Assistance levels
Once you've booked your flight, please go to Manage My Booking and let us know what level of mobility assistance you need. You can choose from the three levels below. If you're travelling with your own wheelchair, let us know you're bringing it in Manage My Booking.
Whether you are an independent flyer, travelling with your family or a in group, we would still recommend that you book the appropriate level of assistance below in case your flight departs or arrives away from the terminal building.
Service 1
- Assistance to and from the aircraft and getting around the airport for all or part of your journey. This will be either by electric buggy or airport wheelchair.
Service 2
- Assistance to and from the aircraft and getting around the airport for all or part of your journey. This will be either by electric buggy or airport wheelchair.
- Assistance to ascend or descend stairs to the aircraft door if parked away from the terminal building.
Please note: You may be required to ascend or descend stairs in low level light or inclement weather.
Service 3
- Full level service to and from the aircraft.
- Use of a specialist aisle chair and transfer to your seat during boarding and disembarkation along with the use of an on-board aisle chair during the flight to move around the cabin.
Please note: During the flight our cabin crew are unable to assist you onto the on-board aisle chair. If you do not possess enough upper body strength to move between your seat and the chair, then you will need to travel with a safety assistant. This on-board wheelchair service will not be offered by third party airlines who are operating flights on behalf of British Airways. You can find out which airline is operating your flight via Manage My Booking. If this affects you, you can move your flight free of charge to an alternative British Airways-operated service, subject to availability.
Once you've completed your request for assistance we will advise on available seating options. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Seating
You can reserve your seat for free via Manage My Booking once you have booked your flight and requested the assistance you require. You won’t be able to reserve your seat for free if you have not requested this assistance. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Travelling with your own wheelchair
- You can choose whether you'd like to give us your wheelchair when you check in, or use it until you reach the departure gate, depending on the airport you’re flying from.
- To give you plenty of time to board the aircraft ahead of other passengers, please arrive at your departure gate early.
- We may be able to store one collapsible manual wheelchair in the cabin, depending on available space. This is allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis. Please contact staff at the boarding gate for more information.
- We have wheelchairs on our aircraft to assist you on board. You'll need to be able to lift yourself from your seat onto the wheelchair, or travel with a safety assistant who can help you do that.
- If you're checking in your wheelchair, make sure to attach a tag with your contact details to it.
Battery-operated wheelchairs, mobility scooters and mobility aids
If you have reduced mobility and want to take your device with you, we need to make sure we store your battery-operated wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid safely in the hold of the aircraft, so we need the following information:
- Wheelchair/mobility aid type
- Dimensions (see table below)
- Tare (un-laden) weight
- Number of batteries installed
- Type of battery (see notes for Spillable, Non-Spillable Wet Cell, Dry Cell or Lithium batteries below)
- Instructions for preventing inadvertent operation (see below)
We'll always try and place your wheelchair or mobility aid in containers to keep them safe. There may be some instances where we might not be able to carry your wheelchair or mobility aid, for example:
- If we're unable to prevent unintended operation of the electric mobility aid.
- If the weight exceeds the loading capacity on our smaller aircraft that are operated by our subsidiary BA CityFlyer to and from London City.
Batteries (including spare batteries)
There are various battery handling requirements dependent upon what type of battery your wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid has. We have therefore provided some additional guidance on the battery handling requirements.
To prevent inadvertent activation of the device during flight, you will be required to confirm that the power has been disconnected or isolated and the device cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
Please contact us if you require additional information.
Lithium Ion Batteries
If the lithium battery(ies) is securely attached to the wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid, it must remain in the device. The power must be disconnected or isolated so that it cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
- There is no maximum Watt-hour limit if the lithium battery(ies) remains in the device.
Where a lithium ion battery-operated wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid contains a battery that is not securely attached to the device, the following steps must be taken:
- The battery must be removed following the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner.
- The removed batteries must be protected from short circuit (e.g. by covering or taping over exposed terminals).
- In order to protect them from damage, place batteries individually in a protective pouch and take them with you into the cabin.
- The maximum battery size is 300Wh, or for devices fitted with two batteries, 160Wh each.
You may also take one spare lithium ion battery at a maximum of 300Wh, or two spare batteries at a maximum of 160Wh each carried in accordance with the instructions above.
Dry Cell Batteries (also known as Nickel Cadmium NiCd or Nickel Metal Hydride NiMh batteries)
If the dry cell battery(ies) is securely attached to the device, it must remain in the device. The power must be disconnected or isolated so that it cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
Where a dry cell battery-operated wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid contains a battery that is not securely attached to the device, the following steps must be taken:
- The battery must be removed following the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner.
- The removed battery must be protected from short circuit (e.g. by covering or taping over exposed terminals).
- The removed battery must be placed in strong, rigid packaging which must be secured in the cargo hold.
You may also take one spare dry cell battery carried in accordance with the instructions above.
Non-Spillable Wet Batteries (also known as gel, sealed lead acid or absorbed glass mat AGM batteries)
Please note: These types of batteries must meet the requirement of IATA dangerous goods regulations special provision A67. This information will be available from the battery manufacturer or mobility aid supplier.
If the non-spillable battery(ies) is securely attached to the device, it must remain in the device. The power must be disconnected or isolated so that it cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
Where a non-spillable wet battery-operated wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid contains a battery that is not securely attached to the device, the following steps must be taken:
- The battery must be removed following the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner.
- The removed battery must be protected from short circuit (e.g. by covering or taping over exposed terminals).
- The removed battery must be placed in strong, rigid packaging which must be secured in the cargo hold.
You may also take one spare non-spillable wet battery carried in accordance with the instructions above.
Spillable Batteries
If the spillable battery(ies) is securely attached to the wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid and the device can be stowed in the aircraft in an upright position, it must remain in the device. The power must be disconnected or isolated so that it cannot be inadvertently activated. This can be achieved following the manufacturers instructions.
Where a spillable battery-operated wheelchair, mobility scooter or mobility aid contains a battery that is not securely attached to the device or it cannot be stowed in the aircraft in an upright position, the following steps must be taken:
- The battery must be removed following the instructions of the manufacturer or device owner.
- The removed battery must be protected from short circuit (e.g. by covering or taping over exposed terminals).
- The battery must be packed in strong, rigid, leak-proof packaging which is impervious to battery fluid and surrounded by compatible absorbent material sufficient to absorb the total liquid contents.
- The packaging must be marked ‘BATTERY WET WITH WHEELCHAIR’ and marked with ‘Corrosive’ (Class 8) and orientation (this way up) labels.
Spare spillable batteries are not permitted.
Flight connections
- If you'd like to use your wheelchair at the airport you're connecting at, we can arrange to have it delivered from the baggage hold to the aircraft door. Let us know at least 48 hours before your flight departs.
- Please allow extra time for it to be unloaded and reloaded onto your onward aircraft. If you're using an electric wheelchair, this process will take longer because the battery needs to be reactivated on arrival and then deactivated before loading onto the next aircraft.
At your destination
- If your wheelchair has been stowed in the hold, we'll make every effort to return it to you as close to the aircraft door as possible.
- If this is not possible, we will make sure there is a wheelchair available to assist you to the baggage reclaim area.
