Assistive Device - Stowage, Damage, and Delay
Welcome to the Assistive Device Stowage, Damage, and Delay Interactive Guide.
This guide contains relevant, important information to help ensure customers with disabilities have a pleasant travel experience.
Top Issues
- What is an Assistive Device?
- Things to Know
- Tips For Traveling With Your Wheelchair And Other Assistive Devices
- Top Assistive Devices
What is an Assistive Device?
An assistive device is any piece of equipment that assists a passenger with a disability in coping with the effects of his or her disability. These devices are intended to assist passengers with a disability to hear, see, communicate, maneuver, or perform other functions of daily life.
Assistive devices include (but are not limited to):
- Crutches, Canes, and Walkers
- Braces/Prosthetics
- Wheelchairs
- Hearing aids
- Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs)
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines
- Prescription medications and any medical devices needed to administer those medications, such as syringes or auto-injectors
Click here to learn more about the types of assistive devices.
Things to Know
Can I bring my assistive device in the passenger cabin of the aircraft?
- Yes. You may bring your assistive device with you on an airplane and stow it in the passenger compartment in the following locations:
- In an overhead compartment;
- Under the seat in front of you; or
- In a designated stowage area if the device fits and is in accordance with FAA or foreign safety regulations.
If my assistive device cannot be stowed in the passenger cabin as carry-on baggage, do I have to pay a checked bag fee?
- No. If this happens, the device can be stowed as cargo at no extra cost.
- Click here to learn more about stowing devices.
If my device could not be stowed in the cabin, when and where can I pick it up after the flight?
- Your device must be returned to you promptly and as close as possible to the door of the aircraft, unless you ask to pick it up in baggage claim.
What if my device is damaged or delayed?
- Airlines must check and return your assistive device in the same condition as it was received.
- The device must be returned to the passenger promptly and as close as possible to the door of the aircraft, unless the passenger asks to pick it up in baggage claim.
Can I bring my battery-powered wheelchair onboard the seating portion of the aircraft?
- No. Airlines are required to transport only manual wheelchairs in the cabin of the aircraft. Most battery powered wheelchairs are too large and too heavy to be safely stowed in the seating portion of the aircraft. Large and heavy powered wheelchairs are typically stowed in the cargo portion of the aircraft.
- When your powered wheelchair is stowed in the cargo compartment, the airline must return your assistive device to you promptly and as close as possible to the door of the aircraft, unless you ask to pick it up in baggage claim.
- Click here to learn more about flying with battery powered devices.
Can I bring my manual collapsible folding wheelchair onboard the seating portion of the aircraft?
- Maybe. Individuals with a collapsible or break-down wheelchair may stow their device in overhead compartments, under seats, or in the designated wheelchair stowage area if the device fits and is in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety regulations.
- Airlines are required to accept for transport at least one manual wheelchair in aircraft with 100 or more seats.
- If your wheelchair does not fit in the cabin of the aircraft, airline personnel are required to stow it in the cargo portion of the aircraft free of charge.
- Click here to learn more about flying with collapsible folding wheelchairs.
Can I use my portable oxygen concentrator (POC) onboard the aircraft?
- Yes. The airline must allow you to bring your POC onboard the aircraft as long as it meets FAA requirements.
- Click here to learn more about flying with a POC.
Do any special requirements apply to my use of a POC onboard the airplane?
- Yes. Airlines can require you to:
- Provide up to 48-hours advance notice that you will use your POC onboard;
- Provide a medical certificate for the use of your POC onboard;
- Bring a supply of fully charged batteries to power your device for no less than 150% of the duration of the flight; or
- Check in one hour before the regular check in time for the flight.
- Click here to learn more about flying with a POC.
If I bring an assistive device onboard the aircraft, does it count towards my baggage limit?
- No. Assistive devices do not count toward your baggage limit. However, if your bag also contains personal items, the airline can count your bag toward a baggage limit and it may be subject to a baggage fee.
Tips For Traveling With Your Wheelchair And Other Assistive Devices
Before Your Trip
- Provide notice that you will be traveling with a personal wheelchair in advance whenever possible so that the airline can best accommodate you.
- Confirm with the airline that your wheelchair will fit in cargo hold if you are traveling on a small plane, like a commuter aircraft or a regional jet.
- Share information about your wheelchair such as the device’s size, weight, and battery type to help the airline safely and properly handle your assistive device. Some airlines have wheelchair information request forms on their websites that can be completed before travel. Check with your airline to see if it offers one of these forms.
- Attach clear assembly and disassembly instructions to your wheelchair before you head to the airport. Having written instructions will assist airline personnel and contractors in case your wheelchair needs to be disassembled for transport.
At the Airport
- If you travel with a battery-powered wheelchair, you must arrive at the airport 1 hour prior to the normal check-in time.
- If your wheelchair or walker cannot be carried in the cabin, you can check it.
- If you have a wheelchair or walker, you do not need to check them until you are at the gate.
