For the best travel experience when requesting these services:
Download our free mobile app called Fly for All, designed for those with cognitive and developmental disabilities, first-time flyers, and unaccompanied minors. Download Fly for All on the App Store "This indicates a link to an external site that may not meet accessibility guidelines." and Google Play "This indicates a link to an external site that may not meet accessibility guidelines.".
We offer assistance to anyone using a wheelchair or other mobility devices.
Wheelchairs and wheelchair escorts are available at every airport for customer use. Some airports have electric carts available for customer use.
We transport all types of personal wheelchairs, including folding, collapsible, non-folding manual wheelchairs, electric/battery-powered wheelchairs, and electric-powered carts or scooters.
Guests departing from the following airports now have the flexibility to have their own companion (traveling or not) borrow a wheelchair to assist from the ticket counter to your boarding gate, rather than utilize an airport wheelchair escort.
We suggest you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure and see a customer service representative for all wheelchair requests. Valid government-issued ID is required to go through security screening.
We do not offer curbside skycap service at most airport locations. If you need wheelchair assistance, we ask that you have someone go into the airport and let one of our representatives know you are here. We suggest arriving at the airport at least 2 hours prior to scheduled departure. Some airports may direct you to a meeting area where your escort will be called to provide assistance.
Inform your customer service agent at the airport of all services required, including transfer assistance and/or deplaning at a connecting/arrival location. We will need to arrange for wheelchair assistance at each location.
Please note that while customer service agents and/or wheelchair escorts can assist you to the baggage claim, in-terminal rental car counter, or curbside, they cannot wait with you or provide help with ground transportation. If you require additional assistance, we recommend traveling with a ticketed safety assistant.
Wheelchair assistance in Ketchikan Alaska: If you require the use of a wheelchair from the airport, we encourage you to also make arrangements for wheelchair service between the airport and the ferry terminal. You can make these arrangements in advance with Ketchikan Senior Services by calling 907-225-6575, or you can use a taxi service.
If you need assistance getting onto the aircraft, we offer the following options:
If you need these services we suggest you arrive at the gate for boarding 45 minutes prior to your departure to allow for preboarding and stowage of your baggage.
All of our aircraft are equipped with onboard wheelchairs for customers who need assistance to and from the lavatory. Additionally, we are happy to offer the following services:
Our inflight crews are not able to:
If you require assistance beyond what we can offer, we recommend traveling with a ticketed safety assistant.
Alaska Airlines accepts certain battery-powered mobility aids used by a guest with a disability. The mobility aid must have a single physical means of power disconnection to prevent unintentional activation. Examples of power disconnection include:
Alaska must be able to access the battery to determine that it is acceptable for transportation. The battery label must be legible and in English. The battery must not show signs of any defects or damage. If the device does not have an effective means of preventing unintentional activation, the battery must be disconnected, and the terminals protected from short circuit. In these cases, we recommend the guest provide disconnection instructions on the Wheelchair Information form so that our Agents can easily disassemble/reassemble as needed.
Alaska airlines does not accept the following items as mobility aids:
Spillable batteries
If a mobility aid is powered by a spillable battery (e.g. wet cell battery),
the battery must be removed and placed in a protective battery box, as
required by federal HAZMAT safety regulations, unless a battery powered
wheelchair with a spillable battery can be loaded, stored, secured, and
unloaded in an upright condition.
Non-spillable batteries (e.g. gel or dry cell batteries)
A non-spillable battery must be permanently marked by the manufacturer with
the words "NONSPILLABLE" or "NONSPILLABLE BATTERY" on the outside of the
battery. If it does not and the guest believes it to be a dry sealed
battery, we recommend bringing a copy of the manufacturer's safety data or
technical sheet explaining the battery's hazmat classification. If the
non-spillable battery is securely attached to the mobility aid, protected
from short circuit, and the device has a single means of protecting itself
from unintentional activation (key turned to "off" and removed, on/off
switch in the "off" position, quick disconnection of the joystick, etc.),
the battery may remain installed. Non-spillable batteries not installed or
securely attached must be transported as checked baggage and packaged in
strong, rigid packaging marked "NONSPILLABLE", "NONSPILLABLE BATTERY", or
"Not Restricted" and the battery terminals must be protected from short
circuit. Guests may bring one "spare" non-spillable battery. Spare
non-spillable batteries must also be transported as checked baggage.
Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) batteries
Mobility aids where the battery is fully enclosed and can’t be easily
removed, or the mobility aid has a battery that exceeds 300 watt-hours will
not be accepted for transport.
The battery must be easily removed and transported separately as carryon
baggage in the passenger cabin. The battery terminals must be protected from
short circuit. There is a single battery size limit of 300 watt-hours (Wh).
If the device utilizes two batteries, each battery cannot exceed 160 Wh. A
maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spares not
exceeding 160 Wh each may be carried onboard.
The battery’s size in watt-hours must be displayed on the battery, or the
battery should be labeled with its voltage and amp-hour (or milliamp-hour)
ratings to allow for size calculation (see formula below) if needed. Any
spare batteries must be transported as carryon baggage with the battery
terminals protected to prevent short circuit.
Some Li-ion batteries do not display the watt-hour rating on the battery
label. The following formulas may be used to determine the watt-hours rating
for a Lithium-ion battery:
If the battery lists the Amp-hour rating, use this formula:
Volts (V) x Amp-hours (Ah) = Watt-hours (Wh)
Example for a single battery:
10 volts multiplied by 24 Amp-hours = 240 watt-hours
The 240 watt-hours are below the 300 watt-hour limit for a single battery,
so the battery would be allowed.
If the battery lists the Milliamp-hour rating, use this formula instead:
Volts (V) x Milliamp-hours (mAh) ÷ 1,000 = Watt-hours (Wh)
Please note: Despite the claims of some manufacturers, there are no
“FAA-approved,” “ICAO-approved” or “IATA-approved” batteries, or approved
batteries from other regulating agencies.
To ensure the best experience, please check wheelchair dimension and weight limitations for our aircraft.
In order to safely board you and your wheelchair or assistive device, we strongly recommend that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. We ask that you be checked in two hours prior to departure and suggest you be available at the gate to preboard at least 45 minutes prior to the posted departure for all flights.
The following maximum weight and dimension limitations apply by aircraft type as listed below:
Rigid canes must be stowed in a closet or overhead bin. When required, please contact a flight attendant who will be happy to retrieve it.
If your assistive device will not fit safely in the approved stowage closet, we will be glad to transport it in the cargo compartment at no additional charge.