Air India provides free wheelchair assistance for check-in, security, boarding and arrival – but that service ends at the terminal door. If you’re flying an elderly parent, a recovering patient, or yourself into or out of Dubai, here’s how to book Air India’s airport service, and where to get a wheelchair for the rest of your stay.
Quick Answer
Air India offers free wheelchair assistance for check-in, security, boarding and arrival. Request it when booking, via Manage Booking, or through Air India customer service at least 48 hours before departure (72 hours, or up to 5 working days at some offices, if a medical clearance form is required). This covers the airport only. To have a wheelchair with you at your Dubai hotel, home or hospital before or after your flight, rent one from Gilani Mobility from AED 30/day, with delivery across Dubai.
Table of Contents
- How to Book Air India Wheelchair Assistance (Free)
- Types of Air India Wheelchair Assistance
- What’s Included in Air India’s Free Wheelchair Service
- Travelling with Your Own Wheelchair on Air India
- Wheelchair Assistance at Dubai Airport (DXB) for Air India Passengers
- The Gap Air India Doesn’t Cover
- Wheelchair Rental in Dubai for Air India Passengers
- Related Mobility Services for Your Trip
- Air India Assistance vs. Wheelchair Rental — At a Glance
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Key Takeaways
How to Book Air India Wheelchair Assistance on Air India
Air India lets you request wheelchair support at three points in your journey.
Option 1: At the Time of Booking
Select the wheelchair or special assistance option while booking your ticket on the Air India website, mobile app, or through your travel agent. This is the most reliable route because it’s logged against your booking (SSR) from the start.
Option 2: Add It via Manage Booking
Already booked? Go to Manage Booking on the Air India website and add wheelchair assistance to your existing reservation.
Option 3: Contact Air India Customer Service or Your Local Office
Call Air India customer support or your nearest Air India city office and provide your passenger and flight details along with the type of assistance needed.
How Much Advance Notice Do You Need?
- Standard wheelchair request: At least 48 hours before scheduled departure.
- Medically unfit passengers (MEDIF required): Air India’s medical officer takes a minimum of 72 hours to approve the request – some local offices allow up to 5 working days. Confirm the exact timeline with your local Air India office well before travel.
- Personal battery-powered wheelchair: Submit the Battery Powered Wheelchair Information Form at least 48 hours before departure.
Types of Air India Wheelchair Assistance
Airlines classify wheelchair requests using standard IATA codes so ground staff know exactly what level of help to arrange:
| Code | Meaning | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| WCHR | Wheelchair – Ramp | Can walk short distances and climb stairs, but needs help covering longer airport distances |
| WCHS | Wheelchair – Steps | Cannot manage stairs but can walk short distances to the seat |
| WCHC | Wheelchair – Cabin | Fully immobile; needs full assistance from curb to seat |
Mention the correct level when you request assistance – it determines whether you’re met at check-in, security, or the aircraft door.
What’s Included in Air India’s Free Wheelchair Service
At the Airport
- Assistance from check-in through security and immigration
- Escort to the boarding gate
- Priority boarding – disabled passengers board first
- On arrival: help with deplaning, immigration, baggage claim and onward connections
Onboard
- Seating near the aisle and washroom where possible
- Cabin crew briefed in advance on medical needs
- Priority deplaning – assisted passengers disembark last, in a controlled manner
Cost
Old and infirm travellers, and passengers with a documented medical condition, are not charged for wheelchair assistance on Air India.
Travelling with Your Own Wheelchair on Air India
Manual Wheelchairs
You can travel with your own manual wheelchair. Share the dimensions and confirm handling requirements with Air India in advance so ground staff can plan gate-side storage or hold handling.
Battery-Powered Wheelchairs & Mobility Aids
If you’re travelling with a personal electric wheelchair or mobility scooter, submit the Battery Powered Wheelchair Information Form at least 48 hours before departure, and review the battery-specific travel requirements on the Air India website.
Battery Rules
- Single battery: maximum 300 Wh
- Two batteries: each maximum 160 Wh
- Spare batteries: one spare up to 300 Wh, or two spares each up to 160 Wh
- All battery-powered mobility aids are subject to IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
If Your Wheelchair Can’t Reach the Seat
Where airport infrastructure or weight restrictions don’t allow your wheelchair all the way to your seat, it may be collected at the aircraft door and loaded into the hold. You’ll be given an airline wheelchair for the cabin, and your own chair is returned to you at the arrival hall.
Wheelchair Assistance at Dubai International Airport (DXB) for Air India Passengers
How to Request It at DXB
Inform Air India at least 24–48 hours before travel and before you complete online check-in. Wheelchair access at Dubai Airports is free of charge. An airline or ground-handling employee will meet you and assist through to your pickup point on arrival.
Which Terminal Does Air India Use?
Air India currently operates from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at DXB, with Air India Express typically using Terminal 2 – but airlines do shift terminals from time to time. Always confirm the terminal on your ticket or boarding pass before you travel, since wheelchair pickup points differ (curbside for Terminal 3, check-in counters for Terminals 1 and 2).
Other Paid Airport Support Worth Knowing About
Beyond the free airline wheelchair service, Dubai Airports also has: complimentary 2-hour parking for People of Determination at all terminals, Sunflower lanyards for hidden disabilities (available at terminal info desks), and paid concierge options like Dnata’s Special Assistance Bookings and the Marhaba meet-and-greet service for a faster, escorted airport experience.
