Avelo Airlines Wheelchair Policy and Special Assistance Guide

Bringing your Wheelchair on Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines will carry your wheelchair or assistive device along with your checked baggage allowance at no extra cost. They accept all types of wheelchairs and scooters, including folding, collapsible, non-folding, manual, or powered. Note that there may be charges for checking additional wheelchairs used for recreational purposes.

If you have a battery-powered wheelchair or similar mobility device, it's recommended to arrive at the airport an hour before the published check-in time for your departure airport.  [AMZ asins='B07YNFD9LJ,B01L28ANI2,B074MW1MTW,B00RKJUPS6']

For manual wheelchairs, customers who preboard have priority to stow their folding wheelchairs onboard upon request. All Avelo aircraft have sufficient space to accommodate at least one adult-sized wheelchair. You can check-in your manual wheelchair at either the ticket counter or the boarding gate. Provide necessary information to the airline's staff for proper handling and loading. Detachable items like seat cushions, sideguards, and footrests can be carried in the cabin or checked-in together with the wheelchair.

Powered equipment, including scooters and wheelchairs, won't be disassembled, and batteries will be left attached if the equipment fits upright through the aircraft bin door. Otherwise, airport personnel may ask you for instructions on disassembling your equipment. Having assembly/disassembly instructions and battery information readily available is helpful.

If you are bringing a powered wheelchair, you will not be able to board the aircraft with it, and it will have to be checked-in.  Avelo Airlines will provide a manual wheelchair to be used through the airport.

Wheelchair Battery Types on Avelo Airlines

Batteries on powered equipment must be identified as spillable, non-spillable, or lithium-ion to ensure proper handling. Non-spillable batteries like dry cell and gel cell have fewer handling requirements. Spillable batteries, like wet cell batteries, require special preparation for air transportation, including proper packaging.

Dry Cell Battery Transportation Requirements on Avelo Airlines

If your wheelchair or mobility aid is powered by a non-spillable battery and can be stowed upright in the cargo bin of the aircraft, the battery should not need to be removed providing the following:

There must be at least one effective means designed into the wheelchair or mobility aid to prevent accidental activation or possible short-circuiting

If no effective way of preventing accidental activation of the device can be determined, then the battery cables will be removed, and the battery terminals will be insulated to prevent short circuits

The battery must be securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid and fully enclosed in a rigid housing that is properly marked

Spillable Batteries Transport Requirements

Wet Cell batteries are considered "Spillable" batteries, and must meet the following requirements in order to be transported on Avelo Airlines:

The battery has no obvious defects upon visual inspection, which includes removal of the battery where necessary

The battery is disconnected, and terminals are insulated to prevent short circuits

The wheelchair or mobility aid can be loaded, stowed, secured and unloaded in an upright position

If the battery is removed, it must be carried in a strong, rigid battery box approved by Avelo Airlines under the following conditions:

The packaging must be leak-tight and impervious to battery fluid. An inner liner may be used to satisfy this requirement if there is absorbent material placed inside of the liner and the liner has a leak-proof closure.

The battery must be protected against short circuits, secured upright in the packaging and be packaged with enough compatible absorbent material to completely absorb liquid contents in the event of rupture of the battery.

Lithium-Ion Batteries on Avelo Airlines

For lithium-ion batteries, which are considered hazardous material, there are specific restrictions. Collapsible mobility devices should have the battery removed and must not exceed 300-watt hours. Non-collapsible devices can have one large lithium-ion battery installed and one spare battery not exceeding 300-watt hours or two spares not exceeding 160-watt hours in carry-on bags. Spare or loose lithium batteries must be carried on and cannot be checked into the cargo hold, and must follow specific packaging guidelines:

There must be at least one effective means designed into the wheelchair or mobility aid to prevent accidental activation or possible short-circuiting.

If you have a collapsible mobility device, the battery must be removed and can’t exceed 300-watt hours. A maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300-watt hours or two spares not exceeding 160-watt hours each must be carried on.

If you have a non-collapsible device, federal regulations allow for one large lithium ion battery to be transported installed in the device and one spare battery not exceeding 300-watt hours or two spares not exceeding 160-watt hours in carry-on bags. There is no watt-hour limit for the battery installed in the device.

The watt-hour rating is a measure by which lithium ion batteries are regulated. If you are unsure of the watt-hour rating of your lithium ion battery, contact the manufacturer of your device. Lithium ion batteries manufactured after January 1, 2009, are required to be marked with the watt-hour rating.

Lastly, lithium metal batteries (non-rechargeable) with over two grams of lithium content are prohibited on Avelo flights. Always verify the watt-hour rating of your lithium-ion battery and check its markings.

Wheelchair Dimensions for Flying on Avelo Airlines

The cargo doors on Avelo Airlines are 33 x 48 inches - your wheelchair must be able to fit through this door in order to be transported.  Your wheelchair may need to be disassembled in order to fit through the cargo doors.

Requesting Wheelchair Assistance at the Airport when Flying on Avelo Airlines

Avelo Airlines does not require that you notify the airline ahead of time in order to request special assistance at the airport, but doing so will make it a smoother journey. 

You can add a request for wheelchair or airport assistance when making your original booking on the Avelo Airlines website by selecting "Wheelchair Assistance" or "Special Assistance" from the add-ons page while making your booking.

You can also add a request for assistance or a wheelchair to an existing booking, by selecting the "Change/Cancel" link on your reservation page and then going to the "Add-Ons" section.

If you prefer, you can also contact Avelo Airlines by phone by calling (346) 616-9500 to reach their Customer Support Center so that they can add a Wheelchair Assistance request to your booking. 

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