Special Needs

When making your travel arrangements, please inform us of your special needs.

Travel with your own wheelchair or other mobility aid:

Air Canada will carry the following mobility aids as carry-on (subject to space availability) or checked baggage over and above normal baggage allowance without charge:

• Wheelchairs or scooters. Special handling requirements apply to battery-powered mobility aids
• Walkers, canes, crutches and braces
• Communication devices*
• Prostheses
• Any portable battery-powered medical device that is related to a passenger's disability or medical condition and is needed in flight or required immediately upon arrival (e.g. dialysis equipment, feeding tube, CPAP or Personal Oxygen Concentrator)

* Communication devices include: augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, display boards and portable text-to-speech communication aids.

Advance notice and check-in

View advance notice and check-in requirements for itineraries between Canada and the US.

For all other itineraries, and because of the special handling requirements that apply to battery-powered mobility aids, we ask that you:

• inform Air Canada Reservations 48 hours in advance of travel that you wish to transport such equipment (72 hours for certain destinations). However, we will make every effort to accommodate requests made within that time frame.
• check in at least 60 minutes in advance of the recommended check-in time for your flight to ensure sufficient time for special handling and packaging.

View additional important information on battery-powered mobility aids, and select the appropriate option(s) from the "Special Needs" section when making your reservation online.

Wheelchair - Must be transferred to/from the cabin seat - self-reliant with an attendant

If you are travelling with an attendant, you are paraplegic, quadriplegic or unable to walk, and you require assistance from your wheelchair to and from your cabin seat, please call Air Canada Reservations immediately after completing your booking so that we can best help you and your attendant get the assistance you require.

Wheelchair - Must be transferred to/from the cabin seat - self-reliant without an attendant

If you are paraplegic, quadriplegic or unable to walk and require assistance from your wheelchair to and from your cabin seat, we recommend that you call Air Canada Reservations after completing your booking so that we can best help you get the assistance you require.

Wheelchair - Must be transferred to/from the cabin seat - non self-reliant with an attendant

If you are travelling with an attendant, you are paraplegic, quadriplegic or unable to walk, and you require assistance from your wheelchair to and from your cabin seat, please call Air Canada Reservations immediately after completing your booking so that we can best help you and your attendant get the assistance you require.

Require wheelchair assistance - cannot ascend or descend steps

You are not able to climb or descend steps, but can walk short distances within the aircraft's cabin without assistance. You are able to make your own way to and from the aircraft door to your cabin seat. Air Canada will provide wheelchair assistance to and from the door of the aircraft throughout your journey.

Require wheelchair assistance - cannot walk long distances

You are able to climb and descend steps on your own, and you can walk short distances. Air Canada will provide wheelchair assistance to and from the door of the aircraft throughout your journey.