Wheelchair Acceptance
American Airlines provided Wheelchairs
Customer’s own manual wheelchairs
Battery-Powered Wheelchairs and scooters
Segway® Human Transporter Device
Large Groups Using Wheelchairs
Wheelchair Information
Upon arrival at the airport, customers should request a wheelchair from a skycap or other American Airlines or American Eagle employee. A wheelchair will not be waiting at the curbside, it must be requested.
American Airlines provided wheelchairs
If a passenger is able to walk but still requires a wheelchair, the following guidelines apply:
· Advise the customer to reconfirm their downline wheelchair request at the ticket counter or gate on their day of departure.
· Advise the customer to remind the skycap or other airport employee of their request for an extra wide wheelchair upon arrival at the airport.
· American Airlines does provide wheelchair assistance for customers making interline connections. AA authorized personnel will escort the customer in a wheelchair to the connecting gate of the other carrier.
· If another airline is involved in the itinerary, please contact the other airline directly for wheelchair service
· Advise the customer that pre-board assistance may be requested from the gate agent, if desired. Passenger must be at the gate:
o Domestic travel 45 minutes prior to flight departure
o International travel 60 minutes prior to flight departure
· Add appropriate wheelchair code to the PNR/Order.
· Extra-wide wheelchairs may be requested in advance. Once requested, document the request in the PNR/Order and queue to DFW105/11 for Special Assistance Coordinator (SAC) follow-up or contact Reservations for assistance.
Codes and Procedures
WCHR
· The customer can walk and climb stairs
· Advise the customer to request a wheelchair upon arrival at the airport.
· Do not queue the PNR/Order unless other additional special assistance is required and documented in the PNR/Order
WCHS
· The customer can walk but needs arm or aisle chair assistance on the stairs.
· Clarify if customer needs assistance with the stairs to board the aircraft or to get from the terminal to and from the tarmac area.
· If the customer cannot walk stairs and needs arm assistance or total assistance on the aircraft stairs, use WCHS and queue the PNR/Order to Special Assistance Coordinators at DFW105/11 for follow-up or contact American Airlines Reservations for assistance only if the itinerary involves an American Eagle station or an AA station with no jet bridge.
· If the customer can walk stairs to board and deplane the aircraft, use WCHR as the correct code.
· Many airports have elevators for accessing the tarmac area. Advise the passenger to inform airport personnel of their need to use an elevator
WCHC
· The customer is completely immobile and requires total lift assistance from the aisle chair to their seat.
· Contacting AA SAC (Special Assistance Coordination) is required.
· Use "WCHC" and queue the PNR/Order to Special Assistance Coordinators at DFW105/11 for follow-up or contact American Airlines Reservations for assistance.
To make air travel more convenient for customers with mobility impairments, AA has installed in-flight wheelchairs on all AA jet aircraft.
· The chairs are stowed in a collapsed position and can be used to assist customers to and from the lavatory (lift assistance will not be provided)
· Flight personnel will obtain the chairs for the customer upon request.
· Add SSR code WCOB. Queue to DFW105/11 for SAC assistance
· Available on all AA jet aircraft
· Not available on American Eagle regional jets.
Customer’s own manual wheelchairs
When a customer is able to walk and they are traveling with their own manual wheelchair, the following applies:
· No AA Special Assistance Coordination is needed
· Add SSR code WCMP
· Advise the customer their own wheelchair may be used to transport them to the gate area. They may be able to have their manual wheelchair as carry on, based on first-come first-served basis, at the gate or they may have it checked as gate delivery.
· When checked as gate delivery, the wheelchair will be available at the gate for connections and at the destination.
· Manual wheelchairs may be checked at curbside, the ticket counter, or the gate, whichever the customer prefers.
· All assistive devices will be checked free of charge in addition to the free baggage allowance when the customer with the disability is traveling with the assistive device.
· The customer may also check their own wheelchair as baggage and use one of AA's manual wheelchairs to transport them to the gate area.
