Guide to Flying with a
Disability
Practical advice to help make air travel more accessible, comfortable and less stressful.
Flying Should Be Accessible to Everyone
Travelling by air can open up holidays, family visits, business trips and experiences around the world. If you have a disability or reduced mobility, however, the thought of navigating a busy airport, boarding an aircraft or travelling with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or powerchair can understandably create additional questions.
The good news is that assistance is available. Disabled passengers and people with reduced mobility have important rights when travelling by air, and airports and airlines can provide assistance throughout different stages of the journey.
This First Choice Mobility guide takes you through the process step by step – from planning and booking your flight to travelling with mobility equipment, getting through the airport, boarding the aircraft and collecting your equipment when you arrive.
✓ Your Right to Assistance
If you are disabled or have reduced mobility, you are entitled to assistance when travelling by air. This can include help moving through the airport, passing through security, reaching the departure gate, boarding the aircraft and getting to your seat.
In the UK, this assistance is provided free of charge.
Read the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Assisted Travel guidance →
Who Is This Guide For?
You do not necessarily need to be a permanent wheelchair user to benefit from airport assistance. This guide may be helpful if you:
- ✓ Use a manual wheelchair
- ✓ Use a powered wheelchair or powerchair
- ✓ Travel with a mobility scooter
- ✓ Use a walking aid, rollator or crutches
- ✓ Can walk short distances but find long airport distances difficult
- ✓ Find stairs difficult or cannot use aircraft steps
- ✓ Have a non-visible disability or additional assistance needs
- ✓ Need additional help navigating an unfamiliar airport environment
“Airport assistance is only for wheelchair users.”
Many people assume they need to be unable to walk before they can ask for assistance.
Assistance is available for a much wider range of needs.
If reduced mobility or a disability means you need additional help getting through the airport or boarding the aircraft, you should discuss your requirements with your airline.
Before You Book Your Flight
A little preparation before booking can make a significant difference. This is particularly important if you are travelling with a mobility scooter, powered wheelchair, medical equipment or batteries.
1. Check the Airline’s Accessibility Information
Before choosing a flight, visit the airline’s website and look for its accessibility, special assistance or assisted travel section. Airlines can have different procedures, particularly for mobility equipment, batteries, medical devices and onboard facilities.
2. Think About the Airport as Well as the Airline
Large airports can involve considerable distances between check-in, security and departure gates. Smaller airports may sometimes involve boarding aircraft using steps rather than an airbridge.
Consider what assistance you may need throughout the entire airport journey rather than only when boarding the aircraft.
3. Consider Direct Flights Where Practical
Changing aircraft can mean additional transfers, longer distances through airports and repeated handling of mobility equipment. Where suitable and affordable, a direct flight can sometimes make travelling easier.
4. Tell the Airline About Your Mobility Equipment
If you are taking an electric wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter, contact the airline before travelling. Be prepared to provide information including the make and model, dimensions, weight and battery type.
The Civil Aviation Authority recommends providing the airline with full details of powered mobility equipment and its battery in advance so that it can be safely loaded and transported.
Important: Don’t Leave Assistance Until the Last Minute
The UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends requesting assistance when you book your flight or, where possible, at least 48 hours before departure.
Giving advance notice helps the airline, airport and assistance provider prepare for your particular requirements.
Questions Worth Asking Before You Book
Depending on your individual requirements, you may want to ask the airline:
- ✓ Can I remain in my own wheelchair or mobility aid until the departure gate?
- ✓ How will I board if I cannot use aircraft steps?
- ✓ Can my particular wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter be carried?
- ✓ What information do you require about my mobility equipment battery?
- ✓ Is an onboard aisle wheelchair available if required?
- ✓ What accessible toilet facilities are available on the aircraft?
- ✓ Can you accommodate any specific seating requirements?
- ✓ What assistance is available if I have a connecting flight?
- ✓ Do you require any additional documentation for my medical or mobility equipment?
Did You Know?
UK passenger guidance states that disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility can take up to two pieces of mobility equipment free of charge, in addition to their normal permitted baggage allowance.
This can include battery-powered mobility equipment, although safety requirements apply and the airline will need information about powered equipment in advance.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Appropriate travel insurance is particularly important when travelling with valuable mobility or medical equipment.
Before buying a policy, check whether your wheelchair, powerchair, mobility scooter and other essential equipment are adequately covered for loss, delay or damage while travelling.
Do not simply assume an expensive powerchair or mobility scooter is fully covered by standard travel insurance. Check the policy limits and exclusions and, if necessary, ask the insurer to confirm the cover in writing.
Your Pre-Booking Checklist
Important: Airline, airport, security and battery requirements can change and may differ between operators and destinations. This guide provides general information for UK travellers and should not replace the individual requirements of your airline, airport, insurer or healthcare professional. Always check the latest requirements directly before travelling.
Stage 2 – Booking Special Assistance
What assistance you can request, how to describe your needs, assistance codes, travelling companions and why written confirmation can be so important.
Booking Special Assistance
Getting the right assistance starts with explaining what you need – not simply telling the airline that you have a disability.
What Is Special Assistance?
Special assistance – sometimes called assisted travel or passenger assistance – is help provided to disabled passengers and people with reduced mobility so they can travel through an airport and board or leave an aircraft as safely and comfortably as possible.
The assistance you need will depend on your individual circumstances. Some passengers may simply need help covering the long distances found in larger airports, while others may need assistance from the airport entrance through security and all the way to their aircraft seat.
The important thing is to explain what you can and cannot comfortably do. This allows the airline and airport assistance provider to arrange support that is appropriate for you.
✓ Special Assistance Is Free
If you are disabled or have reduced mobility, airport assistance relating to your disability or mobility requirements should be provided without an additional charge.
You do not need to avoid asking for assistance because you are concerned about paying an additional airport fee.
When Should You Request Assistance?
Ideally, request assistance when you make your flight booking. If you have already booked your flight, contact the airline as soon as possible afterwards.
The 48-Hour Rule
The UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends requesting assistance when booking or at least 48 hours before your flight where possible.
Advance notice gives the airline and airport time to make appropriate arrangements, particularly if you need specialist boarding assistance or are travelling with powered mobility equipment.
What Help Can You Ask For?
Assistance can cover many different parts of the airport journey. Depending on your requirements, this may include help with:
- ✓ Getting from a designated airport assistance point to check-in
- ✓ Moving through the airport terminal
- ✓ Getting through security
- ✓ Reaching the departure gate
- ✓ Boarding the aircraft
- ✓ Using a lift, ramp or other boarding equipment where required
- ✓ Transferring to an airport or aisle wheelchair where necessary
- ✓ Reaching your aircraft seat
- ✓ Leaving the aircraft after landing
- ✓ Moving through the destination airport
- ✓ Reaching baggage reclaim or an agreed airport assistance point
Describe What You Need – Not Just Your Condition
One of the most useful things you can do when arranging assistance is to describe your practical mobility requirements clearly.
For example, simply saying that you have arthritis, Parkinson’s, a heart condition or another medical condition may not tell the assistance team exactly what help you require.
“I have arthritis and need assistance.”
“I can walk short distances, but I cannot manage long distances through the airport or climb aircraft steps.”
This gives the assistance team much more useful information and helps them understand what support or equipment may be required.
Think About These Questions
- ✓ How far can I comfortably walk?
- ✓ Can I climb a flight of aircraft steps?
- ✓ Can I stand for a period of time?
- ✓ Can I transfer between wheelchairs or seats?
- ✓ Can I walk from the aircraft door to my seat?
- ✓ Will I need an aisle chair?
- ✓ Am I travelling in my own wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter?
- ✓ Will I need assistance at a connecting airport?
- ✓ Is there anything else the assistance team needs to know to help me safely?
You May See Special Assistance Codes
Airlines and airports use internationally recognised codes to communicate different types of passenger assistance. You do not normally need to know these codes yourself, but understanding the most common ones can help you check whether your requirements have been recorded correctly.
| Code | Generally Used For |
|---|---|
| WCHR | A passenger who can generally use stairs and walk to their aircraft seat but needs a wheelchair or assistance for longer distances. |
| WCHS | A passenger who cannot manage aircraft stairs but can usually walk between the aircraft door and their seat. |
| WCHC | A passenger who requires wheelchair assistance to and from the aircraft seat and may require an aisle chair or transfer assistance. |
First Choice Tip:
Don’t worry about trying to select the correct assistance code yourself. Explain clearly what you can and cannot do and what help you require. The airline or booking agent can then record the appropriate assistance requirements.
