim

First with the airport or the airline (by train, bus or boat, with the company or the station or port). If you're not satisfied with the reply, with the national body of the country where it happened. In Spain, for flights, that's AESA, which also handles reduced mobility complaints.

More traveler rights and rules

You may also need

Official sources

Last reviewed: 16 October 2026