If you are travelling to Thailand with a disability, reduced mobility or an autistic child, arranging airport assistance in advance can make a huge difference to how smoothly your journey begins and ends. Thailand’s main international airports do offer passenger assistance services, but the system works slightly differently to the UK and Europe.
In most cases, assistance must be requested through your airline at least 48 hours before travel, and airport staff will coordinate wheelchairs, buggy transport and support through security and immigration on arrival or departure. I highly recommend you do this step because the airline is the best point of contact to be able to book exactly the type of help you need. I have a guide about airport assistance and what to expect that may help you plan, and I also have a guide specific to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport special assistance.
Below you’ll find direct links to the major Thai airports that handle international passengers, so you can check facilities, accessibility services and contact details before you travel.
AOT – Airports of Thailand
The general Airports of Thailand website does have a generic page about travelling through Thai airports with a disability: AOT disabled passenger information
Some of the links below are the best I can find for the disability information for that specific airport, have a scroll around on the page because there are a couple where phone numbers exist instead of a link to a special assistance webpage.
Bangkok:
- Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) – Suvarnabhumi Airport Special Assistance
- Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) – Don Mueang Airport Special Assistance
I have a seperate guide that breaks down the special assistance services at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, how to book them, what to expect and more. If you plan to visit Bangkok, my guide to visiting with autistic children is a good place to start. I also have guides to different areas in Bangkok: Siam with kids, visiting Khao San Road with autistic children, Chinatown with autistic kids, free things to do in Bangrak and the best things to do at Khao San Road.
Phuket:
- Phuket International Airport (HKT) – Phuket Airport Special Assistance
Planning to visit Phuket? My guide to visiting Phuket with autistic children explains how to get there, how to get around Phuket, things to do and much more.
Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) – Chiang Mai Airport Special Assistance
If you plan to visit Chiang Mai, my guide to going to Chiang Mai with kids is where you should start your research. It has information about how to get to Chiang Mai, where to stay, things to do and whether Chiang Mai is autism friendly. If you plan to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train, my accessible transport in Thailand guide and the State Railway of Thailand disabled facilities guide will save you so many internet searched.
Chiang Rai:
- Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) – Chiang Rai Airport Special Assistance
Krabi:
- Krabi International Airport (KBV) – Krabi Airport Special Assistance
Koh Samui:
- Samui International Airport (USM) – Samui Airport Special Assistance
Fancying a bit of the islands in Thailand? My guide to visiting Koh Samui with autistic children has a whole bunch of information to save you hours of internet research.
Hat Yai:
- Hat Yai International Airport (HDY) – Hat Yai Airport Special Assistance
Udon Thani:
- Udon Thani International Airport (UTH) – Udon Thani Airport Special Assistance
U-Tapao (Pattaya/Rayong):
- U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP) – U-Tapao Airport Passenger Assistance
Surat Thani:
- Surat Thani International Airport (URT) – Surat Thani Airport Special Assistance
Helpful guides for travelling to Thailand if you have a disability:
- A complete guide to getting help at the airport as a disabled person
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport special assistance
- Airline and airport disability codes and what they mean
- How to book Ryanair special assistance
- What is PRM assist?
- State Railway of Thailand disability assistance services
These airports handle civilian passengers and have international services, either regularly or seasonally, connecting Thailand to Europe, the Middle East, Asia and beyond.
Ready to plan your trip to Thailand? Check out my Thailand travel page for all of my Thailand travel guides.