Travelling with a power wheelchair: flights, lithium batteries, trains and cars

Tell your airline early

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says you must give your airline details of an electric wheelchair or scooter in advance, including full details of the battery, so it can be loaded and stored safely. It also recommends taking the operating manual and telling the airline if the chair folds and how to take it apart.

The CAA says you can take up to two mobility items free of charge. Request assistance when you book, or at least 48 hours before departure, and keep written confirmation.

• Make, model, weight and size of the chair
• Battery type, voltage, amp-hours and watt-hours
• Whether the battery can be removed, and how to isolate it
• How to fold or dismantle the chair

Official sources: CAA: travelling with mobility equipment (opens in a new tab)CAA: requesting assistance (opens in a new tab)

Lithium battery limits

Lithium-ion batteries are regulated by their watt-hour (Wh) rating. The CAA explains that you can work this out by multiplying the battery's capacity in amp-hours by its nominal voltage.

According to the CAA's table for battery-powered wheelchairs, when the lithium battery stays installed in a mobility aid there is no watt-hour limit. Where the mobility aid does not protect the battery adequately, the battery must be removed as the manufacturer instructs, must not exceed 300 Wh, must have its terminals protected and must travel in the cabin. You may take one spare of up to 300 Wh or two spares of up to 160 Wh each, carried in the cabin. The airline has to approve all of this.

• Battery left in a protected mobility aid: no Wh limit
• Battery that must be removed: 300 Wh maximum, in the cabin, terminals protected
• Spares: one up to 300 Wh, or two up to 160 Wh each, in the cabin

Official source: CAA: what items can I travel with (opens in a new tab)

XSTO batteries in watt-hours

XSTO publishes voltage and amp-hours rather than watt-hours. Using the CAA method, we have worked out approximate figures below. These are our calculations, not manufacturer figures - check the label on your own battery.

XSTO recommends its optional 24 V 10.4 Ah battery for air travel with the M4 series, and says you should still confirm with your airline.

• M4 standard battery (25.55 V × 15.5 Ah): about 396 Wh
• M4 series travel battery (24 V × 10.4 Ah): about 250 Wh
• M4 Pro standard battery (25.2 V × 23.8 Ah): about 600 Wh
• M8 and M8 Pro backrest battery (25.2 V × 25.6 Ah): about 645 Wh each; base battery (25.2 V × 19.2 Ah): about 484 Wh
• X12 and X12 Pro (two × 25.2 V × 25.6 Ah): about 645 Wh each
• EzGo2 (24 V × 10 Ah): about 240 Wh

Official source: XSTO travel battery (opens in a new tab)

Protecting your chair

The CAA says airlines are liable for damage to mobility equipment, but compensation is often limited to around £1,300, so consider extra insurance for a valuable chair. If your equipment is damaged the airport must provide a temporary alternative, though it may not be like-for-like. Your wheelchair should normally be returned to you at the arrival gate.

Official source: CAA guidance (opens in a new tab)

Travelling by train

National Rail's Passenger Assist service lets you book help for your whole journey, including ramps to get on and off. You can book through the Passenger Assistance app or website, or by phone.

National Rail says most trains can carry wheelchairs within 700 mm wide by 1200 mm long, while a small number of older trains only take chairs up to 550 mm wide. Spaces are limited, so reserve one where you can. Mobility scooters have separate rules that vary by train company, and some require a permit.

For comparison, XSTO lists the M4 at 580 mm wide and 1035 mm long unfolded, and the M4 Pro at 592 mm by 1120 mm. The X12 (1210 mm) and M8 Pro (1235 mm) are longer than 1200 mm, so check with the train company.

Official sources: National Rail: Passenger Assist (opens in a new tab)National Rail: accessible travel (opens in a new tab)National Rail: scooter restrictions (opens in a new tab)

By car

Folding chairs such as the M4 series are designed to split into sections for a car boot, but the sections are still heavy. Measure your boot opening and floor, and try loading the chair at a demonstration. Heavier chairs such as the X12 need a vehicle with a ramp or hoist.

Questions