Travelling through London Stansted Airport (STN) with a disability, reduced mobility or an autistic child can be easier when you know where to find help. The airport has assisted travel services, accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities, quieter waiting areas and support for passengers with non-visible disabilities.
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This guide covers the disabled facilities at London Stansted Airport, how to reach them and what to arrange before you travel. For the booking process and a breakdown of what to expect from airport assistance specifically, see our separate guide to special assistance at London Stansted Airport.
Quick Wins for Disabled Travellers at Stansted Airport
- Request airport assistance through your airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before your flight.
- Find the landside Assistance Desk in Zone A, opposite check-in Zone 500.
- Collect a Sunflower Lanyard from Assistance Reception in Zone A if you have a non-visible disability.
- Look for the purple line and Assistance signs when approaching security.
- Plan for Changing Places facilities both before and after security.
- Watch the airport’s familiarisation videos before travelling if unfamiliar environments cause anxiety.
- Ask staff about the quieter seating options after security rather than assuming the main departure lounge is your only option.
Booking Special Assistance at London Stansted Airport
London Stansted asks passengers to book assistance through their airline or travel agent at least 48 hours before departure. The airport’s assistance provider is ABM Aviation. Assistance can cover the journey from an agreed meeting point through check-in, security and boarding, depending on your needs.
If you arrive without a booking, go to the Assistance Desk and explain what you need. Support may still be possible, but you should expect that waiting times could be longer. The assistance team may not stay beside you continuously throughout the airport.
For a fuller explanation of the booking process, read our Stansted Airport special assistance guide. You can also consult the airport’s official assistance booking information.
Finding the Assistance Desk and Help Points
The landside Assistance Desk is in Zone A of the terminal, opposite check-in Zone 500. Stansted describes it as a purple, clearly marked desk.
Help phones are available in Short Stay car parks and in Zones B and C of the terminal forecourt. If you are arriving by coach, there is a help point opposite coach bay 29. Travellers arriving by train who need support from the station to the terminal should arrange assistance with their rail provider. You can arrange rail assistance with Passanger Assist.
If walking or standing is difficult, arrange the point at which assistance should begin rather than assuming it starts at the check-in desk. The airport warns that there may be a wait at help points during busy periods.
Read our getting help at the airport guide for a breakdown of the types of help you can ask for and what to expect on the day or travel.
Accessibility Inside the Terminal
Stansted has accessible routes and lifts, but the distance you need to cover depends on your check-in area and departure gate. Some passengers will need assistance or mobility equipment to manage the journey comfortably.
The airport has worked with AccessAble to produce detailed access guides for different parts of the airport. These are particularly useful if you need information about routes, entrances or specific facilities before deciding whether you can travel independently. Find them through the airport’s AccessAble guide directory.
If you use your own wheelchair or powered mobility aid, notify your airline in advance and supply the information it requests about dimensions, weight and safe transport. Stansted says passengers can take their own mobility equipment to the departure gate, subject to the airline’s arrangements.
Accessible Toilets and Changing Places at Stansted Airport
Accessible toilets are among the airport’s passenger facilities. Stansted also confirms that Changing Places facilities are available on both sides of security, which is important for travellers who cannot use a standard accessible toilet.
The airport identifies the following Changing Places locations:
- Before security: landside arrivals, beside the toilets near Burger King.
- After security: beside the toilet facilities in the departure lounge.
Stansted states that these facilities operate with a RADAR key. If you need a hoist, an adult changing bench or particular transfer arrangements, check the equipment and access details with the airport before travelling.
You can contact Stansted Airport using the below details:
Telephone: 08081697031 or +44 8081697031 from outside of the UK. The lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm UK time. To the right is the time in the UK right now.
Live chat: From 9am until 5pm between Monday and Friday, you can contact Stansted Airport using live chat on their Contact Details webpage.
For the latest locations, see the airport’s facilities directory. If locating a suitable toilet is a concern throughout your trip, our guide to finding toilets while travelling may also help.
Hidden Disabilities and Sunflower Lanyards
London Stansted participates in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard scheme. A Sunflower Lanyard can discreetly indicate to trained staff that you may need additional time, communication support or help navigating the airport.
You can collect a lanyard from Assistance Reception in Zone A without booking the full assisted travel service. However, a lanyard does not automatically arrange wheelchair assistance, an escort or a faster security queue. For help throughout the journey, book assistance with your airline. This is the only way to make an official request for help at the airport to ensure you get the support you need on the day.
Read more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard and the airport’s non-visible disability support.
Security Screening and Additional Support
Stansted has a designated assistance lane at security. Look for Assistance signage and the purple line on the floor. If you need to use the lane, speak to a member of staff.
Security screening still applies to passengers receiving assistance. Tell staff before screening if you cannot stand, need help with mobility equipment, have pain or sensory sensitivities, or require additional explanation. Stansted confirms that private searches can be arranged if you do not want an additional hand search in public.
For children who find touch, noise or unexpected instructions difficult, prepare a simple explanation of what will happen: waiting, placing belongings in trays, walking or moving through screening and collecting belongings again. The airport’s security assistance guide explains the available arrangements.
