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Wheelchairs
Updated on 09 May 2025

Passengers with reduced mobility can request a wheelchair, free of charge, for use inside airports. 

Assistance should be requested at least 48 hours before departure, regardless of using their own wheelchair(1) or using one from the airport services.

 

HOW IS ASSISTANCE PROVIDED? - At the Airport | Boarding | On Board | On Arrival

When arriving at the airport, the passengers must go to the designated special assistance desks or the check-in desk and indicate they have requested a wheelchair service. TAP Gold or Star Alliance Gold members passengers or passengers travelling in Business Class, should use the check-in services in the Premium area at Lisbon Airport.

If the passenger is traveling to or from the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Ponta Delgada, Santa Maria, Horta, Flores, Madeira or Porto Santo, know that this service is provided by ANA, Aeroportos de Portugal, through My Way. Click here for more information.

Recommended arrival times at the airport

  • For short or medium-haul flights: 2 hours before or at the latest 1h30 before departure;
  • For intercontinental flights: 3 hours before or at the latest 1h30 before departure (depending on destinations).

Boarding

The boarding procedures determines that passengers on wheelchairs have priority boarding. TAP follows this procedure unless at time of boarding the passenger is not yet at the gate.

On board

The crew will help to embark/disembark, ensure the passengers are comfortable and give any required information. However, the crew cannot help with personal care, feeding or help passengers move about the cabin.

If necessary, TAP provides wheelchairs on board on long-haul flights, specially designed to circulate in narrow aisles to facilitate mobility in the cabin.

On arrival

Ground staff will meet passengers at the aircraft's door on arrival, at the transfer or final destination airport and will accompany them through the entire process: passport control, luggage reclaim and customs.

 

NOTES: 

Assistance to Reduced Mobility Passengers The assistance provided to our Reduced Mobility Passengers is not extended to relatives or companions, children and infants included.

Acceptance of Reduced Mobility Adults travelling with a child will not be confirmed until the airline is informed that an accompanying adult is fully capable to look after the child during the journey, including inside airports, on departure or arrival. If this is not possible, than a UMNR service will have to be requested for the child (5- 11 years of age, inclusive). 

Download HERE a screening checklist for passengers with reduced mobility.

 

TYPES OF WHEELCHAIRS - GDS Entries for Request

There are three types of wheelchair that can be requested:
 

WCHR – Wheelchair Ramp

For passengers who have difficulty walking the usual commuting distances at an airport but are able climb up our down the aircraft's stairs, a "ramp" chair should be ordered via SSR WCHR (R=ramp).

GDS entries (examples in Criptic mode)

Amadeus
SRWCHRTPNN1-ELDERLY LADY DIFF WALK/P1/S1
Galileo
SI.P1S1/WCHR * ELDERLY LADY DIFF WALK
Sabre
3WCHR1/ELDERLY LADY DIFF WALK -1.1

 

WCHS – Wheelchair Stairs

For passengers who have difficulty walking the usual commuting distances at the airport as well as up and down the aircraft's stairs, a "stairs" chair should be ordered through SSR WCHS (S=stairs).

GDS entries (examples in Criptic mode)

Amadeus
SR WCHSTPNN1-ELDERLY GENT UNA CLIMB STEPS/P1/S1
Galileo
SI.P1S1/WCHS* ELDERLY GENT UNA CLIMB STEPS
Sabre
3WCHS1/ELDERLY GENT UNA CLIMB STEPS-1.1


WCHC - Wheelchair Cabin

For passengers with little or no mobility that prevents their movement to any distance, including to their seat in the airplane, a "cabin" chair must be through SSR WCHC (C = cabin).

GDS entries (examples in Criptic mode)

Amadeus
SRWCHCTPNN1- PARAPLEGIC/USED TO TRVL/ACCOMPANIED/P1/S1

Galileo
SI.P1S1/WCHC* PARAPLEGIC/USED TO TRVL/ACCOMPANIED

Sabre
3WCHC/PARAPLEGIC/USED TO TRVL/ACCOMPANIED-1.1

 

When inserting one of these three SSRs, the system will insert the following warning:

“IF BRINGING OWN WHEELCHAIR PLS REQ WCBD/WCMP/WCBW”

this message is an alert so that if the passenger wishes to carry his own wheelchair, an additional SSR is added indicating the type of wheelchair. 

 

(1)Travelling with own wheelchair

According to the Regulation (CE) Nº1107/2006, Annex II, disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility when travelling by air, can transport, free of charge, 2 pieces of mobility equipment, including electric wheelchairs.

Acceptance of electric wheelchairs is always pending on type of wheelchair, type of aircraft and available space on hold.