Tell Them If You Are Bringing Your Own Mobility Equipment
If you are travelling with your own manual wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter, tell the airline when you arrange assistance.
For powered equipment, you should expect to be asked for more detailed information. It is useful to have the following ready:
- ✓ Manufacturer
- ✓ Exact model
- ✓ Overall length, width and height
- ✓ Total weight
- ✓ Whether it folds or dismantles
- ✓ Battery type
- ✓ Battery voltage and capacity
- ✓ Whether the battery is removable
- ✓ Instructions for switching the equipment off or placing it into freewheel/manual mode
Airlines need this information because powered mobility equipment must be handled and secured correctly in the aircraft hold.
CAA – Travelling With Mobility and Medical Equipment →
Travelling With a Companion
If you are travelling with a partner, family member, friend or carer, tell the airline when arranging your assistance and ask about seating arrangements.
It is particularly important to explain if you rely on your companion for specific support during the flight.
Remember
Airport and airline assistance does not necessarily replace the personal support normally provided by a carer or travelling companion. If you require help with personal care, eating, taking medication or other needs during the flight, discuss your requirements with the airline before booking.
Non-Visible Disabilities
Not every passenger who needs assistance has an obvious physical disability. Airports regularly assist people with a wide range of non-visible disabilities and conditions.
If you or somebody you are travelling with may find queues, crowds, communication, unfamiliar environments or changes to routine difficult, contact the airline and airport before travelling to find out what support is available.
Sunflower Lanyards
Many UK airports recognise the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower as a discreet way of indicating that somebody may need additional time, patience or assistance.
A Sunflower lanyard does not replace booking special assistance, so you should still contact your airline or airport if specific support is required.
Find Out More About the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower →
“I can walk, so I shouldn’t ask for airport assistance.”
Some people are reluctant to ask because they can walk short distances.
You don’t have to be a full-time wheelchair user.
If long distances, stairs, standing or navigating the airport create difficulties because of disability or reduced mobility, explain your needs and ask what assistance is available.
Get Confirmation
Once assistance has been arranged, keep a record of what you requested.
- ✓ Keep the airline’s confirmation email or booking reference
- ✓ Check that assistance appears on your booking where possible
- ✓ Keep screenshots or copies of important conversations
- ✓ Keep your mobility equipment information with your travel documents
- ✓ Keep battery specifications or manufacturer documentation if travelling with powered equipment
- ✓ Recheck your arrangements if your flight or itinerary changes
The Golden Rule: Be Specific
Don’t be afraid to explain exactly what you need. “I need assistance” is useful – but “I cannot climb aircraft steps, cannot walk long distances and need assistance to the aircraft door” gives the airline and airport much clearer information.
Useful Official Information
Important: Assistance arrangements, airport facilities and airline procedures can vary. Always provide your airline with accurate information about your individual requirements and check the latest information directly with your airline and airports before travelling.
Stage 3 – Flying With a Wheelchair, Powerchair or Mobility Scooter
How to prepare your mobility equipment for air travel, what information the airline needs, protecting your equipment, labelling and photographing it, batteries, freewheel modes and what happens when you reach the aircraft.
Flying With a Wheelchair, Powerchair or Mobility Scooter
How to prepare your mobility equipment, give the airline the information it needs and reduce the risk of problems during your journey.
Your Mobility Equipment Is an Essential Part of Your Journey
For many disabled travellers, a wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter is far more than another piece of luggage. It may be essential to your independence, comfort and ability to move around when you reach your destination.
Airlines regularly transport mobility equipment, but powered wheelchairs and scooters require additional information because of their size, weight, electrical systems and batteries.
Preparing your equipment properly before travelling can make check-in easier, help airport staff handle it correctly and reduce the risk of unnecessary delay or damage.
✓ Mobility Equipment Does Not Normally Use Your Baggage Allowance
UK Government guidance states that disabled passengers can carry up to two items of mobility equipment free of charge, including battery-powered mobility aids.
These items do not count as part of your normal permitted baggage allowance.
Tell the Airline Exactly What You Are Taking
If you are travelling with a battery-powered wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter, contact the airline well before your departure date.
The Civil Aviation Authority advises passengers to provide full details of electric mobility equipment and its battery in advance so that the airline can confirm that it can be safely loaded and transported.
Have This Information Ready
- ✓ Manufacturer
- ✓ Exact model name
- ✓ Overall length
- ✓ Overall width
- ✓ Overall height
- ✓ Total weight
- ✓ Whether it folds or dismantles
- ✓ Battery type
- ✓ Battery voltage
- ✓ Battery capacity
- ✓ Watt-hour rating if applicable
- ✓ Whether the battery can be removed
- ✓ How the equipment is switched off
- ✓ How to put it into freewheel/manual mode
- ✓ Any particular lifting or handling instructions
First Choice Tip: Find the Specification Before You Travel
Don’t rely on remembering the specifications at the airport. Find your owner’s manual or manufacturer specification sheet beforehand and keep a copy on your phone.
If possible, also print a copy and keep it with your travel documents.
Measure the Equipment in Its Travelling Configuration
Airlines may ask for the dimensions of your wheelchair, scooter or powerchair because aircraft hold doors and cargo spaces differ between aircraft.
Measure the equipment in the configuration in which you expect it to be loaded. For example, if the backrest folds, the tiller lowers or the seat can be removed, record both the normal dimensions and the reduced travelling dimensions where useful.
Useful information to record:
Travelling With a Manual Wheelchair
Manual wheelchairs are usually more straightforward to transport than powered mobility equipment, but there are still several things worth preparing.
- ✓ Check whether footrests are removable
- ✓ Check whether armrests are removable
- ✓ Fold the backrest if the chair is designed to do so
- ✓ Remove loose cushions if appropriate
- ✓ Label removable parts clearly
- ✓ Make sure wheel locks/brakes work correctly
- ✓ Photograph the chair before handing it over
Powered Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters
Powered mobility equipment needs additional preparation because airport staff need to know how to make it safe for transport and how to move it without damaging the controls, motors or brakes.
1. Know How to Prevent Accidental Operation
Airport staff must be able to ensure powered mobility equipment cannot accidentally switch on or move while being transported. Know how your particular model is switched off and isolated for transport.
2. Know How Freewheel Mode Works
Many scooters and powerchairs have levers that disengage the drive motors so the equipment can be pushed manually.
Find these controls before travelling and prepare simple instructions explaining how to engage and disengage freewheel mode.
3. Protect Vulnerable Controls
Joysticks, displays, tillers and control units can be vulnerable when equipment is being moved or loaded.
If your manufacturer provides a safe way to fold, reposition or remove a control unit, follow those instructions. Never disconnect components unless you know they are designed to be removed.
4. Remove or Secure Loose Items
Consider removable cushions, baskets, bags, cup holders, headrests, walking-stick holders and other accessories. Ask the airline whether these should remain attached or be removed and carried separately.
Important: Don’t Guess How to Disconnect Your Equipment
Different powerchairs and scooters use different electrical systems, battery connectors and isolation methods.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model. Incorrectly disconnecting batteries or electrical components could damage the equipment or create a safety problem.
Identify the Battery
The airline will need to know exactly what type of battery powers your equipment.
Common mobility equipment battery types include:
Battery-powered mobility aids are subject to aviation dangerous-goods requirements. IATA’s current 2026 passenger guidance contains specific provisions for battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids.
IATA – Dangerous Goods Guidance for Passengers →
We’ll Cover Batteries in Detail Next
Battery rules can be complex and vary depending on battery type, installation, capacity and airline policy. Stage 4 of this guide explains lithium and sealed batteries, watt-hours, removable batteries, airline approval and current aviation requirements in much more detail.
Photograph Your Equipment Before You Hand It Over
Taking photographs only takes a minute and can be extremely useful if there is a dispute about damage later.
Take Clear Photographs Of:
First Choice Tip:
Take your photographs at the airport immediately before handing the equipment over. Your phone will normally record the date and time automatically.
