Tips for Traveling with Your Wheelchair

A Guide to Air Travel

Expert insight from Brian Perkowski, ATP and CRT users Jonathan Lengel and John Morris 

What are the best tips for flying with a wheelchair?  

Plan ahead with your airline, document your wheelchair before travel, provide clear handling instructions, remove detachable components, understand battery requirements, arrive early and inspect your wheelchair immediately after your flight. 

No matter where you’re going, flying with your wheelchair takes planning, forethought and communication. These tips should help make traveling a little easier.  

Tip 1: Talk to the Airline Before You Go 

Advance notice isn’t generally required for disability accommodations, but calling the airline ahead of time can help avoid or mitigate issues. “Talk to them when you buy your tickets and call them multiple times before your trip to remind them that you are traveling with a wheelchair,” advised Brian Perkowski, an assistive technology professional (ATP) and NSM branch manager in New Jersey. “Get the names of everyone you speak to.” 

When you call, be sure to:  

• Tell them you’re traveling with a wheelchair  
• Ask about wheelchair assistance  
• Ask about aircraft limitations  
• Confirm battery requirements  
• Ask about cabin stowage for folding manual chairs
• Keep a record of who you spoke with and when.  

No matter what, give yourself extra time at the airport on the day of your flight. Arriving early can give you more time to check in, communicate with airline personnel and address any questions about your wheelchair or mobility device before boarding. 

Tip 2: Prepare Your Wheelchair for Travel 

Before you fly, prepare your wheelchair for transport and take note of important details, including:  

• Record make/model/serial number  
• Record dimensions and weight  
• Remove detachable components, such as wheels, joysticks, headrests, footrests and cushions. If it comes off the chair, take it off and carry it onto the plane with you. 
• Protect vulnerable parts of your chair (such as joysticks or control panels) with bubble wrap or other protection. 
• Secure any exposed wires.  
• Protect the seat from weather.  

Tip 3: Know Your Battery Requirements 

If you use a power wheelchair, identify the type of battery your wheelchair uses before traveling. Contact your airline to confirm its requirements for transporting your specific wheelchair and battery. Requirements can vary depending on the battery and aircraft. Keep relevant battery information and wheelchair documentation accessible during your trip. For current information about traveling with battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility devices, review the guidance from TSA and FAA.   

Tip 4: Document the Condition of Your Chair Before and After Your Flight. 

It can be helpful to get your wheelchair serviced prior to and just after your trip. This will allow you to know and understand the condition of your chair before you board the flight and help pinpoint any damage that may have occurred during travel.  

Prior to boarding your flight, photograph your mobility equipment from every angle and document any existing damage as well as your chair’s current condition. When the wheelchair or device is returned to you after your flight, go through the process again and document any new damage.  

“If something is wrong when you land, do not sign for a replacement at the airport,” Perkowski warned. “Make sure to tell the airline you want your original provider to evaluate the chair for damages as soon as they can to ensure nothing is missed.” 

Tip 5: Provide Instructions about Handling Your Wheelchair 

Both CRT user Jonathan Lengel and John Morris, the creator of Wheelchair Travel, recommend taping instructions about how to treat your wheelchair if it must be stored in the aircraft’s cargo or baggage compartment during your flight. Both Lengel and Morris advise detailing any specific actions baggage handlers might need to take to load your chair onto the plane.  

Ramp personnel may have very little time to review the instructions, so make sure your instructions are easy to read and understand at a glance. Instructions should include information such as:  

• How to turn the chair on or off 
• How to place it in neutral mode
• How to fold or make the chair smaller, if applicable 
• Tips on how the chair should be lifted or moved 
• Anything that should not be done or actions that might damage the chair.  

Perkowski said to go one step further, especially if the chair belongs to a child: “Take a picture of your child and tape it to the chair or stroller with a sign on the chair that says, ‘My wheelchair is my legs.’” 

Tip 6: Stay with Your Chair as Long as Possible  

When it’s time to gate-check your chair, drive it as close to the aircraft as you’re permitted to go. Talk directly with the people handling it and explain any specific actions they should or shouldn’t take, like turning the chair on its side. 

“If you can watch them load your chair onto the plane, do it,” Perkowski recommended.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Flying With a Wheelchair 

Do I need to tell my airline that I’m traveling with a wheelchair? 

Advance notice generally isn’t required for disability accommodations, but contacting your airline before your trip can help you prepare and avoid potential issues. Ask about wheelchair assistance, aircraft limitations, battery requirements and cabin stowage for folding manual wheelchairs. 

How should I prepare my wheelchair for air travel? 

Before your flight, record your wheelchair’s make, model, serial number, dimensions and weight. Remove detachable components, protect vulnerable parts such as joysticks and control panels, secure exposed wires and protect the seat from weather when necessary. 

How can I protect my wheelchair from damage during a flight? 

 Remove parts that can be detached and carried with you, protect sensitive components, and provide clear handling instructions for airline personnel. When possible, talk directly with the people handling your wheelchair and explain anything they should or shouldn’t do. 

What should I include in my wheelchair handling instructions? 

 Keep instructions simple and easy to read at a glance. Include information about turning the chair on or off, placing it in neutral mode, folding or reducing its size, how it should be lifted or moved and anything that should not be done. 

What should I do if my wheelchair is damaged during a flight? 

 Document your wheelchair’s condition before and after your flight by taking photographs and noting any damage. If you notice damage after landing, notify the airline and ask your original wheelchair provider to evaluate the equipment as soon as possible. 

What should I know about traveling with a power wheelchair? 

 Identify your wheelchair’s battery type before traveling and contact your airline to confirm its requirements for transporting your specific wheelchair and battery. For current information, review guidance from the TSA and FAA on battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility devices. 

Travel Resources 

To learn more or plan for an upcoming trip, visit:  

• Permobil Travel Support 
• About the Air Carrier Access Act 
• TSA Cares 

Want to learn more about the challenges wheelchair users face when flying?  

Read additional Let’s Get Moving Journal articles about this topic:  

• Learn more about protecting your wheelchair during travel in Pro Tips for Protecting Your Wheelchair for Travel. 
• Explore the challenges wheelchair users face when flying in Navigating the Skies. 

Learn more from our Guide to Buying a Wheelchair.