Overview

I am autistic and have variable mobility needs due to chronic pain. I don't usually use a wheelchair but in airports I've occasionally needed one on return flights especially when having a pain flare up. I usually book assistance in advance and in this case I booked it for a business trip where I was flying out in a large group of coworkers. On the outbound flight I had no need for assistance and so let the airport know I wouldn't need meeting at the terminal or fast-track through security. This all went fine as it usually does. On the return flight, I was very unwell and needed assistance getting off the plane but no one was there to meet me. I had to de-plane by myself, despite struggling to walk, and was shoved into a crowd of people going through the border. Eventually I saw several members of airport staff wearing high vis jackets, some of them with wheelchairs. I approached one of them, an older man, and told him my name and that I'd booked assistance. I explained that I needed to access a disabled toilet as soon as possible and then fast track through the border so that I could leave and get to hospital (it was very late at night and a hospital was the only place I could possibly go to get treated). He didn't understand, refused to offer me a wheelchair, and looked confused and annoyed that I had approached him. I am a young woman and do not appear disabled (despite wearing one of their invisible disability lanyards) and he was dismissive and rude about my needs. He eventually gave me directions to a disabled toilet and walked me very fast through the border. Once I passed through the border I was left alone without further assistance. I was really distressed and disappointed by my experience as previously I have had good experiences with Edinburgh airport.

Transport & Parking

Access

Toilets

Staff