Depending on mobility and individual requirements, wheelchair help at the airport can meet a wide range of demands and desired degrees of support – but the procedure can still be stressful. We’ve put up a detailed guide to help you and/or your travel companion navigate the airport in a wheelchair, including information on what types of assistance you may seek, how much to tip, and more.
Plan ahead
When you or a loved one is traveling in a wheelchair, proper preparation is essential for an easier journey. If feasible, aim for nonstop flights, as changing planes requires additional transfers. Once you’ve decided on an airline, make sure to verify their wheelchair-friendly policies. When booking your travel, pick the wheelchair assistance option to inform the airline of your requirements.
“Prepare in advance. “I know it sounds so simple, but it is one of the best things wheelchair users can do for air travel,” explains Alvaro Silberstein, founder and CEO of Wheel the World. He adds that while booking, most airlines provide a place where you may specify your accessibility requirements for your travel.
Contact the airline and airports directly
Contact your airline ahead of time to let them know about your demands; they are legally bound to give the appropriate help,” explains James Thai of luxury travel business Exotic Voyages. The United States Department of Transportation enforces the Air Carrier Access Act, which prohibits airlines from discriminating against passengers with disabilities and compels carriers to help those in need.
Debra Kerper, an accessible travel consultant from Debra Kerper Travel who has gone to over 30 countries in her wheelchair, highlights the need of meeting personally with an airline agent to discuss your specific needs. “After reservations are made, call the special services desk at the airline,” Kerper said.
How to request wheelchair assistance by airline
Passengers have rights and alternatives at the airport, whether they are wheelchair-reliant or require wheelchair assistance owing to mobility limits.
Through the airport: If you require wheelchair assistance and will not have your own wheelchair when you arrive at the airport but can walk onboard the plane on your own, notify the airline. When you arrive at the accessible door, an attendant in a wheelchair will greet you and transport you to check-in, through security, and to your gate. Similarly, after you arrive at your destination, you can request wheelchair assistance to the luggage claim and pickup facilities.
Airplane boarding: Notify your airline if you require assistance boarding the airplane. The personnel will need to arrange for an aisle chair that can securely transfer you from the gate to the aircraft and into your seat. You should also specify if you will be bringing your own wheelchair or mobility equipment, and whether it will need to be checked before boarding the plane, since this must be coordinated with the airline.
Arriving at the airport
You should arrive at the airport as early as possible to check in and allow adequate time for security screening. It is suggested that travelers using battery-powered wheelchairs who require assistance arrive at the airport at least an hour before the usual airline check-in time.
“Arrive two to three hours early to minimize stress,” Kerper advises. She also adds, based on her personal experience, “I believe in self-identification, even if planes are not authorized to ask about your condition. As a bilateral below-knee amputee, I believe that clarifying my circumstance makes the process simpler for both myself and the crew.”
Contact TSA Cares
To help simplify security screening, TSA asks that passengers call the TSA Cares helpline at 855-787-2227 or fill out the online form at least 72 hours before their trip.
TSA Cares, which was established in 2012, informs passengers with disabilities on what to expect during security screenings and shares travelers’ information with TSA officials before they arrive at security. The service does not offer quicker security screening. Travelers will still need to sign up for TSA Precheck to get through security more quickly.
In 2022, the hotline served around 46,000 passengers with impairments, medical issues, or special requirements. TSA Cares is open to passengers Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. EST and on weekends and holidays.
Security vetting options
When a tourist arrives at security, they will be given multiple vetting alternatives, including enhanced image technology, a metal detector, or a pat-down.
If a passenger can stand with their arms over their head for five to seven seconds, they will be routed to the advanced imaging screen. If this technology is not accessible at a certain security checkpoint, stepping through a metal detector is an alternative. TSA personnel will pat down passengers who are unable to stand or walk through a metal detector. Pat-downs may occur as travelers sit in their mobility equipment. You can always request a pat-down in private if you like.
Storing mobility devices in cargo
Travelers should be aware that airlines are only allowed to take manual wheelchairs inside the plane’s cabin. Battery-powered wheelchairs are often housed in the plane’s cargo compartment since they are too big to fit comfortably in the cabin. If your chair needs to be stowed in the plane’s cargo section, there are a few things to consider.
Regulations for battery-powered chairs
Most importantly, the Federal Aviation Administration has rigorous laws regarding battery-operated wheelchairs, so examine those regulations before traveling.
