I am a below the knee amputee and have difficulty walking any distance. I use a mobility scooter. Can I travel on a commercial flight with my scooter?
YES but check first that the Batteries are Aircraft Approved. I think the cant be over 10 Ah. I know when I bought mine I was going to go with the Higher 15 Ah for longer use. But then saw they were not approved for airlines. SO I stuck with the 10 Ah as my Wife worked for AA and has Travel Priveleges.
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The batteries can be dry cell or wet cell sometimes. They don’t like lithium. You can drive the scooter to the airplane cabin door and they will return it at your destination. Make sure to take pictures before your trip. If it is damaged, go directly to the baggage claims department to fill out a damage report. If it has to be repaired or replaced and not drivable, tell them you need a replacement till yours is returned.
In the USA this is the ACAA regulations.
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Yes, you can! I have traveled by air with my mobility scooter three times. Contact the airline for their specific directions and any questions you may have. You may find directions on the airline’s website under passenger requests for airport assistance.
In my experience, the airline needs to know the weight of the scooter and the type of battery. Lithium batteries need to be removed and taken on board with the passenger as they are not allowed in the cargo area. The airline will provide a tag for the scooter either at check-in or the gate. Be prepared to be at the gate at least 45 minutes prior to boarding time. The scooter has to go through TSA just like everything else. which can take a little bit more time. I ride the scooter down the jetway to the plane’s door and leave the scooter. Airline crew comes to get it and will return the scooter to the jetway at my destination. If you have any extra appliances attached to your scooter such as lights which can be removed, you may want to carry them on board with you as baggage handlers can be a bit rough with the equipment sometimes.
It can be an additional travel challenge to travel with a mobility scooter, but it is infinitely worth it! Good luck, and happy travels!
Hi Everyone, It’s Pinky 
again; One of your Forum Moderators.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank our members “msb, pehubby & linda.radach” for your fantastic replies and information about how to fly with mobility scooters. You are all an incredible resource knowledgebase on traveling and I know myself and the other members are truly grateful for you sharing your knowledge with us in the Forum, And thank you to charliemitts too for bringing your travel quandary to us at the Forum to allow the community to try and assist you.
Thats what our Forum is all about and I love to see when others step up and help each other. We only make our community stronger when we act like this with each other and show the world what it means when a community looks after each other and strangers.
I admitingly am no expert on traveling with power chairs or scooters, but wanted to just help contribute to the replies with what I could and help save a little time for everyone on verifying the specific airlines rules (I only went with U.S. domestic major airlines; defiantly verify with any commuter and regional small-leg their specific rules for smaller planes):
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Just in case you are totally new to traveling with your scooter, you should know that your scooter has the “Same” rights as wheelchairs and electric wheelchairs. However, as you have probably seen online, some manufacturers make some mobility scooters now that are the size of a vehicle; and/or were never intended for fitting on airplanes. That’s why you will notice on several of the airlines pages, the size of the plane door the chairs/scooters have to be able to fit through; and sometimes the size of their storage space.
There are some mobility scooters now that literally close up to the size of a TSA-approved carry-on suitcase at the touch of a key fob button. (AND… they “can NOT” count that as one of your carry-on pieces; or any of the additional medical equipment you are traveling with. Although if it won’t fit in an overhead bin, they may gate-check the equipment for you. Some of the airlines have on-board closets now and have been able to help store some of the slightly bigger pieces that won’t conform to the overhead bin shape.
As suggested by the Forum users above, defiantly check with each airline as to their specific rules; as there aren’t any official standards for some reason between airlines. Hopefully some of this info is of help? I know its not as specific as the other members, but that’s how we work as a group to help each other out online with that we each know. Let us know if you need help with anything else with travel… its “all” our pleasure to help here.
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Keep on traveling everyone; It’s our world too!
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-Pinky
The airlines I’ve been on never asked about battery information or other details, except Quantas. Call your airlines to be sure. Possibly information will be on their websites.
It would be REALLY helpful if AccessibleGO could assemble a database of airline requirements to allow a mobility scooter or motorised wheelchair on board a plane and which devices qualify. Last spring my Mom and I traveled on Turkish and Austrian Airlines. We had to complete a form and get permission to take her mobility scooter on Austrian Airlines while we just found the regulations on the Turkish Airlines website, determined that our scooter qualified, and brought the scooter on our flight. Although the Austrian process required more work, we had no worries because we had WRITTEN permission from the airline to bring the scooter. We had considerable stress before the Turkish flight because we worried that some check-in agent might not understand the rules and could ruin our vacation at the outset.
A useful database would include -
Airline name
Regulations/rules
Procedure for approval, if any
List of scooters/chairs that have been accepted
Just FYI - We have a MovingLife ATTO scooter and it is fabulous!
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One thing to be aware of is if you are flying between other countries the rules may change. I found out this week that although I am flying American airline, my flight between Stockholm and Paris is under their European office. So I have to notify them directly that I am flying with my wheelchair. They did provide the contact information so it was no problem.
Do you know if they disassemble the scooter or if they stow it completely assembled (except Batteries) mine has two Lithium Batteries (Golden Buzz Around EX 4 wheel which will breakdown to 4 pieces). But I would preferred it stow assembled) I have not yet flown with a device so I’m clueless. 