Frequently asked questions

Assistance dogs are the only dogs allowed into the terminal buildings except for those animals travelling on flights.

It is important that you make sure your airline is aware that you are travelling with your assistance dog at least 48 hours before you travel so that you are given help at London Luton Airport. When you arrive at the airport please go to our Assisted Travel area, located just before check-in and our Assisted Travel staff, will be happy to help you. 

Any dogs travelling out of the UK must be fully vaccinated and micro-chipped and need to be registered with the European Pets Travel Scheme (PETS) and importation rules of other countries outside the EU.

Please feel free to send copies of your assistance dog's pet passport, as well as their proof of being a certified assistance animal, to [email protected]  prior to your entry back into the UK.  Please include in this e-mail your return flight date /time and the destination you are flying in from,  so that we can prepare for your arrival. This may assist with speedier checks upon entry and also help identify if all vaccinations are present for your return. The pet passport pictures we will require are:- the front cover, dog description page, owner details page, passport issue page, microchip page, rabies vaccination page, tapeworm treatment page, and proof of being a certified assistance dog.

More advice about the Pets Travel Scheme and flying with your assistance dog. Find out more or register for the PETS scheme here.

If your assistance dog needs a "Service Animal Spend Area" then please speak to a member of our Assisted Travel team (previously Special Assistance). 

You can pick up a sunflower lanyard from the Assisted Travel desk (previously Special Assistance), located inside the entrance doors of the departures terminal, on your day of travel.

If you have time for a lanyard to be posted to you before your travel date, then please e-mail [email protected] with your name and address so we can post one out to you. 

No concessions are available for blue badge holders in the main drop off area. However, blue badge holders and those who provide proof of booked assistance get 30 minutes FREE and preferential rates for dropping off in Terminal Car Park 1. See more information here.

Once you’re through Security, and if you are being assisted to the aircraft when boarding time comes, please book into our Assisted Travel Lounge, which is signposted after you pass through security. 

There are a few quieter locations, depending on the time of day, which you can utilise whilst waiting for your flight:

• The quiet room, located next to departure gate 17
• Gates 19 - 27 area
• The lounge seating area at Gate 7 (a children's play area is also available in this area)

Our Assisted Travel (previously Special Assistance) facilities pages will tell you more about all the available facilities and what to do if you have pre-booked assistance.

London Luton Airport has accessible toilet facilities available in all toilet areas. We also have a changing places facility in our Assisted Travel Lounge, which is signposted after you pass through security. 

No, be it a visual disability or a non-physical disability, no proof is required or should be asked for.

If you have a condition or disability and you feel that assistance from staff at London Luton Airport would make your journey easier, then we advise you to book assistance. From difficulties with mobility to non-physical disabilities like Alzheimer’s and ADHD, our staff are on hand to help you every step of the way.

If you feel you don’t need assistance through the airport, then that is entirely your choice. We do offer a sunflower lanyard for our passengers with non-physical disabilities or disabilities they do not want to share details of.

This will identify you to staff as someone who may need additional support or understanding, and our staff have been trained to recognise the lanyards and act accordingly. Find out more about how to navigate the Departures process with ease.

The lanyards can be obtained from the Assisted Travel desk (previously Special Assistance) near the check-in area.

If you want to navigate through the Airport independently, our Assisted Travel provider can supply you with a sunflower lanyard. This will discreetly identify you to Airport staff as someone who may require additional support.

We recommend Blue Badge holders and those with booked assistance use Terminal Car Park 1, where you can benefit from reduced rates, including 30 minutes of FREE parking or reduced rates for longer stays up to 24 hours. To take advantage of reduced rates, please take your Blue Badge or confirmation of booked assistance to the Priority Parking reception on the second floor of Terminal Car Park 1.

Our Disabled Parking Accreditation

In recognition of our efforts to be an inclusive airport, our car parks have been awarded the Disabled Parking Accreditation, an initiative set out by the charity Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) and managed by the British Parking Association (BPA). The initiative aims to improve parking facilities for disabled people in the UK.

What is London Luton Airport doing to help disabled people?

• Accessible parking bays - meeting the British Building Standards and having 327 accessible bays available across the whole airport site, so that disabled motorists can park with ease
• Ease of access - Clear pedestrian routes from accessible car parking bays and compliant lift access
• Clear signage - clear directions, information and instructions on parking
• Alternative payment methods - those unable to pay using the ticket machines have the option to pay using a card at the exit barrier
• Concessions - Blue badge holders benefit from a reduced gate tariff in Terminal Car Park 1

We recommend you use Terminal Car Park 1 for dropping off or picking up passengers with reduced mobility needs.

