Airport Mobility Scooter Guide
Arrival at the airport
1. Check-in
- Remain seated during check-in. This allows the agent to recognize that you have a walking disability without further discussion.
- It is not necessary to fold and pack your TravelScoot. In fact, we recommend riding the TravelScoot all the way to the door of the plane.
- Stack any spare batteries on top of your main battery so they are in plain sight when going through security. Do not place any batteries in your luggage!
2. At the gate
- Stay in the gate agent's field of vision; Passengers with disabilities as well as families with children get priority boarding.
3. Boarding the plane
- Before boarding, we recommend taking a video of your scooter in case there is anything wrong with your scooter when you receive it back from the luggage handlers. This will help greatly if you ever need to file a claim.
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Batteries are not permitted in the cargo hold, but must be removed, placed in a suitable case, (our Travel Set, for example) and carried by the passenger inside the cabin.
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Remove the battery/batteries, place them in the padded Travel Set bag or other similar bag, install the padded Travel Set handlebar cover over the handlebars, and lower the handlebars to the lowest setting.
- Do not fold the scooter or place it in the storage bag. If you fold the TravelScoot, airline personnel may lose or damage separated parts.
4. After Landing
- Remain seated until all other passengers have deplaned. It will take a while until your TravelScoot ™ is either brought to the aircraft or you are taken to baggage claim by wheelchair.
- If your scooter is not waiting for your when you land, it is a good idea to contact a flight attendant to ask them to assist you in finding your scooter.
5. Assess your scooter for damage
- Once you receive your scooter, check it immediately for damage. Although rare, accidents can happen during transport. In our experience, airlines do a good job at making things right for you.
- If damage is detected, report it right away. All U.S. airports use the same 3rd-party company to facilitate and remediate any and all damages caused while in the airline's control.
- They will determine what is needed and replace any parts at no cost to you in a timely manner.
Alternative Method: Pack your suitcase
That's right! If you absolutely don't want anything to happen to your mobility device, you can pack it in a suitcase. There are pros and cons to this method, but it is the safest method for traveling with your scooter.
Special Allowance for Mobility Devices
Battery capacity is determined by multiplying Volts (V) by Ampere-hours (Ah) to get Watt-hours (Wh), which has been adopted as the measure for air transport. The upper limits for lithium-ion batteries for so-called Consumer Electronics, such as cell phones and laptop computers, are 100Wh with 160Wh for tools and appliances. These limits are a bit low for electric vehicles and therefore a special allowance was made for mobility devices accompanying handicapped passengers. This permits one main battery of up to 300Wh. In addition one spare battery of up to 300Wh or two 160Wh spares.
All lithium-ion batteries must be tested per UN38.3 by an internationally recognized facility, and this must be displayed on the battery. Most airlines adhere to the IATA guidelines, but a few, mostly small, airlines deviate and allow only 160Wh.
Useful Documents
Due to the heightened scrutiny paid to battery-operated equipment by airline staff, misunderstandings can and do occur regarding battery-powered mobility scooters and other medical assistive devices. That is why we suggest, for the time being, that you print out the following documents that pertain to the TravelScoot lithium-ion battery.
Visit our air travel documentation page for important battery documentation that may be required by some airlines.
Airline Policies
Oftentimes, airline information can be confusing or impossible to find. For your convenience, we've done the ground work for you! Please click on the banners below for detailed information for specific airlines.
Learn about specific regulations for:
U.S. Airlines
