Booking Flights
Air travel regulations regarding assistance to air travelers with hidden disabilities differ from country to country. You must determine which regulations apply to your circumstances. The details in this section apply to U.S. air travel regulations.
Actions to take when making your reservations:
Source: https://www.jetblue.com/at-the-airport/accessibility-assistance/intellectual-developmental-cognitive-disabilities
1. Book a direct flight, if possible. If not, leave plenty of time between connections (at least 1 ½ hours for domestic, 2 ½ for international when you will be going through customs on the return). Avoid excessive connections, as the traveling gets exhausting.
2. Use smaller airports. It’s easier to move around, find your way, and get access to wheelchairs.
3. Get seats near the front of the plane. If you are buying economy, you can call the airline (ASAP) and let them know you are a person living with dementia or will be traveling with one. In compliance with the Air Carrier Access Act, the airlines have systems to accommodate a mentally or physically disabled person with a specific seat, even if they say you can’t book it in advance. If the phone agent demurs, ask to speak to the supervisor.
4. The person living with dementia may want an aisle seat for easy access to the bathroom, or a window seat where it’s quieter.
5. Secure morning flights. Persons living with dementia are often more alert during the morning, and there is a better chance that your flights won’t be delayed.
6. Plan to take your time. A calm, well-paced (slow) departure is best. There should be no reason to rush. Do not give in to the chaos and frustrations of traveling!
7. Pre-arrange wheelchair assistance, which can be done online. If the person living with dementia can’t walk from the entrance to the plane to their seat, ask to have an aisle wheelchair available as well.
8. Buy travel insurance. You can get it for your flight at the end of the online booking process. That way you will most likely get a refund (versus a credit or voucher) with a physician’s statement, if you can’t go through with the trip.
Items 1-8 adapted with permission from Carol Giuliani - Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC
Updated 8/20/2025
Actions to take when making your reservations:
- Inform the booking agent that you are booking a flight for someone living with cognitive impairment and/or their travel companion. You will need to supply information for the booking agent to correctly input Special Service Request (SSR) Codes, seating, special remarks, wheelchair transport, etc. The IATA (International Air Transport Association) has introduced DPNA as a Special Service Request (SSR) code, with the acronym standing for Disabled Passenger with Intellectual or Developmental Disability Needing Assistance. This applies to passengers living with dementia. This code alerts airline staff that the passenger requires additional assistance and may have a disability not visible to the eye. Passengers with a DPNA-coded ticket may request special accommodations, such as priority boarding, delayed boarding, and guaranteed seating with a companion. Some airlines may have additional accessibility supports.
- Inform the agent that about any assistance you want at the airports. Airline websites and booking agents can inform you about available services, which must be requested in advance and will vary with air travel regulations in different countries. For example, jetBlue lists specific services available for travelers with dementia
- Inform the airline accessibility line and/or the booking agent if you intend to use an electronic assistive device during your flight. Even if the manufacturer’s label or other documentation confirms that the device meets FAA safety and hazardous goods requirements, it is necessary for the airline to confirm that the device meets FAA requirements. This requires advance notice. See FAA PackSafe - Portable Electronic Devices Containing Batteries
Source: https://www.jetblue.com/at-the-airport/accessibility-assistance/intellectual-developmental-cognitive-disabilities
1. Book a direct flight, if possible. If not, leave plenty of time between connections (at least 1 ½ hours for domestic, 2 ½ for international when you will be going through customs on the return). Avoid excessive connections, as the traveling gets exhausting.
2. Use smaller airports. It’s easier to move around, find your way, and get access to wheelchairs.
3. Get seats near the front of the plane. If you are buying economy, you can call the airline (ASAP) and let them know you are a person living with dementia or will be traveling with one. In compliance with the Air Carrier Access Act, the airlines have systems to accommodate a mentally or physically disabled person with a specific seat, even if they say you can’t book it in advance. If the phone agent demurs, ask to speak to the supervisor.
4. The person living with dementia may want an aisle seat for easy access to the bathroom, or a window seat where it’s quieter.
5. Secure morning flights. Persons living with dementia are often more alert during the morning, and there is a better chance that your flights won’t be delayed.
6. Plan to take your time. A calm, well-paced (slow) departure is best. There should be no reason to rush. Do not give in to the chaos and frustrations of traveling!
7. Pre-arrange wheelchair assistance, which can be done online. If the person living with dementia can’t walk from the entrance to the plane to their seat, ask to have an aisle wheelchair available as well.
8. Buy travel insurance. You can get it for your flight at the end of the online booking process. That way you will most likely get a refund (versus a credit or voucher) with a physician’s statement, if you can’t go through with the trip.
Items 1-8 adapted with permission from Carol Giuliani - Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC
Updated 8/20/2025