Services for passengers with reduced mobility

Lufthansa female employee at the desk facing a customer

Types of support we offer

Depending on the degree to which your mobility is reduced, we offer the following services:

WCHR: wheelchair assistance to the exit at the gate

You can move independently on board the aircraft and go up and down stairs, but you need a wheelchair or other means of transport to travel long distances within the airport.

WCHS: wheelchair assistance to the aircraft

You can move independently on board the aircraft, but you can’t walk up or down stairs and need a wheelchair or another means of transport to get around the airport.

WCHC: wheelchair assistance for a passenger who is unable to walk

You are unable to walk, can only travel with your own wheelchair and require assistance from the moment you arrive at the airport, during all phases of boarding and disembarking, including onboard the aircraft, until the end of the flight and upon arrival at your destination.

Travelling with your own wheelchair

If you would like to take your own wheelchair with you, please note the following:

  • At the airport, you will be provided with a wheelchair free of charge. You can also transport your own (foldable) wheelchair in the cargo hold free of charge.
  • If you need wheelchair assistance at your place of departure or destination, please make sure you inform us of this in good time, either during the booking process or afterwards.
  • You can take up to two mobility aids (e.g. a wheelchair or walking frame) with you free of charge, either in the cabin or in the cargo hold.
  • If you are taking your own wheelchair, please specify its dimensions, weight and special features (e.g. foldable, battery-powered, sports wheelchair). Please note that smaller aircraft may have size restrictions, e.g. a cargo door width of only 71 cm. A list of aircraft door dimensions by aircraft type can be found here: Aircraft door dimensions
  • At most stations, you can use a foldable wheelchair until you reach the gate. At check-in, it will receive a “Delivery at aircraft” tag and will be loaded directly at the aircraft.
  • In the case of battery-powered wheelchairs, there may be safety-related restrictions and certain regulations to follow. Please complete the form below and send it to [email protected] so we can check whether transport is possible.
  • Please note: as of 1 October 2025, wheelchairs or other mobility aids with a permanently installed, non-removable lithium battery, will be subject to a limit of no more than two batteries with a capacity of up to 160 Wh each. If your booking request was already confirmed before 1 October 2025 or if you started your trip before 1 October, your wheelchair or mobility aid will still be transported.

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Booking and reservation

In principle, you are free to choose your seat according to your individual needs. Please understand that, for safety reasons, restrictions may apply in some cases as follows:

  • For all seats in the emergency exit row, regardless of aircraft type
  • B747-400 and B747-800: seats on the upper deck are not suitable for WCHS and WCHC as the upper deck can only be reached via a staircase.

If you are dependent on a mobility aid and are travelling in the new Allegris cabin on an A350-900, please note the following instructions regarding seat selection:

  • First Class: 1K is not suitable for WCHC.
  • Business Class: Business Suites 2A–K and 8A–K, Privacy Seats 3A+K, 5A+K, 7A+K, 9A+K and 11A+K as well as all Extra Space Seats 3E, 5F, 9E and 11F are not suitable for WCHC.
  • Economy Class: rows 19–K, 26A–C and 26H–K are not suitable for WCHC, WCHS and WCHR.

Learn more about aircraft specifications and onboard mobility.

Almost all seats on the Lufthansa fleet have movable armrests which make access to your seat easier.

If you wish to attach a seating device to your seat, then for safety reasons we must check the device beforehand. In this case, please contact our ​Medical Operation Centre.

You can register a battery-powered wheelchair here.

Please allow enough time to arrive at the airport and check in without having to rush.

We will be happy to accompany you throughout your time at the airport if needed.

At the gate, we will assist you with boarding and disembarking before the other passengers.

For longer stopovers in Frankfurt or Munich, we have set up a waiting lounge for you and will take you there in your wheelchair.

Please inform the staff at the check-in counter about your booked service. This way, we can ensure that you receive priority care and, if necessary, are accompanied on board before the other passengers. Even if it is not mandatory, we would be grateful if you told us about the nature of your disability or medical condition (e.g. reduced mobility or a pacemaker). This will enable us to respond to your individual needs in the best possible way.

​View the check-in information

For passengers with reduced mobility, our aircraft have a specially developed onboard wheelchair that also enables use of the toilet on board. Please be prepared to switch from your own wheelchair to an onboard wheelchair if necessary. The latter has a seat width of 36 cm. Your own wheelchair will be carried in the cargo hold.

Our flight attendants will be happy to help you as much as they can during the flight. Please understand that, for safety reasons, they are not allowed to help you with any physical lifting or carrying. 

As soon as you get on board, our cabin crew will be happy to assist you if necessary.

  • We will assist you during boarding and disembarking.
  • We will help you stow your carry-on baggage and aids.
  • We will assist you in getting to and from the toilet.
  • We are happy to help you prepare your meal.
  • We are happy to explain the safety regulations on board to you individually.
  • We will help you use the “onboard wheelchair” until you reach the toilet.

Do you require additional support? If so, you will need a travelling companion who is at least 18 years old.

All our long-haul aircraft have accessible toilets. However, please note that the space, especially on short-haul flights, is generally limited, both in the washroom and in the aisles, which are usually narrower than in other means of transport.

Learn more about aircraft specifications and onboard mobility

After landing, you will receive your own wheelchair either directly at the aircraft or, at the latest, at baggage claim. If your wheelchair is returned to you at baggage claim, we will take you there in an airport wheelchair. Please understand that this may entail short waiting times.

Note: Unfortunately, your wheelchair cannot be returned to you directly at the aircraft at the following airports: Addis Ababa, Asmara, Billund, Cagliari, Catania, Hamburg, Hannover, Nuremberg, Olbia, Palermo, Riyadh, Stuttgart and Valencia.

A waiting lounge is available for longer stopovers in Frankfurt or Munich. We will of course take you there in your wheelchair.

If your mobility aid is damaged during transport and we are responsible, we will waive the limits of liability set out in the Montreal Convention.

Good to know: if someone is picking you up at your destination airport, this person should contact the Lufthansa Airport Ticket Team before your flight arrives. This way, we can make sure you receive continuous support. At some airports, the person meeting you will be able to come to meet you at baggage reclaim.

In the event of irregularities with your mobility aid

Lufthansa undertakes to handle your wheelchair or electric mobility scooter (hereinafter referred to as “mobility aid”) with care. Despite our efforts, mobility aids may be damaged or delayed.

  • If your mobility aid arrives late or has been damaged during the trip, please report this immediately, either online or directly at the lost-property office at the destination airport. We will work to find a solution as quickly as possible.
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  • You can also request a refund for costs incurred by filling out this form:
Request a refund

Delay

If your mobility aid arrives late, you can choose the option that suits you best: you can either collect the mobility aid at the destination airport or have it conveniently delivered to a suitable location, such as your home or your hotel.

If you incur transport costs to or from the airport due to your mobility aid being delayed, we will of course reimburse you for these.

Please note that we require proof of the expenses incurred.

Devices on loan

If your mobility aid is damaged during the flight, you are entitled to a loan wheelchair that best meets your requirements in terms of functionality and safety until your own device has been returned, repaired or replaced.

If we are unable to provide a suitable mobility aid on loan, you can also organise one yourself. We will reimburse you for the resulting costs within 30 days after submission of the corresponding proof.

Repair or replacement

In the event of a damaged or lost mobility aid, you will be offered the following options:

  1. Lufthansa will cover the costs of repairing or replacing the device and will offer you a device with comparable functionality and safety.
  2. Alternatively, you can arrange for the repair or replacement through a provider of your choice. In this case, Lufthansa will take care of the transport and will pay the provider directly for the costs incurred.