The summer season is upon us and we’ve just passed the longest day of the year. It’s around the time you’ll be wanting to plan that all important summer holiday, and for some of you it will be abroad. Quingo Scooters know that one of the most frequently asked questions is whether or not you can take your mobility scooter on a plane.
The truth is, travelling with your mobility scooter may not be as daunting or strenuous as you may think. Here, we’ve researched the details to make your trip as enjoyable and care free as can be.
Can I Take My Mobility Scooter on a Plane?
Most airlines will be more than happy to take your mobility scooter on board. However, it’s important to check with the airline you’re flying with before you book to be clear on their individual guidelines and provisions for mobility scooters. It is strongly recommended that you tell your airline you’ll be travelling with a mobility scooter at least 48 hours before departure.
Will it cost me extra?
The official government guidelines state that if you’re travelling to a European airport and you have a disability, then you can travel with up to two items of mobility equipment free of charge. These won’t be counted as part of your baggage allowance and you won’t be able to take your scooter into the passenger carriage of the plane, but it will be stored in the hold until arrival.
What will I need to do?
There are a few things you will need to do to prepare your mobility scooter for flight when you get to the airport:
- Make sure your mobility scooter is fully charged
- When you arrive at the airport, make sure you’ve removed all items from the basket or lockable boxes
- Make sure you leave your scooter with the freewheel leaver in the braked or normal driving position
- Ensure your scooter is kept in once piece if it is a scooter than can be disassembled
- Write a label saying ‘remove key for flight’ and attach to the key and then to the handlebars
- Some airlines will disconnect the batteries of your scooter during a flight. If your scooter is not working when you get to your destination check the battery cables are attached.
Other things to remember
There’s a few other things to remember before you leave for your trip:
- Take a spare key with you – it’s always better to be prepared!
- Take your battery charger and a suitable plug for the country you’re flying to
- Check the local laws for driving mobility scooters in the country you’re visiting – these can vary from country to country so it’s important to familiarise yourself with any differences
- Make sure the airline staff understand how to fold down the scooter for transport to ensure everything runs smoothly
Enjoy!
You’re now ready to enjoy your holiday! We’d love to hear about it too, so you can email your stories, recommendations and pictures by filling out the contact form on our website and we’ll feature them on our blog.
About Quingo Scooters
The Quingo Scooters range features six models to suit your needs and budget. New models are now available from just £22/week on our new contract hire scheme which includes all servicing and maintenance, Insurance, Roadside Recovery, Call Outs and Consumables including Batteries and Tyres. For more information on this or the latest Quingo Scooter range, please visit our website. Alternatively, if you have any Service questions you can always contact us or call customer services on 01582 430 900.
Keep up to date with the latest mobility scooter advice, tips and interesting places to visit on the Quingo Scooter Users Blog. Connect with Quingo and keep up to date with all our latest news on Facebook and Twitter.
All Quingo Personal Mobility Vehicles are provided by Forever Active, the UK’s exclusive distributor. Forever Active is a trading name of Advantage Marketing Corporation Limited (AMC). AMC Limited is an appointed representative of First Senior Insurance Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. First Senior Insurance Services FSA Register number is 308478.