If you see the MAAS airline code on an airline booking or special assistance record, it generally means Meet and Assist. It is a Special Service Request, or SSR, code used within airline reservation systems to communicate that a passenger requires meet-and-assist support.
The MAAS SSR code can look confusing because airline bookings contain many short codes that passengers rarely encounter in everyday life. It is also important not to assume that MAAS guarantees one standard package of assistance at every airport.
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The support provided depends on the airline, airport, passenger’s needs and information recorded with the request. If you need specific disability assistance, always tell the airline exactly what help is required rather than relying on the four-letter code alone.
What Does the MAAS Airline Code Mean?
MAAS means Meet and Assist. It is an airline Special Service Request code used to indicate a request for assistance for a passenger.
SSR codes are standardised messages used by airlines and reservation systems to pass service information connected with a booking. Some relate to disability and mobility assistance, while others cover meals, medical requirements, infants and many other passenger needs.
Learn more about the codes airlines use in my guides:
- Codes used by airports and airlines and what they mean
- Airline disability and SSR codes
- Airline meal codes and what they mean
- Airline allergy codes
- Airline medical meal codes
MAAS is therefore not an airport code or airline identifier. It describes a requested service.
What Is Meet and Assist (MAAS)?
Meet-and-assist support can involve helping a passenger navigate part of the airport journey. Exactly what this means varies. You can get an idea of the type of help you can get at the airport in my guide to airport help and support for disabled travellers.
Depending on the airline and airport, assistance might involve meeting the passenger at an agreed location, providing directions or escorting them through parts of the terminal, or helping them reach the appropriate departure area.
Do not assume MAAS automatically includes priority security, fast-track immigration, lounge access, baggage porter services or wheelchair assistance. These are separate services or procedures and may have different eligibility rules.
I have noticed that sometimes the MAAS airline code is actually a chargeable service unlike general airport assistance which is usually free.
Is the MAAS Airline Code a Disability Code?
The MAAS code can be used in connection with passengers who need assistance, including disabled travellers, but it is not as specific as many wheelchair SSR codes.
For example, the aviation industry uses wheelchair codes such as WCHR, WCHS and WCHC to communicate different levels of mobility assistance. These codes tell staff more about the passenger’s ability to walk and use stairs.
The MAAS airline code is broader. Because the code itself does not fully describe an individual’s disability or practical support requirements, additional information may need to be recorded in the booking. I always recommend contacting your airline before you travel anyway, this give you the change to explain the type of help you need and ensure it is recorded down accurately.
Our airline and airport disability codes guide explains MAAS alongside other common assistance codes.
What Does MAAS Mean on a Boarding Pass or Booking?
Ifthe MAAS airline code appears in your booking, it usually indicates that a meet-and-assist request has been added to the passenger record.
Its presence does not necessarily tell you the full details of the assistance arranged. Airline staff may have additional notes or service information attached to the reservation that are not visible in the passenger-facing booking.
If the support is important to your journey, contact the airline before travel and ask it to confirm exactly what assistance has been recorded.
Who Might Use MAAS Assistance?
Meet-and-assist support may be relevant in a range of circumstances, depending on the airline’s procedures and the passenger’s needs.
Disabled passengers and people with reduced mobility may need assistance navigating a large terminal. Some autistic travellers, people with learning disabilities or travellers with other non-visible disabilities may also need support finding the correct areas of an unfamiliar airport. My guide to airport assistance for people with hidden disabilities is also a handy resource for travellers with invisible illnesses.
Airlines may use different codes or processes for different circumstances. The passenger should describe what they need rather than asking for the MAAS airline code to be added to their booking simply because they have seen the code online.
The MAAS Airline Code for Autistic Passengers
For some autistic travellers, airport navigation is one of the most difficult parts of flying. Large terminals can involve crowds, changing signs, queues, security procedures and unexpected gate changes. Meet-and-assist support may help when the main difficulty is navigating the airport or understanding where to go. However, MAAS does not automatically communicate an autistic passenger’s individual needs.
When arranging assistance, explain the practical support that would help. This could include needing clear directions, extra processing time, support moving between airport areas or help finding a quieter waiting location where one is available.
A useful description is more informative than simply saying “the passenger has autism”. Autistic people have very different support requirements.
