Air Travel Info

Airlines Guidelines for passengers with mobility aids and wheelchairs

The following information may assist passengers traveling with, or requiring the assistance of, mobility aids.

• You may surrender your mobility aid at check-in or at the departure gate where appropriate assistance will be provided to you.
• You may choose to have your mobility aid delivered to you at the gate lounge upon arrival or you may collect it from the baggage collection area.
• One (1) Mobility Aid per person will be carried free of charge, provided it is for your own use. If you have two or more Mobility Aids, you will be charged excess baggage for these additional Mobility Aids if your general baggage allowance is exceeded.
• When traveling on narrow-bodied aircraft, your mobility aid will need to meet the specified size dimensions when adjusted or broken down for that aircraft type.

» Walking Canes, Crutches and Walking Frames

If your walking frame is collapsible and cabin crew can stow it safely, your walking frame can be stowed in the aircraft cabin. For safety reasons, non-collapsible walking frames are not permitted in the aircraft cabin. You can surrender your walking frame at check-in.

» Making a Booking

To ensure a consistent service is provided, you should make the airlines aware of what level of assistance you require from them at the time of booking.

To allow us to best manage your travel requirements, it is important that you provide them with as much information as possible at the time of booking. Key information we will need to know includes:

• the type of mobility aid you are traveling with (electric or non-electric),
• if the mobility aid is electric, what type of battery is used (gel cell (dry), wet non-spillable or wet spillable battery),
• whether the mobility aid is collapsible,
• the dimensions (in adjusted or disassembled state) and weight of mobility aid,
• whether any medical assistance will be required, and
• whether you are traveling alone or with an escort or carer.

If you book via the Internet, contact your local Airlines immediately after you have purchased your ticket to confirm your special arrangements. If you are booking by telephone, please discuss your needs with your Sales Consultant.

» Mobility Aid Size Restrictions

Generally, passengers who have mobility limitations will not require medical clearance to fly. However, there are times when precautions should be taken and it is advisable at all times to consult with your medical practitioner in relation to flying with your particular disability.

If you have a mobility limitation, you only require medical clearance when:

• your disability is new (ie has occurred within six weeks of travel) or is unstable (ie has changed within six weeks of travel),
• your condition may deteriorate during the flight, or
• your condition may deteriorate due to a decrease in oxygen levels in the aircraft cabin environment or a decrease in cabin pressure.

Although acceptance of customers who have mobility limitations for travel does not generally require Medical Clearance, in cases where airlines cannot meet a customers' specific medical needs, they reserve their rights to deny travel.

» At the Airport

Upon arrival at the airport, the passenger must be accompanied by someone who can advise airline staff that a wheelchair is required curbside.

To allow airlines to provide appropriate levels of assistance, passengers with mobility limitations must allow sufficient time for check-in and boarding.

If your Mobility Aid needs to be adjusted or broken down, you are responsible for assembling and disassembling your Mobility Aid where you are able to do so. Where assistance is required, Airport Ground staff must ask you to explain, instruct and supervise the assembling, or disassembling of your Mobility Aid(s). This may include disconnection and connection of the battery.

For departures who require mobility aid assistance are required to be at the airport:

• 90 minutes before departure at domestic terminals, or
• at least 2 hours before departure at international terminals (irrespective of whether the travel to be undertaken is a domestic or international sector of an international flight).

Passengers may surrender their mobility aid at check-in or at the departure gate. If you choose to surrender your mobility aid at check-in, you will be transferred to a wheelchair and assisted to the departure gate by airlines staff member.

Boarding

If you choose to surrender your mobility aid at the departure gate, you must check-in, have completed all security and immigration formalities (if applicable) and be at the departure gate:

• 30 minutes before departure at domestic terminals, or
• 60 minutes before departure at international terminals (irrespective of whether the travel to be undertaken is a domestic or international sector of an international flight).

This is necessary to ensure we have sufficient time to assist your boarding and loading of your mobility aid into the aircraft hold.

If you are not at the departure gate at these designated times, it may not be possible to carry you on your booked flight. As a result, you may need to be re-booked onto the next service, where possible.

» On the Aircraft

Passengers may not take their own mobility aids into the aircraft cabin. Airlines staff will provide assistance to passengers with mobility limitations, where required, including transferring passengers to and from their mobility aids and the aircraft seat.

Onboard wheelchairs are available on most Airlines aircraft. These allow passengers to be escorted to and from the aircraft toilets. Most Airlines aircraft have toilet facilities for customers with disabilities. Where you are not traveling with an escort or carer, cabin crew can assist you to and from the door of the aircraft toilet.

Seats in emergency exit rows and seats on the upper deck are not available to passengers who have mobility limitations.

• Know the type of air craft you will be flying on so you can prepare for stowage of your mobility device either in the cabin or in the stowage compartment. Air lines may change the air craft for many different reasons so don’t be surprised if the air plane is a different model then you were initially told.
• Be prepared to explain to airline personnel how to assist you and how to handle your mobility device.
• Create a card that you can attach to your mobility device that explains how to disassemble and reassemble the device. For example, if the wheels can be removed have a card explaining how to do it. The only time an airline would need to disassemble a mobility device is in order for it to fit through the door of the stowage compartment and in the stowage area.
• If parts of the mobility device are easily removed, such as foot rests or joy sticks remove these parts before turning over the device to the airline to place in the stowage compartment. Traveling with a collapsible duffle bag to put such parts will make it easier to carry these pieces.
• If fragile parts of the mobility device can not be removed, such as a joy stick, consider having a piece of bubble wrap and tape to wrap around the part to protect it from being accidentally damaged.
• Know the weight of your mobility device so you can inform the airline so that they will know the personnel who should be assigned to lift the device if necessary.
• Take any seat cushions with you so they do not get separated from the wheelchair.