Carry-on wheelchairs acceptance
· American Airlines and American Eagle jet aircraft have designated closet space in the cabin of each aircraft to accommodate one collapsible wheelchair.
· AA can accommodate more than one wheelchair, depending on space availability and if the flight is not fully booked. This is handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
· American will accept additional wheelchairs in the cabin only if they can be collapsed to fit either in the overhead bin or under a seat.
· Wheelchair and other assistive devices have priority over carry-on baggage belonging to other customers who board at the same city.
Battery-powered Wheelchairs and scooters
All customers with battery-powered wheelchairs (BWCHRs) require SAC clearance.
Please queue the PNR/Order to Special Assistance Coordinators (SAC) at DFW105/11 for assistance or contact American Airlines Reservations.
Document the PNR/Order with
OSI PSGR TRAVELING WITH BWCHR
Battery Handling Procedures
· Upright Transportation: If a spillable or non-spillable battery can be kept upright throughout the entire journey, including loading, storage, and unloading, it should remain attached to the device.
· Spillable Battery Removal: Spillable batteries that cannot maintain an upright position during transit must be removed and placed in an approved battery box.
· Aircraft Limitations: Due to the size of the door and conveyor belt on certain aircraft (e.g., MD80, F100, and regional aircraft), loading these items may be restricted. An analysis will be conducted at the airport to determine if it can be transported.
Customers traveling with battery powered wheelchairs may stow their wheelchairs in the cabin on a first-come first-served basis provided the following criteria are met:
· The customer checks in one hour before the scheduled departure time of the flight, at the gate area, identifies themselves, and requests to pre-board.
· The wheelchair must fold, break down or collapse.
· The stowage compartment in the cabin must be of a size to safely accommodate the wheelchair per Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety regulations.
· The weight of the wheelchair does not exceed the amount allowable for the stowage closet as indicated on placards located in the closet.
· The on-board stowage area is not occupied by other assistive devices (manual or other battery-powered wheelchairs).
· Damaged or leaking batteries, whether they are non-spillable gel cells or spillable wet cells, are not allowed in the cabin.
· Lithium-ion battery will need to be removed from the wheelchair and may be stowed in the cabin with the customer
o The batteries will need to have labeling, or the customer will need to supply documentation stating the device has been tested per UN P.T.III Section 38.3 and the device should not exceed 300-watt hours
o Devices that utilize multiple lithium batteries may not exceed 160-watt hours each and the device may not use more than two batteries
If a customer checks in less than an hour before departure, American Airlines will do its best to allow them to carry their wheelchair in the cabin, provided they identify themselves and pre-board. If the customer chooses not to pre-board and there's no cabin space available, the wheelchair will be gate checked and transported in the cargo hold.
Note: Advise the customer to follow recommended check-in time for all airports if they want to check the wheelchair as baggage.
Segway® Human Transporter Device
It is a mobility device often used by people with disabilities, although it can also be used as a recreational vehicle.
· Contact AA Reservations for Special Assistance Coordinator (SAC) at least 48 hours before departure.
· Only accepted if used as an assistive device and provided the battery power does not exceed 300-watt hours.
· Cannot be checked as baggage if used for recreational purposes.
· Batteries on the Segway® Human Transporter are lithium, similar to a laptop battery, and do not require removal or any disconnection of the power source.
· If this device is used as a mobility device, it may be stowed in the cabin on a first-come first-served basis.
· Customers may ride their Segway to the aircraft door and guide it into the closet. Segways can also climb stairs.
Large Groups Using Wheelchairs
Every effort is made to accommodate customers with mobility impairments. When a large group using wheelchairs is involved, extra planning may be necessary to achieve this objective and maintain an on-time departure. Document all the PNRs/Orders and queue to Special Assistance Coordinators at DFW105/11 for follow-up or contact American Airlines Reservations for assistance.
Updated: November 2024