Health

Introducing the special assistance services provided by airlines in Brazil

The services that Brazilian airlines offer for people with special needs to have a smooth trip.

By Diego Paiva

Traveling by plane can be an incredible experience, but for some people, such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and individuals with disabilities, it can be challenging. Fortunately, Brazilian airlines, Latam, Azul, and GOL, offer free special assistance services to help these passengers have a smoother and more comfortable journey. These services are a way to ensure inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, nursing mothers, unaccompanied children, and others who require special assistance.

Assistance for people with disabilities

The airlines provide special assistance for people with disabilities, including wheelchair users, individuals with visual, hearing, intellectual disabilities, and others. This assistance includes support from check-in to disembarkation, with assistance for boarding, disembarking, and mobility within the aircraft. Each type of disability requires a different approach and assistance, but generally, an employee is responsible for the entire process at airports, while the crew provides assistance onboard. The transportation of service animals such as guide dogs is also free, and each passenger who requires it can bring one, just check the documentation requirements for the dog’s boarding with each airline.

Assistance for the elderly

Elderly passengers also receive special attention, which includes assistance for boarding, disembarking, and mobility within the aircraft. In cases where the elderly person has difficulty walking, they can also request the use of a wheelchair, even if they don’t have one. All airlines have wheelchairs available for use. If the passenger has their own wheelchair or walker, these can be checked and returned at the aircraft’s door without any cost.

Assistance for Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers

Companies provide support for pregnant and nursing women, with assistance for boarding, disembarking, and transporting their belongings, as well as specific guidance for these situations. In the case of parents with babies up to 2 years old, they can bring them at no cost on all domestic flights, with the right to 2 baby mobility items, such as a stroller and a baby car seat. Both should be checked and delivered at the aircraft door, where they will be received back upon disembarking. In cases where the strollers can be folded into 2 parts, only they can be taken, as they already include the baby car seat. In cases where the stroller can be folded and becomes the size of a carry-on suitcase, they are the only ones that can be taken on board.

Special Assistance

Something that is not often talked about, but that airlines provide, is assistance for people who, for some reason, need occasional support on that flight. Whether it’s a first-time solo traveler, illiterate individuals, someone who is alone in an unfamiliar airport, among others. Passengers are accompanied during transportation in the airport from check-in to the boarding gate, as well as upon arrival at the destination until disembarking.

Unaccompanied Minor Assistance

A service that used to be free but has become paid in recent years: airlines have specific services for children traveling alone, which include assistance from check-in to disembarkation, as well as guidance for parents and children, who are supervised by an airline representative throughout the time at the airport and on the flight. Parents or guardians of children between 8 and incomplete 16 years old can request the service on direct flights within Brazil, subject to a fee.

In addition to these services, airlines also offer other resources to ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers, such as special seats for people with disabilities, seatbelt extenders, special menus for people with dietary restrictions (on medium and long-haul international flights), entertainment programs adapted for visually impaired individuals, and other specific services provided by each airline.

How to request these services?

To request special assistance services, it is necessary to inform the airline in advance, either during the ticket reservation or by phone. It is important to note that these services are completely free of charge (except for the unaccompanied minors service), and there are no additional costs for the passenger in any way. In most cases, it is also possible to request these services at the time of check-in since there are no limitations on passenger usage. However, to avoid inconvenience due to a lack of staff and even flight delays, it is extremely necessary to make this prior communication. There are specific cases where the use of specific equipment (e.g., a lifting chair, ambulift, among others) or a group where everyone requires assistance may require greater organization from the companies.

It is worth mentioning that airlines also provide information and training to their employees on how to handle passengers with disabilities or special needs, ensuring more appropriate and respectful assistance.

The free special assistance services offered by Brazilian airlines are a way to guarantee inclusion and accessibility for all passengers. With these measures, companies reinforce their commitment to customer satisfaction and the quality of their services, but most importantly, to the safety of everyone. If you need any of these services during your air travel, do not hesitate to contact the airline in advance and request the necessary assistance.