Spillable batteries are permitted in wheelchairs and other mobility equipment. If the battery is spill-proof and fulfills other FAA requirements, it may stay linked to the gadget in the cargo area.
If a device’s battery is not protected, it must be removed and kept in a traveler’s carry-on bag. Passengers will also need to advise the airline where the battery is placed. Note that non-rechargeable lithium batteries are not permitted aboard.
Tips for gate-checking your chair
Despite the fact that standards for managing wheelchairs and other mobility equipment exist, airlines continue to mishandle travelers’ wheelchairs at a significant rate. In 2022, the DOT reported that more than 11,300 wheelchairs and scooters were mistreated, up from around 7,200 in 2021.
What to do if your chair is mishandled
According to the ACAA, if an airline loses, damages, or destroys a wheelchair or other assistive device, it must pay for the losses up to the original cost of the chair or apparatus. If you discover any damage to your gadget, whether it’s the armrest, seat cushion, or anything else, report it to the airline’s baggage claim as soon as you arrive at your destination.
If the airline refuses to accept responsibility for a damaged gadget, passengers may submit a complaint with the United States Department of Transportation.
Boarding and seating
Airlines are required by law to provide handicapped passengers with preboarding services. Travelers can make this request while booking a flight.
Most airlines offer dedicated seats with specific disability accommodations. To guarantee that you are placed in a pleasant and accessible seat, travelers should either choose a seat when booking or tell the airline as soon as possible if using a third-party booking site.
If the airline does not offer prior seat allocations, contacting the airline and asking early boarding to accommodate your handicap should allow you to select a seat that suits your requirements.
Using the plane bathroom
When it comes to visiting the toilet on an aircraft, Malangowi explains, “I just use the top of my seats as crutches or whatever to get there.”
This is the reality that wheelchair travelers face while traveling. It is also one of the reasons why many people avoid traveling.
Before you travel, do some study. Before you fly, understand more about the plane and its layout. Seatguru, a website that allows users to see plane layouts by route or flight number, is a useful tool for researching the plane, seats, and restroom facilities on board. To prevent problems on the trip, some handicapped passengers will use the airport toilet before boarding, wear incontinence briefs, or use catheters.
Reaching your connecting or arrival destination
Airlines are obligated by law to assist passengers when they deplane. Wheelchair passengers are the last to leave the aircraft. If you want assistance in disembarking from the plane, notify the airline when booking.
If you’re connecting to another aircraft, make sure you have plenty of time to get to your gate.
If you have arrived at your ultimate destination, the airline crew will assist you in deplaning and transporting you to baggage claim. Before you leave the airport, check your baggage and chair for any damage. If you discover any damage, please notify it as soon as possible.
Once you’ve selected your schedule, you’ll probably want to pre-arrange your mode of transportation at the arriving location to ensure that everything runs properly.
Future of accessible travel
As a frequent flyer whose wheelchair is frequently broken or damaged, I understand firsthand how deeply frustrating it is that our aviation system continues to fail to ensure that every disabled passenger is treated with dignity and respect,” said Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a co-sponsor of the MOBILE Act and chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation.
Rethinking plane seats
Although airlines strive to make wheelchair passengers as comfortable as possible on the plane, many of these passengers choose to remain in their wheelchair rather than be switched to a seat that may become unpleasant for them. The MOBILE Act also directs the DOT to investigate solutions to allow wheelchair-bound passengers to remain in their chairs rather than being switched to a conventional seat.
Last year, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg promised to enact a new regulation allowing passengers to remain in their own wheelchairs. “We understand that this will not happen overnight, but it is a goal that we must work toward,” Buttigieg stated in a video uploaded by the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Requiring more accessible bathrooms
In July, the DOT announced an update to the ACAA that will require new single-aisle planes to have an accessible restroom starting in 2033. Bathrooms must be constructed with grab bars, accessible locks and call buttons, and sinks that are reachable by impaired tourists. (Accessible restrooms are already needed on twin-aisle, wide-body planes for long-haul trips.
“We are proud to announce this rule that will make airplane bathrooms larger and more accessible, ensuring that wheelchair users have the same access and dignity as the rest of the traveling public,” Buttigieg said in a statement announcing the adjustment.
Travelers will have to wait until 2033 to see the regulation apply to newly manufactured aircraft.