How Can Istanbul Airport Be Easier for Older Travellers?

Written by the Marhaba Service team · Updated: 7 November 2026

Why Is Walking So Tiring for Older Travellers at Airports?

Because large airports are built over long distances. After a long flight comes corridor after corridor to passport control, then standing in a queue, then another walk to baggage, then a heavy suitcase to the exit. This is common to large airports in general, and the two Istanbul airports are no exception, so it is worth thinking about before you travel rather than on landing.

It becomes harder when the older traveller is alone, or when the person with them is busy with bags and children at the same time.

What Does the Welcome Service at Istanbul Airport Include?

With our service for families and older guests, a member of the Marhaba Service team meets you inside the building, stays beside you through passport control and baggage, and walks you to the car. The following are included in the price at no extra charge:

• Personal assistant: someone who stays with the traveller, so they never walk through the airport alone.
• Electric cart: it takes the strain out of the long walks inside the terminal.
• Porter: they handle the suitcases, so both hands stay free.
• Priority lane: it shortens the standing at passport control and security.

The price is per person and depends on the airport and the type of journey:

You will find the details on our pages for the Arabic meet and greet at Istanbul Airport and the Arabic meet and greet at Sabiha Gökçen. For the return, see departures and connections, because the walk on the way home is just as tiring as on the way in.

What Should You Tell Us in Advance About the Traveller?

The more we know, the better the arrangement. When you book, tell us:

• The flight number and the traveller's name as it appears in the passport.
• Can they walk short distances alone, or do they need someone to lean on?
• Do they use a cane, a walker or a wheelchair?
• Is it hard for them to step up into the car or down out of it?
• Are they travelling alone, or with a family member?
• The number of large suitcases and cabin bags.
• Would they prefer an Arabic speaker? Some of our drivers speak Arabic, so ask for one and we confirm availability in writing.

What About a Wheelchair?

If the traveller needs a wheelchair inside the airport, request it in advance from the airline, when booking the ticket or afterwards, and then let us know as well. If they bring their own wheelchair, tell us when you book so that it is counted with the luggage when we choose the car. If their condition changes before the trip, let us know so we can adjust the arrangement.

And If You Have Not Booked the Welcome Service?

It is still manageable with a little planning. Do not rush off the plane, sit where there are seats before the queues, and put the suitcases on a trolley instead of carrying them. Ask the airport staff for help without embarrassment; it is a familiar request for them.

Do not worry about the car either. We follow the flight, and waiting is free for 60 minutes from the moment you land, then 15 euros for every 30 minutes or part of it.

Which Car Suits the Drive After the Airport?

Telling us that getting into a car is difficult helps us choose the right type. A sedan such as the Mercedes E-Class takes up to 3 passengers, while a minivan such as the Mercedes Vito takes up to 6, with more room for suitcases and a wheelchair.

This guide does not give medical advice; whether someone is fit to travel is a question for their doctor. For those coming to Istanbul for treatment there is a dedicated page for medical visitors and their companions.

If you are booking for your parents from another country, give us a phone number that reaches you on the day of travel, and the number of anyone travelling with them.

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