Mobility and medical devices
Traveling with mobility and medical devices
If you’re traveling with any medical device, a wheelchair or other mobility device we’re here to help – we offer pre-boarding, deplaning and airport assistance.
For battery operated mobility devices, contact Special Assistance to make sure the battery type is approved for travel and for any other special assistance travel requests.
If you’re connecting to another airline or traveling on a codeshare flight, contact the operating carrier or other airline for their rules on traveling with mobility and medical devices.
- Be sure your equipment is clearly labeled with your name, address and phone number.
- Write down the make, model, serial number and note any normal wear and tear.
- Write down any safe-handling and disassembly instructions and attach to your device.
- Plan to arrive at your departure gate 1 hour before scheduled departure.
- Check with the gate agent to get a gate delivery tag and attach it to your equipment before boarding.
- When you arrive at your final destination look over your equipment to make sure it’s in good and working condition before leaving the airport.
- Notify the gate agent or baggage service office if you notice any damage.
When you check-in at the airport we’ll inspect the condition of your mobility device and document any pre-existing damage. We’ll take great care to make sure no damage occurs to your mobility or medical device while in our care. However, if you notice damage when you arrive at your destination, please file a report at the Baggage Service Office.
If you’re not able to report any damage when you arrive, you can submit a claim online with required documents within 7 days of receiving your mobility or medical device.
Required documents include:
- A copy of your ID, like a driver’s license or passport
- A photo of the damage, If applicable
- Receipts for all items
- Airline ticket receipts
- Baggage claim checks
Submit a claim Opens another site in a new window that may not meet accessibility guidelines.
If your mobility or other medical device is delayed or damaged, we’ll provide a temporary replacement and arrange to promptly repair any damage that happened while it was in our care.
In the rare event that your mobility or medical device is damaged beyond repair or lost, despite our best care and efforts, we will replace it with the same, or comparable model. The limits of liability as stated in our Conditions of Carriage do not apply to mobility or medical devices.
Carry-on devices
Mobility and medical devices don’t count toward carry-on limits. If space is limited, the device doesn’t fit in the cabin or if it isn’t required during the flight, it may need to be checked. These include:
- Canes, walkers, continuous positive airway pressure machines (CPAP) and other assistive devices that can be collapsed to fit into overhead and under-seat storage
- Items used for comfort such as seat cushions, arm or footrests
Wheelchairs
Please let a gate or Reservation agent know if you need onboard wheelchair assistance during your trip. Flight attendants can provide assistance in transfers between your seat and an onboard wheelchair, and in moving the onboard wheelchair to and from the lavatory door.
When traveling outside the U.S., we highly recommended you make your special assistance requests as far in advance as possible.
- Planes have a designated space to hold 1 collapsible wheelchair.
- Mobility devices can also be stored overhead or under your seat.
- Non-collapsible wheelchairs, scooters or other battery-powered wheelchairs can be checked at the ticket counter or departure gate.
The doors to the wheelchair storage area are 25in high x 40in wide (63cm x 101cm), with some smaller at 25in x 38in. If your wheelchair is larger than this, contact Reservations.
Removal and dangerous goods packaging procedures apply to:
- Batteries not labeled by their manufacturer as 'non-spillable'
- Wheelchairs that can’t be loaded, stowed, secured and unloaded in an upright position at all times
- Lithium-ion batteries
Oxygen
Requirements for traveling with a portable oxygen concentrator
Before you board, check in at the gate so an agent can:
- Confirm that your POC is approved for use in flight
- Test that you can operate the POC and respond to its alarm
- Explain the phases of the flight when the POC will be operable
- Check your supply of fully charged batteries to power the POC no less than 150% for the duration of the flight and ground connection time (including unanticipated delays)
Additional information:
- POC must fit underneath the seat in front of you during taxi, takeoff and landing
- Some seats may be unavailable due to limited under-seat space
- You can't sit in an emergency exit, bulkhead or any seat that blocks another passenger's aisle access if you have a POC in flight
- You may use your POC while away from your seat only when the "fasten seatbelt" sign is off
- POCs must be free of oil, grease or other petroleum products, in good condition and free from damage or other signs of excessive wear or abuse
These POCs can be transported and / or used:
- AirSep Focus
- AirSep Freestyle / AirSep Freestyle 5
- Delphi Medical Systems Rs-00400 (Evo Ca1)
- DeVilbiss Healthcare iGo
- Inogen One / Inogen One G2 / Inogen One G3 / Inogen One G4
- Inova Labs Lifechoice
- Inova Labs Lifechoice Activox
- International Biophysics Lifechoice
- Invacare XPO2 - Includes model numbers XPO100 and XPO100b
- Invacare Solo2
- Oxlife Independence
- Oxus Rs-0400 Evo
- Precision Medical EasyPulse
- Respironics EverGo
- Respironics SimplyGo
- SeQual Eclipse - Models 1, 2 and 3*
- SeQual Eclipse 3-1000b*
- SeQual Equinox - Model 4000
- SeQual Saros*
- VBOX Trooper
We also allow any POC with a manufacturer's label stating that it meets applicable FAA acceptance criteria to be carried and used on board.
FAA Regulations prohibit the use and transportation of other personal oxygen units, including those that contain compressed or liquid oxygen because they are classified as hazardous materials.
*SeQual Eclipse (models 1000, 1000a and 1000b) and SeQual Eclipse Saros may not be used on Republic Airways. These models are too large to fit under the seat for use on board the aircraft. These models may be transported in the cabin as assistive devices and stowed in the overhead compartments but cannot be used on board the aircraft.
Onboard power for medical devices
We recommend you bring any necessary, fully-charged batteries to power your medical devices throughout your flight. Don’t depend on the availability of a power outlet to support your device.
- If available, power outlets may be used for medical devices
- The use of onboard power might require a DC power adaptor