Make a Mobility Equipment Handling Card
One of the most useful things you can prepare is a simple information card that stays with your scooter, wheelchair or powerchair.
Keep the instructions short and easy to understand. Airport staff may only have a limited amount of time to prepare the equipment for loading.
Mobility Equipment Handling Information
Passenger: __________________________
Equipment: __________________________
Manufacturer: ______________________
Model: ______________________________
Weight: _____________________________
Battery Type: _______________________
Switch Off: _________________________
Freewheel Instructions: _____________
Safe Lifting Points: _________________
Emergency Contact: ____________________
Make the Instructions Visual Where Possible
A photograph showing the location of the freewheel levers or battery isolation point can sometimes be easier to understand than a long written explanation.
Consider attaching photographs with simple arrows and short labels such as “FREEWHEEL LEVER”, “DO NOT LIFT HERE” or “FOLD BACKREST HERE”.
Label Everything
If parts need to be removed, make sure they can easily be identified as belonging to your equipment.
Where practical, include your name and mobile telephone number on removable items.
Consider Taking Your Cushion Into the Cabin
If you use a specialist wheelchair cushion for positioning, posture or pressure management, ask the airline whether you can take it into the cabin rather than leaving it attached to the wheelchair.
This may help protect the cushion and can also be important if you need it for comfort or pressure management during the flight. Check with the airline before travelling, particularly if the cushion contains air, gel or other specialist components.
At the Airport
When you arrive, remind the check-in or assistance team that you are travelling with mobility equipment and confirm that the information supplied in advance is available to them.
Before Handing Your Equipment Over
Can You Stay in Your Own Wheelchair Until Boarding?
Arrangements differ between airports and aircraft, so ask in advance whether you can remain in your own wheelchair or mobility aid until the departure gate or aircraft door.
For many passengers, remaining in their own equipment for as long as operationally possible can be considerably more comfortable than transferring early into an airport wheelchair.
“The airline will know how my powerchair works.”
Airport teams handle many different makes and models of mobility equipment.
Clear instructions can make a big difference.
Providing simple operating, freewheel and handling instructions can help staff understand your particular equipment and reduce unnecessary handling.
Things We Would Avoid
Make Your Equipment Easy to Understand
The person loading your scooter or powerchair may never have handled that particular model before. A few minutes spent preparing clear instructions, labels and photographs can make the process considerably easier.
Mobility Equipment Pre-Flight Checklist
Useful Official Information
Civil Aviation Authority – Travelling With Mobility and Medical Equipment →
Important: Aircraft types, cargo-door dimensions, airline acceptance policies and battery requirements vary. Always obtain current information directly from your airline before travelling. Never modify, disconnect or dismantle mobility equipment unless the manufacturer confirms that it is designed to be handled in that way.
Stage 4 – Mobility Scooter & Powerchair Batteries When Flying
Lithium-ion, AGM and gel batteries, watt-hours, removable and installed batteries, airline approval, spare batteries and the current aviation rules you need to understand before travelling.
Mobility Scooter & Powerchair Batteries When Flying
Understanding battery types, watt-hours, airline approval and the information you should have ready before travelling.
Don’t Leave the Battery Question Until You Reach the Airport
If you are flying with a powered wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter, the battery is one of the most important parts of your travel preparation.
Mobility aid batteries are subject to aviation safety requirements, and the airline needs enough information to determine how your particular equipment can be carried safely.
The rules are not simply a question of whether a battery is “airline approved”. The requirements depend on the battery chemistry, capacity, whether it can be removed, how it is protected within the mobility aid and the airline’s own operating procedures.
Important: Airline Approval Is Required
Current IATA and CAA guidance requires the airline/operator to approve the carriage of battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids.
Contact your airline before travelling and provide the information they request about both the mobility equipment and its battery.
Even where a manufacturer describes a scooter, powerchair or battery as suitable for air travel, the final decision rests with the airline carrying you.
Use Current Information
Aviation battery requirements continue to evolve. The current IATA guidance for battery-powered wheelchairs and mobility aids reflects the 2026 Dangerous Goods Regulations.
For that reason, we strongly recommend checking current information rather than relying on advice from an old holiday, forum post or social-media discussion.
Step 1: Identify Exactly Which Battery You Have
Never tell an airline that your scooter simply has a “normal mobility battery”. They need to know the actual battery type.
Common batteries used in wheelchairs, scooters and powerchairs include:
Lithium-Ion
Increasingly common in lightweight and folding mobility scooters and powerchairs because lithium batteries provide good capacity at relatively low weight.
AGM / Sealed Lead-Acid
Often described as non-spillable batteries. AGM batteries are widely used in larger mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.
Gel
Another common non-spillable battery type used in mobility equipment. Gel batteries are also generally treated differently from lithium batteries under aviation rules.
What Does “Non-Spillable” Mean?
AGM, gel and certain sealed lead-acid batteries are commonly classed as non-spillable when they meet the applicable aviation requirements.
Do not assume a battery is compliant simply because it looks sealed. Use the manufacturer’s documentation or battery specification and provide this information to your airline.
Where Can I Find the Battery Information?
Battery information may be printed directly on the battery label or contained in the scooter or powerchair specification.
Look For:
First Choice Tip: Photograph the Battery Label
Take a clear photograph of the battery label and save it on your phone. This can be extremely useful if airline or airport staff ask for battery information during check-in.
Understanding Watt-Hours (Wh)
Watt-hours are particularly important when travelling with lithium-ion batteries because aviation requirements use the watt-hour rating to describe battery energy capacity.
Many modern lithium batteries already display the watt-hour rating clearly on the label.
If Wh Is Not Printed on the Battery
It can usually be calculated where the battery voltage and amp-hour capacity are known:
Example 1
24V × 10Ah = 240Wh
Example 2
24V × 12Ah = 288Wh
Don’t Use Watt-Hours Alone to Decide Whether You Can Fly
The watt-hour figure is important, but it is only one part of the assessment. The rules also depend on whether the battery remains installed, whether it is adequately protected by the mobility aid and whether it needs to be removed for transport.
Always give the airline the full battery and equipment details and allow them to confirm acceptance.
Flying With Lithium-Ion Mobility Batteries
Lithium batteries are widely used in folding scooters and powerchairs, but they are treated as dangerous goods for air transport and therefore have specific safety requirements.
Under current IATA guidance, a lithium battery may remain installed in the mobility aid where the design of the equipment adequately protects the battery and it is securely attached.
Where the mobility aid does not adequately protect the battery, or where the equipment is specifically designed for the battery to be removed for transport, different requirements apply.
Protected Within the Mobility Aid
Where the battery can safely remain attached, the mobility aid must still be protected against accidental operation and secured appropriately for transport.
Separate Battery Requirements Apply
If the lithium battery must be removed, it should only be removed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and must be protected against damage and short circuit.
Removed Lithium Mobility Batteries
Current IATA mobility-aid guidance requires removed lithium batteries and permitted spare lithium batteries to be carried in the passenger cabin rather than placed loose in the aircraft hold.
The airline will tell you how the battery must be protected and packaged.
What About the 300Wh Figure?
You may have seen references online to a 300Wh lithium battery limit. This figure is relevant to certain removable batteries and spare-battery arrangements, but it should not be interpreted as a simple universal maximum for every powered wheelchair or scooter.
The Important Distinction
An installed lithium battery that is adequately protected within a mobility aid is treated differently from a battery that has been removed from the equipment for carriage.
This is why simply asking “Is my battery under 300Wh?” does not give you the complete answer. Ask the airline to assess your specific mobility aid and battery arrangement.
Can I Take a Spare Lithium Battery?
Spare lithium mobility-aid batteries may be permitted, but the number and capacity allowed depend on the applicable aviation requirements and the individual battery arrangement.
Under current IATA mobility-aid guidance, permitted spare lithium battery capacity is limited and spare batteries must be protected from physical damage and short circuit.
Before Taking a Spare Battery:
AGM, Gel & Other Non-Spillable Batteries
Many larger mobility scooters and powerchairs use AGM or gel batteries rather than lithium.
Current IATA guidance allows qualifying non-spillable batteries to remain installed where the mobility aid and battery meet the required conditions and can be safely loaded, secured and protected.
The airline still needs to know what type of batteries are fitted and how the equipment can be safely isolated from accidental operation.
