Nearest airports
Birmingham Airport is located in the centre of the West Midlands
Here for your journey – Birmingham Airport Website
You can find out about assisted travel at Birmingham Airport using the link below:
Assisted Travel – Birmingham Airport Website
Manchester Airport is around 2 hours from the West Midlands
Official website for Manchester Airport
East Midlands Airport is around 1 hours 20 minutes from West Midlands
Parking for blue badge holders
Birmingham
Blue Badge holders are entitled to up to 30 minutes free parking within the Premium Set Down car park and providing they show their Blue Badge and car parking ticket at the NCP Customer Service Desk in the Premium Set Down Car Park. Be careful not to exceed the 30 minutes as charges will still apply. You can also pick up disabled customers from this car park. Car Parks 1, 2, 3, 5, and the free drop offset down area also provide disabled parking. Normal charges apply.
For assistance with Car Parking bookings and on-site parking, please contact the call centre using this number: +44 (0) 345 0507080 and email address bookingenquiries@ncp.co.uk
Pre-book parking using the link below
Birmingham Airport Parking – Birmingham Airport Website
Manchester
Blue badge parking is available in all car parks, blue badge holders will have access to the forecourt where the traffic marshals can assist.
Disabled Car Parking – Blue Badge Parking | Manchester Airport
East Midlands
Blue Badge parking is available at both Long Stay 1 and Long Stay 2. Located just a short bus ride from the terminal, the bus service is free of charge and fully accessible to wheelchair users. Blue Badge holders usually board the transfer bus before other passengers and are given seating priority and dedicated wheelchair points on board.
Blue Badge Holders | East Midlands Airport
Special Assistance
If you require special assistance while at the airport you should inform your airline, tour operator or travel agent at least 48 hours before you fly. It is best to give as much notice as possible both for your outbound and return journeys so the necessary arrangements can be made to give you the assistance you require.
Your airline will pass on your special assistance booking prior to your arrival at the airport. If you arrive at the airport and haven’t booked in advance, all reasonable efforts will be made to assist you.
If you require assistance on arrival at the airport, you should locate the nearest call point to request assistance and you will be assisted to your chosen method of check-in.
Most of the airport is on one level. Within the departure lounge, there is a lift for passengers to gain access to the first floor. Accessible toilets are located on the main concourse and within the departure lounge.
Travelling with mobility equipment
For those passengers taking a mobility aid – such as a scooter or wheelchair – onto the aircraft, your airline must be advised in advance preferably at the time of booking.
All clients have the right to stay in their own wheelchair up to the door of the aircraft and should have it there at the door to the aircraft when exiting.
BHTA guide for flying. Provides information on wheelchair and scooter specifications.
https://www.bhta.com/air-transport-advice/
You should provide details to your airline, tour operator or travel agent which outline the dimension, weight, make and model of the mobility aid.
You will be able to travel with your mobility aid from arrival at the airport up until the point of boarding the aircraft.
The ground handling team will ensure your mobility aid is made safe for carriage on the plane and you or a person in your travelling party may be required to liaise with the team to ensure the mobility aid is immobilised.
You will be reunited with your mobility aid at the aircraft side after disembarking. In the unlikely event there is any damage to your mobility equipment, our Special Assistance team will make every effort to provide you with a temporary replacement.
Laws in other countries are not always the same so don’t assume when travelling that at the other end the support/assistance will be the same as that provided in the UK. You would always need to check and plan accordingly.
Transfer equipment
Hoists and additional seating support is generally available, but you would need to check with specific airlines. You can lease equipment for the flight as well but need to check with airline to make sure it can be used.
Batteries on aircrafts
The batteries that power wheelchairs and mobility aids are considered dangerous goods when carried by air. These and some other dangerous goods that are permitted for carriage by passengers can be transported safely by air provided certain safety requirements are met.
Passengers may only travel with a battery-powered
mobility aid with the airline’s approval. Proper prenotification by the user helps to ensure that:
▪ all in the transportation chain know what device(s) and battery type(s) they are transporting.
▪ how to properly load and handle them; and
▪ what to do if an incident or accident occurs either in-flight or on the ground.
Powered chairs must have the Airsafe Power Inhibitor for safety.
Medications
You are allowed to carry essential medications including medicinal liquids over 100ml in your hand luggage and any medical equipment if it is essential for your journey. You will need a letter from your doctor to travel with the medicine to prove this is prescribed.
For further information Hand luggage restrictions at UK airports: Medicines, medical equipment and dietary requirements – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Assistance Dogs
You may take your Assistance dog into the terminal with you. It’s important to remember that guide dogs can only travel if they are registered with the Pet Travel Scheme and if allowed by your airline and holiday destination. For further information on travelling with an assistance dog, please visit the dedicated webpage on the Gov.uk website: