Sachin Walls
If you are a wheelchair user and travelling with a baby, you may be wondering whether you can have your baby on your lap while you are in the wheelchair at the airport. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), infants may be carried in a sling/carrier, including lap babies, when being screened in a wheelchair, but may be subject to additional screening. It is important to note that you must self-identify as a passenger with a disability who needs assistance, and inform a TSA officer if your child will be carried through the metal detector. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities, including wheelchair assistance, and some airlines offer specific services that can be requested in advance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you take a baby in your lap in a wheelchair at an airport? | Yes, you can take a baby in your lap in a wheelchair at an airport. |
| What if you need a wheelchair at the airport? | Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities. Notify the airline in advance and self-identify as a passenger with a disability at the airport. |
| What if you need to bring your own wheelchair? | You can bring your own wheelchair to the airport and on the plane. Manual wheelchairs can often be stored on board, while battery-operated devices may need to be disassembled and stored in the cargo hold. |
| What if you have concerns about the security screening process? | You can request assistance from TSA Cares before or during the security screening process. |
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What You'll Learn
- You can carry your baby through the metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair
- You can request a wheelchair in advance or inform a team member at the airport
- The airline will not know you need assistance if you don't self-identify as a passenger with a disability
- Your wheelchair will be taken from you at the gate and returned when you reach your destination
- You can stow your non-battery-operated wheelchair on board if it meets size restrictions
You can carry your baby through the metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair
If you are travelling with an infant, you may carry them in a sling or carrier through the walk-through metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair. However, you may be asked to undergo additional screening. It is recommended that you inform the TSA officer if your child is able to walk through the metal detector or needs to be carried through. The TSA officer will not remove your child from their mobility aid, including a wheelchair or scooter.
If you are travelling with a wheelchair, it is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability needing assistance. Although the airline may have noted in your reservation that you need assistance, they will not know that you are the person who requested it unless you self-identify. You are entitled to stay in your own wheelchair until you get to the gate. At the gate, your wheelchair will be taken from you, and if you cannot walk, you will be transported to your aircraft seat in an aisle chair. Your wheelchair will be returned to you at the gate once you reach your destination.
If you are concerned about the security screening process at the airport, you can request assistance by contacting TSA Cares online or by phone. You may also call to request assistance at the checkpoint. TSA Cares provides information to passengers with disabilities, medical conditions, and those that need additional assistance to better prepare for the security screening process. It is recommended that you call 72 hours prior to travelling with questions about screening policies, procedures, and what to expect at the security checkpoint.
If you are travelling with formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food, you should inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process. These items should be removed from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from your other belongings. It is recommended that these items are packed together in one area of your carry-on bag so they can be easily removed for screening. TSA X-ray machines are not harmful to food or medicines.
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You can request a wheelchair in advance or inform a team member at the airport
If you require a wheelchair at the airport, it is recommended that you request one in advance by selecting 'Add special assistance' when booking or managing your trip online or via an app. You can also inform a team member at the airport about your wheelchair needs on the day of your travel. It is important to make your reservation as early as possible and advise the airline of the type of assistance you will need, including whether you will require a wheelchair or guided assistance. Most airlines ask that you make wheelchair requests at least 48 hours in advance, and last-minute requests may not be accommodated. If you have your own electric or battery-powered wheelchair, you must be available for boarding at least 45 minutes before departure, while those with non-electric or non-battery-powered wheelchairs must be available for boarding 30 minutes prior to departure.
When you arrive at the airport, it is crucial to self-identify as a passenger with a disability who requires assistance. Even if you indicated your need for assistance during the booking process, airline staff will not be aware that you are the person who requested it unless you self-identify. This can be done by approaching a team member at the airport and informing them of your wheelchair needs. They may ask you how the requested wheelchair service assists with your disability, but they cannot inquire about the nature of your disability. If you have vision or hearing limitations, it is important to inform staff so that they can ensure you receive important updates and briefings.
If you are travelling with a baby, you may carry them in a sling or carrier through the metal detector or during screening in a wheelchair. However, you may be subject to additional screening. The TSA officer will not remove your child from their mobility aid, including a wheelchair, but they may request that you undergo additional screening procedures, such as Advanced Imaging Technology screening. If you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, or baby/toddler food in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters, you can inform the TSA officer, who will screen these items separately. These items are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag.
If you require assistance with a toddler while using a wheelchair, you may need to consider alternative arrangements. The assigned person pushing your wheelchair may have difficulty managing both the wheelchair and attending to your toddler, especially if they need to be in a stroller. Some airports may offer electric carts, but these are usually only available post-security. For longer distances, you may be transported on a golf cart, but you should check with the airport or airline beforehand to understand their specific policies and arrangements.
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The airline will not know you need assistance if you don't self-identify as a passenger with a disability
When travelling with a baby, you may carry your child in a sling or carrier through the walk-through metal detector or when being screened in a wheelchair. However, you should inform the TSA officer if your child will be carried through the metal detector, as they will not remove your child from their mobility aid. If you are travelling with a disability and require assistance, it is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability when you arrive at the airport. This is because, even if you have noted in your reservation that you need assistance, the airline will not know that you are the person who requested it unless you self-identify.
To receive assistance, you must self-identify to airline staff at the airport as a person with a disability. Airlines are required to provide assistance to passengers with disabilities as they navigate through different portions of the airport. This includes assisting you from the terminal entrance to the gate location, through the security checkpoint, and onto the aircraft to your seat. If you need assistance with deplaning, airlines generally provide this after all other passengers have disembarked. If you believe your rights under the Air Carrier Access Act are being violated, you can ask to speak with a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO), who is the airline's expert on disability accommodation issues.
In situations where there is uncertainty about the access needs of a passenger, a carrier may ask the passenger for credible verbal assurance that the passenger needs the service and how the service assists them. Airlines must also ensure that terminal facilities are readily accessible and usable by passengers with disabilities. This includes providing an accessible route between the gate and the aircraft, as well as ramps or mechanical lifts when level-entry boarding is not available. Airlines must also provide service animal relief areas at the airport.
Passengers who identify as needing visual or hearing assistance must receive prompt access to the same trip information as other passengers. Airline personnel must be trained to use the most common methods for communicating with individuals who are blind, deaf, or hard of hearing. This includes writing notes, passing out Braille cards, reading information sheets, or communicating through an interpreter.
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Your wheelchair will be taken from you at the gate and returned when you reach your destination
If you are a parent with a disability and will be travelling with a baby or toddler, you may be concerned about how to manage pushing your child in a stroller while also being pushed in a wheelchair. In this case, you may want to consider carrying your child in a sling or carrier, or having them sit on your lap while you are in the wheelchair.
When you arrive at the airport, it is important that you self-identify as a passenger with a disability needing assistance. Although the airline may have noted in your reservation that you need assistance, they will not know that you are the person who requested that assistance unless you self-identify. You are entitled to stay in your own wheelchair until you get to the gate. At the gate, your wheelchair will be taken from you and stored either in the cargo hold or the cabin of the aircraft, depending on its size and whether it is battery-powered. If you cannot walk, you will be transported to your aircraft seat in an aisle chair.
Your wheelchair will be returned to you at the gate once you reach your destination. It is important to do a quick inspection of your wheelchair before you use it, and if there is any damage, you should immediately go to the airline's customer service desk and file a claim. On domestic flights, US carriers must fully compensate passengers for loss or damage to wheelchairs or other assistive devices, and on international flights, the Montreal Convention provisions control payments for assistive devices.
If you believe your rights under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) are being or have been violated, you can ask to speak with a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). A CRO is the airline's expert on disability accommodation issues, and airlines are required to make one available to you, at no cost, either in person at the airport or by telephone. The ACAA prohibits US and foreign carriers from discriminating against individuals with physical or mental impairments, but it does not obligate carriers to provide assistance to passengers whose disability is not assisted by the service.
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You can stow your non-battery-operated wheelchair on board if it meets size restrictions
If you are planning to travel with an infant and require the use of a wheelchair, it is important to be aware of the relevant airport and airline policies. While the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, it is important to self-identify as a passenger with a disability and request assistance in advance. This includes notifying the airline of any specific needs, such as onboard wheelchair assistance or assistance with carry-on luggage.
When it comes to stowing your wheelchair on board, the policies vary depending on the airline. For example, Delta Air Lines states that you can stow your non-battery-operated wheelchair on board if it meets the size restrictions for the approved storage space on the aircraft. Generally, the device should not exceed measurements of 13" x 36" x 42", but these limits may vary by aircraft. It is important to confirm with a gate agent before boarding whether your device can be stowed or needs to be checked. Additionally, Delta agents must confirm that the wheelchair can be stowed without accidental in-flight activation. If this cannot be confirmed, they will disconnect the battery post connectors and tape them to prevent electrical shorts during travel.
American Airlines also provides assistance for passengers with medical devices, wheelchairs, or mobility devices. They recommend making special assistance requests in advance, including providing wheelchair measurements and weight. They also advise passengers to contact Special Assistance to ensure that the battery type of their mobility device is approved for travel.
It is worth noting that, according to the US Department of Transportation, 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. Additionally, passengers with disabilities have certain rights under the Air Carrier Access Act, and if these rights are violated, they can speak to a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO) at no cost.
Regarding infants, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows infants to be carried in a sling or carrier, including lap babies, when going through security screening in a wheelchair. However, they may be subject to additional screening procedures. It is important to inform TSA officers if your child needs to be carried through the metal detector.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can carry your baby in your lap while in a wheelchair at the airport. However, you must inform the TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process.
If your baby needs a stroller, you may need to figure out an alternative as the wheelchair pusher may only be one person.
Yes, you may be able to use an electric cart, but this is dependent on the airport and is usually only available post-security.
You can request wheelchair assistance in advance or inform a team member at the airport about your needs on the day of travel.
It depends on the type of wheelchair you have. If your wheelchair is non-battery-operated and manually collapsible, you may be able to store it on board. However, you must confirm with a gate agent before boarding.