Spillable Wet-Cell Batteries Need Particular Care
Traditional spillable wet-cell batteries are subject to additional requirements, including restrictions on how the mobility aid is loaded and kept upright.
Some airlines may have additional restrictions. If you are unsure whether your mobility equipment uses a spillable battery, check the battery specification before contacting the airline.
What Is UN 38.3?
If you are travelling with lithium batteries, you may see references to UN 38.3.
This refers to internationally recognised testing requirements that lithium battery types must meet before they are permitted for transport.
Useful Tip:
If your airline asks for battery certification or a UN 38.3 test summary, contact the battery or mobility-equipment manufacturer for the appropriate documentation rather than trying to create it yourself.
Your Battery Must Be in Safe Condition
Do not attempt to travel with a battery that is damaged, swollen, leaking, excessively hot or otherwise showing signs of deterioration.
Do Not Travel With a Battery Showing:
Avoid Unnecessary Battery Disconnection
Mobility aid batteries should not automatically be unplugged simply because the equipment is going onto an aircraft.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for making the equipment safe for transport. UK ground-handler guidance specifically advises against tampering with batteries or unplugging cables unnecessarily.
GOV.UK – Powered Wheelchairs: Guidance for Ground Handlers →
Create a Battery Travel Information Pack
Keeping all the relevant information together can save considerable time if you are asked questions at check-in.
A Useful Way to Contact the Airline
Rather than simply asking “Can I take my scooter?”, give the airline enough information to provide a meaningful answer.
Mobility aid: [manufacturer and model]
Dimensions: [length × width × height]
Total weight: [kg]
Battery type: [e.g. lithium-ion]
Battery: [voltage / Ah / Wh]
Battery removable: [yes/no]
Number of batteries: [quantity]
“My scooter is advertised as airline approved, so every airline has to take it.”
“Airline approved” is sometimes used as a convenient product description, particularly for compact lithium-powered equipment.
The individual airline must approve carriage.
Aircraft, airline procedures and equipment arrangements differ. Always provide your airline with the exact scooter, powerchair and battery specifications before travelling.
“Lithium batteries cannot be taken on aircraft.”
Lithium batteries are regulated because they require careful handling during air transport.
Many lithium-powered mobility aids can be carried.
They must meet the applicable safety requirements and the airline must approve carriage based on the equipment and battery configuration.
Questions to Ask Your Airline
Know Your Battery Before You Fly
Make a note of the battery type, voltage, capacity and watt-hours before you contact the airline. Keep the specification and a photograph of the battery label on your phone, and obtain written airline confirmation wherever possible.
Battery Pre-Flight Checklist
Useful Battery & Aviation Information
Civil Aviation Authority – What Items Can I Travel With? →
IATA – Dangerous Goods Guidance for Passengers →
IATA – 2026 Battery-Powered Wheelchair & Mobility Aid Guidance →
Important: Battery and dangerous-goods rules can change and individual airlines may apply additional operating requirements. This guide is intended to help you prepare for travelling from the UK and is not an airline approval document. Always provide your airline with the exact mobility equipment and battery specifications and obtain current approval before travelling. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when disconnecting, removing or isolating any battery.
Stage 5 – At the Airport, Security & Boarding the Aircraft
When to arrive, where to report for assistance, security screening, staying in your own wheelchair, airport wheelchairs, transfers, aisle chairs, aircraft steps and what to expect when you reach the aircraft.
At the Airport, Security & Boarding the Aircraft
What to expect when you arrive, where to report for assistance, how airport security may work and how passengers with reduced mobility can be helped onto the aircraft.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Airports can be busy and unfamiliar environments, particularly if you need assistance or are travelling with a wheelchair, powerchair, mobility scooter or medical equipment.
Arriving in good time gives airport staff an opportunity to confirm your assistance arrangements, check any mobility equipment and deal with additional security or boarding procedures without unnecessary pressure.
Follow the arrival time given by your airline or airport and allow additional time if they specifically ask passengers using assisted travel services to arrive earlier.
✓ Tell the Assistance Team You Have Arrived
Booking assistance in advance does not normally mean somebody will automatically know the moment you enter the airport.
When you arrive, report to the airport’s designated assistance point, assisted travel desk, check-in area or other location specified by your airline or airport.
Look for Designated Assistance Points
Airports have designated points where passengers can request the assistance they have booked. Depending on the airport, these may be located:
Check your departure airport’s accessibility page before travelling so you know where to go when you arrive.
CAA – How to Access Help and Support →
Confirm Your Assistance Requirements
Even if your assistance has been booked correctly, it is worth briefly confirming exactly what help you need when you report to the airport team.
Remind Them If You:
“I’ve booked assistance, so I don’t need to do anything when I arrive.”
Booking in advance is important, but the airport still needs to know you have arrived.
Report to the designated assistance point.
Follow your airline or airport instructions and make yourself known to the assisted travel team after arriving.
At Check-In
If you are travelling with powered mobility equipment, check-in is often where airline staff confirm the information you supplied before travel.
Keep These Details Easy to Reach
Ask Whether You Can Remain in Your Own Wheelchair
If you use a wheelchair or powerchair, ask whether you can remain in your own equipment until the departure gate or aircraft door.
Being transferred unnecessarily early into an airport wheelchair can be uncomfortable, particularly for people who rely on specialist seating, posture support or pressure-relieving cushions.
First Choice Tip
Tell the assistance team if remaining in your own wheelchair is important because of posture, positioning, pain or pressure management. Ask to remain in it for as long as operationally possible.
Going Through Airport Security
Disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility still need to complete the required security screening, but assistance can be provided where necessary.
The CAA specifically advises passengers to explain if they require additional help during airport security procedures.
Tell Security Staff If:
Wheelchairs and Mobility Equipment May Also Be Screened
Your wheelchair, mobility aid and other equipment may need to undergo security screening.
If your equipment contains delicate controls, batteries or components that require particular handling, explain this to staff before they begin.
Ask Questions If You Are Unsure
If a security procedure is difficult because of your disability, explain the problem and ask staff what alternative screening arrangements are available. You should not feel that you have to attempt something physically unsafe simply because other passengers are doing it.
Hidden Disabilities & Security
Security areas can be particularly challenging for some passengers because they may involve queues, noise, close contact, unexpected instructions and having personal items handled.
If you have a non-visible disability, tell the airport assistance team if you need extra time or support. The CAA notes that airport assisted travel desks may provide optional identifiers such as lanyards or badges for passengers with hidden disabilities.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower – Find Out More →
After Security
Once through security, confirm what happens next with the assistance team.
Don’t Wander Away Without Checking
If the assistance team asks you to wait in a particular place, tell them before leaving for shops, restaurants or toilets so they know where to find you when boarding starts.
Boarding the Aircraft
The method used to board depends on the airport, aircraft, gate and your individual mobility requirements.
Passengers who have booked assistance may be supported using a number of different methods.
Airbridge
Where the aircraft is connected directly to the terminal, passengers may be able to reach the aircraft door without using external steps.
Passenger Lift or Ambulift
A specialist lift vehicle may be used to raise passengers to the level of the aircraft door when stairs cannot be used.
Other Boarding Equipment
Airports may use ramps, lifts or other specialist equipment depending on the aircraft and airport facilities.
If You Cannot Manage Aircraft Steps, Say So Clearly
Do not attempt aircraft steps simply because the aircraft is boarding from the tarmac.
If you have told the airline you cannot use steps, appropriate assistance should have been planned. Remind staff immediately if the boarding arrangement presented to you does not meet your needs.
When Your Wheelchair or Scooter Is Handed Over
If you have been permitted to remain in your own mobility equipment until the gate or aircraft door, there will eventually be a point where it must be handed to the ground-handling team for loading.
Before Handover:
Transferring From Your Wheelchair
If you need help transferring from your own wheelchair to airport equipment or to the aircraft seat, explain how you normally transfer and what assistance you require.
Transfers are highly individual. Some passengers can stand briefly with support, some use a transfer board and others require much greater assistance.
You Know Your Transfer Best
Explain what works for you before staff begin the transfer.
Tell them about painful joints, restricted movement, weak limbs, recent surgery, areas that must not be pulled or lifted, or any other information relevant to a safe transfer.
