Ruth Haines
Yes, you can bring your own wheelchair to the airport. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities, including wheelchair assistance, after they self-identify as a person with a disability to airline staff. It is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking your trip. If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport one hour prior to the normal check-in time. If your wheelchair is non-battery-powered and manually collapsible, you may be able to store it on board.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bringing your own wheelchair | Allowed |
| Requesting wheelchair assistance | Advised to be done in advance |
| Wheelchair assistance | Provided by the airline |
| Wheelchair drop-off point | At the gate |
| Wheelchair return | At the gate of the destination airport |
| Wheelchair storage | In the cargo hold |
| Wheelchair compensation | In case of loss or damage, passengers must be compensated |
| Battery-powered wheelchairs | Must arrive at the airport 1 hour prior to the normal check-in time |
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What You'll Learn
Collapsible manual wheelchairs may be stored on board
If you are travelling with a wheelchair, it is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip. You can also inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel. It is important that you self-identify as a passenger with a disability needing assistance.
If you are bringing your own manual wheelchair, you may be able to store it on board. Ask a gate agent about this option on the day of travel. If your wheelchair is collapsible and fits in the overhead compartments, under seats, or in the designated wheelchair storage area, you may be able to bring it on board. However, if your wheelchair is too large to fit in the cabin, airline personnel are required to stow it in the cargo portion of the aircraft free of charge.
It is important to note that different airlines may have specific policies regarding wheelchairs, so be sure to check with your airline for any additional requirements or guidelines. Additionally, if your wheelchair needs to be disassembled for transport, it is helpful to attach clear assembly and disassembly instructions to your wheelchair before arriving at the airport.
For those with electric or battery-powered wheelchairs, most airlines require you to check them in and be available to board at least 45 minutes before departure. It is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight to allow for any necessary arrangements and assistance.
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Battery-powered wheelchairs must be checked in
If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, you will need to check it in at the airport. This is due to safety concerns regarding the transportation of lithium-ion batteries, which are classed as dangerous goods.
You should prepare to check in your battery-powered wheelchair by first checking with the device manufacturer whether your device can be stored on its side. You will also need to complete a Mobility Device Handling Form, which you can pass to the ticket agent when checking your device at the counter. Alternatively, you can give it to the gate agent when boarding if you bring your wheelchair to the gate.
When checking in your battery-powered wheelchair, you must advise the airline of the battery location. The airline must then notify the pilot-in-command of the battery location in the cabin. You can keep the battery installed if it is securely attached to the wheelchair and the design provides protection from damage to the battery. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuits, and the cables must be protected from accidental activation.
If the battery is not adequately protected, it must be removed and carried in your carry-on baggage. In this case, the battery terminals must be protected against short circuits, and you can only carry a maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spare batteries not exceeding 160 Wh each.
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Airlines must provide free wheelchair assistance
Yes, you can bring your own wheelchair to the airport. If your wheelchair is manually collapsible, you may be able to store it on board. However, if it is battery-powered, you must arrive at the airport 1 hour before the normal check-in time.
Airlines are required to provide free wheelchair assistance to passengers with disabilities who request it. This assistance includes helping passengers move through the airport, from the terminal entrance or vehicle drop-off point to the gate, through security, and onto the aircraft to their seat. Airlines must also provide assistance to passengers with disabilities during connecting flights, helping them navigate through the airport to their next gate.
To receive wheelchair assistance, passengers must self-identify as having a disability and request the assistance from the airline in advance or from airline staff at the airport. The airline may ask the passenger how the requested wheelchair service assists with their disability, but they cannot inquire about the nature of the passenger's disability. If a passenger with a disability requests an airport wheelchair, the airline must promptly provide the assistance requested.
In addition to wheelchair assistance, airlines may also provide other services to accommodate passengers with disabilities, such as guide assistance for individuals who are blind or have low vision, assistance for individuals with cognitive or developmental disabilities, and accommodation for service animals.
It is important to note that passengers who misuse wheelchair services or do not have a disability may be denied assistance. Airlines are not obligated to provide wheelchair assistance to passengers who do not have reduced mobility but are seeking priority access or interpretation services due to a language barrier.
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Self-identification as a passenger with a disability is important
When a passenger with a disability requests assistance, the airline must promptly provide it. This assistance may include guide assistance for individuals who are blind or wheelchair assistance for individuals with mobility impairments. Airlines are also required to assist passengers with carrying their gate-checked or carry-on luggage when they are unable to do so due to their disability.
To receive assistance, passengers must self-identify to airline staff at the airport as the person with a disability needing the service. This can be done by requesting a wheelchair or guide assistance when making a reservation or by submitting a "meet and assist" service request. Passengers who identify as needing visual or hearing assistance must receive prompt access to the same trip information as other passengers at the gate, ticket area, customer service desk, and on the aircraft.
In some cases, a carrier may ask the passenger for credible verbal assurance that they need the service and how it assists with their disability. For example, they may ask, "How does the requested wheelchair service assist with your disability?" If the passenger does not have a disability or if the wheelchair service does not assist with their disability, the carrier may propose other assistance services or refuse to provide the wheelchair service.
It is important to note that passengers with disabilities who are not satisfied with the air travel services they receive may file a complaint with the airline or the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT is responsible for enforcing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), which makes it illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers because of their disability.
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Wheelchair assistance should be requested in advance
If you are bringing your own wheelchair, you can check in on the airline's app or at an airport kiosk and then head to your gate. If you have a Mobility Device Handling Form, pass it to the ticket agent at the counter or give it to the gate agent when boarding. If your wheelchair is non-battery-powered and manually collapsible, you may be able to store it on board. Ask a gate agent about this option on the day of travel.
If you are requesting a wheelchair from the airline, it is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability who needs assistance. If you did not book an extra seat in advance, ask an airport agent to check if two adjacent seats are available. Request early boarding from the gate agent if you need extra time or assistance.
If you have any problems with your wheelchair service, a trained Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) is available at all airports to ensure compliance with disability regulations and help resolve any issues.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can bring your own wheelchair to the airport.
Yes, it is recommended that you request wheelchair assistance in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip.
If you don't request assistance in advance, you may not be accommodated by the airline. However, you can still inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of travel.
If your wheelchair does not fit in the cabin of the aircraft, airline personnel are required to stow it in the cargo portion of the aircraft free of charge. You can request that your wheelchair be returned to you as close as possible to the aircraft door at your destination.
