Air Travel and the ADA: What Every Passenger with a Mobility Device Needs to Know
Airports present unique challenges for travelers with mobility aids. Understanding ADA protections and airport procedures helps ensure a smoother experience.
Air travel can be challenging for anyone, but for people who use mobility devices, it involves a distinct set of obstacles. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) indicates that at least one out of every hundred mobility devices transported on domestic flights is mishandled. Additionally, a public survey reported that one in ten people with disabilities avoids flying due to concerns about personal injury, damage to their equipment, or lack of accessibility onboard.
Fortunately, Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation, which includes privately operated airports, airline counters, shops, and ground transportation. These facilities must be accessible to travelers with disabilities—meaning clear signage, barrier-free entryways, accessible restrooms, and properly designed boarding areas must be provided. Once aboard an aircraft, the ADA no longer governs. Instead, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), enforced by the DOT, ensures nondiscriminatory treatment by airlines, including both U.S. and foreign carriers.
The DOT recently collaborated with the ACAA Advisory Committee—comprising representatives from both the disability community and the airline industry—to develop the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. This summary is designed to help travelers understand their rights and support the travel industry in meeting its obligations.
Understanding your legal rights and how to exercise them can make air travel significantly more manageable. This guide cruises through each stage of your high-altitude journey from airport to airport, offering practical tips, legal context, and updates on recent federal regulations.
Step 1: Before You Arrive at the Airport
Advance preparation will help make your air travel a breeze. Here's what to take care of ahead of your trip:
Make mobility requests when booking: Most airlines allow you to request wheelchair service, aisle chairs, or assistance with electric wheelchairs during the booking process.
Call ahead 48 hours in advance: Contact the airline’s disability assistance desk to confirm accommodations, especially if you're traveling with a powered wheelchair, lithium battery, or other specialized equipment. Airlines are allowed to ask for up to 48 hours’ notice for services requiring preparation under the ACAA.
Know your battery type: Review your device’s manual to understand how its battery must be handled for air travel. You may need to disconnect or remove it based on federal safety guidelines.
Research airport accessibility features: Look up the layout and amenities of your departure and arrival airports, including accessible restrooms, elevators, and security checkpoint details.
Bring helpful documentation: Carry a doctor’s note or device specifications that can help clarify your needs at security checkpoints or during boarding.
Step 2: Curbside Assistance and Check-In
Airports must provide accessible curbside zones and assistance from arrival through check-in. Keep the following points in mind when you arrive at the airport:
Curbside drop-off: Many airports have designated drop-off zones for travelers using mobility devices. If you're alone, you can ask for a skycap or terminal assistant to meet you outside.
Terminal assistance: Airline staff must help with check-in, baggage handling, and guiding you through the terminal, including transporting your wheelchair or scooter if needed.
Stowage support: Travelers using walkers, crutches, or canes can request help with folding, stowing, or managing these items during the journey.
Report poor assistance: If airline support is denied, delayed, or disrespectful, document what happened and file a complaint with both the airline and the DOT.
Step 3: TSA Screening
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has procedures in place to accommodate travelers with mobility challenges and non-visible disabilities:
Notify TSA officers about your ability to stand or walk independently before the screening begins. If standing is difficult, you may request to be screened while seated, and chairs are available upon request.
Mobility aids like walkers, canes, and crutches must go through X-ray machines. If an item cannot fit, a TSA officer will inspect it manually. Be sure to let them know if you need to be immediately reunited with the device after inspection.
Wheelchairs and scooters undergo physical screening. TSA will examine seat cushions and any attached items like storage pouches or fanny packs, testing them for traces of explosives. Where possible, the cushion itself will be inspected by hand or with alternative screening tools.
Electric wheelchair users are not required to go through the metal detector. Instead, you will receive a pat-down, and your chair will be swabbed for explosive residue.
Passengers with non-visible disabilities or medical conditions, including Alzheimer’s, dementia, or autism, can stay with their travel companions during screening. If the companion helps during the process, they may be rescreened.
You may always request a private screening.
For detailed guidance, visit the TSA’s official page on disability screening.
Step 4: Pre-Boarding and Aircraft Access
The ACAA guarantees pre-boarding for travelers with disabilities, ensuring that you have the necessary time and assistance before the rest of the passengers board. It’s important to be proactive about informing airline staff about your mobility needs.
Pre-boarding assistance: Notify the gate agent if you need extra time to board or help with transferring from your wheelchair to an aisle chair. Airlines are required to accommodate these needs.
Electric wheelchair storage: Electric wheelchairs are generally gate-checked and stored in the aircraft’s cargo hold. Airlines must handle them with care and return them in good condition. They are also liable for any damage or loss incurred during transport.
Damaged mobility aids: If your mobility aid is damaged during handling, the airline must repair or replace it with an equivalent device. The DOT’s newly issued final rule provides strengthened protections:
Airlines must provide safe handling and storage of mobility devices.
Damaged or delayed wheelchairs must be repaired or replaced promptly with delivery within 24 hours.
Passengers must be informed pre-flight whether their mobility device was successfully loaded.
Airline websites will begin listing cargo hold dimensions by 2031 to help passengers determine device compatibility.
