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.
Make certain you have informed yourself about accessibility resources from the airport(s) and airline(s) you are using. See: Before Booking Flights
Actions to take when making your reservations:
1. 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. DPNA SSR code will qualify you for in-terminal wheelchair assistance, which will be useful even if the person living with dementia does not have limited physical mobility.
2. Inform the agent about any assistance you want/need at the airports and inflight. 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. E.g:
3. 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
4. A gate pass is a security authorization that lets someone without an airline ticket enter the post-security gate area—most often so they can accompany an unaccompanied minor, assist a traveler with special needs, or meet military or other loved ones on arrival.
If you are a person living with dementia and are flying alone, a caregiver or family member can usually get a gate pass from the airline desk and accompany you through security to the boarding gate or meet you at your arrival gate. Inform the airline accessibility line and/or the booking agent that you will be accompanied by someone who needs a gate pass. They will inform you about the airline procedures/policy for issuing a gate pass. This must be noted in the reservation for arriving flights, if you expect to be met by someone with a gate pass at your arrival gate.
What you should know about gate passes:
5. 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.
6. Use smaller airports. It’s easier to move around, find your way, and get access to wheelchairs.
7. 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.
8. The person living with dementia may want an aisle seat for easy access to the bathroom, or a window seat where it’s quieter.
9. 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.
10. 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!
11. 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.
12. 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 5-12 adapted with permission from Carol Giuliani - Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC
Updated 1/17/2026
©2020-2026 Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group
Make certain you have informed yourself about accessibility resources from the airport(s) and airline(s) you are using. See: Before Booking Flights
Actions to take when making your reservations:
1. 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. DPNA SSR code will qualify you for in-terminal wheelchair assistance, which will be useful even if the person living with dementia does not have limited physical mobility.
2. Inform the agent about any assistance you want/need at the airports and inflight. 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. E.g:
- request wheelchair assistance within the airport
- assistance boarding a plane
- on plane wheelchair
- specific seat assignments
- medication storage
- special dietary needs
- airline/airport policies regarding gate passes
3. 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
4. A gate pass is a security authorization that lets someone without an airline ticket enter the post-security gate area—most often so they can accompany an unaccompanied minor, assist a traveler with special needs, or meet military or other loved ones on arrival.
If you are a person living with dementia and are flying alone, a caregiver or family member can usually get a gate pass from the airline desk and accompany you through security to the boarding gate or meet you at your arrival gate. Inform the airline accessibility line and/or the booking agent that you will be accompanied by someone who needs a gate pass. They will inform you about the airline procedures/policy for issuing a gate pass. This must be noted in the reservation for arriving flights, if you expect to be met by someone with a gate pass at your arrival gate.
What you should know about gate passes:
- Gate passes: A non-ticketed companion can provide disability-related assistance for you at a domestic US airport.
- Someone with a gate pass can assist you through security to your departure boarding gate or meet you at your arrival gate and assist you through baggage claim.
- Gate pass availability varies with airlines and airports. (See charts in How to Get a Gate Pass at The Airport .)
- A gate pass request must be made in-person at the ticket counter for departing flights and noted in the reservation for arriving flights. The person requesting the gate pass must go to the airline ticket counter to get the gate pass. They must bring a valid government issued photo ID.
- Issuance of gate passes is contingent upon security conditions at the time of travel. Gate passes may not be available at different times or locations.
- Gate-pass guests must use the regular TSA security lanes.
- Gate passes are not available for non-U.S. departures or for international arrivals to the U.S.
- Gate passes are free.
- To learn more about gate passes: How to Get a Gate Pass at The Airport
5. 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.
6. Use smaller airports. It’s easier to move around, find your way, and get access to wheelchairs.
7. 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.
8. The person living with dementia may want an aisle seat for easy access to the bathroom, or a window seat where it’s quieter.
9. 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.
10. 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!
11. 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.
12. 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 5-12 adapted with permission from Carol Giuliani - Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC
Updated 1/17/2026
©2020-2026 Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group