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18 | THE REVIEW SEPT 2025 FEATURE check their website or give them a call. They can answer questions about packing, security, boarding, flying etc. While everyone’s needs will differ, make sure you discuss: • Your chair’s weight, dimensions and battery type (if applicable) • The best way to prepare your wheelchair or mobility equipment for transportation and stowing during the flight • Your needs for transferring into the aisle chair. Can you self-transfer, are you travelling with someone who can assist you or do you need support from the airline? • Whether you require an extender belt or upper torso harness. Purchase travel insurance Travel insurance should be a non-negotiable for everyone. It is an essential way to protect yourself against overseas medical costs and equipment damage. Pack smart • Pack enough medication and medical supplies to last the entire trip. This is especially crucial for international trips where it may be harder to locate more supplies. • Split your medical supplies and pack enough essentials to last a few days in your carry-on in case your checked luggage gets lost or delayed. If you’re travelling with companions, it’s also worth popping some essentials in their bags to cover all bases. • Pack other in-flight essentials like compression stockings, straws, wet wipes and anything else that might make life a little easier. What if my wheelchair gets damaged during flight? If your wheelchair or mobility equipment is damaged during transit, the airline must pay for repairs or a replacement in the instance that it cannot be repaired. This is a requirement as stipulated by the Department of Transportation and the Air Carrier Act. If you notice any damage, first assess if the wheelchair can still be used and if your emergency kit can temporarily get you moving again. From here, make sure you report any damage (even scratches and dings) directly to the airline at the baggage claim area before you leave the airport. You should be given a reference number along with details on how to contact a complaint resolution official. Take plenty of pictures and rest assured that the airline cannot leave you high and dry without your chair or a means to get around. Prepare your wheelchair Prepare your wheelchair before boarding the aircraft. Keep in mind that this will vary between chairs and planes, so consider asking about wheelchair prep when you chat to the airline. Manual chairs If applicable, remove the wheels so the chair can be folded and stowed (some travellers opt to keep their wheels to avoid any risk of them getting lost). Take off any loose items such as footplates, knee supports, cushions, headrests, side guards, and armrests. Power chairs If you’ve never travelled with your power chair before, consider chatting with an adaptive technology technician or someone from the wheelchair company for advice on how to prep it for flight. You may need to consider: • Turning off the control panel from the main switch • Switching the brakes off so that your chair can be pushed • Pulling the joystick control ...continued.