I do not live in Florida and have to pick up my elderly mother-in-law who is not well and she will be in a wheel chair. Someone has told me that picking up is a real headache as far as the signage, parking, accessibility, terminal locations, etc.
Does anyone have any pointers to make this easier? She comes in on Southwest Airlines. Thanks

I think it's pretty straight forward myself. You won't be allowed at the gate. She will be among many other passengers in wheelchairs. You can wait for her upstairs on the level where the gates are. There's a seating area at the top of the escalators. If you can manage to wheel her to wherever you've parked your car, it will be easier than trying to go get the car and come back for her.

When picking up someone in similar situations, not necessarily specific to FLL, 2 things are helpful.

First, if you can enlist a friend to come with you that makes life a lot easier. Drop one person at terminal, go inside and collect MIL, meet at curb - other person will have to circle airport once or twice.

Second, pick up is usually easier at the departure level rather than the arrival area. There is space to pull car over, designed to dump travelers off, and while you can't park or wait there, at least there is space.

An issue you need to figure out is how to find that your MIL has arrived. Depending on travel time, you can track flight from home, etc - but you don't want to be circling airport forever.

If there is any chance MIL will be overwhelmed by logistics or has any sign of forgetfulness, find a way to give her a note that says something like "Meet family at departure level by baggage at SWA" or whatever works. Then she can show it to airline employee who will be assisting her. Remind her she should tip the wheelchair guy.

Gail's advice is great. If you can get someone to come with you, if both of you have a cell phone, friend can go inside and find out if/when plane arrives and let you know.

If MIL has luggage checked, that will come in downstairs at arrival level. Unless friend knows what it looks like and can collect it and bring it upstairs, meeting downstairs will be easier.

If you MIL has a cel phone, how about parking in the cel phone lot til she calls, then either park and get her, or better yet, have someone with you who can get her while you circle the airport. I also think the cel phone lot at Ft Lauderdale actually has TV screens that show info @ flights. Maybe someone can verify that info (its either FLL or W Palm)

It's simple really! We did it all the time for my elderly mother. It's not much different than meeting anyone at the airport.

Notify the airline that she will need wheelchair assistance. They will see to it she gets off the plane and taken to the baggage claim area for her flight. You meet her there, claim her luggage and the attendant will escort her outside to the curb while you go get your car. You drive up, the attendant helps her into the car and you are all set to go. Don't forget to give a nice tip to the wheelchair attendant.

If she has a cell phone have her call you when the plane lands.