Rule 9: Wheelchairs and Other Assistive Devices
 
  1. GENERAL RULES. We will accept your required wheelchair, or other assistive devices free of charge for transport when you are traveling, subject to limited exceptions as noted below. We will disassemble and reassemble your wheelchair or other assistive devices without charge as necessary to accommodate them for carriage. Required assistive devices do not count towards any limits on checked baggage or carry-on baggage.
  2. MANUALLY OPERATED WHEELCHAIRS - COLLAPSIBLE. We provide storage for one guest’s collapsible, manually operated wheelchair in the cabin of each jet aircraft. This service is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and has priority over carry-on baggage belonging to other customers who board at the same city, if you follow the pre-boarding procedure. Although in-cabin stowage space for wheelchairs cannot be pre-reserved, nor are we required to accept more than one wheelchair in the cabin, we will accept additional wheelchairs in in the cabin, provided they collapse to fit in an overhead bin or under a seat and there is space available for your wheelchair at the time you board the aircraft.

    NOTE: On some of our aircraft, we use the seat-strapping method to stow a manual guest wheelchair. On those aircraft, we will ensure that there is space for two manual wheelchairs provided that the stowage of the second wheelchair will not cause us to deny boarding to any guests.

  3. MANUALLY OPERATED WHEELCHAIRS - NON-COLLAPSIBLE. Non-collapsible manually operated wheelchairs may only be carried in the baggage compartment.
  4. BATTERY POWERED WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS. Battery-powered wheelchairs and scooters may only be carried in the baggage compartment. These items may be checked in at the main ticket counter or at the departure gate, and are subject to the following conditions:
    1. Wet-cell battery operated units. Wet-cell batteries must be removed and placed in an appropriate box for travel. If you do not have an appropriate box and/or packing materials, we will provide them for you. The battery terminals must be protected from exposure and from short circuit.
    2. Dry-cell and gel-cell battery operated units. Dry-cell and gel-cell batteries may remain attached to the wheelchair only if:
      1. battery cables are disconnected from the battery;
      2. battery terminals are covered to prevent contact with anything that could cause a short circuit; and
      3. batteries are securely attached to the wheelchair or scooter.

        NOTE: Gel-cell batteries are permitted in the cabin for operation of acceptable life support equipment only.

    3. Lithium battery operated units.
      1. Wheelchairs or scooters with removable lithium batteries of 300-watt hours (300 WH) or less will be accepted provided that batteries are removed and carried in the guest compartment of the aircraft as carry-on baggage.

        NOTE: LITHIUM BATTERIES IN EXCESS OF 300-WATT HOURS (300 WH) ARE COMPLETELY PROHIBITED FOR TRANSPORT.

        NOTE: A MAXIMUM OF ONE SPARE BATTERY NOT EXCEEDING 300 WH OR TWO SPARES NOT EXCEEDING 160 WH EACH MAY ALSO BE CARRIED.

      2. Wheelchairs or scooters with non-removable lithium batteries in excess of 100-watt hours (100 WH) are prohibited for transport.
      3. Wheelchairs or scooters with non-removable lithium batteries of 100-watt hours (100 WH) or less will be accepted only if (i) the battery cables are disconnected from the battery and (ii) the battery terminals are covered and to prevent contact with anything that could cause a short circuit.
  5. PROSTHETIC DEVICES. Prosthetic devices necessary for your use, such as crutches, canes, and braces will be accepted without charge for transport (i) as carry-on baggage with you in the cabin of the aircraft, except because of safety or space limitations, or (ii) as checked baggage.