Special needs at FLL

Travelers with Disabilities

Great attention has been devoted to the design and construction of airport facilities to ensure safe, convenient and easily accessible spaces for travelers with disabilities. This includes parking lots, terminals and the rental car center.

Parking and terminal access

FLL has an innovative service in all parking facilities designed specifically for passengers with upper-body mobility limitations. This allows users to enter the parking lots without the need to pull a ticket. Vehicle information is captured through a speaker and remote camera system, and the rate is calculated upon exit.

All garages are equipped with:

Ramps and level access, curb cuts, lifts and automatic doors.
Elevator control panels in Braille and with modified height standards.
Clearly designated handicapped parking spaces and spaces for high-roof vans.
Wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses, with boarding areas adjacent to disabled parking spaces.

The airport offers free parking to persons whose vehicles display a Florida toll waiver permit or contain specialized equipment intended for persons with disabilities, including foot or hand controls, lifts, ramps, or “DAV” or “DV” plates for U.S. veterans.

Parking and Terminal Access

✔ Pros:

Designated parking spaces for passengers with reduced mobility.
Clear signage to facilitate access to the terminals.

❌ Cons:

Some passengers mention that finding the correct entrance to the terminals can be confusing.
Lack of efficient internal transportation options between terminals, especially in bad weather.

AIRA

Fort Lauderdale Airport offers complimentary access to Aira, a mobile app designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. Airport guests who are visually impaired can use this service to enhance their independence and create a more accessible airport experience.

✔ Pros:

Aira is a visual assistance service for visually impaired travelers, providing real-time navigation support via mobile devices.

❌ Cons:

Not all airport employees are familiar with this service, which can cause confusion.

Restrooms

Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available throughout all terminals and in the rental car center. Family restrooms can also be found in specific locations in terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, as well as in the rental car center.

Elevators

All airport elevators are equipped with Braille signage and raised numbers.

✔ Pros:

Accessible restrooms are reported to be clean and well-maintained.
Good availability of elevators in most terminals.

❌ Cons:

Some elevators can be slow, making mobility challenging.
Certain seating areas could be better adapted for passengers with reduced mobility.

Visual paging

Hearing-impaired passengers can use the visual paging options displayed on the flight information screens on the upper and lower levels of each terminal. Contact the communications center at Tel +1 954 359 1201 to display a message.

Wheelchairs

If you require wheelchair service or similar assistance, contact your airline. Airlines are responsible for providing this type of assistance.

✔ Pros:

The airport provides wheelchairs and special assistance upon request.
Support staff is available in most terminals.

❌ Cons:

Reports of inefficient assistance, especially during peak hours.
Some passengers with reduced mobility feel they do not receive adequate care from staff.

Unaccompanied minors

In certain situations, non-ticket holders may accompany minor children or passengers requiring special assistance to the departure gate. Accompanying persons must obtain a gate pass to do so.

The issuance of gate passes is entirely at the discretion of the airlines. Travelers may request a pass when making their airline reservation by telephone or at the ticket counter on the day of travel. The airline will collect information about the intended non-ticketed companion, including name and date of birth.

On the day of travel, both the traveler and the unticketed companion must check in at the airline ticket counter, where the gate pass will be issued. The companion must present a valid government-issued photo ID to receive the pass.

It is important to note that a gate pass is valid only for the specified segment of the journey. If the traveler requires a non-ticketed companion at the destination gate upon return to FLL, a separate pass must be requested for that portion of the trip.

✔ Pros:

Some travelers mention that staff have been attentive to children flying alone.
Escort service to the boarding gate is available with selected airlines.

❌ Cons:

A passenger reported witnessing a concerning situation involving unaccompanied minors being mistakenly transferred to other states, raising concerns.
At certain times, staff can be overwhelmed, affecting the quality of assistance.