BRING ELOFLEX ON A FLIGHT
Eloflex power wheelchairs comply with all regulations and standards set by the International Air Travel Association (IATA). In our short guide, you’ll find essential information, helpful tips and relevant documents to ensure a smooth flight experience on your next trip.
IF YOU ARE TRAVELING BY AIR:
Planning to jet away with your Eloflex? Great, you are not alone, but it’s essential to be well-prepared. Before booking a ticket or heading to the airport, please review the information below. We’ve summarized key procedures, regulations and shared some personal experiences with air travel to ensure your journey is hassle-free.
NOTE! Always check with your airline to confirm that you can bring your Eloflex BEFORE booking your flight tickets. We also recommend requesting written confirmation via email. If the event that the airline has chosen not to follow the international guidelines provided by IATA and refuses to allow your device onboard, we suggest booking your trip with another airline.
1. In general
International rules permit the transportation of battery-powered wheelchairs and similar devices used for passengers with mobility restrictions due to disability, health issues, age, or temporary impairment. This means it’s generally okay to fly with your wheelchair as checked baggage. Most airlines adhere to and comply with IATA's international regulations, which are detailed below. However, it is worth noting that each airline is free to interpret the regulations as they wish, or may following their own, slightly different, guidelines. Ultimately, it is the pilot who makes the final decision. Therefore, it’s crucial to contact your specific airline for guidance before booking your flight.
2. This is how it works
When booking your trip, make sure to indicate that you want to bring a powered wheelchair on the flight. You’ll then receive a set of follow-up questions from the airline, including information about the weight and size of the power wheelchair, the type, weight and output of the batteries. You can find answers to these questions in the documents below. Upon arrival at the airport, go to the regular check-in desk. They will coordinate with the airport assistance service to provide you with a manual wheelchair for use at the airport. After check-in, bring your Eloflex to the special baggage claim area where they will handle the transportation of the power wheelchair to the plane. If you do not have a protective bag, we recommend that you rent one at the airport.
3. This is what the regulations state
Most airlines use IATA’s international regulations, specifically the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, for guidelines on transporting power wheelchairs on aircraft. The latest edition of these regulations outlines the following:
- To be carried on an airplane, a powered wheelchair batteries must be airworthy (flight-approved), meaning they must have passed the UN38.3 international test. All batteries in the Eloflex electric wheelchair range meet this standard (Eloflex uses leak-proof dry lithium batteries). You can obtain a copy of the test results from the links below.
- There is a limit to the amount of power the batteries can have to be carried on an airplane. According to IATA's regulations (2.3.2.4), you can bring a battery with a maximum capacity of 300 Wh and one spare battery with the same capacity. The batteries in Eloflex electric wheelchairs have a capacity of 240 Wh each.
- IATA regulations mandate that both batteries must remove from your Eloflex before checking it in and carried into the cabin as hand luggage. Once you have removed the batteries, the rules state that the battery contacts must be protected against short circuits. The easiest way to do this is to cover the contacts of each battery with tape, such as duct tape. The batteries must also be stored in plastic bags, preferably Ziplock bags.
Please be aware that each airline has the authority to interpret the rules differently and may even have its own set of regulations. If you wish to read IATA's regulations verbatim (in English), you can find paragraph 2.3.2.4 (Wheelchairs/Mobility Aids with Lithium Batteries) in the document below.
4. This is our experience
Thousands of Eloflex users have been flying to various destinations all over the world in recent years, and many have share their experiences with us. The majority of them report that it’s been a seamless, hassle-free process to bring their Eloflex on the flight, with no significant issues. Most of them simply checked in their power wheelchairs, just as it is, without having to do anything at all.
However, some airlines are increasingly requesting passengers to remove the batteries from the chair and carry them on as hand luggage. In such cases, it’s a good idea to practice removing the batteries at home before your flight to ensure a stress-free experience. As noted earlier, the batteries’ contacts should be covered with tape and they should be stored in separate plastic bags and taken into the cabin as hand luggage. By being prepared in advance, you should have no problems.
In a few cases, users have opted to leave one battery at home and only bring one battery on the trip. This is perfectly acceptable, and your Eloflex will function just as well with only one battery. But keep in mind that your range will be cut in half, so you may need to recharge more frequently. Some users have reported back that customer service, booking and even check-in personnel may not always be fully informed about the regulations. To avoid any potential issues, it’s advisable to be well informed yourself so that you can “stand your ground.” It can also be a good idea to print out and bring documentation on the regulations on your trip (see below).
5. Print out documents
Upon arrival at the airport, it can be useful to have essential information available in printed form, especially if you have any additional questions during the check-in process. We therefore recommend that you print the following documents:
Facts about the power wheelchair and batteries - Model C
Facts about the power wheelchair and batteries - Model X
Facts about the power wheelchair and batteries - Other models
Testing and validation of batteries UN38.3 - Model C
Testing and validation of batteries UN38.3 - Model X
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