Alternatively, our next closest option for Blue Badge holders and those with booked assistance is Terminal Car Park 2.

In both of these car parks, passengers can benefit from reduced rates, including 30 minutes of FREE parking or reduced rates for longer stays up to 24 hours.

If you choose to park in Terminal Car Park 1,  please take your Blue Badge or confirmation of booked assistance to the Priority Parking reception on the second floor of Terminal Car Park 1. Alternatively, if you have chosen to park in Terminal Car Park 2, press the intercom to validate your blue badge. 

Passengers travelling in large groups or with a motorised wheelchair should contact our Car Park operator 0345 3037397 or email [email protected]

Most public transport operators have arrangements for passengers who need assistance and information about these services can be found on our public transport pages. 

There are Blue Badge spaces and extra help on hand in our airport car parks if you’re arriving at the airport by car.

If you have Assisted Travel booked and are unable to travel through the airport without a carer or companion, we will ensure that they can accompany you throughout the entire journey.

If you are travelling in a larger group then it would be best to nominate one person to stay with you. Companions may be asked to vacate our mobility equipment should it be required for Assisted Travel passengers.

Yes. To get assistance throughout your airport journey you need to book assisted travel through your airline so they will be aware of your needs. Your assistance will continue for as long as you need it throughout the Airport.
If you have not pre-booked an Assisted Travel service through your airline, please make yourself known to one of our Assited Travel desks within the airport.

Please note the term 'Special Assistance' is no longer used at London Luton Airport and has been replaced by 'Assisted Travel'.

Yes, if you have a disability or you experience mobility difficulties and need help to get to your flight, you should contact your airline at least 48 hours before you fly to let them know you need assistance. Inform Your airline.

If you arrive at the airport without booking Assisted Travel (previously Special Assistance), please go to one of our Assisted Travel desks and we will try to help as best we can, but we do give priority to passengers who have booked in advance.

You are welcome to travel with your mobility equipment, such as wheelchairs, mobility scooters or walkers, but please do advise your airline in advance.

Departing from London Luton Airport

If you are flying from London Luton Airport with your equipment you can take it right up to the aircraft, to then hand it over to the ground staff for loading into the hold. Please make sure your airline knows in advance that you'll be travelling with your equipment.

Once you're through Security, please go immediately to the Assisted Travel desk located in the Departure Lounge.

Depending on which gate your flight departs from, it may be necessary for our assistance team to escort you to the aircraft via an alternative route. Please book in with the Assisted Travel desk (previously Special Assistance), once you have passed through security (located next to gate 20) so they can advise you on this.

If you are travelling with an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter, staff will meet you at the Assisted Travel located next to departure gate 20 to help you make sure your scooter is safely turned off for the flight or your wheelchair is folded. It helps us keep delays to a minimum if you know how your device works in advance.

Arriving at London Luton Airport

When you arrive at London Luton Airport, your wheelchair or mobility aid should be there as you disembark the aircraft.

Don't forget to advise your airline / Assisted Travel service providers (previously Special Assistance) that you have your own equipment so that ground staff can get it back to you more quickly.

Ground Staff will unload your wheelchair or scooter from the hold as they unload the other luggage and cargo that's carried in the hold. Once this has been unloaded it will be passed over to the Assisted Travel team so it can be repatriated with you upon disembarkation.

In the unlikely event that your mobility aid is lost or damaged during the flight, then please report this immediately to the airline. You will need to complete a report with your airline and you will get a reference number. London Luton Airport will lend you a wheelchair or walker until yours is returned or repaired. Please speak to the Assisted Travel Service provider (previously Special Assistance) staff should this be required.

Only Assistance dogs are permitted inside the terminal building

No, but all our Car Parks have disabled spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Terminal Car Park 1: 
82 blue badge bays, located on levels 0 & 1

All sunflower lanyards are recognised and can be used when travelling through London Luton Airport.

Contact your airline. They will let us know and we will take care of the rest.

Passengers travelling with a sensitive medical device such as a Pacemaker, will need to carry a medical card to show our Security Officers.

If you are physically unable to stand, you are exempt from using the Security Scanners. A member of our team will assist you and provide an alternate means of screening.