If you have seen SSRS while reading about airline bookings or special assistance, it can look like another four-letter airline code. In most contexts, though, SSRS is not a specific Special Service Request code.
Usually, what you are seeing is SSRs: the plural of SSR, which stands for Special Service Request. Airlines use individual four-character SSR codes to communicate particular services, passenger requirements and booking information.
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So, if someone writes “SSRs have been added to your booking”, they mean that one or more Special Service Requests have been recorded. They do not usually mean that an airline code called SSRS has been added.
What Does SSRS Mean in Airline Travel?
In airline terminology, SSR means Special Service Request. The plural is normally written as SSRs.
Because airline SSR codes themselves are usually four characters long, writing the plural in capital letters as “SSRS” can understandably make it look like a standalone code. However, IATA’s accessibility guidance describes the system as SSR codes and lists specific codes such as WCHR, WCHS, WCHC, BLND, DEAF, DPNA and STCR. It does not list SSRS as a disability-assistance code.
If you are looking at a booking and see the letters SSRS in an unfamiliar field, ask the airline or travel agent what that field represents. Airline reservation systems can display information differently, so it is better to confirm the exact meaning in your booking than assume.
When flying with easyJet out of Tunisia, my boarding pass had SSRS where you’d normally see a disability code – this is why I have mentioned the possibility that you might come across the SSRS airline code when flying.
What Is an Airline SSR Code?
An SSR is information placed in an airline reservation to communicate a service request, passenger requirement or procedural information to the airline.
IATA explains that accessibility SSR codes allow disability-related assistance requests to be captured in a standardised format. The information can be included in the Passenger Name Record, commonly called the PNR, so relevant organisations can prepare for the passenger’s needs.
SSR codes are not limited to disability assistance. They can also be used for other parts of air travel, including special meals and various operational requirements.
Helpful guides to learn about SSR codes:
- Airline disability and SSR codes guide
- Airline special meal codes
- Allergy meal codes
- Aviation abbreviations
Examples of Disability-Related SSR Codes
There is no single SSR that covers every disabled passenger. The correct code should describe the assistance or service the individual actually needs.
| SSR code | What it communicates |
|---|---|
| WCHR | Wheelchair assistance is required for distance, but the passenger can manage steps and reach their cabin seat. |
| WCHS | The passenger cannot manage aircraft steps but can make their own way to and from the cabin seat. |
| WCHC | The passenger needs wheelchair assistance to and from the cabin seat. |
| BLND | The passenger is blind or visually impaired and may require assistance. |
| DEAF | The passenger is deaf or hard of hearing and may require assistance. |
| DPNA | A passenger with an intellectual or developmental disability requires assistance. |
| STCR | The passenger is travelling on a stretcher. |
Our guide to airline and airport disability codes explains more of the common codes and what they mean.
Can a Passenger Have More Than One SSR Code?
Yes. A passenger can have more than one Special Service Request when they have different requirements.
For example, a traveller might need a particular level of wheelchair assistance and also need another disability-related accommodation. IATA’s guidance recognises that combinations of SSR codes can be appropriate where more than one code is needed to communicate the passenger’s requirements accurately.
This is one reason you may see references to “SSRs” in the plural on airline or travel-agent systems.
Do SSR Codes Guarantee Assistance?
An SSR is an important way of communicating a request or requirement, but you should not treat the presence of a code alone as a guarantee that every detail has been arranged exactly as expected.
Some requests need airline confirmation, and more complex arrangements can require additional information or even medical approval using the MEDA code or MEDIF form. It is sensible to contact the airline before travel, describe the assistance you need in plain language and ask it to confirm what has been recorded on the booking.
This is particularly important when you are travelling with mobility equipment, require medical arrangements or need assistance that cannot be described fully by one short code.
How Do SSRs Help Disabled Travellers?
For disabled travellers, correctly recorded SSR information can help airlines and assistance providers prepare for the support needed during the journey.
IATA states that standardised accessibility SSR codes are intended to help communicate accommodation requests between travel agencies, airlines and airports. Accurate information matters because an incorrect code can lead to the wrong assistance being prepared.
The code should support a conversation about your actual needs, not replace it. You should be able to explain what assistance you require without having to know the airline industry terminology yourself. You can also use the PRM Assist app to make assistance requests.
SSRs for Autistic and Neurodivergent Travellers
Autistic and other neurodivergent passengers may need airport or airline assistance even when they do not have a mobility impairment. Depending on the passenger’s needs, an airline may use the DPNA SSR code for a passenger with an intellectual or developmental disability who requires assistance.
That does not mean every autistic traveller needs DPNA or that the same assistance will suit everyone. Tell the airline what support would actually help, such as assistance navigating the airport, clear communication or support through particular stages of the journey.
For more practical information, read our guide to airport special assistance for hidden disabilities.
Are SSRs Only Used for Disability Assistance?
No. Special Service Requests are used for many types of airline booking information. Special meal requests are a familiar example, with four-character codes identifying particular meal types.
There can also be airline-specific differences in which services are supported and how they are displayed to passengers. A four-letter abbreviation should therefore be checked in context rather than assumed to be a disability code.
If you are researching food requirements, our guide to airline meal codes explains some of the terminology used for special meals, food allergies and religious meals.
What Should You Do If You See SSRS on Your Booking?
First, check whether it is actually written as “SSRs” in a sentence or heading. If so, it almost certainly means more than one Special Service Request rather than a code called SSRS.
If SSRS appears as a standalone entry within your booking, contact the airline or travel agent and ask what the entry means in that particular reservation system. You can also ask them to read back any assistance requests attached to each passenger and flight sector.
For disability assistance, focus on confirming the practical support you need rather than trying to choose codes yourself. IATA’s guidance emphasises communication between passengers, travel agents and airlines so that requests are recorded accurately.
FAQ About SSRS and Airline SSR Codes
What does SSRS stand for on a flight?
In most airline contexts, “SSRs” means multiple Special Service Requests. SSR stands for Special Service Request. SSRS is not listed by IATA as a standard disability-assistance SSR code.
Is SSRS an airline disability code?
Not as a standard IATA disability-assistance code. You may be seeing the plural “SSRs”, referring to Special Service Requests. Ask the airline if SSRS appears as a standalone entry in your booking.
What does SSR mean?
SSR means Special Service Request. Airlines use SSR codes to communicate particular services, requirements and information associated with a passenger or booking.
Can I have several SSR codes on one booking?
Yes. More than one SSR can be associated with a passenger when different services or assistance requirements need to be communicated.
Do I need to know my SSR code before asking for assistance?
No. Tell the airline what assistance you need in practical terms. Airline or travel-agent staff should use that information to record the appropriate request.
Where are SSR codes stored?
SSR information can be recorded in the Passenger Name Record, or PNR, associated with an airline booking. The exact way it is displayed to passengers varies between booking systems and airlines.
The main distinction is straightforward: SSR means Special Service Request, while SSRs means more than one Special Service Request. SSRS is not a standard IATA disability-assistance code in the same way that WCHR, DPNA or BLND are.
If you see SSRS as a standalone item on an actual reservation, confirm it with the airline because booking-system displays and airline-specific terminology can vary.
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 our 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
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