Overview

This was my first time visiting Glasgow airport as a wheelchair user. It was a very mixed experience with the assistance point being really helpful and friendly along with the staff who took me through security and to the plane. Less good was the changing place toilet was very dirty and unfortunately my wheelchair was broken by the crew in Glasgow who loaded it onto the plane. When my flight couldn’t land and was returned to Glasgow it took the help desk several hours after everyone else on the flight got a hotel room to be able to find an accessible room for me to stay in (though to be fair this is also part of a larger system issue than specifically the airport). A real mixture of good and low points.

Transport & Parking

The transport options are fairly good. There is a phone at the drop off area to the assistance people so you can request assistance immediately from the drop off point if needed. There are also a lot of wheelchair airport taxis out the front too.

Access

On the whole disabled access was great. There are lifts between floors and I was able to stay in my wheelchair through security. To get on to the plane I used a lift that is on the back of a lorry to get to the plane door and an aisle seat to my chair. The staff were all brilliant throughout this and explained what to expect.

Toilets

It was fantastic to see a changing place toilet near the check in desks. Unfortunately it was quite hard to find and I had to be shown where to go so much signage would be great. When I went in it was pretty dirty and could have done with a clean, which isn’t great during Covid either. The other disabled toilets varied with some being too small for a power chair and no turning space, however if you’re able to travel within the airport then there are some better ones available with a lot more space in the newer refurbished areas.

Staff

The assistance staff were fantastic. Despite obviously being short staffed and incredibly busy they remained friendly and helpful and were very chatty while going through security and to my gate. There was no problem with them either taking me to fill up my water bottles past security. The staff who help me board the plane were equally friendly and explained what to expect at all stages.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Staff all wore masks and followed covid guidance. As I had a lanyard on showing I was more vulnerable to Covid the assistance staff didn’t take me through the normal security queue but to a quieter line to make it safer. There were though lots of people not following Covid guidance and not much hand sanitiser around.