I am traveling overseas next month. My journey on Lufthansa requires a plane change in Frankfurt, Germany. My son will be traveling with me and assisting with pushing my wheelchair. Does anyone know whether the airport in Frankfurt has "family-style" bathrooms--i.e., private bathrooms for people with disabilities who are assisted by others?

And are these bathrooms located in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2?

Are any other European airports (such as London/Heathrow or Amsterdam/Schiphol) better in this regard?

Any other advice/tips not mentioned in these postings that pertain to Lufthansa or the Frankfurt airport would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

When I was in FRA, I didn't have time to find out.

Copenhagen does have bathrooms for those with disabilities. Other airports in Denmark do also.

I seem to remember London Gatwick having one. I believe it was landside of security, but can't remember which terminal.

I don't know the answer to your question, but found the following at http://www.worldairportguide.com/airports/fra/fra.asp:

DISABLED FACILITIES
Facilities for disabled passengers include elevator and ramp access throughout the two terminals, automatic doors, adapted telephones and washrooms. Disabled passengers should inform their airlines of any assistance required prior to travel. The Fraport arrival service provides waiting rooms for disabled passengers (tel: (0)69 690 71276). The passenger transport company Behinderten – und Krankentransport Kaster (tel: (0)60 7481 4544) offers transport services for disabled travellers to/from the airport. Reserved parking is available. The Sky Line shuttle train is wheelchair accessible, while electric buggies are available in both terminals. A wheelchair-accessible bus service, equipped with an ambulance lift runs daily; a door-to-door transport service is also offered (tel: (0)69 979 8770).

Perhaps you could call the waiting room number above and ask.

PS: If you find out, please post here!

I have no personal experience of FRA, but Germany is generally pretty good on this. Note that in Europe, disabled bathrooms tend to be *all* of teh family kind - i.e. a large uni-sex restroom seperate from either the ladies or mens room. Unless you're going through a small or old airport I think you will have no problem. My advice though is to call ahead or ask as soon as you land to find where they actually are.

I missed the other part of your question:

Amsterdam/Schipol is very good.
London/Heathrow depends on the terminal. My recollection is that T4 and T2 are good, T3 the toilets are very far from the gates, T1 toilets are small but still large enough to accomadate an assistant.

Hope this helps.

I don't know the answer to your question, but found the following at http://www.worldairportguide.com/airports/fra/fra.asp:



Perhaps you could call the waiting room number above and ask.

PS: If you find out, please post here!

The bathrooms at Frankfurt's terminal 1 were excellent. There is a private bathroom located near each of the regular public restrooms. The private bathrooms are large, have grab bars near the toilet, and the toilet even disinfects the seat after you flush!

The LH staff were outstanding and provided an attendant at Frankfurt to guide me from my arrival gate to the connecting gate. FRA also has a lounge specifically for unaccompanied minors and pax with disabilities, though I did not visit it.

In general, FRA terminal 1 was wheelchair-friendly and spacious--much more so than IAD, which is horribly overused and congested with pax, ad hoc renovations for security purposes (which greatly constrict maneuverability), and the somewhat wheelchair-unfriendly 1960's era "moving lounges" (hopefully to be phased out soon) for transport between terminals. :)

I am fairly certain that all airports in the EU have to have disabled facilities by law.

By 'bathroom' I assume you mean 'toilet' - disabled toilets are a legal obligation in public buildings throughout the European Union.

Flew through Amsterdam-Schiphol this weekend, and I can confirm that there are numerous roomy family-style toilets throughout the airport, with the fold-down style grab bars.

What do you think about the fold down grab bars? Are they strong enough and do they move sideways when putting weight on them?

They are very sturdy. I didn't notice any sideways movement, but I only used the one right against the wall.