DFW Airport Wheelchair Assistance

Facilities within the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), located in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, were designed to be consistent with American Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) requirements, implying that providing a wheelchair service will assist an individual experiencing difficulties in ambulation in and around DFW Airport.

Important Information: Wheelchair assistance services at DFW Airport are provided by airlines operating flights to and from DFW Airport. All wheelchair service must be arranged with your airline.

How to Request Wheelchair Assistance at DFW Airport

You may request wheelchair assistance at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and it is important to request this assistance in advance to avoid issues.

• Requesting Assistance: Contact your airline either during your flight booking or 48-72 hours before your flight so that arrangements can be made promptly.
• If You Did Not Request: If you do not request it in advance, you can ask at the airline desk or at the skycap curbside, and expect some delays.
• Specify the type of assistance needed: Let your airline know what type of assistance you need (e.g., Battery-Powered or manual wheelchair, transfer assistance, animal assistance, etc.) so the correct aid is provided.
• When You Arrive: Let your airline representative know that you need assistance so that assistance can be provided at the gate.

Services Provided (usually provided by the airline):

The airline normally gives this whole list of services for wheelchair passengers:

• Wheelchair Assistance curbside/pick up & drop off to check-in, enabling the passenger to easily access the terminal building.
• To the security checkpoint (to be escorted as necessary due to TSA involvement for security purposes), allowing the passenger to efficiently travel through this checkpoint.
• To the gate; escort within the terminal building and within the Skylink system if applicable.
• To the aircraft from the gate (onto their seat in the aircraft); utilize aisle chairs as necessary.
• Then finally to ground transport (to the baggage claim area and escorted to ground transport)

Important notice: Wheelchair services at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) are free for any passenger who requests assistance to traverse the airport. Wheelchairs cannot be used to help passengers throughout the airport. No tipping is required to receive a wheelchair, but any tips given will be greatly appreciated.

Where to Request DFW Airport Wheelchair Assistance?

Depending on your situation, you can request wheelchair assistance at DFW Airport either before you fly out or after you land.

• If You are Leaving DFW: Request Wheelchair Assistance at Your Airline’s Check-In Counter. While many airlines may allow you to request wheelchair assistance at the information desk, the desk is not responsible for providing it.
• If You are Arriving at DFW: You can get Wheelchair Assistance at the Gate, Baggage Claim, or Other Arrival Areas. You may request wheelchair assistance from an airline at any of these locations.
• Be sure to let the gate agent and/or flight attendant know as soon as possible so arrangements can be made for you.

Arrival at DFW with Assistance in a Wheelchair

To make your trip go smoothly, it would be good to arrive at the airport early to get wheelchair assistance.

• Reach the airport two hours before your flight; three hours before for international flights. You can reach even earlier for an international trip to complete the procedures.
• Additionally, for electric wheelchairs, it is best to arrive at the airport early to have the batteries tested.

Airlines Offering Wheelchair Assistance Service at DFW Airport

In accordance with the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), all airlines operating at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) are required to provide wheelchair assistance free of charge to passengers who need it. The service is arranged through your airline and delivered by professional ground-handling teams. There are five terminals (Terminals A, B, C, D, and E) at the airport, interconnected by the Skylink train system.

Terminal A

Terminal A is one of the busiest, with most flights operated by American Airlines and other carriers.

• American Airlines: As the major hub carrier at DFW, American offers the best wheelchair assistance, with dedicated teams providing service at check-in, security, and gates.
• Delta Air Lines & United Airlines: Complete Meet and Assist service from the curb to the check-in, security checkpoint, and finally to the departure gate.
• Southwest Airlines: Fast and efficient service centered around fast check-in and priority boarding.

Terminal B

Terminal B is primarily served by domestic airlines and a variety of other carriers.

• American Airlines: Provides ongoing, extensive wheelchair assistance with competent attendants who know the terminal.
• Southwest Airlines: Heavy traffic is served through proficient escorts.
• Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines: Routine assistance is provided to economy-class passengers from check-in to the gate.

Terminal C

Terminal C is also considered a major hub for American Airlines. A few other carriers manage their operations from this terminal. 

• American Airlines: Mobility assistance is thorough, including gate-to-gate transfers through Skylink.
• Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines: Wheelchair escort service offered on demand.
• Alaska Airlines: Efficient assistance provided for domestic flights.

