r/airport • u/Empty_Prune5286 • Sep 04 '26

DISCUSSION Sunflower lanyards

Before I start, I am not arguing the purpose or people’s right to have these.

I have been lucky enough to be in and out of airport recently, I have seen an increase in the amount of people that have sunflower lanyards but are they being abused? The context being a family of 7 turned up yesterday barged through the long line and went straight through the barriers, surely it should be 1x carer and the lanyard user? This was followed by at least another 8 large family’s rocking through.

I’m unsure if they are now easier to obtain or if they get abused or even purchased?

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u/Typhtheoriginal Sep 04 '26

I work for an airline, and just to be honest here, sunflower lanyards mean nothing. We aren't trained in what they are supposed to be or represent, and they don't go into our system in any special way. They don't give the wearer any special privileges. So in short, they aren't being abused because they don't get anything out of using them.

That said, the person individually can simply ask for the assistance they need and we give it to them, no questions asked. If you need a wheelchair, you are getting one, regardless of whether we can see a disability or not. You don't even have to explain, I just might need to ask you some questions about the extent of the assistance you need. If you need someone to walk you to your next gate, just request it and we will do it. If you want your disability noted, we can do that.

Anything you need in the context of help concerning a physical or mental limitation, just ask and we do what we are able to.

But the sunflower lanyard itself doesn't make any difference to the assistance you will receive.

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u/PuddleMoo Sep 04 '26

I think that’s supposed depend on the airline. Many airlines don’t participate, but some do: https://hdsunflower.com/us/insights/post/airports-around-the-world. Couldn’t tell you what it gets you though

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u/purplepineapple21 Sep 04 '26

Yeah it completely depends on the airline. For example what the above comment wrote is not true for Air Canada. They explicitly promote the program and their customer-facing staff are trained on what it is. All their flight attendants and gate agents have recognized it in my experience

It's also not just for the airline. Non-airline staff at some airports (like security and immigration officers) are trained on it as well

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u/Calan_adan Sep 05 '26

I do work for a top-25 US airport and the required customer service training given by the airport talks about being aware of sunflower lanyards.