Accessibility

Chattanooga (CHA) Airport Accessibility & Wheelchair Services

Wheelchair assistance at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport is provided free by your airline — request it at booking for best results. For security screening help, call TSA Cares at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel to have a Passenger Support Specialist waiting at the checkpoint. Family lanes, service animal relief areas, and sensory rooms are covered below.

Airline-provided service

Wheelchair assistance

Wheelchair assistance is arranged through your airline, not the airport directly — contact your airline when booking or at least 48 hours before your flight, or ask at the airline check-in counter on arrival at CHA.

Tip: request at booking rather than at the airport — airline wheelchair assistants are in higher demand at peak times and early requests are filled first.

TSA Cares

Free security screening assistance

TSA Cares is a free helpline and on-site assistance program for travelers with disabilities, medical conditions, or other circumstances that may affect the security screening process.

How to use: Call 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before travel. A Passenger Support Specialist will meet you at the CHA security checkpoint and guide you through screening at no charge.

Call the TSA Cares helpline at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before you travel, or submit a request at tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support, and a Passenger Support Specialist can meet you at CHA's single checkpoint to help you through screening.

Security lanes

CHA does not have a permanently signed dedicated family lane at all checkpoints. Ask any TSA agent at the checkpoint for assistance — agents are trained to help travelers with special needs and can route you around standard queue lines.

Service animal relief areas

A Service Animal Relief Area (SARA) is in the concourse near Gate 7, past security.

Note: service animals are permitted throughout all airport areas without restriction. Emotional support animals follow individual airline policies — check with your carrier before travel.

Quiet and sensory room

CHA does not currently have a confirmed public sensory room. CHA does not have a dedicated sensory or quiet room. Travelers who need a calmer space can ask staff at the Rotunda information desk (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm) or the Airport Authority (423-855-2202) about a quieter waiting area, or arrange a lower-stimulation path through screening via TSA Cares.

Wheelchair and mobility device rentals

No on-site wheelchair or mobility-scooter rental company is advertised at CHA. Airlines provide wheelchair escort service at no charge on request, which covers most travelers' needs at this small single-concourse airport.

Motorized scooters and power wheelchairs are generally available from airlines for gate-to-gate use; contact your carrier directly if you need a motorized device beyond a standard transport chair.

Pro Tip

Because CHA is a small single-concourse, single-checkpoint airport, distances are short — most gates are only a few minutes' walk from security, so mobility needs here are far less demanding than at a major hub. The main thing to plan ahead for is your airline's wheelchair request, since there's no airport-run mobility-rental desk to fall back on.

Frequently asked questions

Is wheelchair assistance free at CHA airport?

Yes — wheelchair assistance at CHA is provided free of charge by your airline or their contracted ground handler. Request it at booking or check-in. The airline arranges and covers the cost; no tipping is required, though it is appreciated.

How do I contact TSA Cares before my flight from CHA?

Call TSA Cares at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before your flight. The helpline is open weekdays 8 a.m.–11 p.m. ET and weekends/holidays 9 a.m.–8 p.m. ET. You can also submit a request online at tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares. A Passenger Support Specialist will meet you at the CHA security checkpoint at no cost.

Does CHA airport have a family security lane?

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport does not have a permanently signed dedicated family lane at all checkpoints, but TSA officers are trained to accommodate travelers who need extra time. CHA has one TSA checkpoint using "blended lanes" (PreCheck and standard travelers share lanes) rather than a separately signed family or special-assistance lane. Ask any TSA officer at the checkpoint for expedited or accompanied screening if you need it.

Where is the service animal relief area at CHA airport?

A Service Animal Relief Area (SARA) is in the concourse near Gate 7, past security. Service animals are permitted throughout all airport areas without restriction. Emotional support animals follow your individual airline's policies.

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