IND Airport Wheelchair Assistance

Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is a fully accessible airport that follows the requirements of both ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and ACAA (Air Carrier Access Act). The purpose of the wheelchair assistance service is to provide support to travelers who find it difficult to cover long distances from the curb to the aircraft (or from the aircraft back to the curb after landing).

Important Information: It is the responsibility of the airlines, and not the airport itself, to provide wheelchair assistance to their travelers at IND Airport.

How to Ask for Wheelchair Assistance

Your IND Airport Wheelchair Assistance request should be made early to avoid difficulties.

• Best Practice: Your request can be directed to the airline at the time of booking or at least 48-72 hours in advance.
• At the Airport: Your request for wheelchair assistance may be made at the airline ticket/check-in counter if not already pre-arranged (could lead to delays since it will receive priority if pre-arranged).
• Inform the airline of your requirements regarding wheelchairs, transfers, assistance dog, etc.
• After Arrival: Inform your flight attendant prior to your landing when you need wheelchair assistance.

Wheelchair Service Availability (by the airline):

• Pick-up/drop off at curbside or from/to the check-in counter.
• Assistance through security (assisted by TSA).
• Through to the gate.
• Boarding/deplaning (to your seat).
• Luggage retrieval and ground transportation on arrival.

Charges and Tips

The wheelchair assistance services provided at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) are entirely free from any fees, and tipping the helper for their services is not compulsory.

• Free of charge (service rendered by the airline).
• Tips are neither necessary nor expected.

Where Can I Get Indianapolis Airport Wheelchair Assistance?

Wheelchair assistance services can be requested at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND) based on your arrival or departure destination.

• For departures: Request wheelchair assistance at the check-in counter of your air carrier. It is advisable not to request wheelchair assistance at the airport information counter, as it cannot be done through them.
• For arrivals: There may be chances that you can be granted wheelchair assistance immediately after you disembark from the plane, either at the gate area or even at the baggage claim area. Your airline representative, who is in uniform, will help you secure the wheelchair.
• Make sure you notify the gate agent/flight attendant early enough.

Arrival Recommendation

To make sure that your travel is not hampered, you ought to make sure that you reach Indianapolis International Airport (IND) prior to other travelers in case you need assistance walking around in a wheelchair.

• Arriving 2 hours earlier before departure of your plane or even more is encouraged (in case you are flying out of the country) or for those traveling with electric wheelchairs.
• In case you are traveling using an electric wheelchair, then making an early arrival to the airport is advisable.

Available Wheelchairs (Manual or Electric)

Carriers operating at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) have been seen to provide manual wheelchairs, which can be used around the airport facilities.

• Walking around the airport premises using wheelchairs takes place in such a way that the carriers provide manual wheelchairs to assist the passengers from the check-in counter to the security point, to the gates, and to the baggage claim area.
• In case of electric wheelchairs, it needs to be noted that the wheelchairs are tagged and taken to the cargo section of the aircraft, while manual wheelchairs are provided to the passengers at the airport.
• Note the changeover after boarding the aircraft. Note the batteries.

Facilities for Accessibility at IND

All those requirements for persons with disabilities while accessing an airport facility are present at Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

• Accessible Parking/Drop Off: The parking area at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is accessible to disabled passengers. Also, curb ramps and accessible zones are available at the IND terminal.
• Transfers: Transfers through the shuttle service provided at the IND airport are wheelchair accessible.
• Elevators/Escalators: There are elevators at the IND airport facility. In view of safety reasons, elevators are recommended over escalators.
• Restrooms: Available at all levels of the terminal with gender-neutral restrooms included.
• Food Services and Other Facilities: Food services for passengers with disabilities are provided in wheelchair-accessible food courts.
• Service Animal Relief Area: Areas within the terminal are available for service animal relief after passing through the security screening facility, and also outside terminals.
• Others: Include the Sunflower Program and TSA Cares programs.

TSA Security Assistance

Where people with disabilities are concerned while traveling to/from IND, TSA offers assistance so that the security-checking procedure becomes easy for people with disabilities.

• For more information about TSA assistance for individuals with disabilities, contact TSA Cares Toll Free at 1-855-787-2227 (advance notice of 72 hours preferred).
• It is TSA’s assistance till the checkpoint, but wheelchair assistance from airlines.

Contacts Information

Should there be any inquiries about accessibility at Indianapolis International Airport (IND) facilities, please see the contact information below:

ADA Coordinator/Disability Compliance Officer of IND Airport:

• Email: ADA@ind.com
• Address: 7800 Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46241
• General Information at Airport: 317-487-7243, or visit ind.com
• Airline: Check with the airline website or call the airline’s reservations department.

Commonly Reported Wait Times

If there were any pre-booking of wheelchairs in IND, the process is very efficient, but the wait time might vary slightly at times.

• All of the services that you have arranged before getting to the airport/terminal will surely be arranged just before your arrival.
• Should you request a wheelchair at the last minute at the check-in counter, there will be a slight wait time of 10-20 minutes while finding a wheelchair for you.
• It will be at its peak hours from early morning till late at night (during summer months), and the wait time will increase slightly.

