Phoenix Sky Harbor

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Accessibility

Posted on by Chillie Falls

Written and published by travelability.net/accessible-airports-usa/

Phoenix Sky Harbor is proud to provide several amenities for persons with disabilities thanks to the advice provided by community stakeholders, passengers, and visitors. All terminals have

  • curb cuts
  • automatic doors
  • elevators
  • ramped access to all lobbies and gate areas
  • designated areas on inner curbs for vehicles with disability plates to load or unload
  • wheelchair accessible telephones
  • automatic teller machines
  • accessible (family) restrooms with caregiver access
  • drinking fountains.
Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights

Airports are committed to doing their part to ensure an accessible and inclusive airport experience for all passengers. To learn more about your rights as an air passenger traveling with a disability, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights.

Review the  PHX Frequently Asked Questions for more about the information below and additional accessibility details.

Do you have a suggestion for a new accessibility feature for America’s Friendliest Airport®? Let us know by calling 602-273-2722 (TTY: 7-1-1 Friendly) or at PHXCivilRights@phoenix.gov.

Services & Amenities

Wheelchairs

Flying into Sky Harbor? Request a wheelchair when checking in and tell a flight attendant during the flight. Flying out of Sky Harbor? Request a wheelchair from a Sky Cap at the curb or from a Sky Cap or the airline on the ticketing level of the terminal. You can also request wheelchair service ahead of time when you book your tickets with your airline. Ask your airline about traveling with power chair batteries

Oxygen

If you need to travel with oxygen, be sure to discuss this with your airline when making reservations. Visit the TSA website for more information.

Assistive Hearing Devices

Assistive Hearing Devices

Hearing Loop or T-coil technology provides a clearer listening experience to passengers with hearing aids by directly transmitting paging and announcements directly to hearing aids, thus eliminating background noise.

Assistive T-Coil hearing loops are available in the gate areas of Terminal 3 and in the Terminal 4 D11-D18 gates.  It’s important to note that it is not available in food and beverage, retail, or restroom areas.

Check with your audiologist to see if your hearing aid networks with T-coil service.

Assistance Animals

When making reservations, let your airline know if you plan to travel with a service animal. Get tips on traveling with service animals from the TSA. Sky Harbor offers eight animal relief areas, including areas in the terminals post-security.

Accessible Restrooms with Caregiver Access

Each terminal has at least one family restroom with a private area to change clothing or disposable undergarments. Ask for directions at any information desk or go to Interactive Maps on skyharbor.com and select Restroom.

Passenger Paging

The names of those being paged are announced in the terminal and displayed on monitors throughout the airport.  To send or retrieve a paged message, go to Passenger Paging or go to a PHX Information Counter in the terminal for assistance or to use the paging tablet.

Accessible Parking

Accessible parking is available in all garages closest to the elevators. In the East Economy lot, accessible parking is available north of the PHX Sky Train® Station. In the Park & Walk, accessible parking is available at the east end.

Over-height or oversize parking is available in the uncovered economy parking areas and Oversized Vehicle parking area east of Terminal 4.

See a map

Sensory Room

Did you know that America’s Friendliest Airport® offers a place in its busiest terminal for people seeking a quiet setting? The Sensory Room inside the Airport Chapel, pre-security near the B Checkpoint in Terminal 4 offers a quiet space for meditation, prayer, or a break from the fast-paced airport environment.

Children with autism/sensory issues or young adults with an intellectual or developmental disability may visit the Sensory Room inside the Chapel for a respite from the sensory overload that they might experience when coming to the airport. There is a child-sized table and chairs and quiet activities for children to use in the Chapel space for a respite from the sensory overload they might experience when in the airport. The Chapel offers a quiet space to minimize sensory overload for people with hidden disabilities including Alzheimer’s disease/dementia, brain injuries, anxiety, or other sensory-related conditions. The Chapel offers a quiet place for all faiths to meditate.

Hours of Operation:

  • Sunday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Saturday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Transportation

Dial-A-Ride (Paratransit): A Public Service

Seniors and people with disabilities can access Dial-A-Ride daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ground Transportation  

Accessible taxi and van service vehicles are available. Travelers should proceed to the loading location and request one from the curb coordinator. The PHX Sky Train® provides a fully accessible connection between the Airport terminals and  Valley Metro Rail at the 44th Street Station.

Valley Metro Rail & Bus

Valley Metro Bus service, with wheelchair-accessible transportation, is available to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Valley Metro Rail is accessible through the PHX Sky Train® 44th Street Station. Valley Metro Bus Route 13 serves the airport at a stop near the Airport Operations building, west of Terminal 3.

Accessible Loading/Unloading Areas

Accessible Loading/Unloading areas are available along the terminal curbs, with ramped curb access. Check out the terminal maps for locations on Levels 1 and 2 of the terminals.

Rental Cars with Hand Controls (advance notice recommended)

Lift-Equipped Van Rentals

United Access:

Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals:

Aira – Visual Interpreting Services

Aira is a free-of-cost service available to all passengers that provides visual interpreting service and wayfinding assistance while at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, including Terminal 3, Terminal 4, PHX Sky Train®, and the Rental Car Center. This service provides live, on-demand access to visual information, with the assistance of real life human agents, from the convenience of your phone.

Passengers are advised to download the app and set up a customized profile prior to traveling. Follow the links below to download the Aira app for Android or iOS.

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.aira.smart&hl=en_US&gl=US

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aira/id1071584352

For more information about Aira, visit Visual Interpreting – Get Live, On-demand Access to Visual Information (aira.io).

TSA Cares Program

In an effort to assist those travelers with disabilities and medical conditions, the TSA has a helpline that addresses travelers’ questions about screening policies, procedures, and what to expect at the security checkpoint.

TSA Cares only takes calls Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. EST and passengers need to call at least 72 hours in advance of their flight. Call 1-855-787-2227 or  find out more.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Sky Harbor operates in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including investigation of any complaint communicated to the Airport regarding denial of access to an Airport facility, service, or program.

The office of the ADA Liaison administers Sky Harbor’s overall ADA grievance procedure. Persons with ADA complaints specifically regarding Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are encouraged to contact us at skyharbor@phoenix.gov. If the response does not adequately resolve the complaint, a grievance can be filed. Grievance Procedures and Complaint forms are available.