Airport Pickup for Elderly Travellers: Pair PRM and Transfers

If an older traveller has reduced mobility, request airport PRM assistance at least 48 hours before departure, and book a private transfer when you need door-to-door help with luggage and an indoor meet-and-greet. These two services solve different problems, so the safest plan uses both. Act now by confirming the flight number, terminal, and exact meeting point with everyone involved.

TL;DR:

EU rules provide free PRM assistance for reduced mobility, including age related needs, but it covers airport movement and boarding, not onward transport.

If you miss the 48 hour notice, contact airport staff or a help point; Shannon accepts same day requests, but treats them as contingency.

At airports without an arrivals pickup kerb, collectors should park in short term parking and meet inside at a named point, with a fallback plan.

Give the driver the terminal, flight number, passenger name, mobility needs, equipment dimensions, luggage count, and authorized recipient details to match the vehicle and handoff.

When booking both services, specify who escorts the passenger through baggage reclaim and who takes over at the vehicle, using identical meeting point instructions.

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Quick pre-travel checklist to prepare the pickup
What airport PRM assistance covers and the regulator’s role
How to request assistance: timing, channels and escalation
Where to meet and how to plan the hand-off at arrivals
Exactly what to tell the driver or collector
When to book a private transfer and how to coordinate it with PRM assistance
Recommended booking lead times specific to different airports for elderly passengers
Comfort features worth choosing for an older traveller’s vehicle
Handling flight delays or early arrivals without stress
Keeping an older traveller safe and comfortable throughout the pickup
Our take: most pickup failures are planning failures, not transport failures
Booking a pickup that works for an older traveller
FAQ
Sources

Quick pre-travel checklist to prepare the pickup

A clear checklist prevents the gaps that cause most pickup problems. Work through these points a few days before travel, then again on the morning of the flight.

Pre-notify the airline or airport PRM channel at least 48 hours before departure and keep the confirmation number safe, as recommended by Dublin Airport’s accessibility guidance and EU rules on reduced mobility.
Decide whether a private transfer is needed for door-to-door help and luggage handling beyond the terminal.
Confirm the terminal and an exact indoor meeting point, since collectors typically need to park in a short-term car park rather than wait at a kerb.
Share the passenger’s name, flight number, luggage count, mobility equipment, and an authorised collector’s details with the driver.
Prepare a large-font card with meeting details for the traveller and a clear sign for the driver to hold.

What airport PRM assistance covers and the regulator’s role

Airport assistance for passengers with reduced mobility, known as PRM assistance, typically includes wheelchair help, a Meet and Assist service, a passenger buggy in some terminals, and support reaching and boarding the aircraft, according to Dublin Airport and its special assistance guidance for all passengers.

Under EU Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006, this assistance is free for people whose mobility is reduced, including age-related reduced mobility, and the rule normally requires pre-notification at least 48 hours ahead. If assistance was not pre-booked, contact the airport or airline to ask what support is available.

It helps to be precise about who actually needs this service. The distinction is functional rather than age-based: an older passenger who walks confidently and manages their own bag may not need formal PRM support, while one who tires quickly or uses a mobility aid will benefit from it regardless of age.

One limit matters for planning a collection: PRM assistance covers movement through the airport and boarding the aircraft, but it does not extend to onward transport once the traveller reaches arrivals. That onward journey remains a separate booking. On arrival, look out for PRM desks, help-point intercoms, and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, all of which signal where support is available, as detailed by Shannon Airport’s passenger assistance page.

How to request assistance: timing, channels and escalation

Securing PRM support is a timed process with a clear escalation route if something goes wrong.

Notify the airline, tour operator, or the airport’s own PRM booking channel or app at least 48 hours before departure, as Dublin Airport advises.
Save the confirmation reference and share it with both the traveller and whoever is arranging the collection, along with the flight number and terminal.
If assistance was not pre-booked, use the PRM help points or desk on arrival; airports will still try to help, but priority goes to passengers who notified in advance.
If assistance is not delivered as promised, the Commission for Aviation Regulation, acting under the Irish Aviation Authority, is the designated body for escalating unresolved rights issues on Ireland-related flights.
On travel day, keep the relevant PRM contact number to hand. Dublin and Shannon both publish current desk locations and phone numbers on their own accessibility pages.

