Accessibility

Reno (RNO) Airport Accessibility & Wheelchair Services

Wheelchair assistance at Reno-Tahoe International 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

Request wheelchair assistance through your airline at booking or check-in. On the day of travel, contracted wheelchair reps can be reached directly: Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and Volaris passengers call 775-971-4087; Alaska, American, and Sun Country passengers call 775-444-9802. The Wheelchair Assistance Office is located between the Delta and American Airlines curbside drop-off areas. RNO also stocks free self-serve wheelchairs (no request needed) at three spots in the Ticketing Hall: near the Southwest Airlines counter, near the restrooms, and near the United Airlines counter.

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 RNO 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 (weekdays 8am-11pm ET, weekends/holidays 9am-8pm ET), or submit a request at tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares, to arrange a Passenger Support Specialist to meet you at RNO's single security checkpoint (ground floor of the terminal) and guide you through screening.

Security lanes

RNO 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

Two pre-security 'Bark Park' relief areas (fully fenced, ADA-accessible, with running water, mutt mitts, a fire hydrant, and weather canopy): Gate K9-South, roughly 700 sq ft near the Ticketing Lobby just outside the Southwest Airlines counter, and Gate K9-North, over 1,000 sq ft outside Door D near baggage claim/ground transportation. A smaller post-security pet relief station is also available inside the terminal past the checkpoint.

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

RNO does not currently have a confirmed public sensory room. RNO has no confirmed sensory or quiet room. Passengers who'd benefit from a calmer screening experience can ask any airline agent or the Information Hub about the Sunflower hidden-disabilities lanyard/wristband program, or contact the airport's ADA Coordinator (Dennis LeBaron, adacompliance@renoairport.com, 775-328-6423) ahead of travel to arrange support.

Wheelchair and mobility device rentals

No on-site scooter or power-wheelchair rental. Free manual wheelchairs for use within the terminal are available at three self-serve locations (Southwest ticket counter, Ticketing Hall restrooms, United ticket counter) — Smarte Carte luggage carts ($7) are a separate service and are not mobility aids. For a scooter or wheelchair to use during your Reno-Tahoe trip, third-party providers such as Scootaround (1-888-441-7575) and Cloud of Goods deliver to area hotels.

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

RNO funnels every passenger through one ground-floor checkpoint, so assistance is centralized rather than lane-specific — head to the Wheelchair Assistance Office between the Delta/American curbside areas first, and fall back on the free self-serve wheelchairs in the Ticketing Hall if contracted staff are delayed during a busy bank of departures.

Frequently asked questions

Is wheelchair assistance free at RNO airport?

Yes — wheelchair assistance at RNO 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 RNO?

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 RNO security checkpoint at no cost.

Does RNO airport have a family security lane?

Reno-Tahoe International 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. RNO's official security page does not advertise a dedicated family or special-assistance lane — the airport has just one checkpoint on the terminal's first floor. Children 12 and under traveling with an eligible TSA PreCheck parent/guardian on the same reservation can use the PreCheck lane; otherwise, ask any TSA officer at the standard lanes for assistance and you'll be accommodated without a separate lane.

Where is the service animal relief area at RNO airport?

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