Services of Wheelchair on Connecting Flights at IND

Passengers having connecting flights will find wheelchair services available to them until their connection.

• The wheelchair services will always be available to them continuously if you have pre-booked these services.
• Where you do not have enough time between connections, there will be a need to arrange these services separately on each leg of your journey.
• Where the wheelchair services have been booked beforehand, chances are high that someone from the airline will greet you at the boarding point and escort you until the next stop.

Special Provisions for Children and Elderly Passengers

Travelers with children and elderly passengers can seek help from the airport.

• Children using wheelchairs are provided priority boarding and aisle seats, respectively.
• The elderly can choose a lower speed of services, frequent breaks during services, and help during transfers between various modes of transport.
• Inform the airline officials about the age of the child, level of exhaustion, or disability at the time of purchasing tickets.

Things to Take Along or Plan For (Pre-Travel Checklist)

Correct planning will ensure you enjoy your journey in a wheelchair.

• Ensure your wheelchair or any other mobility device is fully charged.
• Carry a small backpack with necessary items like medicines, identification, mobile phones, and snacks that can be accessed while sitting in the wheelchair.
• Evidence that you have arranged special services in advance.
• A pair of comfortable shoes or sandals that will ease your walking as you board the flight.

Languages Services and Accessibility Applications at IND

Help services are provided to assist anyone seeking assistance from airlines for language or anything else.

• The airlines provide the services of translation assistance and TTY services. It would be advisable to reach out to the airlines either while booking your tickets or at the time of check-in itself for the same.
• Airline assistance services can also be obtained using their mobile apps.

Additional Tips

The following tips will enable you to enjoy the wheelchair assistance services available at the IND airport, Indianapolis, Indiana, without a hitch.

• Luggage assistance: Luggage assistance is provided by airline staff along with wheelchair assistance services.
• Complaints: You can use the traveler’s feedback form, which is available at the airport, to file your complaint against ADA in case you have any.
• Ground transportation: There are many companies offering transport facilities; however, you should ensure that the transport facilities available with them are wheelchair accessible, such as IndyGo Buses or wheelchair-accessible ride shares like Uber WAV. Ensure that all the reservations are made two to three days before.

Accessibility at Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

There is a primary terminal at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND), which has concourses A, B, C, and D. These concourses have been constructed in a manner that allows for easy access by people who require wheelchairs and other mobility aids. There are various facilities provided in the terminal and the concourses to ensure that all travelers can have an easy time while traveling.

Accessibility Features in the Main Terminal

In navigating the main terminal at IND, the following accessibility facilities will be available to you:

• Elevators connecting all terminal floors.
• Wheelchair accessible restrooms, ample room stalls, and grab bars.
• Wide and spacious wheelchair accessible corridors.
• Seating zones near gates and also gate holding rooms.
• Visual and audio announcements.
• TSA accessible screening facility services.

Pick-up points for wheelchair assistance can be accessed near the check-in point and departure points in the terminal building and also the concourses.

Wheelchair Assistance Services at the IND Terminal

Departing passengers may require the following wheelchair assistance services:

• Escort service to the gates.
• Assistance in boarding and disembarking flights.
• Wheelchair assistance at security checkpoints.
• Inter-gate transfer assistance (particularly during connecting flights).
• Arrival gate to baggage claim assistance.

Airline personnel and airport representatives are always on standby to provide assistance to passengers from check-in to gate points.

Accessible Parking Options at Indianapolis International Airport (IND)

IND provides easy access to accessible parking facilities adjacent to the airport terminals.

Accessible Parking Facilities Include:

• ADA-approved parking spots in all parking facilities.
• Accessible curbside drop-offs and ramps to access terminals.
• Accessible parking garages with elevator connections.
• Accessible walkways.
• Drop-off and pick-up areas with designated accessible parking.

Parking may be scarce during high-traffic periods; therefore, early arrival is advised.

Wheelchair Assistance From Arrival to Departure at IND

IND Airport Wheelchair Assistance is usually available for passengers who request it at Indianapolis International Airport from the point of arrival until departure, and includes:

• Curbside and parking lot assistance at the point of arrival.
• Assistance at the airline check-in desk.
• Screening by TSA.
• Transfers between gates for connecting flights.
• Boarding and disembarking procedures.
• Baggage claim and ground transportation on arrival.

The exact level of support depends on your airline and should be coordinated in advance for the best experience.

Final Thoughts!

Indy International Airport (IND) guarantees convenience when it comes to accessibility for all travelers via complimentary airline wheelchair assistance, great facilities in its terminals, and assistance from the airport’s curbside right up to boarding. Plan your trip with an early 72-hour booking, allow extra time for everything, and don’t forget to contact key contacts such as the ADA Coordinator or TSA Cares. IND Airport Wheelchair Assistance makes inclusive journeys a reality for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions!