Published 2 May 2024 · Last updated 25 August 2026
Top Folding Mobility Scooters
If you are unsure, always contact the airline for more information. Some airlines have different policies, but here is more information on taking a flight with a mobility scooter or wheelchair.
Taking A Flight With A Mobility Scooter Or Wheelchair Key Points:
- Mobility aids up to two may be carried for free.
- You can have as much medical gear and supplies as you need.
- Safeguarding your possessions: Any harm to mobility aids is the responsibility of the airlines.
- Verify that your scooter is locked with your key.
- Taking A Flight With Power Chairs Passengers should be ready for airline workers to transport an electric wheelchair to the aeroplane hold when checking in.
How Many Mobility Aids Am I Allowed To Bring?
Up to two mobility aids may be carried for free. The airline should accept them as one of the two pieces of mobility equipment you need to go where you’re going since they pertain to the whole of your vacation and not just the trip.
You can carry as much medical gear and supplies as you need. If you often use drugs, certain airlines may require a medical certificate. You must obtain a certificate if you bring more than 100ml of medications in liquid or gel form through security. Safeguarding your possessions: Any harm to mobility aids is the responsibility of the airlines. You may get extra insurance even if the maximum compensation is around ยฃ1,300.
If your equipment malfunctions, the airport must provide you with a temporary replacement, even if it isn’t the same, so that it may be repaired or replaced. If you are using a battery-free foldable wheelchair, you may check in. They will move it to the cargo hold.
Taking A Flight With a Mobility Scooter
You should inform users of mobility scooters that any airline employee will be assigned to transport the scooter to the aeroplane hold if they check their scooters in. Before delivering your bike to the airline employees, we advise covering the throttle control with some masking tape to keep it in the lowest position to minimise damage. “Do not remove” should be written on this tape. Verify that your scooter is locked with your key. You are utilising a cable to hold the key in place (like those seen in fishing equipment). Never have the scooter key with an elastic band or rubber band. Wearing items that might be misplaced, including pillows and detachable baskets, is not recommended.
Taking A Flight With Power Chairs
Passengers should be ready for any airline workers to transport an electric wheelchair to the aeroplane hold when checking one in. We advise you to ask that no porters be permitted to move your valuable wheelchair through the airport. Put the gearbox in “neutral” to make it simpler to push. Apply a tiny piece of electrical tape to both sides of the connector after removing the connection that connects your chair to the battery. Even better, if the power connection breaks, travelling with just your hand baggage will be simple. The “joystick” should be simple to remove, if possible. When you get on the plane, could you bring it with you? The joystick is shielded in this manner. If a joystick is not protected, it is vulnerable to injury.
Top Folding Mobility Scooters
Related Travel and Mobility Aid Articles
- Using a Mobility Scooter on Public Transport – Learn about the regulations for using mobility scooters on buses and trains.
- Mobility Scooters in Shops – Discover where you can use your mobility scooter in public spaces and stores.
- How to Charge a Mobility Scooter – A guide to keeping your scooter powered up while traveling.
- Best Mobility Scooters for Travel – Explore lightweight and foldable mobility scooters designed for easy travel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay to take a wheelchair or scooter on a plane?
No. Mobility equipment is carried free of charge and does not count towards your baggage allowance. That applies to manual chairs, powered chairs and scooters, and it is a legal entitlement rather than an airline courtesy.
What are the battery rules?
Dry cell, gel and sealed lead acid batteries are generally straightforward. Lithium batteries are restricted by watt hour rating and often have to be removed and carried in the cabin. Give the airline the battery type and rating in writing well before travel, and keep a copy of the specification with you.
How far in advance should I tell the airline?
As early as you can and at least 48 hours before departure, which is the notice period assistance services are built around. Booking assistance at the same time as the flight is better still, since it goes on the reservation rather than being added later.
Can I stay in my own wheelchair to the aircraft door?
Yes. You are entitled to use your own chair up to the aircraft door, where it is taken and put in the hold, and it should be returned to you at the door on arrival. Ask for that specifically, because chairs are sometimes sent to baggage reclaim by default.
What if my equipment is damaged?
Report it before leaving the airport and get it recorded in writing, because claims are much harder afterwards. Damage to mobility equipment is a well documented problem, and photographing the chair before you hand it over takes a minute and is worth doing every time.
What about trains and coaches?
Train operators provide assistance which can be booked in advance or, increasingly, requested on the day, and most stations have ramps for boarding. Coaches vary far more, and scooters in particular are often refused, so check the specific operator’s policy rather than assuming.
Published 2 May 2024 · Last updated 25 August 2026