Flying with a wheelchair and SMA

Last updated June 18, 2025, by Susie Strachan

A new rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) now requires airlines to treat mobility equipment with greater care after years of complaints about damaged wheelchairs and poor support for disabled travelers.

For people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), these changes could make flying more manageable. But air travel may still feel like a major undertaking when you rely on a wheelchair.

Kevan Chandler, who has SMA and is an author and founder of the nonprofit We Carry Kevan, knows this firsthand. Living in the Midwest with his wife, Katie, he has taken more than 50 flights in the past decade.

Through experience, he’s learned what works and what matters when flying with a wheelchair.

Know before you go

Planning ahead is helpful, but so is being flexible. While airlines have general procedures for traveling with mobility devices, no two airlines are the same.

“Every airport, airline, and day-of staff member is a little different,” says Chandler. “Always be prepared, most of all, to be flexible.”

Check the airline’s website or call them to learn how they handle wheelchairs. Pay attention to battery requirements and boarding options.

Chandler suggests arriving at the airport at least three hours early. That will give you room to breathe if check-in takes longer than expected.

He works with the friends or family he’s traveling with to rehearse the transition on and off the plane, so everyone knows the plan ahead of time.

He says that traveling with people you trust and approaching the process with patience can make a big difference.

“We’re all doing the best we can, including the guy in the orange vest who has no idea how your wheelchair works,” he says. “We won’t get as far with enemies as we will with allies.”

Handing over your chair at the airport

When it’s time to part with your wheelchair, be organized and ready to move quickly, as airport staff often juggle tight timelines.

Chandler recommends removing fragile parts like the joystick, armrests, and headrest and storing them in your carry-on luggage or a checked suitcase. If the chair uses gel or lithium-ion batteries, these may need to be removed and carried on board.

“It’s a matter of knowing your chair and what is most at risk,” he says, adding it’s important to label every item with your name and contact information.

More ways to protect your chair include:

• taking clear photos or a short video of your chair before handing it off, which will help if you need to document damage
• printing and attaching instructions for rebuilding the chair, using tape or a luggage tag
• writing instructions for baggage handlers, such as “Chair must remain upright”
• If available, using a gate check tag and requesting that your chair be brought to the jet bridge rather than the baggage claim.

Post-flight solutions

Even with careful planning and stronger protections under new DOT rules, things can still go wrong.

Chandler’s chair has been damaged twice; once minor, once major. Both times, he reported the damage while still at the airport.

“If you don’t fill out the paperwork before you leave the airport, they are not liable for it,” he says.

Don’t sign off on your chair until you’ve thoroughly checked it over. Airport attendants may stay with you until you’re back in your chair. He suggests using that time to speak up if something isn’t right.

Under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and new DOT rules introduced in 2025, airlines are responsible for covering repairs or replacements if they damage your mobility device.

Many airlines still require that damage be reported immediately at the baggage claim or customer service desk, with a complaint form submitted on site.

If your wheelchair is damaged:

• take photos of damage, from several angles, to compare it with its pre-flight condition
• keep all documentation and photos for your claim.

Flying with SMA can be complicated, but it’s entirely doable if you prepare accordingly, remain flexible, and advocate for yourself. Thanks to new DOT protections and hard-earned travel wisdom from people like Kevan Chandler, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

SMA News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.