- Airlines must check and return an assistive device in the same condition as it was received; the device must be returned to the passenger promptly and as close as possible to the door of the aircraft, unless the passenger asks to pick it up in baggage claim.
- Upon receiving your wheelchair, do a quick inspection before you use it. If there is any damage go immediately to the airline’s customer service and file a claim.
If Something Goes Wrong
- On domestic flights, U.S. carriers must fully compensate passengers for loss or damage to wheelchairs or other assistive devices, without regard to rules limiting liability for lost or damaged baggage.
- On international flights, the Montreal convention provisions control payments for items including assistive devices.
- If you believe your rights have been violated and the airline employee you find at first is unable to help you, ask to speak with a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). A CRO is the airline’s expert on disability accommodation issues. Airlines are required to make one available to you, at no cost, in person at the airport or by telephone during the times they are operating.
Top Assistive Devices
Damaged/Inadequately Secured Batteries
A damaged or leaking battery should not be transported.
You must remove and package separately any battery that is inadequately secured to a wheelchair.
Non-spillable Batteries
You must allow non-spillable batteries labeled as ‘non-spillable’ by a manufacturer to remain installed on a device when stowed onboard the aircraft; and you must not require separate packaging.
Spillable Batteries
If a battery-powered wheelchair with a spillable battery can be loaded, stored, secured, and unloaded in an upright position, you must not require the battery to be removed and separately packaged.
You must remove a spillable battery that is contained in a wheelchair that cannot be loaded, stowed, secured, and unloaded in an upright position.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machines (CPAP) machines are permitted on flights. However, CPAPs must have a manufacturer’s label that indicates the device meets FAA requirements. In addition, in order to use a CPAP onboard the aircraft your airline may require a passenger to:
- Provide a minimum of 48-hours advance notification to use a CPAP machine onboard
- Provide a medical certificate for the use of a CPAP machine onboard, if the airline has reasonable doubt that the passenger can complete the flight safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance during the flight.
- Bring a supply of fully charged batteries to power the device for no less than 150% of the duration of the flight
- Check-in one hour before the regular check-in time for the flight
Please note: All battery-powered devices must contain non-spillable batteries to be brought onboard. The battery must be clearly marked ‘Non-spillable’ or completely enclosed in a case.
Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) are permitted on flights.
Covered U.S. and Foreign air carriers must permit the following POC models whether or not they are labeled:
- AirSep Focus;
- AirSep FreeStyle;
- AirSep FreeStyle 5;
- AirSep LifeStyle;
- Delphi RS-00400;
- DeVilbiss Healthcare iGo;
- Inogen One;
- Inogen One G2;
- Inogen One G3;
- Inova Labs LifeChoice;
- Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox;
- International Biophysics LifeChoice;
- Invacare Solo2;
- Invacare XPO2;
- Oxlife Independence Oxygen Concentrator;
- Oxus RS-00400;
- Precision Medical EasyPulse;
- Respironics EverGo;
- Respironics SimplyGo;
- SeQual Eclipse;
- SeQual eQuinox Oxygen System (model 4000);
- SeQual Oxywell Oxygen System (model 4000);
- SeQual SAROS; and
- VBox Trooper Oxygen Concentrator.
Any other POC must have a manufacturer’s label that indicates the device meets FAA requirements. In addition, in order to use a POC onboard the aircraft your airline may require a passenger to:
- Provide a minimum of 48-hours advance notification to use a POC machine onboard
- Provide a medical certificate for the use of a POC machine onboard
- Bring a supply of fully charged batteries to power the device for no less than 150% of the duration of the flight
- Check-in one hour before the regular check-in time for the flight
Please note: All battery-powered devices must contain non-spillable batteries to be brought onboard. The battery must be clearly marked ‘Non-spillable’ or completely enclosed in a case.
Individuals with a collapsible or break-down wheelchair may stow their device in overhead compartments, under seats, or in the designated wheelchair stowage area if the device fits and is in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety regulations.
Airlines may not require advance notice that a person with a manual wheelchair is traveling.
Aircraft with 100 or more seats must have priority space for storing a passenger’s folding wheelchair in the cabin. This space is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Airlines are allowed to choose between stowing wheelchairs in a closet or other priority space in the cabin compartment and strapping them to a row of seats. If the airline chooses to use the seat-strapping method to stow a wheelchair, it must transport two wheelchairs in the cabin if requested unless the second wheelchair would displace other passengers.
Collapsible wheelchairs and other assistive devices have priority for in-cabin storage space (including in closets) over other passengers’ items brought onboard at the same airport, if the passenger with a disability chooses to pre-board.
Airlines must accept battery-powered wheelchairs, including the batteries. All battery-powered wheelchairs must contain non-spillable batteries to be brought onboard. The battery must be clearly marked ‘Non-spillable’ or completely enclosed in a case.
Airlines may require 48 hours advance notice if a passenger plans to transport an electric wheelchair on aircraft with fewer than 60 seats. Wheelchairs and other assistive devices have priority over other items for stowage in the baggage compartment.