The MAAS Airline Code and Hidden Disabilities
A passenger does not necessarily need to use a wheelchair to require airport assistance. Non-visible disabilities can affect communication, navigation, stamina, sensory processing and the ability to manage unfamiliar airport procedures.
Airlines and airports may have different ways of recording these requirements. MAAS is one possible service code, but it should not be treated as a universal hidden-disability code. You can look through and download the list of disability and SSR codes from my guide to disability and SSR codes so you can refer back to it any time and compare the codes which might work best for your personal situation.
The MAAS Code Compared With Wheelchair Codes
One of the easiest ways to understand the MAAS airline code is to compare it with the common WCH codes which refer to wheelchair assistance when you fly.
| Code | General Meaning | What It Communicates |
|---|---|---|
| MAAS | Meet and Assist | A broad request for meet-and-assist support |
| WCHR | Wheelchair – Ramp | Passenger can use stairs and walk to the cabin seat but needs wheelchair assistance for distance |
| WCHS | Wheelchair – Steps | Passenger cannot manage stairs but can walk to the cabin seat |
| WCHC | Wheelchair – Cabin Seat | Passenger requires more extensive mobility assistance to reach the cabin seat |
The exact handling of SSRs should always be confirmed with the airline. A passenger’s needs matter more than choosing a code themselves.
Learn More About Wheelchair Special Assistance
Learn more about the wheelchair assistance codes in my guides:
- WCHS | Find out more about using the WCHS SSR code
- WCHR | Learn more about the WCHR SSR code
- WCHC | Read more about the WCHC wheelchair travel code
- WCOB | My dedicated guide to the WCOB code explains more about this code
Is MAAS the Same as Airport Special Assistance?
The MAAS airline code can form part of an airport assistance arrangement, but the terms are not completely interchangeable.
“Special assistance” is a broad passenger-facing term covering support for disabled people and passengers with reduced mobility. The MAAS airline code is a specific reservation-system code.
At many airports, the practical assistance is delivered by the airport or a contracted assistance provider even though the passenger originally requested it through the airline. This is why the passenger may speak to an airline when booking assistance but meet staff from a different company at the airport.
Does MAAS Assistance Include a Wheelchair?
Do not assume it does.
If you require a wheelchair because you cannot walk long airport distances, cannot use stairs or need assistance reaching the aircraft seat, tell the airline explicitly. A more specific wheelchair SSR may be appropriate.
Giving accurate mobility information helps the airline and assistance provider arrange suitable equipment and staff. Learn more about travelling with reduced mobility in my dedicated guide.
Does Using the MAAS Airline Code Mean Fast Track?
No. The MAAS code should not be interpreted as a guaranteed fast-track service. An assistance route may sometimes differ from the ordinary passenger route, but this depends on the airport’s procedures. Security and border authorities control their own screening and immigration processes.
Request assistance because you need support, not because you expect it to provide a faster route through the airport.
Does Using the MAAS Code Include Lounge Access?
No. A MAAS airline code request does not normally give a passenger airline lounge access. Lounge eligibility usually depends on the ticket, cabin class, airline status, lounge membership or a separate paid arrangement.
An assistance member of staff may help an eligible passenger reach a lounge where this forms part of the agreed airport assistance, but the MAAS airline code itself is not a lounge-access code.
How Do You Request to Apply the MAAS Airline Code?
Passengers do not normally need to know or quote the MAAS airline code when requesting assistance. Contact the airline and explain what help you need. The airline or booking system can then record the appropriate SSR and supporting information.
You can also use the PRM Assist app to request airport assistance but it is worth contacting your airline anyway to give them more details about your request and the type of help you need.
For disability assistance, request support as early as the airline recommends. In the UK and European air travel system, passengers are generally encouraged to notify the airline, tour operator or travel agent at least 48 hours before the published departure time so the required assistance can be arranged effectively.
Late requests can still be assisted where possible, but advance notice gives providers more opportunity to have appropriate staff and equipment ready.
What Information Should You Give the Airline?
Describe the actual task that is difficult rather than only giving a diagnosis.
Useful information can include whether the passenger:
- Can walk through the terminal independently (or not).
- Can climb aircraft stairs (or not).
- Needs a wheelchair for long distances (or can manage this independantly).
- Needs help finding check-in, security or the departure gate.
- Has difficulty understanding verbal instructions.
- Needs extra processing time.