Never Feel Pressured to Attempt an Unsafe Transfer
If you believe a proposed transfer is unsafe for you, say so and explain why. Ask the assistance team what other equipment or method is available.
What Is an Aisle Chair?
Aircraft aisles are generally too narrow for a conventional wheelchair. Passengers who cannot walk from the aircraft door to their seat may therefore need a specialist narrow chair, commonly called an aisle chair.
Airport assistance staff can use the aisle chair to help the passenger move through the cabin and reach their allocated seat.
If You Need an Aisle Chair
This is something worth making very clear when booking assistance. Do not assume that “wheelchair assistance” automatically tells the airline that you cannot walk from the aircraft door to your seat.
Ask About Pre-Boarding
Depending on your requirements and the airline’s boarding arrangements, you may be invited to board before the main passenger group.
This can provide more space and time for transfers, aisle-chair use and getting comfortably settled without large numbers of passengers trying to board around you.
Travelling With a Companion
If you rely on a partner, family member or carer to assist with communication, transfers or another essential need, remind the gate staff that you are travelling together.
Ask in advance about seating arrangements if it is important for your companion to sit beside or close to you because of disability-related assistance needs.
Keep Your Mobility Equipment Reference
If the airline or ground handler gives you a baggage tag, receipt or other reference for your wheelchair, scooter or powerchair, keep it somewhere accessible until the equipment has been safely returned at your destination.
What If the Assistance Doesn’t Arrive?
Occasionally arrangements may not run as expected. If the agreed assistance has not arrived, raise it as soon as possible rather than struggling through the airport without help.
Assistance Is a Right, Not a Favour
Disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility are legally entitled to appropriate assistance during air travel. UK aviation passenger rights cover assistance at the airport as well as assistance associated with boarding and leaving the aircraft.
“If I can’t climb the aircraft steps, I won’t be able to fly.”
Some passengers worry when they see aircraft boarding from the tarmac rather than through an airbridge.
Alternative boarding assistance can be arranged.
If you cannot manage steps, make this clear when booking assistance so the airport can arrange suitable boarding equipment.
Airport & Boarding Checklist
Useful Official Information
Civil Aviation Authority – How to Access Help and Support →
Civil Aviation Authority – Your Accessibility Rights →
Important: Airport layouts, security procedures, boarding arrangements and assistance facilities vary between airports, airlines and aircraft. Always check the accessibility information for both your departure and destination airports and confirm your individual requirements with the airline before travelling.
Stage 6 – During the Flight
Seating, aisle chairs, accessible toilets, medication, pressure relief, circulation, eating and drinking, what cabin crew can assist with and what you should arrange with a travelling companion before departure.
During the Flight
Seating, onboard assistance, aisle chairs, toilets, medication, comfort, circulation and planning ahead for the support you may need while in the air.
Think About What You Will Need Once You Are Seated
Much of the planning for assisted air travel focuses on getting through the airport and onto the aircraft, but it is just as important to think about what you may need during the flight itself.
Aircraft cabins have practical limitations that are very different from an airport terminal. Space is restricted, conventional wheelchairs cannot normally move through the aisle and cabin crew are not personal carers.
Understanding these limitations before travelling allows you to plan for medication, toileting, positioning, meals and personal care rather than discovering a problem once the aircraft is airborne.
Important: Cabin Crew Are Not Personal Carers
Cabin crew can provide safety-related assistance and may be able to help passengers move around the aircraft using appropriate equipment, but they are not normally able to provide personal care or nursing assistance.
The Civil Aviation Authority specifically notes that cabin crew are not trained to administer medication and that, although airlines may assist passengers in reaching the toilet, staff cannot normally provide personal hygiene or nursing care.
If you require this level of assistance during the flight, discuss it with the airline before booking and consider travelling with a suitable companion or carer.
Do You Need to Travel With a Companion?
Some passengers are independent at the airport but require support during the flight.
GOV.UK guidance says a passenger may need to travel with a companion if they are not self-reliant for essential tasks such as feeding, breathing, taking medication or using the toilet.
Consider Whether You Need Help With:
Seating Arrangements
If your disability affects where you can comfortably or safely sit, contact the airline before travelling.
For example, you may need to discuss proximity to the toilet, transferring into the seat, sitting beside a companion or avoiding a particular seating position because of mobility or medical requirements.
Travelling With a Carer or Companion
If you depend on a companion for disability-related assistance, tell the airline in advance.
The CAA says airlines should make reasonable efforts to seat a passenger and necessary companion together.
Using an Aisle Chair During the Flight
Conventional wheelchairs are generally too wide to move through an aircraft cabin. Some aircraft therefore carry a narrow onboard wheelchair or aisle chair that can assist passengers who cannot walk through the cabin.
Availability can vary according to aircraft type and airline. Current CAA airline accessibility guidance expects onboard wheelchairs to be accessible to passengers who need them where such equipment is available.
If You May Need an Aisle Chair
Aircraft Toilets
Aircraft toilet facilities vary considerably. Larger aircraft may offer more accessible facilities than smaller single-aisle aircraft, but space will still be much more restricted than in an accessible toilet at an airport.
If accessible toilet facilities are important to you, ask the airline about the actual aircraft expected to operate your flight before booking.
Don’t Assume “Accessible Toilet” Means Fully Wheelchair Accessible
Aircraft space is limited and facilities vary between aircraft. Ask specifically whether the toilet arrangement will meet your requirements rather than relying only on the word “accessible”.
What Cabin Crew Can Usually Do
Cabin crew may be able to help you reach the toilet using an onboard aisle chair where available.
They cannot normally assist with personal hygiene, lifting inside the toilet or other intimate personal care.
“Cabin crew can help me with anything I normally need a carer to do.”
Airline assistance is extensive, but there are important limits once you are onboard.
Personal care may require a travelling companion.
Crew are trained for aviation safety and first aid, but they are not a substitute for a personal carer or nurse.
Keep Essential Medication With You
Essential medication should generally be carried in your hand luggage rather than placed in checked baggage, particularly where you may need it during the journey.
The CAA recommends carrying medication with you in hand baggage and also suggests taking a copy of your repeat prescription.
Medication Travel Checklist
Cabin Crew Do Not Normally Administer Your Medication
If you cannot independently take essential medication, arrange suitable support before travelling. The CAA states that cabin crew are not trained to administer passenger medication.
Medical Equipment
If you need to use medical equipment during the flight – for example a CPAP device, oxygen equipment or another powered medical device – contact the airline before travel.
The airline may need to check the device, battery type, electrical specifications or documentation before approving its use onboard.
CAA – Travelling With Medicines, Mobility & Medical Equipment →
Eating & Drinking
If you need assistance opening packages, cutting food, feeding or drinking, consider how this will be managed during the flight.
Cabin crew may be able to offer practical help with some items, but they are not required to provide personal feeding assistance. If you cannot eat or drink independently, discuss this with the airline and your travelling companion before departure.
First Choice Tip:
If you have limited hand movement or strength, think about packaging as well as the meal itself. Keeping an easy-to-open drink or snack within reach can be useful on longer journeys, subject to airline and security rules.
Pressure Relief & Positioning
If you normally use specialist wheelchair seating or regularly reposition yourself to protect your skin, an aircraft seat may present additional challenges.
Speak to your healthcare professional before travelling if you are at particular risk of pressure damage or require specialist positioning.
Before a Longer Flight, Consider:
Your Wheelchair Cushion May Be Important
If you normally use a specialist pressure-relieving or positioning cushion, ask the airline in advance whether it can be used safely on your aircraft seat.
Also consider whether keeping the cushion with you in the cabin is preferable to leaving it attached to your wheelchair in the aircraft hold.
Circulation & Long Flights
Sitting still for long periods can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), particularly on longer journeys.
The CAA notes that prolonged sitting, especially on flights of more than four hours, can increase DVT risk and advises people who are at higher risk to seek medical advice about appropriate precautions.
General Comfort Measures May Include:
Seek Personal Medical Advice Where Appropriate
This guide cannot determine your individual fitness to fly or your personal risk of DVT, pressure injury or other complications. If a health condition could affect your ability to fly safely, discuss your journey with your GP, consultant or relevant healthcare professional before travelling.
Medication & Time Zones
Crossing time zones can affect the timing of regular medication.