Quiet Areas and Sensory Considerations
The main departure lounge can be busy, noisy and visually intense. Stansted identifies two potentially quieter waiting options after security:
- Assisted Travel waiting area: on the route towards gates 40–59. The airport describes it as relatively secluded, although it remains a public space.
- Additional seating area: follow the shops past Itsu to the signposted area on a lower level, accessible by lift as well as escalator. Flight information screens are available there.
Neither should be assumed to be a silent, private sensory-friendly area. Ask staff which space is suitable for your needs and whether you can use it while waiting for assistance.
Stansted also provides airport familiarisation videos, including material about autism and non-visible disabilities. These can help you prepare visual schedules, explain security and discuss the journey with an autistic child. Find them through the airport’s assisted travel tips and familiarisation videos.
Noise-reducing headphones, a familiar activity, snacks suitable for your family and a visual plan can be useful while waiting. Keep essentials in hand luggage so they are available if your gate or boarding time changes.
Boarding and Arriving With Assistance
Depending on the aircraft stand and your individual needs, the assistance team may use specialist transport or boarding equipment. Stansted says only one accompanying family member can travel with an assisted passenger on an assistance minibus or ambulift. Families travelling together should discuss this limitation in advance.
On arrival at Stansted, passengers with pre-booked assistance may be asked to remain seated until other passengers have left the aircraft. The assistance team can support the journey through passport control, baggage reclaim and towards onward transport. A dedicated assistance lane is available at passport control.
If you are travelling with a child who struggles with separation, ask the airline and assistance provider how the family can stay together during boarding and disembarkation. Do not assume every family member can accompany the assisted passenger on specialist vehicles.
Accessible Parking and Drop-Off at Stansted Airport
Blue Badge parking is available in several airport car parks. Stansted lists spaces in the Orange, Green, Blue and Yellow Short Stay car parks, Zone L of Mid Stay and Zone Q of Long Stay. The Mid Stay and Long Stay car parks use accessible transfer buses.
For drop-off, dedicated Blue Badge spaces are in Zone C of Express Set-Down, near the terminal Assistance Desk. A help point is also available there. Express Set-Down charges and time limits apply, so check the latest rules before your journey.
If you need assistance from your vehicle, use the designated help point and allow time for the team to reach you. Check the airport’s current Blue Badge parking and drop-off guidance before booking parking.
Accessible Trains, Coaches and Taxis
Stansted Airport has a rail station and coach station serving the terminal. If you need support getting from the train station into the airport, arrange assistance with your train operator. The airport recommends using station lifts because the ramp can be steep.
Coach passengers can use the help point opposite bay 29 to request assistance. If you are arranging a taxi, confirm vehicle accessibility and the meeting point with the operator before travelling.
Check the airport’s accessible transport guidance and our guide to London’s six airports when planning the wider journey.
Assistance Dogs and Relief Areas
Stansted lists two assistance animal relief areas. One is before security at the far end of the terminal forecourt and can be reached without an escort. The other is after security near the APV building and requires an Assisted Travel team member to escort you.
Tell your airline in advance if you are travelling with an assistance dog and check the airline’s requirements and the entry rules for your destination. Travelling with an assistance dog usually means that the airline will add the ESAN code to your travel booking – you can learn more about the ESAN code in our guide and more about different assistance codes in our comparision guide.
Contact London Stansted Airport About Accessibility
For assistance-specific questions, Stansted identifies ABM Aviation as its provider. You can contact ABM Aviation on the below details:
Email: EmailUsForConfidence@ABM.com
Telephone: 08081 697031
For bookings and changes to assistance, contact your airline or travel agent. The airport’s central Assisted Travel information hub brings together the latest official guidance.
Disabled Facilities at London Stansted Airport: FAQs
Does Stansted Airport Have Changing Places Toilets?
Yes. The airport lists Changing Places facilities in landside arrivals near Burger King and in the airside departure lounge. Stansted says they are RADAR-key operated. Confirm equipment and access arrangements if you need particular facilities.
Can Autistic Passengers Get Help at Stansted Airport?
Yes. Passengers with non-visible disabilities can request a Sunflower lanyard and can book airport assistance through their airline. Explain the specific help required, rather than relying on a diagnosis alone.
Is There a Quiet Area at Stansted Airport?
The airport identifies a relatively secluded assisted travel waiting area towards gates 40–59 and an additional seating area away from the main departure lounge. These are shared areas, not guaranteed silent rooms.
Where Is the Special Assistance Desk at Stansted?
The landside Assistance Desk is in Zone A, opposite check-in Zone 500. There are also help points at selected car parks and forecourt locations.
Do I Need to Book Assistance Before Flying?
Stansted asks passengers to book through their airline or travel agent at least 48 hours in advance. You can still ask for help on arrival without a booking, but support may take longer to arrange.
Disabled facilities at London Stansted Airport can make travel more manageable, but it is worth checking which services meet your specific needs before departure. Use the airport’s official guidance to confirm facilities and book assistance early if you need it.
For more planning help, read our guides to special assistance at UK airports, airport and airline assistance codes and disabled facilities and airport assistance guides.
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