Staff assisting disabled passengers or handling mobility aids must receive annual training.
These regulations began enforcement on March 20, 2025, although some airlines are challenging the rule.
Step 5: In-Flight Accessibility
Although the ACAA doesn’t govern in-flight operations the same way the ADA does on the ground, airlines are still required to provide necessary accommodations to ensure your safety and comfort. Here's what you should know while in the air:
Seating arrangements: Airlines must provide accessible seating for travelers who require assistance, including spaces for mobility aids. If you need a specific seat or assistance in transferring, notify the airline at the time of booking or as soon as you're on board.
Aisle chairs: If you cannot walk down the aisle or to the restroom, ask the flight crew for an aisle chair. This is a specialized wheelchair that fits in an airplane’s narrow aisles. Airlines are required to have aisle chairs available to assist passengers in reaching the restroom or moving about the cabin.
Cabin accessibility: In-flight crew members are trained to assist with various mobility-related needs, including overhead storage and transferring passengers to a seat. However, keep in mind that the available space on board may limit the degree of assistance they can provide.
Restroom access: If you require assistance accessing the airplane restroom or using any other in-flight facility, inform the flight attendants ahead of time. Airlines must make reasonable accommodations whenever possible, but some aircrafts may not be equipped with accessible restrooms. If this is the case, crew members can assist with other options.
Step 6: Deplaning and Connecting Flights
When traveling with a mobility aid, deplaning may take extra time. Though it can be inconvenient, the process helps ensure a smoother, safer transfer.
Deplaning: Passengers with mobility aids are usually the last to exit so equipment can be returned without rushing or damage.
Tight layovers: If you have a tight connection, inform the staff as soon as possible to help expedite the retrieval of your wheelchair or walker.
Accessible transportation: Airports are required to provide accessible transportation options—such as electric carts or attendant-provided wheelchairs—between gates and other facilities.
Delayed or damaged devices: If your mobility device is delayed or damaged, report the issue immediately at the gate and request a written incident report to document the problem.
How to Report Problems
Passengers who face access barriers or discriminatory treatment have several options:
ADA Complaints: Report violations in airport terminals or ground facilities to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
ACAA Complaints: File complaints related to airline treatment or in-flight issues with the DOT.
Advocacy groups like the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and National Disability Rights Network can help you understand your rights and file complaints if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own electric wheelchair through the terminal?
Yes. You may ride your electric wheelchair through the airport, including at TSA checkpoints and up to the gate.
What if the airport doesn’t have accessible restrooms or elevators?
That may be a violation of the ADA’s Title III. Document what you observe and file a complaint with the Department of Justice.
Do airlines offer wheelchair rentals?
Airlines provide in-airport transport services such as push wheelchairs and escorts, but they do not rent mobility devices for use beyond the terminal.
How early should I arrive at the airport?
Plan to arrive at least two to three hours before departure, especially for international travel, to allow time for check-in, accessibility services, and security screening.
What legal recourse is available if I believe I was discriminated against by an airline?
Legal recourse depends on where the discrimination occurred. If it happened in the air, the ACAA applies. You can file a complaint with the DOT, and in some cases, you may be able to bring a lawsuit in federal court, although courts are divided on whether the ACAA permits monetary damages. If the discrimination occurred on the ground (such as at check-in, boarding, or baggage claim) and involved facilities or services covered by Title III of the ADA, you may have the option to file an ADA lawsuit in federal court seeking injunctive relief and, in some instances, damages or attorney's fees.
Legal advice from an attorney is strongly recommended to evaluate your options under both laws. You can also contact a disability rights advocacy organization, such as the A4EA, to help you understand your rights, guide you through the complaint process, or assist with legal referrals. Learning how to advocate for yourself can also help address access issues more effectively.
Do airlines directly provide accessibility services, or are third-party contractors used?
Many airlines contract out accessibility services (such as wheelchair assistance and terminal escorts) to third-party companies. The specific contractors vary by airport and airline. Common service providers include ABM Aviation, Prospect Airport Services, and PrimeFlight Aviation Services, among others.
If I’m a personal assistant to a passenger with a disability, do I have to buy a separate ticket?
It depends on the circumstances. Under federal DOT regulations (14 CFR § 382.29), airlines are required to provide a free ticket only if the airline determines that a “safety assistant” is necessary (for example, if the passenger is unable to assist in their own evacuation or understand safety instructions). If you are traveling as a personal assistant by choice (not because the airline requires it for safety), then you must purchase your own ticket. Airlines are not required to provide complimentary airfare for personal care attendants in these cases, though some may offer discounts or special programs at their discretion. Always contact the airline in advance to clarify whether they require a safety assistant and what their policies are regarding ticketing for companions.
Air travel with a walker, electric wheelchair, or other mobility aid doesn’t have to be turbulent when your rights are respected and your needs are part of the flight plan. From the curb to your final destination, both the ADA and ACAA help keep your journey on course by protecting your right to safe, equitable treatment. New federal rules taxiing into effect in 2025 are strengthening standards for assistance, equipment handling, and staff training.
If you’ve experienced barriers or have suggestions for improving travel for people with mobility challenges, consider sharing your story. Your voice helps elevate the travel experience and smooth the runway for others with mobility challenges.