Alaska Air

Alaska Airline Policies

Accessible travel services

For the best travel experience when requesting these services:

Make reservations as early as possible and request services while booking online, or call our dedicated accessible services line at 1-800-503-0101 (dial 711 for relay services).
Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure.
Let us know about any special requirements - at check-in, in the boarding area, and on the aircraft.

Mobility and wheelchair assistance services

We offer assistance to anyone using a wheelchair or other mobility devices.

Wheelchairs and wheelchair escorts are available at every airport for customer use. Some airports have electric carts available for customer use.

We transport all types of personal wheelchairs including, folding, collapsible, non-folding manual wheelchairs, electric/battery-powered wheelchairs, and electric-powered carts or scooters.

At the airport

We do not offer curbside skycap service at most airport locations. If you need wheelchair assistance, we ask that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to scheduled departure and then go directly to one of our customer service representatives. There may be a brief waiting period before your wheelchair escort arrives.

Inform your customer service agent at the airport of all services required, including transfer assistance and/or deplaning at a connecting/arrival location. We will need to arrange for wheelchair assistance at each location.

Please note that while customer service agents and/or wheelchair escorts can assist you to the baggage claim, in-terminal rental car counter, or curbside, they cannot wait with you or provide help with ground transportation. If you require additional assistance, we recommend traveling with a ticketed safety assistant.

Battery-powered mobility aids

Alaska Airlines accepts certain battery-powered mobility aids used by a guest with a disability. The mobility aid must have a single physical means of power disconnection to prevent unintentional activation. Examples of power disconnection include:

Key turning to off position and removed
Securing the device "on/off" switch to the "off" position
Quick disconnection of the joystick on a wheelchair
Removing the battery and isolating the terminals

Alaska must be able to access the battery to determine that it is acceptable for transportation. The battery label must be legible and in English. The battery must not show signs of any defects or damage. If the device does not have an effective means of preventing unintentional activation, the battery must be disconnected, and the terminals protected from short circuit. In these cases, we recommend the guest provide disconnection instructions on the Wheelchair Information form so that our Agents can easily disassemble/reassemble as needed.

Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries
Mobility aids where the battery is fully enclosed and can’t be easily removed, or the mobility aid has a battery that exceeds 300 watt-hours will not be accepted for transport.
The battery must be easily removed and transported separately as carryon baggage in the passenger cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from short circuit. There is a single battery size limit of 300 watt-hours (Wh). If the device utilizes two batteries, each battery cannot exceed 160 Wh. A maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spares not exceeding 160 Wh each may be carried onboard.
The battery’s size in watt-hours must be displayed on the battery, or the battery should be labeled with its voltage and amp-hour (or milliamp-hour) ratings to allow for size calculation (see formula below) if needed. Any spare batteries must be transported as carryon baggage with the battery terminals protected to prevent short circuit.
Some Li-ion batteries do not display the watt-hour rating on the battery label. The following formulas may be used to determine the watt-hours rating for a Lithium-ion battery:
If the battery lists the Amp-hour rating, use this formula:

Volts (V) x Amp-hours (Ah) = Watt-hours (Wh)
Example for a single battery:
10 volts multiplied by 24 Amp-hours = 240 watt-hours
The 240 watt-hours are below the 300 watt-hour limit for a single battery, so the battery would be allowed.

If the battery lists the Milliamp-hour rating, use this formula instead:
Volts (V) x Milliamp-hours (mAh) ÷ 1,000 = Watt-hours (Wh)

Please note: Despite the claims of some manufacturers, there are no “FAA-approved,” “ICAO-approved” or “IATA-approved” batteries, or approved batteries from other regulating agencies.

Bringing your own wheelchair or assistive device

You will find it helpful to print out the wheelchair information form and complete it before coming to the airport. Please hand it to one of our employees when you present your assistive device.

A personal wheelchair can be checked at the ticket counter or the gate free of charge.
Passengers can use our wheelchair equipment after checking a personal wheelchair; a brief waiting period may be necessary for the escort to arrive with the proper equipment.
Detachable items such as seat cushions and footrests can be carried onboard or checked with the wheelchair and stowed in the cargo compartment.
Alternately, arrangements can be made to have your personal wheelchair checked at the departure gate. The wheelchair will be returned at the destination gate upon arrival or at a connecting airport.
If you prefer to use your personal wheelchair at the connecting airport, please advise your customer service agent at the ticket counter or boarding gate in advance. Time between connecting flights may be insufficient to provide this service if disassembly and re-assembly of a personal wheelchair is required. If time is a factor, we recommend taking advantage of our wheelchair service for transport between connecting flights.
Ensuring safe and timely boarding
In order to safely board you and your wheelchair or assistive device, we strongly recommend that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. We ask that you be checked in two hours prior to departure and be available to board at least 45 minutes before posted departure for all flights.
- If you are transporting electric/battery-powered wheelchairs, carts, or scooters we ask that you be checked in two hours prior to departure and be available to board at least 45 minutes before posted departure for all flights.
- If you are transporting any other type of non-electric/non-battery-powered wheelchairs, carts, or scooters, you must be checked in and you must be available to board at least 30 minutes before posted departure for all flights.
Folding wheelchairs
- You can request to have your folding, collapsible, or breakdown wheelchair stowed onboard the aircraft at time of pre-boarding on Alaska Airlines flights 1-1499.
- The number of personal wheelchairs is limited to one personal wheelchair in cabin per flight and this space is provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- The wheelchair must meet the size and weight restrictions for the approved storage space on the aircraft.
- Wheelchairs stowed onboard have priority over other carry-on items.
- If your wheelchair will not fit safely in the approved stowage closet, we will be glad to transport it in the cargo compartment at no additional charge.
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