People with Reduced Mobility PMR

What is a Person with Reduced Mobility (PMR)?

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According to Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, any person whose mobility is limited to travel by air by:

• physical disability (sensory or motor, temporary or permanent),
• intellectual disability,
• any other cause of disability,
• or by age.

In general, PMR is considered to be someone who needs help to move around the airport to get to the plane, get to the exit of the plane in an evacuation or has difficulty receiving or understanding emergency instructions.

International assistance codes

As a PMR passenger, you must obtain one of these codes on your ticket and/or boarding pass

Code	Meaning
WCHR	Needs help between aeroplanes-terminals. Walk inside the plane and to board.
WCHS	Needs airplane-terminal and boarding aid. Walk inside the plane.
WCHC	He has no mobility. He needs full assistance. For flights of +3h a companion may be required.
WCHP	He needs help getting to his seat; he moves with a chair on board.
DEAF	Hearing impaired person.
BLND	Visually impaired person.
DEAF/BLND	Deafblind person.
STCR	He travels on a stretcher.
DPNA	Intellectual/mental disability.
MAAS	He needs assistance, but he doesn't fit into other categories.

How to request PMR assistance

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When purchasing the ticket, you must indicate your needs at the time of booking.
Check that the corresponding code is reflected on your ticket or locator.

Do not forget to request assistance on the website of the airport manager (AENA for Spanish airports).

To ensure assistance: notify at least 48 hours before the flight.

When they can deny a booking or boarding to a PMR passenger

Only in the cases provided for in the Regulation:

1. Safety reasons (international standards, conditions of transport of the company or limitations of the aircraft itself).

• It may be required to travel with a companion, whose ticket is not free.
• You may be required to present a medical certificate attesting to reduced mobility.

2. Physical boarding impossibility (doors or size of aircraft).

3. Presence of certain batteries in mobility equipment classified as dangerous goods

When it occurs:

• They must give you the reasons in writing.
• They must make efforts to offer an alternative.
• If you were already accepted and denied boarding, they must refund your ticket and you can request compensation under Regulation 261/2004.

 

Assistance to PMR

Regulation 1107/2006 guarantees free assistance:

• at EU airports,
• on flights departing from, arriving in or transiting through Spain,
• and on flights from third countries to Spain when an EU carrier is operating.

 

Assistance at the departure airport

The airport must:

• Attend you at the signposted meeting points.
• Move to the check-in counter.
• Check your luggage.
• Accompany you through security, immigration and customs controls.
• Take you to the plane.
• Provide lifts, wheelchairs or other equipment.
• Accompany you to your seat.
• Assist guide or assistance dogs.
• Handle your mobility equipment (including electric chairs with 48h notice).

You can use your own chair to the door of the plane if it is manual and there are no stairs.
If this is not possible, you will use an airport chair.

 

 

On-board assistance

The airline must:

• Keep and return your luggage inside the plane.
• Transport your medical equipment.
• Transport up to two mobility equipment at no cost (manual or electric chairs).
• Move from your seat to the door of the plane.
• Provide sensory assistance if you need it (explain emergencies, help with food, etc.).
• Admit guide or assistance dogs at no additional cost (See specific section on guide or assistance dogs)
• Try to assign you a suitable seat according to your needs (if security and availability allow it).
• Try to sit your companion next to you.

Folding chairs can go in the cabin if there is space.
Battery chairs must be in the cellar.

At the arrival airport

The airport must:

• Move from your seat to the door of the plane.
• Assist you in disembarking.
• Take you to the luggage area and then to the designated point.
• Help you get to the service if you need it.
• Assist your guide dog.
• Handle your mobility equipment (manual or electric with 48h warning).
• Replace your equipment if it gets damaged or lost.
  The airline must compensate you under the Montreal Convention.

 

Connections

In transits or connections they should help you:

• to embark and disembark,
• in inter-terminal transfers,
• in checks,
• and in any manoeuvre necessary to complete the connection.

Assistance dogs

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They are admitted on board free of charge if they meet:

• Training by recognised entity (IGDF, ADI or ONCE)*.
• Insurance and veterinary documentation.
• Prior notice to the company.

*International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) or Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or, the guide dog user credential issued by the National Organization of the Spanish Blind (ONCE)

Recognised types:

• Guide dog (visual impairment).
• Signal dog (sound alert).
• Service dog (mobility assistance).
• Medical alert dog (epilepsy, diabetes…).
• Dog for ASD.

Remember that the conditions of transport of assistance dogs are detailed in the Conditions of Carriage of each airline.

Mobility equipment

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The airline must transport free of charge:

• up to two mobility equipment per PMR passenger (including electric wheelchairs).
• medical equipment needed.

Remember that the conditions of transport of mobility equipment are detailed in the Conditions of Carriage of each airline.