Personal Mobility Aids and Assistive Devices

Mobility Aids

To assist passengers who have a disability, Northwest Airlines and our Airlink Partners accept all types of mobility aids including folding, collapsible and non-folding manual wheelchairs, electric/battery powered wheelchairs, and electric scooters/carts free of charge regardless of weight and size. Excess luggage charges do not apply. If a passenger needs more than one assistive device for travel, all required assistive devices will be accommodated.

Forty-eight (48) hours advance notice and one (1) hour check-in on the day of departure are needed for any electrical mobility aid, to ensure compliance with requirements for handling hazardous materials.

Note: Some large, power wheelchairs or non-collapsible scooters/wheelchairs may not fit on all aircraft type. While we will make every effort to carry assist devices there are some combinations of aircraft type and wheelchair size when a wheelchair may not fit in the hold of an aircraft. If you are checking a large or non-collapsible assist device it is advised that you call Northwest at 1-800-225-2525 in advance with the dimensions of your wheelchair/scooter to ensure it fits onboard the scheduled aircraft type.

Cabin Stowage
All Northwest Aircraft have space in the cabin for the storage of one (1) folding, collapsible or breakdown wheelchair or other assistive device. A customer who takes advantage of pre-boarding may stow a personal mobility aid onboard. If more than one passenger wishes to stow an assistive device in the cabin, accommodation will be made on a first come, first served basis. Mobility aids stowed onboard have priority over other carry-on items, including crew luggage, except those of through customers. Not all stowage locations accommodate all sizes of mobility aids.

Checking a Mobility Aid
A customer’s mobility aid can be checked at the ticket counter and/or the gate. We prefer that power equipment which will require disassembly be checked at the ticket counter so that proper handling can be arranged. If a mobility aid is checked at the ticket counter, Northwest will provide assistance to the gate using an airport wheelchair.

Mobility aids may also be checked at the gate and returned at connections and upon arrival at the door of the aircraft. When checking a mobility aid at the gate, please indicate to the agent whether or not you wish to use your mobility aid at any connecting airport. If a connection time is less than 60 minutes, time constraints may make it impractical to provide this service during a layover. In this situation, Northwest will provide transfer assistance between gates.

Manual Wheelchairs
Customers' manual wheelchairs may be checked for stowage in the cargo compartment at the ticket counter or at the gate. Please provide information regarding handling of the wheelchair to our employees to ensure proper transportation. Detachable items such as seat cushions and footrests can be carried onboard or tagged and stowed with the wheelchair in the cargo compartment.

Customers who pre-board may request to have their wheelchair stowed in any accessible closet. Northwest provides at least one (1) priority wheelchair stowage location in the cabin of all aircraft. Not all stowage locations accommodate all wheelchairs.

Electric/Battery Power Wheelchairs
Depending upon the size of a power wheelchair and the type of battery, the battery may need to be removed and packaged and the wheelchair disassembled.

If the size of the aircraft cargo compartment door or cargo compartment itself prevents stowing a power wheelchair in an upright position, our employees may ask for instructions on how to disassemble the equipment. It is helpful if assembly/disassembly instructions are attached to the wheelchair.

Segway (Human Transporters)
Contingent on battery type, Northwest will accept a Segway or other similar 2-wheel Personal Transporter as an assistive device for a customer with a qualifying disability.

SEGWAY’s are powered by either Lithium-ion (Li-ion) or Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) battery packs. The Lithium-ion batteries are considered a dangerous good by the FAA and cannot be transported on passenger aircraft.

Batteries
Batteries must be identified as either spillable or non-spillable, so that our employees may establish correct dangerous goods handling procedures. A spare battery is accepted free of charge.

When battery packing is required, a forty-eight (48) hour advance notice and one (1) hour check-in on the day of departure is required.

Spillable Batteries (Wet-cell)
Wet-cell batteries are considered spillable and are not allowed in the cabin. Special preparations must be made before being transported by air. The battery must be disconnected and terminals protected against electrical shorting. If a mobility aid cannot fit upright through our cargo compartment door or if the battery appears cracked or damaged, the battery must be removed, and it will be shipped in a Northwest battery box to meet dangerous goods handling requirements.

Non-spillable Batteries (Dry-cell or Gel-cell)
Dry cell and gel cell batteries are considered non-spillable and there are fewer requirements for handling. Batteries will remain attached to the powered mobility aid when the mobility aid fits upright through the aircraft cargo compartment door. If the mobility aid cannot be stowed in an upright position, the batteries will be removed and boxed for transit.

Disconnecting Batteries
Whether or not the battery needs to be removed from the mobility device, the power must always be disconnected and the terminals insulated to prevent an accidental short circuit.

Batteries are disconnected by unplugging the quick disconnectors and taping the ends of the wires. If there are no quick disconnectors, the battery will be disconnected by removing the container cover and marking, disconnecting and taping the cables. No taping is necessary if the battery remains in a container with a secure lid. The batteries are considered insulated.

Lithium Batteries
Lithium batteries, both chargeable and re-chargeable, may not be placed in checked luggage. If the battery contains less than 25 grams of lithium, the battery may be carried in carry-on bags. However, only two (2) lithium batteries with more than eight (8) grams of lithium and less than 25 grams of lithium will be allowed in carry-on bags. Lithium batteries that contain more that 25 grams of lithium are forbidden.