If you’re caring for a loved one who travels with a mobility aid, then you—or your loved one—might feel stressed about taking a flight. Air travel is stressful enough, with security screenings, narrow plane cabins, and long lines at the airport. So many people worry that air travel with mobility aids will be too uncomfortable or tedious.
But mobility aids don’t have to make air travel more difficult. In fact, they can make air travel a whole lot easier!
Let’s walk you through the process of flying with mobility aids. With this knowledge, you and your loved one will be so much more comfortable taking a flight, whether you’re traveling for necessity or pleasure!
Packing for Air Travel
When you’re packing for your upcoming flight, it’s important to remember that mobility aids will not count toward the carry-on bag limit.
That being said…
Don’t store any belongings in your walker, rollator, or transport chair, or else the airline may count it toward your carry-on. Pack your smaller belongings in a different bag.
If you have a NOVA walker or rollator, you might also have a mobility bag. Keep in mind that the mobility bag will have to be inspected at the security screening. It might be useful to have when you’re at the airport, but be prepared to empty it out and detach it from the rollator when you go through security.
A great way to carry your walker, rollator or transport chair, as well as protect it on the plane and throughout the journey is a mobility travel bag. It is uniquely designed and sized to carry and protect your precious set of wheels. At the boarding gate, you may have to check-in the mobility aid and have it stored in the plane’s cargo hold. A travel bag will better protect your walker from dirt and damage, so it’s in the condition you left it when you disembark your flight.
NOVA Travel Bag for Rollator Walker or Transport Chair
Related Blog: What’s the Difference Between a Walker and a Rollator?
Flight Check-In with Mobility Aids
Once you have all your bags packed, it’s time to head to the airport and check in to your flight!
If you’re checking luggage, you may be worried about that long, winding line that leads to the check-in counter. Your loved one may have to stand for a longer amount of time, or—if you’re assisting them in a transport chair—you just don’t have enough hands to assist them and also handle your luggage.
Thankfully, you do not have to relinquish your mobility aid at the check-in counter. Whether you’re using a walker, rollator, or transport chair, you can bring the mobility aid all the way to your boarding gate and finish checking it in there. However, you will need to ask the front gate to inspect it. They will put a tag on your item that clears you to bring it through security. If you go to security without this tag, they will send you back, which means more walking!
The check-in agent may also ask for the Model Number of the mobility aid. The Model Number will help the flight crew keep track of the mobility aid if it ends up getting stored in the cargo hold.
On NOVA products, the Model Number is clearly labeled with a sticker.
Heading to Your Boarding Gate
Now that you’ve gotten checked into your flight, it’s time to head through the security screening. For so many people using mobility aids, this can be the most stressful part of air travel.
Here’s what you should be prepared for:
- Your loved one can pass through the security check while using the mobility aid.
- All mobility aids must go through the X-ray screening; if the mobility aid cannot fit through the X-ray conveyor belt, then a TSA agent will need to manually inspect it.
- If the mobility aid is being manually inspected, security will provide a temporary mobility aid for your loved one to use. After the mobility aid has been inspected, it will immediately be returned to your loved one.
- Any pouches or bags attached to your mobility aid must be removed and screened through the X-ray.
If your loved one is able to walk without their mobility aid, they’re free to walk through the metal detector or advanced imaging system, if they feel comfortable doing so.
Your loved one will be required to remove their shoes, but if they’re unable to remove their shoes then the TSA agent will manually inspect them (it’s almost like a shoe pat down).
If your loved one cannot walk through the metal detector on their own, they’ll have to receive a pat down from a TSA officer. You are entitled to request a pat down from an officer of the same gender as your loved one.
Well, that process does sound a bit challenging, doesn’t it?
Here are a few ways you can make the process so much easier for yourself and your loved one:
- Private Screenings: When you reach the security checkpoint, you can always request to speak with a supervisor for personal assistance, or you can request a private screening. Do not hesitate to ask for this. Not only are you legally entitled to a private screening, but it also makes the screening so much less stressful, intrusive, or embarrassing for your loved one.
- TSA Care: The TSA runs a program called TSA Cares. If you call 72 hours prior to your flight, you can request special assistance for your loved one during the security screening.
- TSA PreCheck / Global Entry: It might be worthwhile to sign up for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. These programs speed up the security screening so it’s more convenient for you and your loved one.
Related Blog: Find Your Perfect Fit: Types of Canes for Every Need
Boarding the Flight
Now that you’ve made it through security, it’s time to board your flight!
Here’s the best part about air travel with mobility aids: you get to board the plane first!
As we mentioned earlier, you can bring the mobility aid all the way up to the boarding gate. At this point, the airline crew will determine whether your mobility aid is compact enough to fit in the overhead compartments or near your seat.
If the mobility aid is too large to store in the cabin, it will be stored in the cargo hold instead. The airline staff will take your mobility aid at the door to the plane before you board, then flight attendants will help you to your seat. If you’re using a NOVA walker, don’t forget to fold it up and store it in the travel bag to protect it from scuffs and damage!
Keep In Mind: Battery-powered wheelchairs are not allowed in flight cabins and must be stored in the cargo hold.
You might be worried that the mobility aid will get damaged when stored in the cargo hold. It’s important to know that the flight is legally required to return it to you in the same condition that you gave it to them.
While they will try to return your mobility aid in the same condition that you gave it to them, this doesn’t always happen. Be sure to thoroughly inspect your mobility aid as soon as you receive it and report any damage to the flight attendant. They will instruct you how to file a claim with the airline.
After You Land
Hopefully you had an excellent flight, with little turbulence, just enough airline pretzels, and a good collection of movies to watch!
When your flight lands, passengers with disabilities will disembark last. You can remain seated and use the extra time to finish up your movie.
If your mobility aid was stored in the cargo hold, then a wheelchair will be brought to your seats so you and your loved one can disembark the plane. Your mobility aid will be removed from the cargo hold, and the airline crew will give you instructions on where to wait to receive it. You can also request for the mobility aid to be returned on the luggage conveyor—but this could damage your mobility aid, so it might not be the best option.
Related Blog: Fall Prevention for Older Adults: Resources for Caregivers
What Are My Rights When Traveling With A Mobility Aid?
You have the power to travel! Whether you rely on a walker, wheelchair, or other assistive technology, both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) are on your side. They ensure that you can journey confidently, with important rights protecting you:
- Equal Access: The ADA makes it illegal for airlines to discriminate against travelers with disabilities.
- Free Assistance: The ACAA guarantees you assistance with air travel at no additional cost. The airline cannot charge you for a wheelchair or attendant if you check in your own mobility device.
- Priority Boarding: When you bring your walker or other assistive technology on board, it takes precedence over other passengers’ belongings.
These laws empower you to explore and achieve your travel goals, with the support you need to navigate the skies with confidence. If you believe you have been discriminated against at the airport, you can file a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation here.
NOVA Makes Air Travel So Much Nicer
We offer a wide range of walkers, rollators, and transport chairs that are strong, lightweight, and foldable. Our mobility aids have excellent cushioning so your loved one will feel comfortable throughout your journey through the airport, and they’re so easy to fold and carry. We also offer travel bags that will prevent your mobility aid from getting dirty or beaten up in the cargo hold, and it fits nearly all of our NOVA mobility aids!
Your loved one might be ready to go on vacation, or fly somewhere for personal reasons. Don’t let the tediousness of air travel keep them grounded! With NOVA, air travel can be easier, more enjoyable, and – dare we say it? Empowering!
If you need a mobility aid that’s perfectly suited for travel, head down to a NOVA dealer near you!