Terminal D (International Terminal)

Terminal D is the gateway to DFW, designed to handle international long-haul flights.

• American Airlines: Provides excellent wheelchair service to international destinations, including arranging wheelchair transport from the point of entry to the destination and through customs and immigration upon arrival.
• British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Korean Air, Air Canada & Japan Airlines: International airlines with highly trained ground crews providing full assistance from check-in to the boarding gate.
• Aeromexico, Turkish Airlines & Other International Carriers: Assist passengers in long-haul flights from check-in to gate.

Terminal E

Terminal E serves a mix of domestic, regional, and some international flights.

• American Airlines & American Eagle: Excellent regional service providing wheelchair and aisle-chair assistance.
• Delta Air Lines, United Airlines & Other Domestic Carriers: Good curb-to-gate and gate-to-gate assistance.

Note: Wheelchair services at DFW Airport are free. For the convenience of passengers, it is highly recommended that you request wheelchair services from your airline when purchasing your ticket, or at least 48-72 hours before flying out. It can also be requested in person, either during check-in or from the skycaps, but an advance request always reduces wait times. DFW Airport is highly accessible via the Skylink train, elevators, and wider walkways.

Types of Wheelchairs Available at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Transportation providers to DFW have been given manual wheelchairs for your use within the airport terminal.

• Manual wheelchairs provided at the airport will have an airline attendant or a staff member available to help you move from check-in to security, to your flight gate, and to the luggage area.
• If you have an electric wheelchair for travel, it will most likely be tagged, placed in the cargo area, and included in baggage when you arrive at your destination. Upon arrival, a manual will be available to help you navigate the airport.
• Your wheelchair may need to be switched at the time of boarding or disembarking the plane. Please check with your airline about the type of batteries your electric wheelchair requires (dry-cell batteries are always preferred).

Airport Accessibility Features at DFW

The DFW Airport offers the following services to support individuals with disabilities who need to access its facilities.

• Parking/Dropping off: The parking areas of the airport are ADA-compliant and have accessible parking and sidewalks with curb cuts.
• Transportation Services: The airport provides transportation services for ground transportation (taxis, shuttles, rideshare) and public transit (DART Rail).
• Elevators: There are elevators to access all levels of the terminal. Additionally, there are escalators throughout the terminal, but please avoid using them for safety reasons.
• Restrooms: All restrooms are accessible to all passengers. The airport includes companion/family restrooms.
• Amenities: The airport offers accessible dining options and customer service counters.
• Service Animal Relief Areas: There are service animal relief areas before and after security screening.
• Others: The airport provides support for those with hidden disabilities (Sunflower program) and additional accessibility resources.

Wheelchair Assistance in DFW Airport – Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding accessibility in DFW Airport, you can use any of the methods listed below:

ADA Coordinator / Accessibility Services

• Phone: 972-973-5650
• Email: ada@dfwairport.com
• Airport Information: 972-574-8888 or DFWairport.com
• Your Airline: Airline Accessibility Web Site / Airline Reservation Number

TSA Security Assistance

TSA can provide passengers traveling through DFW and/or with a disability additional assistance during security screening.

• You can reach TSA Cares toll-free at 1-855-787-2227 (you are encouraged to give 72 hours’ notice beforehand).
• The TSA provides assistance from the gate to the screening checkpoint, and the airline handles wheelchair services.

DFW Wait Times & What to expect

Wheelchair bookings at the DFW airport are often possible and may still involve some wait time that is not equivalent to the above.

• Facilities that are already arranged by your airline carrier or the company/ organization would be available as soon as you arrive at the airport or the gates.
• Booking spontaneously from the check-in desk can have some wait time of about 10-30 minutes as the team there searches for one.
• The wait time might even increase during peak hours, such as from the start of the morning to the end of the evening.

Connecting Flights and Layovers at DFW

Any passenger who has connecting flights at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is eligible for continuous wheelchair service.

• If time is very important to you and your connections, continuous wheelchair service will be offered to you for your whole journey, where arrangements can be made ahead of time.
• If it’s really a time-critical matter to you regarding your connections, it’s highly recommended that you arrange for wheelchair service separately for each flight.
• If the service can be arranged ahead of time, you will definitely be assisted by airline representatives at the gate on arrival and guided to the departure gate.