The Gap Air India’s Free Service Doesn’t Cover
Air India’s wheelchair assistance – and Dubai Airport’s free service – is an airport-to-airport benefit. It uses airport-owned equipment that stays at the airport. It does not give you a wheelchair to keep for:
- Your hotel stay or a family home in Dubai
- Hospital or clinic visits during your trip
- Sightseeing, shopping or a layover between connecting flights
- Recovery time after surgery, before or after the flight
If any of these apply – most commonly, families flying an elderly parent in on Air India for a visit – you’ll need to arrange your own wheelchair separately.
Wheelchair Rental in Dubai for Air India Passengers
Gilani Mobility rents manual and electric wheelchairs across Dubai and the UAE, with delivery available near both DXB terminals.
Rental Rates
- Manual wheelchair: from AED 30/day
- Electric wheelchair: from AED 100/day
- Daily, weekly and monthly plans, minimum 3-day hire
- Refundable deposit; delivery and pickup available for an extra charge
- Every wheelchair is sanitised and inspected before it goes out
Who This Is For
- Families bringing elderly parents into Dubai on Air India for a visit
- Travellers recovering from surgery, before or after their flight
- Tourists who want the freedom to explore Dubai without airport-only assistance
- Passengers on a long layover who need mobility support beyond the terminal
How to Rent
- Choose a manual or electric wheelchair on the wheelchair rental page
- Confirm your rental dates and delivery address (hotel, home, or hospital)
- Complete payment to confirm the booking
- We deliver, and collect it at the end of your rental period
WhatsApp Us to Rent a Wheelchair
Related Mobility Services for Your Trip
Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAV) To and From DXB
If your family member needs to stay seated in their own wheelchair for the ride, Gilani Mobility also offers private wheelchair-accessible vehicle transport to and from Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, with or without a driver. Platform-lift vehicles start from AED 900/day, and the G24 NoRamp vehicle from AED 1,200/day.
Mobility Scooter Rental in Dubai
For passengers who prefer a scooter over a wheelchair for getting around Dubai independently, mobility scooter rental is available on the same short-term and long-term terms, with delivery across the city.
Air India Assistance vs. Gilani Mobility Wheelchair Rental – At a Glance
| Air India Wheelchair Assistance | Gilani Mobility Wheelchair Rental | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Check-in to boarding gate; arrival to pickup point | Your hotel, home, hospital or anywhere in Dubai |
| Cost | Free (old/infirm/medical condition passengers) | From AED 30/day (manual), AED 100/day (electric) |
| Equipment | Airport-owned, stays at the airport | Yours to keep for the full rental period |
| Booking window | 48 hours minimum (72hrs–5 days if MEDIF required) | Same-day to advance booking, 3-day minimum hire |
| Best for | The flight itself | The rest of the trip |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Is Air India wheelchair assistance free?
Yes. Old and infirm travellers, and passengers with a documented medical condition, are not charged for wheelchair assistance on Air India.
Q. How far in advance should I book Air India wheelchair assistance?
At least 48 hours before departure for standard requests. If a medical clearance form (MEDIF) is required, allow a minimum of 72 hours, and confirm with your local Air India office since some offices take up to 5 working days.
Q. Can I bring my own electric wheelchair on Air India?
Yes, subject to battery limits (300 Wh for a single battery, or two batteries at 160 Wh each) and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Submit the Battery Powered Wheelchair Information Form at least 48 hours before departure.
Q. Does Air India’s wheelchair service cover my stay in Dubai?
No. Air India’s assistance covers the airport journey only. For a wheelchair to use at your hotel, home or hospital before or after your flight, you’ll need to rent one separately.
Q. Can I rent a wheelchair in Dubai for a parent flying in on Air India?
Yes. Gilani Mobility delivers manual and electric wheelchairs across Dubai, including near both DXB terminals, from AED 30/day with a 3-day minimum hire.
Q. Where can I rent a wheelchair near Dubai Airport?
Gilani Mobility offers wheelchair rental with delivery and pickup across Dubai, including areas close to DXB Terminals 1 and 2 such as Al Garhoud and Umm Ramool.
Q. Do you offer a wheelchair-accessible taxi from DXB?
Yes. Private wheelchair-accessible vehicle transport to and from Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport is available, with or without a driver, starting from AED 900/day.
Q. What if I need wheelchair assistance for a connecting flight?
Air India provides support throughout your journey, including transfers between connecting flights, with messages sent ahead to en-route destinations so onward assistance is arranged.
Key Takeaways
- Book 48 hours ahead: Standard minimum notice for Air India wheelchair assistance
- Free at the airport: No charge for old, infirm, or medically documented passengers
- Coverage ends at the terminal: Air India’s service doesn’t extend to your hotel, home or hospital stay
- Rent for the rest of the trip: Wheelchairs from AED 30/day, delivered across Dubai
- More options available: Wheelchair-accessible taxi and mobility scooter rental for the full visit
Wheelchair Assistance in Other Airlines
Emirates Wheelchair Assistance
Sri Lankan Airlines Wheelchair Assistance
Saudi Airlines Wheelchair Assistance
Etihad Wheelchair Assistance
