Accessibility
Missoula (MSO) Airport Accessibility & Wheelchair Services
Wheelchair assistance at Missoula Montana 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
Contact your airline before you arrive, or at the ticket counter, to request wheelchair assistance — airline staff (not the airport or TSA) provide the wheelchair and boarding help. Most MSO gates now use jet bridges following the terminal expansion, though at least one gate still uses ground-level boarding onto the tarmac, so ask your airline what to expect for your specific flight.
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 MSO security checkpoint and guide you through screening at no charge.
Call TSA Cares at 1-855-787-2227 at least 72 hours before your flight, or submit a request at tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support, so a Passenger Support Specialist can help guide you through MSO's single, second-floor security checkpoint.
Security lanes
MSO 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
Post-security: the Service Animal Relief Area (SARA), a private room with self-draining turf, is on Concourse A next to Gate A1. A second relief area with bag dispensers is located outside, northwest of the terminal, for use before check-in.
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
MSO does not currently have a confirmed public sensory room. MSO does not yet have a dedicated sensory/quiet room (the airport's own accessibility page lists one as 'Coming Soon'), but the terminal earned KultureCity Sensory Inclusive certification — one of only four airports in the country to hold it — with staff trained in sensory awareness and borrowable KultureCity sensory bags (noise-canceling headphones and other tools). Download the free KultureCity app before you travel to see what's available and to preview the terminal via its 'Social Story' feature.
Wheelchair and mobility device rentals
No dedicated wheelchair/mobility-device rental counter is advertised; wheelchair assistance is provided free through your airline. Smart Cart luggage carts can be rented at baggage claim and the rental car area, but these are for bags, not mobility assistance.
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
MSO's whole terminal is compact and single-level in terms of walking distance (no inter-concourse train), so once you're through the one security checkpoint, gate walks are short. Because Concourse B only fully opened in August 2025, call the Civil Rights Coordinator (jdavis@flymissoula.com, 406-728-4381) if you need to confirm current accessibility routing in the newest part of the building.
Frequently asked questions
Is wheelchair assistance free at MSO airport?
Yes — wheelchair assistance at MSO 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 MSO?
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 MSO security checkpoint at no cost.
Does MSO airport have a family security lane?
Missoula Montana 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. MSO operates one unified security checkpoint rather than separate family/special-assistance lanes; ask any TSA officer at the checkpoint and they will route you through at an appropriate pace.
Where is the service animal relief area at MSO airport?
Post-security: the Service Animal Relief Area (SARA), a private room with self-draining turf, is on Concourse A next to Gate A1. A second relief area with bag dispensers is located outside, northwest of the terminal, for use before check-in. Service animals are permitted throughout all airport areas without restriction. Emotional support animals follow your individual airline's policies.
See also: MSO TSA PreCheck lanes · Flying with disabilities guide · MSO security tips
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