Power Wheelchair Airplane Travel: Essential Guide & Tips

This is an ultimate guide to travelling by air with a powered wheelchair written by Alex Papanikolaou.

Equal access to air travel for disabled people with more disabled passenger rights is a hot topic, and one that I often speak to fellow disabled travellers like Simply Emma about. And one that Rights on Flights are doing incredible work to improve disabled passenger air travel rights at a policy level.

Flying with a powered wheelchair still seems to be a sort of dark art, with several key steps and key phrases involved in the process, which can change every time you fly.

There is hope on the horizon of being able to stay in your own wheelchair on the plane in the future. But for now, we are stuck with the current methods if we want to fly anywhere.

This is a process I have done over 1000 times, in over 70 countries. These days, I usually fly around 50 times a year and I often get asked how I travel so much, and I could probably write a book about travelling by air with a powered wheelchair.

Out of over 1000 flights, I have only been refused travel once in my life, with a Chinese airline, but I booked a new ticket with a different airline and was on my way 12 hours later.

It’s not always easy, and it can be incredibly frustrating sometimes, and some people even avoid it altogether. But it is doable, and having my own powerchair in another country still gives me an incredible feeling of freedom.

I thought I would share all my knowledge, tools, tips and tricks and little nuggets of information that I’ve picked up in 20 years of travelling with a powerchair. I wanted to get everything I’ve learned into one place so this is a big guide! It’s a lot to take in all at once, but I hope it will serve as a handy tool to increase your chances of having a slightly easier time when flying with a powered wheelchair.

The key to easier travel with a powerchair is being prepared, and being clear, consistent and persistent with information, and making sure airport and airlines do what you need, in the way you need it done. And above all else, be ready to be patient!

This guide is split into two parts. The first is a step-by-step guide for air travel with a powered wheelchair, and the second part is a comprehensive reference guide, with detailed information on rules and procedures, battery information, preparing your powerchair for travel, and what to do if your powerchair is damaged.

Step-by-step guide for air travel with a powered wheelchair

Before you travel

Know your chair

Research your airline

Let your airline know

At the airport

Checking in

Arrive early, as check-in takes time - I would recommend around two hours before short-haul flights and three hours for long-haul. Be prepared to repeat all your details, as staff often won’t have what you’ve already provided. They may ask for printed information about your chair, but it’s not essential if you can explain it. If you do bring something, keep it to a clear one-page summary, as full manuals can slow things down. Usually, only one staff member knows how to check in a powered wheelchair, so you may need to wait while they’re found. You might also hear your chair referred to as an EMA (electric mobility aid).

Expect to repeat key information multiple times, especially about whether your battery is removable, so stay patient and consistent, as this is often misunderstood.

Get a baggage tag

Make sure they put a baggage tag on your chair, as this is your evidence that it’s in the system in case you need to make a claim - check out our reference guide for more info on damaged powerchairs. I’ve had some staff tell me that chairs don’t get tagged, but this is wrong, always insist on a baggage tag and receipt. Some airports will issue your tag at the boarding gate, just always make sure there’s one on your chair and that you have the receipt for it (the bit they rip off the end) before you part with it.

Special assistance

Security

Boarding

Assistance staff should meet you at the gate and help you board. If there’s an air bridge, you can usually take your own chair to the plane door, then either walk or transfer to an aisle chair. Some airports may ask you to leave your chair partway or at the top of the bridge and take you down in an airport wheelchair, depending on their processes. If there’s no air bridge, you’ll be taken to the aircraft via an accessible route, either to the stairs or an ambulift, depending on your assistance. In some airports, the boarding meeting point may differ from the gate if the gate isn’t accessible.

Parting with your chair

The aircraft hold

If you’re wondering how your chair is loaded into the aircraft hold, there are two main methods. Most budget and regional airlines place it in the hold with luggage, securing it to the floor, either via the baggage belt, a lift, or sometimes an ambulift. Full-service airlines often use a cargo container (“can”), securing your chair inside before loading it with a specialist machine. This method involves less handling, offers more protection, and makes connections easier, as the container can usually be transferred without touching your chair.

Staying in your chair

Taking your own chair to the plane door is usually not an issue these days in most countries that I travel to, there are laws in the US and EU that say disabled people should be able to remain in their own chair as much as possible. They sometimes like to ask you to leave it at check in and push you in an airport chair because they find it easier to deal with your chair that way, but if you insist that you need it, it’s usually ok. The one exception to this is in Europe is Czechia/the Czech Republic, they do not allow powerchairs to be taken past check in, I have never managed to persuade them in all my visits to Prague.

Arrivals

Getting your chair back on arrival

Getting your chair back at the plane door on arrival isn’t guaranteed, even though it’s supposed to happen. It depends on the airport, stand position, and staff. Many airports say they can’t return your chair at the aircraft and you’ll need to collect it in the baggage hall, or warn you it may be a long wait at the plane door, even if you’ve had it returned there before.

If you arrive via an ambulift rather than an air bridge, you’re more likely to get your chair back at the plane, usually with less waiting, as it can be brought directly up to you. With air bridges, your chair often has to be taken to a lift, and if that’s far away it can take a long time, or it may simply go straight to the baggage hall. Staff may ask for your key or instructions so they can drive your chair, but you may prefer not to hand over control unless you can see it being used safely. They may also ask how to put your chair into freewheel mode, so having photos or videos on your phone can be very helpful.

Waiting on the plane

The baggage hall

If you need to collect your chair from the baggage hall, you’ll be pushed there, often waiting in an airport wheelchair while it’s brought out. Assistance staff usually take you to the baggage belts, but powerchairs don’t go on them. They’re typically moved through a door near oversized luggage and left there or brought to the belts. Sometimes you may even be taken up and down the baggage hall while they search for your chair, but it will usually turn up. Very rarely, powerchairs are placed on baggage belts (usually oversized ones), though this isn’t standard practice and I’ve only had it happen three times in over 1000 flights. For extra reassurance, you could also place a tracker on your chair.

Connecting flights

If you have a connecting flight, especially a short one, getting your chair back during the transfer can be unlikely, as most airports avoid it. Exceptions include Heathrow Terminal 5 and many US airports, which are generally better. To improve your chances, ask for your chair to be tagged only to the connection point (not the final destination), though this isn’t always allowed. With tight connections, it’s usually easier to use an airport wheelchair, as waiting for your chair can be stressful. Always assume you won’t see your chair again until your destination, so make sure it fits all aircraft on your journey (e.g. a 777 then connecting to a 737). If you prefer not to be without your chair, it’s best to book direct flights where possible.

And that’s it!

You should have your chair back and be off to your destination! It may sound like an overwhelming number of things to remember and do, but as I mentioned, it’s mostly about being prepared, being clear, consistent and persistent with information and making sure airports and airlines do what you need, in the way you need it done. I have flown over 1000 times with dozens of airlines with a powered wheelchair. Most journeys are trouble-free, even if a little frustrating with repeating the same information over and over again.

What our community says

Richard’s Case Study

After a serious childhood accident, Richard and his family wanted to find a powerchair that would suit his environment, daily routines and, of course, his personality.

Adam’s Case Study

Adam is a photographer and musician, whose life changed dramatically after a helicopter crash while working as an aerial photographer in Montana. The accident caused a serious brain injury and complete paralysis on the left side of his body.

Katharina’s Case Study

Katharina has been a powerchair user for over 20 years. Energetic, determined and fiercely independent, she’s always looked for equipment that supports her lifestyle rather than limits it.