If you need additional advice after reading the guidance on this page please contact your doctor or airline.
Electric wheelchairs and mobility aids
If you use an electric wheelchair or scooter, you must give your airline details in advance, including full details of the battery, to ensure safe loading, storage and to address any potential concerns regarding fire risk.
- Check airline restrictions—rules vary between airlines.
- Provide details (make, model, weight, size and battery details of your mobility aid) when booking.
- Bring the operating manual—this may help airline staff.
- Inform the airline if your mobility aid is collapsible and provide details of how to assemble/disassemble it.
In partnership with the Queen Elizabeth's foundation for Disabled People awe have produced a film that gives wheelchair users, especially powered wheelchair users information and insight about travelling by air and the support available.
Allowance for mobility equipment
You can bring up to two mobility items free of charge for your trip. If you need a specific item at your destination, your airline should accept it within reason.
Medical equipment
Passengers are permitted to carry reasonable amounts of medical equipment and supplies.
- Airlines may ask for a medical certificate if you are taking large quantities of medication.
- A medical certificate is mandatory for carrying liquid or gel medicines over 100ml through security.
Protecting your equipment
Airlines are liable for damage to mobility equipment, but compensation is often limited to around £1,300. Consider extra insurance for valuable items.
If your equipment is damaged, the airport must provide a temporary alternative, but it may not be like-for-like.
Carriage of Medication: Can I take my medication on board the aircraft?
Can I take my liquid medication on board the aircraft?
Normally passengers may only take liquids past the security search point provided that they are in containers which hold not more than 100 ml. All liquids containers must be put in one transparent and re-sealable bag, which must not be larger than one litre in volume (approximately 20cm x 20cm). Suitable bags are usually available at the airport before you go through security.
You will usually only be able to fit about five 100ml containers into a bag of this size. If you are not able to fit all of your essential medicines, including inhalers and liquid dietary foodstuffs, into the bag, or if they are supplied in containers larger than 100ml, you may still be allowed to carry these in your hand baggage.
Before your trip you will need to:
- Contact the airline to make sure that they know that you will be carrying extra liquids and to check if they have any extra requirements.
- It is also advisable to check if the airport you are flying from has any extra requirements. There is often advice about this on the airport website. Don't forget to check the requirements for the airport you will be returning from and any other airports you will be stopping at during your journey.
- Take supporting information such as a letter from your doctor or your prescription with you. You may need to show this to the security staff at the airport.
- Additional security screening may be required for medicines in bottles or containers larger than 100ml. You may be asked to taste the medicine or it may be passed through the X-ray scanner in a separate tray.
Remember to take only what you need for your journey in your hand baggage. Extra supplies and larger containers of medicine can go in your hold baggage. Additional information may be found on the Gov.uk website.
My medication needs to be kept cool. Can I put it in a refrigerator on the aircraft?
Many aircraft either do not have refrigerators or have chiller cabinets which are cooled by 'dry ice' and are unsuitable for storage of medication such as insulin. The chiller cabinets and refrigerators are intended for storage of food only and most airlines will not allow medication to be stored in them.
If your medication does normally need to be kept cool, speak to your doctor or pharmacist about how best to store it during your journey. Most modern insulins can safely be kept at room temperature for a period.
Additional information may be found on the Diabetes UK website.
Can I carry other medical equipment and supplies including needles and syringes in my hand baggage?
Essential medical equipment that you may need to use during your journey, including hypodermic syringes and needles, can be carried in your hand baggage. These items may need to be checked separately at the airport security.
You should only carry the equipment you will need during the journey in your hand baggage. The extra supplies that you will need during your time away from home should normally be carried in your hold baggage. Before your trip you will need to:
- Contact the airline to make sure that they know that you will be carrying the medical supplies and equipment and to check if they have any additional requirements.
- It is also advisable to check if the airport you are flying from has any additional requirements. There is often advice about this on the airport website. Don't forget to check the requirements for the airport you will be returning from and any other airports you will be stopping at during your journey.
- Take supporting information such as a letter from your doctor or your prescription with you. You may need to show this to the security staff at the airport.
Electrically powered medical equipment: Can I take my electrically powered medical equipment in my hand baggage?
You are allowed to take medical equipment on board an aircraft if it is essential for your journey. Before your trip you will need to contact the airline, to make sure that they know that you will be carrying the medical equipment and to check if they have any extra requirements.
It is also advisable to check if the airport you are flying from has any extra requirements. There is often advice about this on the airport website. Don't forget to check the requirements for the airport you will be returning from and any other airports you will be stopping at during your journey.
Take supporting information such as a letter from your doctor or your prescription with you. You may need to show this to the security staff at the airport. The equipment will usually be passed through the X-ray security scanner in a separate tray.
Most airlines do not provide an aircraft electrical supply for passenger medical equipment and therefore your equipment will have to be battery-powered if you wish to be able to use it during flight. All batteries, including any spare batteries, must meet the airline requirements for carriage, whether carried as hand baggage or in your hold baggage. (Please note , spare lithium batteries must be carried in the cabin. They are not permitted in hold baggage). Even where an electrical supply is available on the aircraft, it will not be guaranteed to be available throughout the flight and you should carry back-up in the form of batteries if necessary.
The usual requirements for passenger electronic equipment apply during flight and you will not normally be allowed to use the equipment during take-off and landing. Some devices have been tested and approved for use throughout flight but you must contact the airline well before the date of travel, to make sure that they know that you will be carrying the medical equipment and to check if they have any additional requirements.
Further information may be found on:
- Our Baggage information pages - Items that are allowed in baggage
- Gov.uk website
Oxygen: I have been told that I require oxygen for my flight. Can I take my own supply?
The international requirements do permit passengers to carry small oxygen or air cylinders for medical use, but only with the prior agreement of the airline. Some airlines do allow passengers to carry their own cylinders or will supply (usually for a fee) special cylinders for passengers, whilst other operators do not. Additionally, where an airline does agree to carry a cylinder, there is no definition of the term "small", but our guidance is that the cylinder must be small enough to fit under the passenger's seat (if the cylinder is being used during the flight) or the overhead bin.
The Asthma + Lung UK provides advice and tips about flying, including travelling by plane with oxygen, and includes the contact details of a number of UK airports.
We would advise to check with the airline prior to buying the ticket, and where airlines agree to carry the cylinder, that agreement is obtained in writing to avoid any confusion when checking in for the flight.
Sleep Apnoea: I suffer from sleep apnoea; can I take my Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine on board the aircraft as hand luggage for use in the aircraft cabin?
It is essential to check with your airline prior to booking your flight regarding taking your CPAP machine on board. In addition, it would be wise to check whether the airline will require a letter verifying its necessity from your General Practitioner.
There is no guarantee of a power source for your equipment on board the aircraft and therefore your airline may suggest that you use a dry-cell battery operated device.