Overview

This is my second visit to this airport and the second which was not a success! On the first they denied that an ambilift existed and insisted that I was manually lifted onto the plane. On the return journey just one day later, the lift appeared! Arrivals: The staff came to collect me from the plane and immediately started grabbing and pushing my chair without asking or saying anything to me. I had to grab the wheels and hold firm for quite a while before they agreed to let go. They were also very cross that I wanted to carry my bag, even though this was something I am perfectly capable of. The staff grabbed the bag anyway, and squashed some of the contents. Not thrilled! Once they had taken me through the secure area where assistance is required, they disappeared without a word. Departures: I was sitting saying goodbye to my German friend at the check in area a full two hours before departure and the desk staff called me over to say I was late for my flight and I had not let them know I was here. I asked to go through by myself and they kept telling me I must wait for assistance staff. They kept trying to take away my boarding pass which is on my mobile phone so I didn't want this taken away to an unknown place by unknown people for an unknown purpose. After some back and forth of them telling me I was not allowed to go alone through security, that someone had to come and "drop me" (a scary prospect!) they came and took me through security, even though this area was perfectly accessible. Again, they grabbed at my bags and pushed my chair without asking until I refused to go anywhere until they stopped. He eventually let go of my chair but made off with my bags. Straight after security is where you have to be taken out through a side door to avoid the steps, so they could have waited here for me to give assistance. You are taken out through one door and in through another and then it's all accessible again, but the assistance people won't be leaving you alone!! They took my passports to show to passport control, I was not allowed to do anything. I was returned to the main departure gate along with the other passengers and loading onto the plane was as expected. Distances are not that huge, it's a small airport.

Transport & Parking

I do not know anything about parking. I do know that it was impossible for us to arrange an accessible taxi from the airport. Ours was a short notice need due to a delay and we'd missed the train, so pre-booked cabs might be possible, but there's no way to turn up at the airport and just get a taxi on demand. Standard saloon car taxis are easily available. The S-Bahn station at the airport is about 1km away on a gentle (almost imperceptible) downward slope on a paved covered walkway. Inside the station is accessible on paper as they have ramps to the platforms, but these ramps are around 100m long and of a very significant gradient. I could not have attempted it unassisted, and even with assistance we were both in pain afterwards

Access

I managed to get on the plane, so I guess that's access of a kind.

Toilets

The auto flush is incredibly sensitive and you cannot get near the loo without it flushing on you. It put me right off my transfer. Door is very heavy, seat is very low even for me, and I like a standard height loo.

Staff

Awful. Really, really awful.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Investigate flying into Tegel!!