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Traveling abroad with a wheelchair? Here’s what to do if it gets damaged on the way.

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4 months ago

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Traveling abroad with a wheelchair? Here’s what to do if it gets damaged on the way.

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  • Travelers who rely on mobility devices can face extra challenges if they arrive on a trip abroad to find those devices damaged.
  • Some pre-trip planning can go a long way to making for smooth travels.
  • If something does go wrong, it’s important to report it quickly and know what airlines are expected to do.

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Daniela Joseph said as much as she loves to travel, a damaged wheelchair is making her second-guess how much she flies.  

She was flying from her home in Virginia to Frankfurt, Germany, via Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal in April, and when she arrived for her connection, she said her wheelchair came back damaged. 

“The back was completely bent, the tire can’t lock in the chair right anymore,” she told USA TODAY. “The brakes are broken, meaning I can’t stop my chair from rolling. The seat is ripped.” 

For Joseph, the situation was complicated by the fact that she’s splitting her time between Germany and the U.S., and that her wheelchair was delivered to her in the states. 

“No German dealer wants to work with an American-issued chair,” she said. “When it comes to an estimate, they can’t really give an estimate because they don’t know the prices that are charged in the United States.” 

Travelers who rely on mobility devices can face extra challenges if they arrive on a trip abroad to find those devices damaged.  

“You’re such at the mercy of what happens to your wheelchair,” Joy Burns, alliances and organization coordinator at Wheel the World told USA TODAY.  

Wheel the World is a tour and travel booking site that caters to travelers with accessibility needs.  

Burns acknowledged that damaged mobility devices can ruin even the most carefully planned vacation, but she said there are some basic things disabled travelers can do to try to minimize the chance of damage, or to salvage a trip if damage occurs.

1. Plan ahead 

Burns said some pre-trip planning can go a long way to making for smooth travels. 

She recommends sticking to U.S.-based airlines, even for international trips, because if damage occurs, it’s often easier to deal with American companies when travelers return, rather than trying to keep on top of a carrier with offices abroad. Plus, Burns said, the regulations and expectations of airlines in the U.S. are fairly clear-cut, even if they’re not always followed perfectly. 

She also said it’s important to let your airline know about your accessibility needs in advance. 

“Make sure you call ahead to the airline,” Burns said. “There are some flights that can’t fit a power chair, the cargo space isn’t big enough. They need to have enough advanced notice.” 

Burns added that booking with a specialty company like Wheel the World can help ensure a traveler’s itinerary is more accessible overall, too. 

Airline wheelchair damage: Here’s how 30+ flyers were affected

2. Know your rights 

If something does go wrong, it’s important to report it quickly and know what airlines are expected to do.  

Department of Transportation regulations and the Air Carrier Access Act, which cover U.S. airlines and usually all international flights departing from the U.S., generally hold airlines responsible for mobility device damage. 

DOT statistics show U.S. airlines damaged about 1.38 percent of the mobility devices they handled in 2023. 

When traveling on a foreign airline in another country, or when leaving from abroad to return to the U.S., local regulations typically apply, so travelers will need to research the laws of the place they’re visiting. For example, European airlines are not necessarily required to cover the full cost of wheelchair repair or replacement even if they cause the damage, according to wheelchairtravel.org.

Manual wheelchairs are often able to be stored in the cabin and don’t need to be checked, and Burns recommended power wheelchair users take extra care in protecting their devices for the cargo hold whenever possible.  

3. Find a local vendor 

Burns said it’s a good idea to research local wheelchair vendors beforehand so you’re ready in case something goes wrong. 

“The first thing is, before you travel, make sure you know where the local repair shop is,” she said. “If it’s such damage that it’s unusable, find the local vendor and see if they have a loaner chair.” 

Of course, as Joseph learned firsthand, local vendors aren’t always able to help, especially with bigger repairs.  

“I’m playing with the idea of maybe having a cheaper travel chair that maybe can be broken down so you can put it in the overhead compartment when you travel and checking my everyday wheelchair, but what’s the guarantee that that won’t be damaged?” she said. 

Burns acknowledged that a loaner chair or local repair may not be ideal for some wheelchair users, either. 

“Wheelchairs are so specific to the person, and it really depends on the disability. People that have a more severe disability, they are going to have a much harder time in finding that replacement,” she said. “It’s not just a chair that your grandmother could use.” 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com. 

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