- Travels with their own wheelchair or mobility aid (and details of these).
- Needs assistance during connections.
The airline can then determine how to record the request within its system.
Check the Assistance Before Travel
After requesting assistance, check your booking or confirmation and make sure the request has been recorded.
If you see the MAAS airline code but expected wheelchair assistance, contact the airline and confirm whether the booking accurately reflects your needs. Similarly, seeing a wheelchair code when you requested non-mobility assistance is worth clarifying.
Keep any written assistance confirmation available during the journey. It can be useful if staff need to check what was requested.
What Happens at the Airport?
The starting point varies by airport. Some airports have designated assistance reception points, while others ask passengers to report to check-in or use an assistance call point.
Check the airport’s accessibility information before travelling so you know where to go when you arrive.
Do not assume the MAAS airline code means a member of staff will automatically be waiting at the terminal entrance. The passenger may still need to announce their arrival at a designated point.
Using MAAS on a Connecting Flight
Connections can be one of the most useful places for meet-and-assist support, especially in a large unfamiliar airport. When booking assistance, make sure the airline understands that help is needed during the connection and not only at the departure airport.
Ask where the passenger will be met after the first flight and what happens if the inbound aircraft arrives late. Procedures differ by airport and airline.
What if MAAS Is Missing From Your Booking?
Do not rely solely on what is visible in an app or passenger-facing booking page. Some assistance information may not display clearly to the traveller. If you requested help but cannot see it, contact the airline and ask it to confirm the assistance recorded for each flight sector.
It is better to clarify this before travel than to discover at a large airport that staff were expecting a different type of assistance.
The MAAS Airline Code and the Sunflower Lanyard
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and MAAS are not the same thing.
A Sunflower lanyard is a voluntary way of indicating that someone has a non-visible disability and may need additional understanding, patience or support. It does not automatically create an airline assistance booking.
The MAAS airline code is a SSR within the passenger’s travel record. Wearing a Sunflower does not guarantee MAAS has been requested, and having MAAS on a booking does not require the passenger to wear a Sunflower.
Where a traveller needs formal airport assistance, request it through the airline or appropriate booking channel even if they plan to use a Sunflower lanyard.
Frequently Asked Questions About the MAAS Airline Code
What Does MAAS Stand For in Aviation?
MAAS stands for Meet and Assist. It is a Special Service Request code used in airline reservation systems to communicate a request for passenger assistance.
Is MAAS an IATA Code?
MAAS is commonly used as an airline Special Service Request code within passenger reservation and service messaging. It is not an airport’s three-letter location code or an airline’s two-character designator.
Does MAAS Mean Wheelchair Assistance?
Not necessarily. Wheelchair assistance has more specific SSR codes, including WCHR, WCHS and WCHC. Tell the airline if you need a wheelchair rather than assuming MAAS covers it.
Can Autistic Passengers Request MAAS?
Meet-and-assist support may be appropriate for an autistic passenger who needs help navigating the airport, depending on the airline and airport arrangements. Describe the practical support required so the correct assistance can be recorded.
Does MAAS Give You Priority Security?
No. MAAS is not a guaranteed security fast-track code. Assistance routes and security arrangements vary by airport.
Do I Need to Ask the Airline for the MAAS Code?
No. Passengers should explain the assistance they need. Airline staff or reservation systems can select the appropriate SSR code.
MAAS is only one of many codes used behind the scenes when airlines manage passenger requirements. It can be helpful for a wide range of passangers, but you must make sure to contact your airline before you travel to explain to them what type of help you need during your MAAS assistance.
Continue Learning About Airline Codes
Understanding these SSR codes can make it easier to check that the right assistance has been added to your booking. You can explore my guides to airline SSR disability codes to learn what the different codes mean, when they are used and what support you may need to arrange before you fly.
- Airline and airport codes and what they mean
- Download a copy of all of the airline SSR disability codes for free
- Airline meal codes explained
- Download a list of all of the airline meal codes for free
- Learn which airline meal codes are for travellers with allergies
- What does DPNA mean?
- Download a free, printable checklist for MEDA passengers to complete before they fly
Continue Planning Your Travels With Autistic Kids
- Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
- Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
- Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
- Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
- Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children
- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
- Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling
- Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world
- Always alerted at the last minute that the little one needs a toilet? Find a toilet anywhere with this app
Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides
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