Where to meet and how to plan the hand-off at arrivals

Several major airports, Dublin among them, do not offer a dedicated arrivals pick-up kerb. Collectors should expect to park in a short-term car park and meet the traveller inside the terminal rather than idling outside.

Use reliable indoor points: the arrivals hall exit, the baggage reclaim exit, a PRM desk, or an airport information point.
Agree a fallback in case the traveller cannot use a phone, such as a named staff member or a fixed bench near the exit.
Identify the driver clearly with a large printed name sign, a pre-agreed description, or a scheduled call, rather than asking an older traveller to search a car park alone.
If a private driver plans to wait kerbside, check the airport’s current rules first and agree the indoor hand-off point in writing as a backup.

For airports with more than one terminal, confirming which one applies before the flight lands avoids a mismatched pickup; our guide to multi-terminal airport pickups covers how to coordinate that. Dublin-specific detail on meeting points is also set out in our guide to Dublin Airport meeting points.

Exactly what to tell the driver or collector

Vague instructions cause most hand-off failures. Give the driver specifics rather than a general description of the passenger.

Share the terminal, flight number, passenger’s full name, and booking reference in large, readable text, ideally printed for the traveller to carry as well as sent to the driver. State the passenger’s mobility ability clearly: walks unaided, needs a wheelchair, or uses a rollator, along with the dimensions of any mobility equipment, since this determines the right vehicle. Confirm the luggage count and whether help is needed from baggage reclaim to the vehicle. List who is authorised to receive the passenger, what identification they will show, and a phone fallback in case the first contact doesn’t answer.

Pro Tip: Tell the transfer provider exactly where airport responsibility ends and the private driver’s responsibility begins, so neither side assumes the other is covering the gap.

When to book a private transfer and how to coordinate it with PRM assistance

Private transfers earn their place when a traveller needs door-to-door assistance, luggage handling beyond the terminal, or a dedicated escort rather than a queue-based service. Features such as flight tracking and a meet-and-greet driver can help reduce the stress of an older passenger trying to locate help in a large terminal.

When you book both PRM assistance and a private transfer, be explicit in each booking about who escorts the passenger at baggage reclaim and who takes over at the vehicle. Share identical meeting-point wording with both providers so the instructions never conflict.

A few booking habits make the handover smoother: choose the right vehicle size for the number of passengers and bags, ask whether flight tracking is available, confirm how the driver will identify themselves, and give mobility details at the time of booking rather than on the day. For families travelling with an older relative, our family-friendly taxi guidance covers additional considerations worth reading alongside this plan.

Recommended booking lead times specific to different airports for elderly passengers

Lead times depend on two separate clocks: the PRM notification window and the private transfer booking window, and both should be confirmed well before travel day.

For PRM assistance, the consistent guidance from Dublin Airport and the underlying EU regulation is at least 48 hours before departure, booked through the airline, travel agent, or the airport’s own PRM channel. Shannon Airport allows same-day requests as a safety net, but treats this as contingency rather than standard practice, since late requests depend on coordination between the airline, airport, and assistance provider on the day.

For a private transfer, booking well ahead of the flight gives the operator time to discuss an appropriate vehicle and mobility requirements, and confirm whether flight tracking is available. Airports with multiple terminals or complex short-term parking, such as Dublin, benefit from an earlier booking simply because there is more detail to confirm: which terminal, which indoor meeting point, and whether a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is required. Travel during peak holiday periods also tends to fill PRM assistance slots and popular transfer times faster, so earlier notification reduces the risk of a rushed, last-minute arrangement.

Comfort features worth choosing for an older traveller’s vehicle

The right vehicle makes a longer or delayed journey far easier on an older passenger. A few features are worth specifying when booking rather than leaving to chance.

Climate control matters more for older travellers, who can be more sensitive to heat or cold after a flight; confirming this at booking avoids an uncomfortable ride. Spacious seating with easy entry and exit reduces strain for passengers with limited mobility, and a vehicle with a lower step-in height or wider door opening is worth requesting if the traveller uses a cane or rollator. Extra boot space accommodates mobility aids alongside luggage without passengers having to hold items on their lap.

