First Time Flying With a Wheelchair & Scooter:
What I Learned as a Chronically Ill Traveler
This last week was my first time flying with my wheelchair and my scooter. Adam and I were traveling for a funeral which means a few things: emotions were running high, there wasn't time to plan, we were making it to Tennessee no matter what.
Flying while disabled and chronically ill is absolutely doable! A stressful pain in the ass? Yes, but still doable. There are definitely some things that would have been helpful to know before evening stepping foot in the airport, so here is what I learned.
1) Take Your Time & Take Up Space
Airports move incredibly fast; people are in a rush, announcements blare, lines build, and everyone and their mom are in a hurry. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE.
One of the biggest things I had to learn and learn quickly was that I am allowed to take up space and move at my own pace. Rushing increases symptoms and stress and can result in messing up the alignment on your scooter (ask me how I know).
Traveling with a wheelchair and scooter require pacing and the realization that every time you enter and airport it the experience will be different and it is perfectly fine to take your time.
2) Make Sure EVERYBODY Knows You Need Your Mobility Aid
This one is kind of silly but very important. I did not check my wheelchair with my luggage, the intention was always to gate check it and use it at layovers. We made this clear when we tagged it and at the gate when we went to confirm some details with the gate agent.
Again airport are busy so some things get lost in the noise, the paperwork, and in lack of familiarity with mobility aids and ambulatory users. Which is how I ended up being hunted down on the plane by a life saving crew member who asked if I needed my wheelchair at our stop in Denver.
Moral of the story make is 1000% clear to everyone you speak to that you NEED your mobility aid at EVERY SINGLE STOP.
3) Things I Am Considering As An Ambulatory Wheelchair User
Thing Number One: In the future I am considering checking my mobility aids and taking advantage of the airports wheelchair assistance. While I love my independence and zooming around the airport reassembling my mobility aids after every flight and hauling around luggage is A LOT. While I had my husband to help it was still a lot and I don't know that I would feel comfortable doing it alone.
Thing Number Two: I am considering using the aisle chair provided for the airline at least for boarding. Pre-boarding is super helpful but there are other people that pre-board and by the time I got my wheelchair and scooter taken apart everyone else was boarding. On our last flight home I ended up having to stand and waiting for a long time which resulted in a convulsive syncope episode. The aisle chair could have prevented this by allowing me to stay seated.
I am going to hold my own hand when I say this: It is okay to use accommodations even if you can technically walk/stand.
4) Know Everything About Your Battery
If you are traveling with a powered mobility aid, learn as much as you can about your battery before you go.
Know:
- Battery Type
- Battery Weight
- The Voltage
- The Airline's policies
- Whether or not it is removable and can be stored in the cabin.
I would have all of this information stored and easy to access in your phone and if you are traveling internationally maybe have it printed out. Larger batteries are terrifying and have a lot of potential to do a lot of damage. Having this information available and being near the gate when the pilot arrives can help put them at ease which is a good idea because they have to approve it traveling with you on the plane.
5) You Mobility Aids Might Get Scratched
Something about me, I take excellent care of all of my things. I buy cases and screen protectors and do my best not to breathe on things in a way that might offend them.
After flying my wheelchair and scooter are thankfully not damaged but they are scratched and scuffed; which SUCKS, I like just got them. So I had to remind myself that my mobility aids are tools and are my legs. Both tools and legs get scratched and that is part of living and that is okay. The scratches don't mean I failed, they mean that my mobility aids did what that needed to and got me somewhere I couldn't have gone without them.
Still a moment of silence for my mobility aids and their scratches.
6) You Are Allowed a Free Medical Bag
Most airlines allow a free medical bag that does not count as your carry-on.
When I called ahead, I was initially told that a bag for medications didn’t qualify — that it had to be medical equipment. So I clarified. I explained that it would contain wheelchair components and medically necessary items. Suddenly, it qualified. Sometimes it’s about language. Advocate clearly. Ask follow-up questions. And if needed, politely restate your needs.
I highly recommend putting some sort of tracker in all of your bags AND on your mobility aids.
7) Check What You Can & Maybe Use a Backpack
We checked as many bags as possible. Carrying less through the airport made everything easier.
For a personal item, I highly recommend a backpack over a rolling carry-on. A backpack hangs securely on the back of a wheelchair and doesn’t require extra arm strength to maneuver.
Small logistical decisions make a big difference in fatigue levels.
Also make sure you keep any medications you might need with you at all times.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with a wheelchair, scooter, and chronic illness takes preparation, self-advocacy, patience, and pacing. It can be a pain but it is totally doable with the right tools and accommodations.
You're allowed to move differently, ask for accommodations, take your time, protect your energy, and enjoy the perks (skipping the security line and pre-boarding aren't perks worth being disabled for but were pretty nice all things considered).
If you are planning a flight and feeling overwhelmed, I hope this makes it feel a little more manageable!
