Always check with your airline before you travel to make sure your scooter’s batteries are aircraft-safe.
We’ve said it plenty of times before: mobility scooters are among the most convenient, versatile and transportable mobility aids available. Travel scooters and certain pavement scooters in particular incorporate features (like splitting mechanisms and removable seats) which can make travel and transportation not only manageable but simple and effortless.
But what about those of you who are looking to travel abroad, and are wondering whether these mobility scooters are safe to take on an aircraft? With summer on its way many of you will likely be looking forward to a relaxing break in the sun, but we all know that finding that sunshine sometimes requires leaving Britain’s shores. With that in mind, the following information should be useful for those looking to take their own mobility scooter abroad.
Are They Safe for Air Travel?
The short answer is: yes, most airlines will allow you to travel with your mobility scooter. But you will need to make the airline you are travelling with aware that you intend to take your mobility scooter as baggage, as they need to make sure your scooter complies with all the necessary legislation and regulations. The following rules and regulations are taken from the Virgin Atlantic guidelines, but they will apply generally across airlines (you should still remember to check with your specific airline).
- The batteries of the scooter must comply with all dangerous and hazardous goods regulations.
- Your scooter must be able to be prevented from inadvertent operation or short circuit.
- The scooters must be able to loaded through the cargo doors and must not exceed the loading limits of the aircraft.
Many modern mobility scooters are fitted with lithium-ion batteries, which are classified as wet or spillable batteries. For this reason it is always worth clarifying with your airline whether your scooter’s batteries are aircraft-safe. If your scooter’s batteries are removable, you may be required to remove the batteries and house them in a protective, weather-proof casing for the flight. Luckily, plenty of scooters incorporate ‘dry’ batteries, which are considerably safer for air travel than ‘wet or spillable’ batteries.
The ATTO Freedom Scooter is designed to be aircraft-safe and perfect for those who regularly travel abroad.
If you are concerned that your mobility scooter does not have a feature to prevent it from inadvertent operation, you might want to consider investing in the Airsafe Plug. The Airsafe Plug inserts into your vehicle’s charging point, completely immobilising the scooter and making it absolutely aircraft-safe.
As long as the various safety regulations are met, you should have no problem taking your mobility scooter with you on holiday. There’s no need to worry about being without your scooter after you’ve checked it in as baggage either – most airports will gladly lend you a suitable mobility aid to help you get around.
ATTO Moving Life Freedom Scooter: The Ideal Aircraft-Safe Mobility Scooter
We wrote about the ATTO Moving Life Freedom Scooter recently, and it really is one of the best mobility scooters for holidaymakers.
With its ‘transfolding’ design, this scooter folds into the size of a traditional suitcase. You can comfortably manoeuvre it through the airport up to the check-in desk, before converting it into its suitcase design.
Most airlines will let you store the Freedom Scooter in the overhead luggage compartments, but others may require that you store it in the hold. Check out our recent blog post to find out more about the ATTO Moving Life Freedom Scooter.
CareCo stock an extensive range of mobility scooters, some of which incorporate aircraft-safe features and designs convenient for travel abroad.
