Travel abroad
There is a lot to consider when a person with a disability prepares for a trip abroad. Nowadays, it is best to "” to search on Google ”the destination, because there is now a great deal of information online about travel for people with disabilities, their travel options, people's personal accounts, and information about accessibility in the respective country or city. If you are going to, for example, Rome, use the search terms "access for disabled in Rome" and a huge amount of information will come up. A person with a mobility impairment who uses a wheelchair needs to be sure to learn the travel procedures, for example, the process for flying, well in advance of the trip, and it is always a good idea to consult with someone who has experience.
As a reminder, we encourage people to carefully review the rules of the entities responsible for passenger transport. Some places offer good service for people with disabilities, but at other locations, people with disabilities can simply be turned away. There can be a significant difference between countries and among service providers in how services for people with disabilities are provided.
It is often important to have a medical letter with you that describes an individual's disability.
European Health Insurance Card Ensures the same access to healthcare services as locals. The card can only be applied for through the individuals' rights portal on Website of the Icelandic Patient Insurance.
Those who come to Iceland for a temporary stay, such as a summer vacation, can bring assistive devices with them from other Nordic countries due to Nordic Convention on Social Security.
Preparing for a flight
Practical tips for flying
Please note that if an individual needs assistance at the airport, the airline must be notified 48 hours in advance. It is also a good idea to contact the airlines for more detailed information about the services available. The Transport Authority has Information for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility.
Preparing wheelchairs for flight
When people who use a wheelchair fly, the chair is checked baggage. Its handling can then be varied despite markings and regulations. People have witnessed poor handling themselves, for example, when the chair comes off the conveyor belt from the aircraft's cargo hold. Therefore, everyone needs to ensure the chair is properly secured BEFORE they hand it over at the airplane door. It is best to take all loose equipment (seats, plates, a separate motor if applicable, etc.) inside the aircraft with you. Electric wheelchairs are more difficult to prepare, and it is best to get advice from a dealer (or ask other users of the same type of chair how they pack their chairs) on the best way to prepare the chair for transport or flight, for example, to protect the joysticks. All of this is done to ensure that you receive the chair in good condition at its destination.
Icelandair
Traveling with a wheelchair is possible with Icelandair. You must contact the Icelandair service center at 5050-100 for information about wheelchair services. Please specify whether the passenger is traveling with their own wheelchair and if it is an electric wheelchair. If booking on the Icelandair website, you must specify in the "Comments" section whether you require a wheelchair or are bringing your own. More information on the Icelandair website.
Foreign airlines that fly to and from Iceland
Numerous international airlines fly to and from Iceland. It is best to find the website of the respective airline and look for information about services for passengers with reduced mobility/disabilities, as their services can vary somewhat.
Leif's Station
Á Keflavik Airport website Information about services for people with disabilities can be found.
The airport is not authorized to directly accept service requests, and there are two reasons for this. On the one hand, if a passenger has equipment so extensive that they cannot fit in the aircraft, the airline cannot transport them. However, if a passenger is unable to understand or follow safety instructions on board the aircraft, the airline may require them to travel with an attendant. If this cannot be arranged, the airline may refuse to carry the passenger.
Parking Permit/Pass
Information about Use of the P mark abroad.
Traveling by cruise ship
In recent years, it has become more common for people with disabilities to choose to travel with cruise ships, but they have become much more accessible for people with disabilities than they used to be. Most of them have had elevators on board, but other accessibility on board has often been lacking. This has been changing in recent years. However, a particular problem with this mode of travel is that even if the ship itself is well-accessible, the same is not true for all the ports where it stops. Sometimes, people are ferried to shore by boat, and in those cases, a wheelchair cannot be brought along. The ports themselves are also sometimes difficult to access. Therefore, it is important to contact the relevant cruise line service provider. before but the trip is booked and they receive information about accessibility, not just on board but also at the destinations.
Rental of assistive devices
- As is pointed out throughout this site, people are advised to turn to internet search engines and search for the right company to rent the assistive device you need. For example, you could enter the following text into the search engine: "equipment rent for disabled in London" if you are going there.
- Rental of assistive devices abroad can be found at http://www.mobilityequipmenthiredirect.com/ Select a country, then a city or town, and the type of assistive device. Please note that the amount of information varies by country.
Foreign travel agencies that offer appropriate accommodations
- Information About travel agencies for people with disabilities and more information about travel for people with disabilities.
- The Travel Agency Handi Tours is a Danish travel agency that specializes in organizing trips for people with disabilities. The staff member who organizes these trips has an educational background that provides additional knowledge on disability-related issues, which can be very useful and prevent unnecessary worries or obstacles on your trip. You can find it here. Facebook page theirs.
- The Travel Agency Holidays for People with Disabilities helping people who are going on trips abroad to find accessible places. They also have Facebook page.
- The Travel Agency Disabled holidays.com Offers people assistance with booking trips to ensure accessibility.
Repairs of assistive devices abroad
If assistive devices break while traveling abroad, the simplest solution is to use online search engines to find a dealer for the devices in the area where you are staying. You can also call the companies in Iceland where the devices were purchased during business hours to get information on where to best look.