For a single traveller, a standard taxi transfer may be sufficient, while a family group or someone needing more room benefits from a larger vehicle; our luxury vehicle options include additional comfort specification for passengers who want that extra space and a quieter ride. When accessibility equipment is involved, our guide to booking wheelchair-accessible transfers explains what to confirm before the vehicle is assigned.

Handling flight delays or early arrivals without stress

Flight timing rarely goes exactly to plan, and an older traveller should never be left waiting alone in an unfamiliar terminal. Ask the transfer provider whether flight tracking is available and how they handle delays or early landings, so the pickup can be coordinated with the passenger’s actual arrival time.

For PRM assistance, airport staff use the same live flight data to adjust their own timing, but it still helps to have a single point of contact who can confirm the terminal and meeting point if plans shift. Agree in advance what happens if the flight is significantly delayed: does the collector wait in the short-term car park, or does the traveller use the PRM help point until the transfer arrives. Having that fallback agreed removes any confusion if the first plan doesn’t line up.

An early arrival needs the same preparation in reverse: if the transfer is booked for a later time than the flight actually lands, the traveller should know exactly where to wait and who to call. Sharing a phone number for both the PRM desk and the transfer driver, written in large print, gives the traveller a way to reach help regardless of which service is delayed.

Keeping an older traveller safe and comfortable throughout the pickup

Safety on a pickup journey comes down to clear information and basic hygiene good practice rather than any special procedure. Confirm the driver’s identification method before the flight lands, whether that’s a name sign, a uniform, or a photo shared in advance, so the traveller never has to guess who to approach.

Many transfer providers maintain general vehicle cleanliness and offer hand sanitiser as standard good practice, and an older or more cautious traveller can ask about this when booking if it matters to them. Seatbelt assistance, a steady pace getting in and out of the vehicle, and secure stowage of mobility aids all reduce the physical risk of the journey itself. If the traveller has specific health considerations, sharing these at booking, alongside mobility details, helps the driver plan the right level of support without needing to ask in the moment.

Our take: most pickup failures are planning failures, not transport failures

In our experience, the collections that go wrong rarely fail because a vehicle was late. They fail because the meeting point was vague, the mobility details never reached the driver, or PRM staff and the private collector each assumed the other had the handover covered.

The fix is not complicated: pre-book PRM assistance where the traveller’s mobility genuinely requires it, and pair that with a private transfer booked for predictable, door-to-door coverage. If you would like help drafting a clear meeting plan or choosing the right vehicle for an older traveller’s needs, we are glad to talk it through before you book.

— Declan

Booking a pickup that works for an older traveller

We offer Taxi Transfers, Family Friendly Taxi Transfers, Minibus Transfers, and Luxury Vehicles, each suited to a different kind of pickup for an older passenger, from a single traveller with light luggage to a family group needing extra space.

We can discuss flight tracking, delays or early landings, and an agreed meeting point when you book, so the pickup arrangements are clear. When you book, tell us the mobility details, luggage count, and preferred meeting point so we assign the right vehicle and the right level of assistance from the start. Visit our booking page to arrange a transfer and include these details in your request.

FAQ

How can elderly people get free airport assistance?

Free assistance is arranged through the airline, travel agent, or the airport’s own PRM channel, and should be requested at least 48 hours before departure under EU Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006. This covers movement through the airport and boarding the aircraft, not onward transport to a final destination.

Where can elderly people find assistance at Dublin Airport?

PRM assistance at Dublin Airport is coordinated through OCS, and passengers should pre-notify via the airline or the airport’s PRM channel, as explained in Dublin Airport’s accessibility FAQ. Since there is no dedicated arrivals pick-up kerb, collectors should park in a short-term car park and meet travellers inside the terminal.

Can a 92 year old travel by plane?

There is generally no age limit that prevents an older adult from flying, though airlines may ask about specific medical conditions that could affect the journey. Requesting PRM assistance in advance helps manage any mobility needs during the flight and at the airport.

What should I tell a driver collecting an elderly relative?

Share the flight number, terminal, passenger’s full name, mobility ability, luggage count, and a phone fallback, so the correct vehicle and level of help are arranged in advance. Agreeing an exact indoor meeting point avoids the traveller having to search for the vehicle alone.