Schiphol provides assistance for passengers with reduced mobility and for travellers who need extra support, from wheelchair users to people with an invisible disability. The service is free of charge, but it works best when it is arranged in advance. This page explains how the system works and where to arrange it; the three guides below then walk through what actually happens on the day, step by step.
Your right to assistance
Assistance at European airports is not a favour but a right. Under EU Regulation 1107/2006, passengers with a disability or reduced mobility are entitled to free assistance at the airport and on board. The airport organises the help inside the terminal; your airline handles what happens on the aircraft. That split explains the single most important practical rule: you request assistance through your airline, not through Schiphol.
How to arrange it
Request assistance when you book your ticket, or at the latest 48 hours before departure, through your airline or travel agent. You will be asked what kind of support you need: a wheelchair to the gate, help with stairs, guidance for a visual impairment, or support for a hidden disability. Be specific; the request travels with your booking to every airport on your route, so a good description in the booking means the right help standing ready at both ends of the flight.
If you did not book assistance in advance you can still ask for it at the airport, but you may have to wait until staff are available, and at busy times that wait can be long. With a 48 hour request the airport is obliged to have the service ready for you.
What assistance covers
Assistance covers the journey through the terminal: from an agreed meeting point to check-in, through security and passport control, to the gate, and onto the aircraft, including lifts and special boarding equipment where needed. On arrival it works in reverse, through to the exit or your onward connection. It does not include personal care such as help with eating or medication; if you need that, you travel with a companion.
Travelling with your own wheelchair or mobility aid
Your own wheelchair or mobility aid flies free of charge in addition to your baggage allowance. Tell your airline the type, weight and battery details when you book, because battery powered chairs have transport rules that the airline must confirm in advance. You can usually keep your own chair until the gate, where it is taken into the hold and returned to you at the aircraft door or the belt on arrival.
The three moments of an assisted journey
How assistance works in practice depends on where you are in the journey. We describe each stage in its own guide: departing from Schiphol, arriving at Schiphol and transferring between flights.
Frequently asked questions
Does assistance cost anything?
No. Assistance at the airport and with boarding is free under EU law. You arrange it through your airline.
Can someone accompany me through the terminal?
Your travel companion can normally stay with you throughout the assisted journey. A non-travelling companion can accompany you as far as security.
I do not use a wheelchair but cannot stand in long queues. Is assistance for me?
Yes. Assistance covers reduced mobility in a broad sense, including conditions that make long walking distances or queues difficult, and hidden disabilities. Describe your needs to the airline and the service is adapted to them.
This website is an independent information site about Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and is not affiliated with the airport or any airline. For your specific situation, always confirm arrangements with your airline.