This can be particularly important for medicines that need to be taken at strict intervals. CAA guidance specifically reminds passengers with conditions such as epilepsy or Parkinson’s to maintain medication schedules carefully during extended travel.
Before Travelling Across Several Time Zones:
Ask your pharmacist, GP or specialist how you should adjust the timing of important medicines rather than improvising after you arrive.
Tell Cabin Crew What You Need
When you board, it can be useful to introduce yourself to the cabin crew and briefly explain any important assistance requirements.
You May Want to Explain:
Safety Instructions Still Matter
If your disability makes it difficult to see, hear or understand the standard safety briefing, tell the cabin crew.
Ask for the information to be provided in a way that is accessible to you and make sure you understand what you should do in an emergency.
Non-Visible Disabilities During the Flight
Some passengers may find crowded cabins, unfamiliar noises, turbulence, announcements or unexpected changes particularly difficult.
If You Become Unwell During the Flight
Tell cabin crew promptly if you become unwell rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.
Cabin crew receive first-aid training and can assess what onboard support is available, but passengers with known medical conditions should still travel with the medication and assistance they normally require.
“I should put all my medication in my suitcase.”
Checked luggage can be delayed or unavailable during the flight.
Essential medication should stay accessible.
Keep essential medication and relevant documentation in your hand luggage, following security and destination-country requirements.
During the Flight Checklist
Useful Official Information
Civil Aviation Authority – Assisted Travel Help & Support →
CAA – Travelling With Medicines & Medical Equipment →
CAA – Air Travel & Your Health →
Important: Aircraft facilities, onboard wheelchairs, toilet arrangements, seating and airline assistance vary according to the airline and aircraft type. This guide provides general information and does not replace individual medical advice. If your health condition, medication, circulation, pressure-care requirements or personal-care needs could affect your ability to fly safely, seek appropriate medical advice and discuss your requirements with the airline before travelling.
Stage 7 – Medicines, Medical Equipment & Hidden Disabilities
Taking prescription medicines abroad, liquids and needles, medical letters, CPAP and oxygen equipment, travelling with diabetes, non-visible disabilities, Sunflower schemes and preparing for additional support needs.
Medicines, Medical Equipment & Hidden Disabilities
How to prepare prescription medicines, medical devices and documentation, plus practical advice for passengers with non-visible disabilities.
Prepare Your Medical Needs Before You Travel
If you take regular medication, use medical equipment or have a disability that may not be immediately obvious to airport staff, a little preparation can make your journey much easier.
Airport security rules, airline procedures and the laws governing medicines can differ between countries. What is routinely prescribed in the UK may be restricted or controlled elsewhere.
Check the requirements well before departure and carry appropriate documentation rather than relying on explaining everything at the airport.
✓ Keep Essential Medication in Your Hand Luggage
The CAA recommends keeping medication with you in your hand baggage so that it remains available during the flight and if checked baggage is delayed or lost.
Take enough medication for your planned trip and consider allowing for reasonable travel delays.
Preparing Your Medicines
Liquid Medicines Over 100ml
Essential liquid medicines may be carried through airport security in quantities greater than the normal liquid allowance when they are needed for your journey.
Bring Supporting Medical Evidence
CAA guidance states that passengers carrying liquid or gel medication over 100ml through security need supporting medical certification.
The medicine may also need to undergo additional security screening or authentication.
Needles, Syringes & Injectable Medication
Passengers who need injectable medication may be able to carry needles and syringes, but they should check the airline and airport-security requirements in advance.
GOV.UK advises passengers who need needles or syringes in hand luggage to check with their airline before travelling and declare them at security.
Useful Preparation:
Medicines Containing Controlled Drugs
Some prescription medicines contain controlled drugs and may be subject to additional legal requirements when you take them into or out of the UK.
Check Before You Travel
Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether your medicine contains a controlled drug and check the current UK Government guidance.
Depending on the medicine, quantity and length of your trip, additional documentation or licensing requirements may apply.
GOV.UK – Taking Medicine In or Out of the UK →
UK Prescription Does Not Automatically Mean a Medicine Is Legal Everywhere
Some medicines that are routinely prescribed or available in the UK are controlled or restricted in other countries.
Always check the health and entry information for your destination before travelling. Certain countries require advance approval for specific medicines.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office country travel pages are a useful starting point.
Check Your Destination
Rules can vary significantly. For example, some destinations classify certain UK prescription and over-the-counter medicines as controlled substances and may require approval before arrival.
When Is a Medical Letter Useful?
A letter from your doctor or other healthcare professional may make travelling with medicines and specialist equipment easier.
Depending on Your Circumstances, It May Confirm:
Travelling With Medical Equipment
Passengers are generally allowed to carry reasonable amounts of medical equipment and supplies, but you should tell the airline in advance if you are travelling with specialist devices.
Examples Include:
Some Medical Equipment Needs Airline Approval
Certain equipment – including some oxygen systems and powered medical devices – requires advance agreement from the airline.
Give the airline the exact make and model, battery information and any other technical details they request.
CPAP Machines
If you use CPAP for sleep apnoea, contact the airline before travelling, particularly if you intend to use the device during the flight.
Oxygen & Portable Oxygen Concentrators
If you need supplemental oxygen, contact the airline well before departure. Airlines have their own procedures and may limit which equipment can be carried or used onboard.
Do not assume your normal home oxygen arrangement can automatically be taken onto an aircraft.
CAA – Medical Equipment & Oxygen Guidance →
Pacemakers, Implants & Medical Devices
If you have an implanted medical device such as a pacemaker, follow the device manufacturer’s medical guidance and tell security staff where appropriate.
Useful Tip:
Carry your medical-device or implant identification card if you have one. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency also recommends having implant information available when travelling through airport security.
Travelling With Diabetes
People with diabetes may need to travel with insulin, needles, glucose-monitoring equipment, pumps, sensors and emergency glucose supplies.
Essential liquid medicines such as insulin can be carried in larger quantities than the standard liquid limit when required for the trip, although security procedures and supporting documentation apply.
Before Travelling:
Travelling With a Hidden Disability
Not all disabilities are immediately visible. Passengers with autism, dementia, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, neurological conditions and other non-visible disabilities may need additional support even though they do not use a wheelchair.
The CAA confirms that passengers with hidden disabilities have the same legal rights to free assistance where disability or reduced mobility creates additional travel needs.
Support Might Include:
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
Many UK airports recognise the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower as a discreet way for somebody to indicate that they may need extra time, patience or understanding.
Wearing one is optional and it does not disclose a particular disability or diagnosis.
Importantly, a Sunflower lanyard does not replace booking specific airport assistance.
Consider a Simple Assistance or Communication Card
Some passengers find it easier to carry a short written explanation of their needs rather than repeatedly explaining them in a busy airport.
My Assistance Information
I may need extra time to understand instructions.
Please explain what is happening before touching me or my equipment.
I find crowded or noisy areas difficult.
My travelling companion can help communicate with me.
First Choice Tip
Describe the assistance you need rather than feeling that you must disclose detailed medical information. Practical instructions such as “please give me extra time to answer” can often be more useful to airport staff than simply naming a diagnosis.
If You Are Travelling With Someone Who Needs Support
If you are accompanying somebody with dementia, autism, a learning disability or another condition that affects communication or understanding, discuss the journey together before departure where appropriate.
“If my disability isn’t visible, I can’t use airport assistance.”
Assistance is not restricted to people using wheelchairs or obvious mobility aids.
Hidden disabilities are covered too.
If a disability means you need additional help navigating the airport or travelling safely, explain the practical support you require when arranging assistance.
“If my medicine is prescribed in the UK, I can automatically take it anywhere.”
Medicines laws differ considerably between countries.
Destination rules still apply.
Some countries restrict medicines that are routinely prescribed in the UK. Check the destination rules well before departure.
Create a Medical Travel Pack
Prepare for the Whole Journey – Not Just the Flight
Check your medicine and equipment requirements for departure, security, the flight, your destination and the return journey. A few documents prepared in advance can prevent significant problems later.
