BATTERY-POWERED WHEELCHAIRS

If you have a battery operated wheelchair and wish to carry additional batteries, please contact Special Assistance.

Virgin Atlantic strongly encourages passengers to provide 48 hours prior notice in order to make the necessary arrangements for safe stowage of your battery-powered wheelchair. Please contact Special Assistance who will be happy to help you.

In order to help us prepare your battery powered wheelchair for carriage in the aircraft hold, please download and complete two copies of the Wheelchair Information Form:

E-Wheelchair Information Form (Page 1)

E-Wheelchair Information Form (Page 2)

This document is in PDF format, so you'll need 'Adobe Acrobat Reader' for this. If you don't have this simply click here to download a free copy

One completed form will be required for each departure. Please speak to a member of Virgin Atlantic staff when you arrive at Check In/Bag Drop area and they will be able to advise you of the procedures at your departure airport.

If you are unable to download a copy of the Wheelchair Information Form, please contact Special Assistance, who will send you the forms in the post. Please note that this may take up to 5 working days to arrive.

Wheelchairs, sticks, crutches or walking frames are carried free of charge.

Small mobility aids such as crutches, sticks or wheelchair accessories (not spare batteries for electric wheelchairs), may be taken into the cabin, provided they can be safely and securely stowed, if this cannot be accomplished the item will need to be carried in the aircraft hold.

Note: If these items are being transported on behalf of someone else who is not travelling, then any normal excess baggage charges will apply.

The majority of battery powered wheelchairs do not need to be disassembled but must be deactivated (switched off). Airport staff will ask you for instructions on how to deactivate your equipment. It would be very helpful to have the assembly/disassembly pages from your instruction manual/booklet. It would be appreciated if you brought two copies to the airport.

Batteries must be identified as either spillable or non-spillable so we can establish proper dangerous goods handling. It would be helpful if you have this information ready and available for our agents.

Batterypacks showing cracks and/or damage will not be accepted for transportation.

Spillable Battery: Wet cell batteries are considered spillable and special provision must be made before wet cell batteries can be transported by air. The battery will be accepted for carriage providing the following conditions are met:

1. Visual inspection including removal of the battery, where necessary, reveals no obvious defect;
   
2. The battery is disconnected and terminals are insulated to prevent short circuits;
   
3. The wheelchair or mobility aid can be loaded, secured and unloaded in an upright position.

Non-Spillable Battery: Dry cell and/or gel cell batteries are considered non-spillable and fewer requirements are necessary for carriage by air.

If a non-spillable battery powers your wheelchair the battery may not need to be removed providing the following conditions are met:

1. There must be at least one effective means to prevent possible short-circuiting and unintentional operation (i.e. all motors must be rendered inoperative). If this is not possible, then the battery cables must be disconnected and the battery terminals must be insulated to prevent short circuits;
   
2. The battery must be securely attached to the wheelchair and fully enclosed in a rigid housing that is properly marked.

Virgin Atlantic would appreciate you arriving at least 90 minutes before scheduled time of departure in order to facilitate the carriage of your battery-powered wheelchair.

Wheelchair passengers usually may remain in their own wheelchair to the gate where there are lifts or ramps available to transport the wheelchair safely down to the aircraft. Alternatively, passengers may use a wheelchair provided by the airport after checking in battery-powered wheelchairs.

Airports vary around the world and where it is not possible to take your wheelchair to the gate, you will be required to check your wheelchair in.

Note: The airport authority at Newark International Airport requires that passengers check in battery-powered wheelchairs and use an airport wheelchair to get to the departure gate. If use of an airport wheelchair is not possible, passengers must present themselves at the departure gate no later than 60 minutes prior to departure to allow for security screening and loading of the battery-powered wheelchair. Please note this may also be applicable at other US airports.

Wheelchairs may have to be reclaimed at the baggage hall, rather than made available at the aircraft doors at your arrival destination. Where this applies, an airport wheelchair will be made available for your use until your own can be reclaimed.

Collapsible manual wheelchairs may be carried within the cabin on any aircraft that has a dedicated stowage space.

Passengers' manual wheelchairs can be checked in for loading in the aircraft hold at either the Check-in desks or the departure gate. Please provide as much information as possible to our agents to ensure proper handling and loading. Detachable items such as seat cushions and footrests will be checked in and loaded with the wheelchair.

Note: Our London Gatwick Twilight Check-In service can accept manual wheelchairs for check-in the night before your flight, but does not have sufficient storage for battery-powered wheelchairs.

Dry cell and/or gel cell batteries are considered non-spillable and fewer requirements are necessary for carriage by air.

If a non-spillable battery powers your wheelchair the battery may not need to be removed providing the following conditions are met:

1. There must be at least one effective means to prevent possible short-circuiting and unintentional operation (i.e. all motors must be rendered inoperative). If this is not possible, then the battery cables must be disconnected and the battery terminals must be insulated to prevent short circuits;
   
2. The battery must be securely attached to the wheelchair and fully enclosed in a rigid housing that is properly marked.

Passengers wishing to carry spare batteries must obtain approval from Special Assistance and only these pre-approved batteries can be accepted at the airport.

Only non-spillable batteries (Dry and Gel cell) that are considered as non-Dangerous Goods for carriage by air can be carried as spare batteries, separate from the wheelchair. Spare batteries must be suitably packed and carried as checked baggage. Battery packs showing cracks and/or damage will not be accepted for transportation.

Spare wet cell batteries cannot be accepted for carriage as checked baggage because when packaged on their own they are classed as dangerous goods by the International Air Transport Association.

If you wish to carry a wet cell battery on its own, please contact Virgin Atlantic Cargo where arrangements can be made for safe packaging and carriage. Please be aware that there may be a cost associated (such as customs) with the carriage of wet cell batteries as cargo.

Is your Equipment Insured?

Passengers travelling with mobility equipment are strongly advised to have adequate insurance to cover loss or damage.