You might have some trepidation about taking an airplane with your travel mobility scooter. I don’t blame you. Air travel has connected people to world cultures, awakened curiosity and wonder, and inspired technology and engineering for the last 100 years. And under the best of circumstances going through the airport is to surrender to a, let’s say, unique set of expectations for personal space, efficiency, and comfort.
But if concern about the flight is what is keeping you from your granddaughter’s graduation, or your anniversary trip to Italy, or seeing a Galapagos tortoise in the wild, let this be your pep talk.
There are two things to remember. First, people travel with mobility scooters. Every day. Thousands every year. If they can do it, you can, too. With a little extra preparation, knowing some tips and tricks, and the right mindset, you can have a smooth experience and get to your magical destination.
Secondly, the airport is crawling with people whose job it is to assist travelers, including, and perhaps especially, people who need a little extra help getting around. They’ve seen it all and are not phased or bothered in the least by hearing what you need and providing it. At the same time they’re happy to let you navigate the pieces you can on your own.
This begins a three-part series on air travel with a mobility scooter. Part I, below, will give some tips for booking air tickets, including basic rules on traveling with scooter batteries. Part II details how to navigate the airport with confidence. Part III glides you into a smooth landing and gets you on your way. Bon voyage!
Before you book your flight
A little preparation can go a long way in an incident-free, and dare I say enjoyable, plane trip with your travel mobility scooter.
First, get a notebook or Google Doc and write down these specs of your scooter. You can look at your travel mobility scooter user manual, find your same model online and look at the specifications section, or ask the store where you bought it. Also save, bookmark, scan, or print the manual to take with you to the airport. That way airport staff can look up any questions they have about your scooter.
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Weight
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Folded dimensions
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Battery type
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Battery capacity in Watt hours (Wh) This will usually be either a lithium-ion or sealed lead-acid battery. If the watt-hour rating isn't printed on the battery, you can calculate it by multiplying volts (V) by amp-hours (Ah).
Then, visualize your trip from start to finish. How will you get from your house to the airport? What happens when you arrive? Where will you check in? How will you get through security? Will you need assistance getting to the gate? What happens when you board? Where will your scooter go?
Write down any questions or concerns that come up. You don't have to figure everything out yourself, and of course last-minute questions and unexpected situations can arise. This is just the planning and discovery phase.
Once you have your scooter information, contact your airline. This is the #1 tip in planning well for travel with a mobility scooter. Different airlines have different policies, so it’s best to hear it from them.
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When you’re booking your flight, let them know that you’ll be traveling with a scooter.
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Ask about their mobility device policies.
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Ask if they require you to complete a mobility device form before travel. Some airlines do.
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If possible, book a nonstop flight. If you have a layover, make sure you give yourself more than 23 minutes to make it through a mile-long concourse.
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Request any assistance you’ll need getting through security, to your seat, or anything else. Remember, their job is to help you!
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Don't hesitate to ask for help with something you could theoretically do yourself. You are allowed to conserve your energy for the part of the trip you actually came to enjoy.
Follow up again 48 hours before travel to let them know you will have a travel mobility scooter.
Understanding Airline Battery Rules for Air Travel
For understandable reasons, we’re all a little jumpy when it comes to submitting ourselves to the scrutiny of the TSA. Here’s what to know when you’re flying with a travel mobility scooter.
The concern with batteries is fire risk. Lithium-ion batteries in particular can pose a fire risk if they are damaged, overheated, or short-circuited. Rules for flying with batteries depend on the type and size of the battery and how the battery is installed in your mobility device.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has specific rules for mobility devices, and individual airlines can impose additional restrictions. So, once again: call your airline before you fly.
Remember, they have answered your same question one million times before and are happy to help. Also remember that travel mobility scooter manufacturers know they need to be safe for air travel, so yours almost certainly is.
More than likely, the scenario will be one of the following:
The important thing here is that your scooter's particular battery setup matters. Rules for mobility devices are different than for laptops and other electronics, so don’t assume. Call. The. Airline. Okay?
Important note: Do not put extra lithium-ion batteries in your checked luggage. You need to either check them at the gate or keep them in your carry on.
Practice Before You Go
If anyone is observing me making phone calls or driving, I end up watching them watch me and my brain becomes a loud screech of anxious feedback. I think I might actually disintegrate if I needed to fold my mobility scooter or take the battery in or out when a government or airline official was looking on at, say, an airport gate with 150 people waiting to board.
Avoid this by practicing taking the battery in and out and folding up your travel mobility scooter in the days leading up to your trip. If you need to demonstrate this at the airport, you can do it calmly and confidently.
Being methodical and thorough in the planning phase will really set you up to get the details sorted and to focus on your trip. It’s a few more boxes to check to travel with a mobility scooter, but if people can travel with babies, cellos, or emotional support goats, you can absolutely make your travel dreams come true with your scooter by your side.