Medicines & Medical Equipment Checklist
Useful Official Information
Civil Aviation Authority – Medicines, Mobility & Medical Equipment →
GOV.UK – Hand Luggage Rules for Medicines & Medical Equipment →
GOV.UK – Taking Medicine In or Out of the UK →
GOV.UK – Foreign Travel Advice →
Important: Medicine laws, airport-security rules and airline medical-equipment policies can change and differ between countries. This guide provides general information for travellers and is not medical or legal advice. Check current airline, airport and destination-country requirements before travelling, and seek advice from your doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional where appropriate.
Stage 8 – Landing, Connections & Getting Your Mobility Equipment Back
What should happen when you land, assistance leaving the aircraft, connecting flights, where your wheelchair or scooter should be returned, checking equipment for damage and what to do immediately if something is wrong.
Landing, Connections & Getting Your Mobility Equipment Back
What should happen when you land, how connecting-flight assistance works, where your wheelchair or scooter may be returned and what to do if equipment is delayed or damaged.
Your Journey Is Not Finished When the Aircraft Lands
If you need assistance leaving the aircraft or are waiting for a wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter to be returned, the arrival process can take longer than it does for other passengers.
It is useful to know in advance where your mobility equipment should be returned, who is responsible for assisting you through the airport and what to do if something is missing or damaged.
If you have a connecting flight, advance planning becomes even more important because your assistance and mobility equipment may need to be transferred between aircraft.
✓ Don’t Rush to Leave Your Seat
If you have booked assistance, remain seated until the assistance team is ready for you unless cabin crew tell you otherwise.
Passengers requiring an aisle chair, lift or other boarding equipment are often assisted after other passengers have left the aircraft, simply because the process needs more space and specialist equipment.
Leaving the Aircraft
Depending on your mobility requirements and the airport facilities, assistance may include:
CAA – How to Access Help and Support →
Where Will My Wheelchair or Scooter Be Returned?
This can vary between airports, airlines and aircraft. Some mobility equipment may be returned close to the aircraft door, while other equipment may be delivered to a baggage reclaim or oversized-baggage area.
First Choice Tip
Ask before departure exactly where your mobility equipment is expected to be returned at your destination.
If being reunited with your own wheelchair at the aircraft door is particularly important because of posture, pain, pressure relief or independence, make this clear when arranging assistance.
Mobility Equipment Should Be Treated as Priority Baggage
IATA guidance recommends that mobility aids are handled as priority baggage and, where operationally possible, loaded last and unloaded first.
This is intended to reduce unnecessary delays and minimise handling.
Connecting Flights
If your journey involves changing aircraft, make sure assistance has been booked for the connection as well as at your departure and final destination.
Connections can involve long distances, terminal changes, security checks and transfers between aircraft, so do not assume assistance will automatically continue unless it has been recorded.
Before Travelling, Ask:
Allow More Time for Connections
A connection that looks perfectly reasonable for a passenger walking independently may be too tight if you need an aisle chair, lift, assistance vehicle or time for mobility equipment to be transferred. Where possible, choose a comfortable connection rather than the shortest one available.
Inspect Your Mobility Equipment Before Leaving the Airport
When your wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter is returned, take a few minutes to check it before leaving the airport.
Check:
Compare It With Your Pre-Flight Photographs
The photographs you took before handing the equipment over can help you identify new damage and provide evidence of its previous condition.
If you spot a problem, take new photographs immediately before the equipment leaves the airport environment.
Don’t Leave the Airport Before Reporting Obvious Damage
If you notice damage, missing parts or a fault, report it to the airline or baggage-services team immediately where possible.
Reporting the issue before leaving the airport creates a clear record of when the damage was discovered and may make a later claim easier to evidence.
What to Do If Your Equipment Is Damaged
Ask for a Written Record
Airlines and baggage handlers may use a Property Irregularity Report or another form of incident report for damaged or missing items.
Whatever system is used, ask for a written reference number and keep it with your travel documents.
What If Your Wheelchair or Scooter Is Delayed?
Delayed mobility equipment can have a much greater impact than delayed ordinary baggage. Explain clearly if you cannot safely or independently continue your journey without it.
Ask the Airline:
Temporary Equipment May Not Be Equivalent
A standard airport wheelchair may not provide the same posture support, independence, pressure relief or powered mobility as your own equipment. Explain any essential clinical or functional requirements clearly if temporary equipment is offered.
Check for Missing Parts
Damage is not always obvious. Removable components can sometimes become separated from the main mobility aid during handling.
Test Powered Equipment Safely
If you use a powerchair or mobility scooter, check that it has been returned to the correct drive mode and that any electrical isolation carried out for transport has been reversed correctly.
Don’t Force Anything
If a lever, connector, joystick or battery component appears damaged or unfamiliar, do not force it back into place. Ask for assistance and refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
First Choice Tip:
If the equipment appears unsafe, damaged or unstable, avoid driving or transferring into it until you are satisfied it is safe to use.
Compensation for Lost or Damaged Mobility Equipment
Different legal rules can apply depending on the journey and circumstances, and compensation limits may not always reflect the true replacement cost of specialist mobility equipment.
This is another reason why appropriate travel insurance and clear evidence of the equipment’s value and condition can be important.
CAA – Lost, Delayed or Damaged Baggage →
Check Your Insurance Before You Travel
Specialist wheelchairs and powerchairs can be worth several thousand pounds, so check whether your travel insurance adequately covers your particular equipment.
Pay attention to single-item limits, exclusions, excesses and whether mobility equipment must be specifically declared to the insurer.
“If my wheelchair looks fine, I can check it properly when I get to the hotel.”
Some damage is easy to miss when you are tired after travelling.
Check it before leaving the airport.
Inspect the equipment, compare it with your photographs and report any obvious problem as soon as possible.
“Assistance only covers getting onto the aircraft.”
Assisted travel does not end at departure.
Arrival and connection assistance are part of the journey.
Assistance can include leaving the aircraft, moving through the terminal, making connections and reaching baggage reclaim or an agreed airport point.
Inspect Before You Leave
When your wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter is returned, take a few minutes to check it properly. If something is missing, damaged or not operating correctly, report it before leaving the airport wherever possible and obtain a written reference.
Arrival & Equipment Return Checklist
Useful Official Information
Civil Aviation Authority – Assisted Travel Help & Support →
Civil Aviation Authority – Your Accessibility Rights →
Civil Aviation Authority – Lost, Delayed or Damaged Baggage →
Important: Mobility-equipment return points, connection arrangements, baggage procedures and compensation rules vary between airports, airlines and journeys. Always report loss or damage promptly and follow the airline’s formal claims process. This guide provides general information and does not replace the terms of your airline or travel-insurance policy.
Stage 9 – Your Rights & What to Do If Things Go Wrong
Your assisted-travel rights, making a complaint, poor or missing assistance, damaged mobility equipment, airline and airport responsibilities, escalation routes and when to contact the Civil Aviation Authority.
Your Rights & What to Do If Things Go Wrong
Understanding your assisted-travel rights, who is responsible for helping you, how to report poor assistance and what to do if your wheelchair, scooter or powerchair is damaged.
Know Your Rights Before You Travel
Disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility have legal rights when travelling by air.
These rights are designed to give disabled and less-mobile passengers opportunities to travel by air comparable with those available to other passengers.
Most journeys involving assisted travel run smoothly. However, knowing who is responsible and what to do when something goes wrong can make it much easier to resolve a problem.
Assisted Travel Is a Legal Right
UK aviation regulations protect the rights of disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility to receive additional assistance at airports and assistance getting onto and around an aircraft.
What Can Assisted Travel Cover?
Depending on your individual needs, assistance may include help at different stages of the journey.
Assistance Should Be Provided Without an Additional Charge
Disability or reduced-mobility assistance covered by the regulations should not result in the passenger being individually charged for receiving that assistance.
Travelling With Mobility Equipment
Current CAA guidance states that passengers can take up to two items of mobility equipment free of charge.
This Could Include Equipment Such As:
Who Is Responsible – The Airport or the Airline?
This is important because it helps you direct a complaint to the correct organisation.
Assistance Through the Airport
Airports are generally responsible for providing assistance from a designated arrival point through the airport and onto the aircraft.
At your destination, the airport is responsible for assistance from disembarkation through to the designated exit point.
Assistance During the Flight
Once onboard, the airline is responsible for providing the assistance it is required to provide during the flight.
Airlines also have responsibilities relating to the carriage of mobility equipment and other aspects of the passenger’s journey.
