Arriving at the Airport
1. Use the services offered, such as curbside check in, customer service desks, airport volunteers, wheelchair assistants, so you can expedite the process and focus on your flight and the person living with dementia.
Some of these services must be requested in advance, such as curbside wheelchair assistance or an airport volunteer to accompany you from arrival to departure.
Travelers with a sensory disability should relay any special needs directly to airport employees at each point of contact throughout the airport, including ticket counters, gates, customer service centers and baggage claim areas.
Make certain that the airline ticket(s) have the Special Service Request(SSR) Codes: Airlines use codes like DPNA (Disabled Passenger with Intellectual/Developmental Disability) to flag requests for priority/delayed boarding, seating with companions, and other coordination. A DPNA Special Service Request is available to customers with disabilities who need assistance to and/or from the gate in support of their disability. The DPNA SSR and/or other disability SSR codes will entitle you to assistance from the airline’s wheelchair contractor and airline staff inside the airport.
“When a passenger with a disability requests assistance from an airline to move through the airport, the airline is required to promptly provide the requested assistance…
To receive such assistance, the passenger must self-identify to airline staff at the airport as the person with a disability needing this service….”
For specifics:
Check this DOT page frequently for changes, updates, and additional information.
2. 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:
3. Get a wheelchair (or bring your own) and take it all the way through to the gate. You can use the special assistance line, if available.
4. Your travel party may be required to wear masks in the airport and on the airplane due to COVID-19 policies. Different airports and airlines determine these requirements. Travelers may be asked to lower their masks to verify their identity at security checkpoints. If wearing a mask causes unmanageable agitation and anxiety, it may be possible to get an exemption during pre-screening. This is something that should be prepared for ahead of time as documentation may be required. Check with your airports and airlines for the latest updates on COVID-19 as policies can change quickly.
5. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognized symbol for invisible disabilities including dementia. It gives the wearer the opportunity to clearly and discretely signal that they have a hidden disability and may need additional assistance as well as a time or just a little patience. The wearer does NOT have to discuss the reason for wearing it. The Sunflower lanyard does not entitle you to special privileges. More than 327 airports in 70 countries and a growing number of airlines participate in the Sunflower program. Sunflower lanyards are free from participating airports. You can also purchase Personalized Sunflower cards and digitized Sunflower cards to provide more information about yourself. Find out which airlines and airports participate in the Sunflower Program.
Items 1-3 adapted with permission from Carol Giuliani - Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC
Updated 1/17/2026
©2020-2026 Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group
Some of these services must be requested in advance, such as curbside wheelchair assistance or an airport volunteer to accompany you from arrival to departure.
Travelers with a sensory disability should relay any special needs directly to airport employees at each point of contact throughout the airport, including ticket counters, gates, customer service centers and baggage claim areas.
Make certain that the airline ticket(s) have the Special Service Request(SSR) Codes: Airlines use codes like DPNA (Disabled Passenger with Intellectual/Developmental Disability) to flag requests for priority/delayed boarding, seating with companions, and other coordination. A DPNA Special Service Request is available to customers with disabilities who need assistance to and/or from the gate in support of their disability. The DPNA SSR and/or other disability SSR codes will entitle you to assistance from the airline’s wheelchair contractor and airline staff inside the airport.
“When a passenger with a disability requests assistance from an airline to move through the airport, the airline is required to promptly provide the requested assistance…
To receive such assistance, the passenger must self-identify to airline staff at the airport as the person with a disability needing this service….”
For specifics:
- Assistance Throughout the Airport
- Assistance in Key Function Areas
- Assistance with Baggage
- Leaving a Passenger with a Disability Unattended
- Things to Know
- Tips
Check this DOT page frequently for changes, updates, and additional information.
2. 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
3. Get a wheelchair (or bring your own) and take it all the way through to the gate. You can use the special assistance line, if available.
4. Your travel party may be required to wear masks in the airport and on the airplane due to COVID-19 policies. Different airports and airlines determine these requirements. Travelers may be asked to lower their masks to verify their identity at security checkpoints. If wearing a mask causes unmanageable agitation and anxiety, it may be possible to get an exemption during pre-screening. This is something that should be prepared for ahead of time as documentation may be required. Check with your airports and airlines for the latest updates on COVID-19 as policies can change quickly.
5. The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a globally recognized symbol for invisible disabilities including dementia. It gives the wearer the opportunity to clearly and discretely signal that they have a hidden disability and may need additional assistance as well as a time or just a little patience. The wearer does NOT have to discuss the reason for wearing it. The Sunflower lanyard does not entitle you to special privileges. More than 327 airports in 70 countries and a growing number of airlines participate in the Sunflower program. Sunflower lanyards are free from participating airports. You can also purchase Personalized Sunflower cards and digitized Sunflower cards to provide more information about yourself. Find out which airlines and airports participate in the Sunflower Program.
Items 1-3 adapted with permission from Carol Giuliani - Senior Travel Companion Services, LLC
Updated 1/17/2026
©2020-2026 Dementia-Friendly Airports Working Group
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Photo used with the permission of Randy Neprash
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Photo used with the permission of Randy Neprash