Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

I am travelling alone, do I need a personal assistant?

You’ll need a personal assistant to travel with you if you don’t meet the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s definition of being self-reliant. This means you need to be able to:

– Open your seat belt
– Leave your seat and reach an emergency exit without help
– Collect and fit a lifejacket
– Put on an oxygen mask without help
– Understand the safety briefing and instructions given by the crew in an emergency, including information provided in accessible formats

You may also want to think about travelling with a personal assistant if you need help with any of the following:

– Breathing – e.g. if you rely on supplementary oxygen

– Eating – although cabin crew can help you open containers

– Going to the toilet – cabin crew can help you move through the cabin in a wheelchair to reach the toilet, but you need to be able to use the facilities by yourself

– Taking medication – you’ll need to be able to administer your own medication during the flight

If you need to travel with a personal assistant, most airlines will need you to sit together. We would suggest getting in touch with the airline directly to check availability before you book.