If Something Goes Wrong at the Airport
If the assistance you booked has not arrived or is not meeting your needs, raise the problem immediately rather than waiting until you return home.
Try to Resolve the Problem There and Then
Do Not Feel Pressured Into Something Unsafe
If you cannot safely climb aircraft steps, walk a particular distance or complete a proposed transfer, say so clearly.
Explain what assistance you need and ask what alternative arrangements can be provided.
Keep a Record of What Happened
Good evidence can make a significant difference if you need to make a formal complaint later.
Record:
First Choice Tip
Use your phone to make a short written note while the details are fresh. After a long journey it can be surprisingly difficult to remember exact times, names and the order in which events happened.
Step 1 – Complain Directly to the Airline or Airport
The CAA recommends that your first formal step should be to complain directly to the airline or airport responsible.
Use the organisation’s official complaints procedure and put your complaint in writing wherever possible.
A Good Complaint Should Explain:
Be Clear About the Outcome You Want
If you are seeking reimbursement, repair costs, compensation, an explanation, an apology or confirmation that procedures will be reviewed, say so clearly. A concise complaint with supporting evidence is usually easier to investigate than a long account without a clear requested outcome.
If Your Wheelchair, Powerchair or Scooter Is Damaged
Mobility-equipment damage should be treated seriously because a wheelchair or powerchair may be essential to somebody’s independence rather than simply being another item of luggage.
If Damage Occurs:
Ask About Temporary Mobility Equipment
CAA guidance states that where mobility equipment is damaged, the airport must provide a temporary alternative, although it may not be like-for-like.
Explain any essential requirements such as posture support, pressure management, powered mobility or dimensions rather than simply accepting equipment that is unsuitable for you.
Consider Additional Insurance for Valuable Mobility Equipment
CAA guidance warns that airline liability for damaged mobility equipment can be subject to compensation limits which may be significantly below the replacement value of a specialist wheelchair or powerchair.
Check your travel insurance before departure and make sure any valuable mobility equipment is adequately covered.
Step 2 – Escalating an Unresolved Complaint
If you have complained to the airline or airport but are unhappy with its final response – or you have not received a response within the relevant period – you may be able to escalate the complaint.
Raise it immediately with airport or airline staff where possible.
Complain directly to the responsible airline or airport.
Check whether the airline or airport belongs to an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme.
An approved ADR provider may be able to review the complaint. If the organisation is not covered by an ADR scheme, the CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team may be able to help.
Alternative Dispute Resolution – ADR
Alternative Dispute Resolution provides an independent way of reviewing certain unresolved complaints without immediately having to go to court.
ADR Can Consider Certain Complaints About:
CAA – Alternative Dispute Resolution →
What If You Haven’t Received a Response?
Current CAA guidance says that if an airline or airport has not responded to your written complaint within eight weeks, you may be able to take the complaint to its ADR provider. Where the organisation is not a member of an approved ADR scheme, CAA PACT may be able to assist.
When Can the Civil Aviation Authority Help?
The CAA’s Passenger Advice and Complaints Team – PACT – may be able to assist with certain complaints after you have first complained to the airline or airport.
PACT currently handles complaints in areas including assistance for disabled and reduced-mobility passengers and certain lost, delayed or damaged baggage cases.
Important:
PACT can assess a complaint and take it up with an airline or airport where appropriate, but unlike an approved ADR body it cannot impose a binding decision on the business.
Evidence to Keep
“Airport assistance is just a courtesy service.”
Some passengers may be reluctant to complain because they feel they were simply being given additional help.
Assisted travel is protected by law.
Disabled and less-mobile passengers have legal accessibility rights when travelling by air.
“If something goes wrong, I should complain straight to the CAA.”
The CAA is not normally the first stage of the complaints process.
Complain to the airline or airport first.
Give the responsible organisation an opportunity to investigate and resolve the problem before escalating it through ADR or PACT where applicable.
Do You Need a Claims Company?
Usually, no. You can complain directly to an airline or airport yourself and eligible ADR services are designed to be straightforward for consumers to use.
Claims-management companies may charge a substantial fee or percentage of any compensation recovered. Check the charges carefully before agreeing to use one.
Report It, Record It & Keep the Evidence
If assistance fails or mobility equipment is damaged, raise the issue immediately where possible. Take photographs, obtain reference numbers, keep receipts and follow up in writing. Good evidence can make resolving a complaint considerably easier.
If Something Goes Wrong – Checklist
Useful Official Information
CAA – Your Accessibility Rights →
CAA – Report a Problem With Assisted Travel →
CAA – How to Make a Complaint →
Important: Passenger-rights legislation, compensation limits, airline procedures and dispute-resolution arrangements can change. The correct complaints route can also depend on the airline, airport, journey and circumstances. Always check the latest Civil Aviation Authority guidance before making a claim. This guide provides general information and is not legal advice.
Stage 10 – Final Flying Checklist & Useful Resources
A complete pre-flight checklist covering booking assistance, mobility equipment, batteries, medication, documents, insurance and airport preparation – plus useful airline, airport, CAA and government resources to keep for future journeys.
Final Flying Checklist & Useful Resources
A practical final checklist to help you prepare confidently, keep the right information with you and reduce the risk of last-minute problems.
Bring Everything Together Before You Travel
By this stage, you should know what assistance you need, how your mobility equipment will travel, what battery information the airline requires and what documents or medication you need to keep with you.
The final step is to organise everything clearly so you are not searching for information at check-in or trying to remember important details under pressure.
Use the timeline below as a final pre-flight routine.
When You Book
At Least 48 Hours Before Departure
The CAA recommends requesting assistance when booking or at least 48 hours before departure where possible.
CAA – How to Access Help and Support →
During the Week Before You Travel
The Day Before You Fly
Your Assisted Travel Document Pack
Keeping everything together can make check-in much easier.
When You Arrive at the Airport
Before Handing Over Your Mobility Equipment
During the Flight
When You Land
Five Golden Rules for Flying With a Disability
Book Assistance Early
Explain your practical needs clearly and give the airline plenty of notice.
Know Your Equipment
Have the make, model, dimensions, weight and battery information ready.
Keep Written Confirmation
Save airline approvals, assistance bookings and important correspondence.
Photograph Before & After
Photographs can be invaluable if mobility equipment is damaged in transit.
Speak Up
If an arrangement is unsafe or does not meet your needs, explain the problem clearly and ask for an alternative.
“Flying with a disability is simply too complicated.”
There can be more to organise, particularly when travelling with powered mobility equipment.
Good preparation can make air travel much more manageable.
Booking assistance early, keeping your information organised and knowing what to expect can remove much of the uncertainty from the journey.
Always Check the Latest Airline Rules
Airline policies, aircraft types, battery requirements and airport arrangements can change.
Even if you have travelled successfully with the same scooter, powerchair or medical equipment before, recheck the rules for every new journey.
Useful Official Resources
Civil Aviation Authority – Assisted Travel →
CAA – Your Accessibility Rights →
CAA – Medicines, Mobility & Medical Equipment →
GOV.UK – Transport Support for Disabled People: Planes →
GOV.UK – Taking Medicine In or Out of the UK →
GOV.UK – Foreign Travel Advice →
You May Also Find These First Choice Mobility Guides Useful
Airline Approved Mobility Scooters & Powerchairs
A more detailed guide to choosing and preparing mobility equipment for air travel.
Mobility Scooter & Powerchair Battery Care Guide
Advice on charging, storage and getting the best life from your batteries.
Guide to Buying a Mobility Scooter
Choosing the right scooter for everyday mobility, transport and travel.
Guide to Buying a Powerchair
Understanding powerchair types, weight, folding options, batteries and transport.
Guide to Buying a Wheelchair
Choosing the right wheelchair for comfort, independence, transport and everyday use.
Travel With More Confidence
A disability or reduced mobility should not automatically prevent you from travelling. With the right preparation, clear information and appropriate assistance, air travel can be much easier to manage.
Plan ahead, know your equipment, ask for the support you need and keep the important information with you throughout your journey.
Important: This guide provides general information for passengers travelling by air and does not replace the individual requirements of your airline, airport, insurer, healthcare professional or destination country. Aviation, battery, security and accessibility requirements can change. Always check the latest official information before travelling.
