Thanks everyone for your inputs. Most helpful. Yes, phoning or emailing the airport doesn't really help - but this thread did - so thanks again.

On 12/3/2025 at 4:56 PM, richard_smith237 said:

 

Another point - when / IF dealing with TG for such matters - do so by phone as e-mails go ignored.

 

On 12/3/2025 at 9:05 PM, ronnie50 said:

Yes, in my experience, it's been rare for any Thai company to respond (in English) to an email. King Power was an exception. So was Board of Investment (BOI).

 

TG have always responded promptly to emails I've sent to them in connection with wheelchair service reservations in perfectly understandable English. Beats struggling to have a meaningful phone conversation with someone at the other end whose grasp of English is usually on a par with a 2-year-old's in my experience (and apologies to any 2-year-olds reading this who may feel insulted)  - to the extent that, whenever I do need to make a phone call to (e.g.) one of my Thai banks these days, I always get my wife to make the call for me.

 

18 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

 

TG have always responded promptly to emails I've sent to them in connection with wheelchair service reservations in perfectly understandable English. Beats struggling to have a meaningful phone conversation with someone at the other end whose grasp of English is usually on a par with a 2-year-old's in my experience (and apologies to any 2-year-olds reading this who may feel insulted)  - to the extent that, whenever I do need to make a phone call to (e.g.) one of my Thai banks these days, I always get my wife to make the call for me.

 

The quote you selected from my post was in reference to trying to call AOT about the wheelchair service. But in general, my email queries to Thai companies rarely get a reply. Regarding phone calls, I find SCB and K-Bank pretty good at handling English phone calls - same with TRUE. But most others - even some international hospitals - can't properly handle phone calls in English. Of course the most expensive ones can handle multiple languages (Bumrungrad, Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej, 'maybe' BNH, etc), but most of the others can't handle even English.

I used the wheelchair service a few months ago. They will take you wherever you tell them to within the airport. My guy took me to Gate 8 in Arrivals where my taxi driver was waiting. He'd have happily taken me across to the car park if I'd wanted him to. It's a free service, but these guys make very little money and he was really helpful so I gave him 500 baht at the end.

Thanks to the inputs of many. The conclusion to my OP is similar to what others have said. The airline in the country at the point of departure (upon check-in or initial booking) will arrange for wheelchair (in this case) from check-in, through security to the gate, down the gangway and to the seat. Then at destination city airport, met at the gates with a wheelchair and through immigration and customs and to the meeting point (or wherever in the arrivals section or curbside) where someone has agreed to collect the passenger. If a connection is required, a wheelchair service at the connection airport - again arranged by the airline - will greet the passenger at the arrival gate and transport them to the the next gate and onto to the plane. The main takeaway - the airline at departure airport is responsible for all the arrangements - no need to make enquiries with airport auhotities. Hope this is useful for others.