Special Arrangements for Children and Senior Travelers

Families traveling with children and elderly persons also receive special help when they fly from DFW.

• Children who are traveling in wheelchairs and/or use walking aids are normally offered assistance while boarding the airplane earlier and will also be accompanied until they get into the plane.
• Travelers who are senior can request more slow-paced speed and stops, or ask for the aid in transporting themselves into the next available vehicle.
• You will have to advise staff of your child’s age, energy level, and disabilities.

What to Bring or Prepare (Pre-Travel Checklist)

It’s always a good idea to prepare your traveling wheelchair.

• Ensure your wheelchair or other mobility device is fully charged.
• Ensure you keep a bag of essentials, including any medicine, I.D cards, cell phones, snacks, or other documents, within reach while in your wheelchair.
• The necessary paperwork that can justify that you have requested special assistance services.
• Shoes that have comfortable soles, preferably easy to take off while getting on the coach.

Language Assistance & Accessibility Apps at DFW

Make sure to get yourself updated on gate location, language translation, airport navigation, etc by using language assistance & accessibility apps available at DFW.

• Language Assistance: Airport signage and employees are available for language assistance; they communicate in English and Spanish. There is also an option for language translation in a few of the airline services.
• Terminal Navigation & Gate Information: A web application at the airport and third-party applications would be quite helpful for navigating to various terminals and gates.
• Relay and TTY Services: Relay service can be availed whenever needed for language assistance.

Additional Tips for DFW Airport Passengers

Some of the preplanning will help ease the navigation you can expect as you move about with your wheelchair.

• Baggage Handling: Ask that your baggage be tagged along with your wheelchair service.
• Comments/Complaints: Issues concerning airport accessibility may be relayed to airport customer service.
• Ground Transportation: The recommendation is to arrange accessible ground transportation when available.
• Weather Conditions: Allow additional time when temperatures are high in summer, or the weather is severe in winter.

Terminal Accessibility at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

The DFW airport has five terminals (A, B, C, D, E) and the Skylink train connecting them. The terminals were constructed to permit wheelchair access. Each terminal has the following features: curbside assistance, an airport shuttle, wheelchair/lift, elevators designed for wheelchairs, check-in counters accessible by wheelchairs, accessible restrooms, the potential for priority access through the check-in checkpoint if an agent is present at the check-in counter, and wheelchair accessibility from and within the shuttle and gate area. Passengers needing wheelchair access can arrange in advance to have their wheelchair assistance provided before boarding their flight, or use a check-in facility in one of the terminals equipped for wheelchair access.

Accessibility Features in Main Terminal

Following are some of the accessibility features provided to travelers at DFW:

• Lifts are available at the terminal and throughout the concourse area between the various floors.
• Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available on all floors with larger stalls and handrails.
• Wheelchair accessible paths in the terminal buildings.
• Seating is provided close to all gate areas.
• Announcements are both auditory and visual.
• Wheelchair assistance is available at the TSA accessibility screening area.

Wheelchair pick-up areas are situated near the departure check-in areas.

Wheelchair Assistance at DFW Terminal

Passengers at  DFW Terminal can have the following requests addressed:

• They can be accompanied to the gates.
• A wheelchair may be provided, and it will assist the passenger in getting onto the airplane or off the airplane.
• Security check-in can be completed for the passengers.
• Passengers can be transferred to a new concourse if required (with the help of the Skylink train).
• Passengers can be taken to their concourse’s arrival gate up to the point where they can make their way to baggage claim.

The above-mentioned services will be handled by airline and airport workers ranging from the check-in stage to the boarding gate stage.

Accessible Parking at DFW Airport

On-site disabled parking and curbside access have been added to make it convenient for passengers with disabilities.

• Garage/Lot configuration: Accessible parking will be available in proximity to terminal entrances and will be accessible via ramps.
• Pickup & Drop-off Areas/Central Cell Phone Lot/Valet Area: Convenience is added for passengers by reducing the travel distance from car to terminal.

Final Thoughts!

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) accommodates passengers with physical disabilities and provides a higher level of experience, to be achieved through airline-provided wheelchairs and the airport’s overall accessibility. Booking your DFW Airport Wheelchair Assistance in advance and arriving at the airport early, with enough notice to airline officials and even TSA Cares, will greatly ease your experience!

Frequently Asked Questions!