Flying with a wheelchair or crutches

Are you taking your own wheelchair with you or are you on crutches? We will do our best to make sure you have a problem-free flight! If you are travelling with a wheelchair, make sure to be at the airport at least 2 hours before the departure of your flight. This is because you will be allowed to board first. 

Notifying us that you are travelling with a wheelchair

You can let us know that you are travelling with a wheelchair up to 48 hours before the departure of your flight. This gives us enough time to inform the airport and our crew on board. You can notify us of this when booking your flight, online via My Transavia or by calling the Service Centre.

Is your wheelchair heavier than 23 kg and/or higher than 86 cm? Please contact our Service Centre directly after making your booking. They can check to see if your wheelchair can still go on board.

What can you expect at the airport?

  1. You can use your own wheelchair up to the check-in desk. From here your wheelchair will be transported as hold luggage. 
  2. The airport staff will provide assistance to and from the plane. 
  3. Did you check in at home? Go to the assistance desk in Departure Hall 1 at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Not every airport has an assistance desk. At these airports, you will need to go to the check-in desk instead.
  4. Make sure all loose wheelchair parts (such as a battery) are disconnected before you check in for your flight. At airports we do not have tools to disassemble your wheelchair. So make sure you have done this before leaving for the airport.
  5. After the flight, you can pick up your wheelchair from the baggage claim in the Arrivals Hall.

How will your wheelchair be transported?

  1. Wheelchairs without a battery

    Your wheelchair is checked in at the check-in desk and transported as hold luggage.

  2. Electric wheelchairs (with battery)

    You can take a wheelchair with a dry or wet battery on our planes. Mention this when booking or via My Transavia. Your wheelchair can only be transported upright if it is a maximum of 86 cm.

    Conditions for transporting a dry (leak-proof) battery:
    • Disconnect and attach the battery securely to the wheelchair;
    • Prevent a short circuit by insulating the poles with tape;
    • You do not need packaging for the battery.
    If it is not possible to disconnect the dry battery, the following conditions apply:
    There is a main switch/master switch that is in the off position
    or
    There is a control unit that can be disconnected

    Conditions for transporting a wet (non-leak-proof) battery:
    • Your wheelchair and battery are transported upright (max. 86 cm high);
    • Disconnect and attach the battery securely to the wheelchair;
    • Prevent a short circuit by insulating the poles with tape;
    • Is your wheelchair higher than 86 cm? Remove the battery. This is because we will need to transport your wheelchair on its side. Make sure the wet battery is transported in heavy-duty packaging.
    Conditions for battery packaging:
    • The packaging must be leak-proof and resistant to battery acid;
    • The battery must be protected from damage when being placed in the hold;
    • Prevent a short circuit by insulating the poles with tape;
    • The battery is secured upright in the packaging;
    • The battery is surrounded by sufficient absorbent material that can absorb all contents if necessary;
    • The packaging states the following: BATTERIES, WET, WITH WHEELCHAIR and has the danger label: CORROSIVE and arrow labels.

  3. Scoot mobile

    You are taking a scoot mobile with you. Mention this when booking or via My Transavia, since only one scoot mobile is allowed on board each flight. Your scoot mobile can only be transported upright if it measures a maximum of 86 cm.

    Conditions for transporting a dry (leak-proof) battery:
    • Disconnect and attach the battery securely to the wheelchair;
    • Prevent a short circuit by insulating the poles with tape;
    • You do not need packaging for the battery.
    If it is not possible to disconnect the dry battery, the following conditions apply:
    There is a main switch/master switch that is in the off position
    or
    There is a control unit that can be disconnected

    Conditions for transporting a wet (non-leak-proof) battery:
    • Your wheelchair and battery are transported upright (max. 86 cm high);
    • Disconnect and attach the battery securely to the wheelchair;
    • Prevent a short circuit by insulating the poles with tape;
    • Is your wheelchair higher than 86 cm? Remove the battery. This is because we will need to transport your wheelchair on its side. Make sure the wet battery is transported in heavy-duty packaging.
    Conditions for battery packaging:
    • The packaging must be leak-proof and resistant to battery acid;
    • The battery must be protected from damage when being placed in the hold;
    • Prevent a short circuit by insulating the poles with tape;
    • The battery is secured upright in the packaging;
    • The battery is surrounded by sufficient absorbent material that can absorb all contents if necessary;
    • The packaging states the following: BATTERIES, WET, WITH WHEELCHAIR and has the danger label: CORROSIVE and arrow labels.

Seat on board

For safety reasons, you are not allowed to sit next to an emergency exit if you are travelling with a wheelchair or on crutches. Do you use a wheelchair? Unfortunately, you are unable to reserve a seat in advance. We will make sure you receive the most suitable seat on board. Please note: we do not have an on-board wheelchair on our aircraft. Read more about assistance on board.

Departure and arrival at the airport

Once you arrive at your destination, there may not be a gangway at the airport. In this case, an airstair is used instead. Are you unable to walk up and down stairs? Let us know beforehand. We will make sure you get on and off the plane.

Flying with crutches

If you are on crutches, you do not need to inform us of this beforehand. An exception to this is if you require assistance at the airport because, for example, you are unable to walk up and down stairs. You can take your crutches with you on board free of charge. Simply place them in the overhead luggage compartment.