Any battery powered mobility equipment (wheelchair or similar equipment) requires previous authorization from the airline. So, when the transportation of a wheelchair is requested, technical detailed information regarding the battery must be sent to our Help Desk for verification by the safety department.

Request must be made latest until 48 hours before the flight using the IATA codes mentioned below:

SSR WCMP -  Manually Powered Wheelchair (no battery)                    

SSR  WCBD - Non-Spillable Battery - Dry Cell and Gel Cell Battery Wheelchair  

SSR   WCBW - Spillable Battery - Wet Cell Battery Wheelchair                       

SSR WCLB - (Non-spillable) Lithium - Ion Battery Wheelchair

  • The request can be made simultaneously or after insertion of the respective SSR WHCR, WCHS or WCHC.
  • In the free-text space of these SSRs, the 3 dimensions, the weight, the battery type, the power (in Watt-hours -Wh(2)) and other specifications (folding, non-folding, sports, etc.) must be entered.
  • In the case of electric mobility equipment, the passenger must provide the technical specifications - brand / model / type / power of the battery (Watt-hours - Wh(2)) for verification of the airline in order to ensure they are safely and properly transported.
  • The SSR will be in pending status for analysis and confirmation by the airline.

 

GDS entries (examples in Criptic mode)

NOTE: The transport request for the passenger's own wheelchair must have specifications for the wheelchair, including the brand and model. 

Amadeus
SRWCMPTPNN1-15KG DIMS 60X50X65
SRWCBDTPNN1-65KG QUICKIE Q50R DIM120X115X65CM DRY CELL BATTERY 120WH
SRWCBWTPNN1-22KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 90X80X60 115WH BATTERY/S3-4/P2 
SRWCLBTPNN1-18KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 75X80X50 LITHIUM ION BATTERY 120WH

Galileo
SI.P1S1/WCMP*15KG DIMS 60X50X65
SI.P1S1/WCBD*65KG QUICKIE Q50R DIM120X115X65CM DRY CELL BATTERY 120WH
SI.P1S1/WCBW*22KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 90X80X60 115WH BATTERY/S3-4/P2
SI.P1S1/WCLB*18KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 75X80X50 LITHIUM ION BATTERY 120WH

Sabre
3WCMP1/15KG DIMS 60X50X65
3
WCBD1/65KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 120X115X65 DRY CELL BATTERY 120WH
3
WCBW1/22KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 90X80X60 115WH BATTERY
3
WCLB1/18KG QUICKIE Q50R DIMS 75X80X50 LITHIUM ION BATTERY 120WH

 

NOTES:

Batteries

Whenever feasible, wet batteries will have to be disassembled in advance and packed in a hard, labelled package. If dispatched as hold baggage, they must be folded in hard cardboard and marked as "BATTERY, WET, WITH WHEELCHAIR" or "BATTERY, WET, WITH MOBILITY AID"

Important: wheelchairs with one battery over 300Wh or two batteries exceeding 160Wh each will have to be carried as cargo, which means that they must be handed over to the cargo services in advance. Please contact TAP Air Cargo for further information.  

(2)Formula to convert the battery power into Watt-hours if given in Ah and V:

Example: 10Ah X 24 V = 240Wh 

The handling (turning on / off batteries) is the responsibility of the passenger; the airport staff cannot carry out this type of action. The batteries must be switched off beforehand and properly protected against short circuits and spills (see notes below), with the terminals covered with insulating material in order to avoid any hazards.

In case of doubt, please check the page “Prohibited and/or restricted goods”.

 

LEGISLATION 
 
Check the rules and regulations relating to wheelchairs.

Regulation 1107/2006
Regulation 1107/2006 - Rights of Disabled Persons and Persons with Reduced Mobility when Travelling by Air (PDF, 0.1MB, EN)

Flights to and from the USA
TAP complies with US regulations preventing discrimination on the basis of disability on all its flights to and from the United States.
A copy of this document is available for consultation at the desks in Lisbon, Porto, Newark and Miami airports.
You may also request a copy of these regulations directly from the US Department of Transportation prior to flying:

  • By telephone from within the United States via a free helpline for disabled passengers: 1-800- 778-4838 (speaking) or 1-800- 455-9880 (TTY);
  • By telephone to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division: 202-366- 2220 (speaking) or 202-366-0511 (TTY);
  • On the website of the Aviation Consumer and Protection Division (PDF, 0.1MB, EN); (DOT, 14 Part 382 ACAA, "Non-discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel; Final Rule");
  • In writing to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division: Aviation Consumer Protection Division C-75, U.S. Department of Transportation; 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., West Building, Room W96-432; Washington, DC 20590, EUA.

 

 

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