Before you travel

On request, US Airways provides certain seating accommodations to passengers who have a specified mobility disability, if the type of seating accommodation exists on the aircraft. If you meet this criteria and would like a seating accommodation, please call US Airways Reservations at 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 at least 24 hours in advance. If you request the seating accommodation less than 24 hours in advance, then US Airways will attempt to meet the request to the extent practicable.

We can provide special seating for:

  • For a passenger who uses an aisle chair to access the aircraft and who cannot readily transfer over a fixed aisle armrest, US Airways will provide a seat in a row with a movable aisle armrest. On aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats, US Airways offers movable aisle armrests on at least one-half of the aisle seats in rows in Coach class in which passengers with mobility impairment are permitted to sit under FAA rules.
  • For a passenger with a fused or immobilized leg, US Airways will provide a bulkhead seat or other seat that provides greater legroom than other seats, on the side of an aisle that better accommodates the individual's disability.

If you have a special need other than the two mobility impairments listed above, and if you need a seating accommodation in order to readily access and use our air transportation services, and if you self-identify as having a specified disability, then US Airways will attempt to accommodate your seating accommodation request, if the type of seating accommodation in question exists on the particular aircraft. Please call US Airways Reservations at 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 at least 24 hours in advance so we can try to assign you a seat that accommodates your needs.

On aircraft with 60 or more seats (even if the aircraft does not have an accessible lavatory), US Airways can provide an on-board wheelchair for a passenger who can use an inaccessible lavatory but cannot reach it from a seat without using an on-board wheelchair. In this case, please notify US Airways Reservations at 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 48 hours in advance.

For safety-related reasons, if a passenger has a mobility impairment so severe that the person is unable to physically assist in his or her own evacuation of the aircraft, US Airways requires that the passenger travel with a safety assistant to assist the passenger to exit the aircraft in case of an emergency evacuation. The safety assistant must purchase his or her own ticket.

Special assistance at the airport

Curbside assistance

Please let us know if you need an airport wheelchair or help with your own wheelchair by asking a skycap vendor for assistance, or proceed to the US Airways ticket counter. Sky cap vendor assistance is available in selected cities at no charge. You will need to advise the skycap vendors of any special needs that you have requested.

At the ticket counter

If not did not check in online, you can check in at the airport up to 4 hours before your scheduled departure time.

Please inform the ticket agent or gate agent of any special assistance you may need.

If you did not request a seating accommodation in advance, US Airways will still attempt to meet your request at the airport for accommodations such as a seat with a movable aisle armrest and an adjacent seat for a companion who will be assisting you (and to have that person listed in your reservation).

If you need wheelchair assistance for your trip, please inform the ticket counter agent or the gate agent so that we may fill out the proper documents and document your reservation. By following that procedure, we can inform our personnel at your arriving city that a wheelchair is needed on arrival.

Electric carts may be available at some airport locations. These carts are used to transport passengers between concourses within the same terminal. Ask a ticket counter agent or gate agent for assistance when you arrive.

Security checkpoint

As you proceed through the security checkpoint, don't hesitate to ask screeners for assistance with your mobility aid and carry-on items. Let the screener know your level of ability (e.g. whether you can walk, stand or perform an arm lift) so they can assist you.

  • Inform screeners of any special equipment or devices that you are using and where this equipment is located on your body. This will help the screener to be careful of that equipment if a physical search is necessary.
  • Let screeners know if you cannot remove your shoes when additional screening is necessary. Assistance will be provided
  • Ensure that all bags and satchels carried on or under your wheelchair are put on the X-ray belt for inspection.
  • Ask the screener to reunite you with your carry-on items and other personal assistance items once the X-ray inspection is completed.

Before you board

US Airways offers pre-boarding for passengers with a disability who need additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment or be seated.

  • US Airways also offers boarding and deplaning assistance.
  • Please inform a US Airways gate agent of your request.

Boarding the aircraft

Special boarding chairs are available to assist passengers with mobility impairments to their seats. Please provide clear instructions to personnel regarding how you wish to be transferred into the seat.

Please also let us know if you need assistance in stowing and retrieving carry-on items such as mobility aids and other assistive devices stowed in the cabin.

On board the aircraft

Accessible lavatories are only available on large aircraft with two aisles (generally used for long international flights). For those aircraft, US Airways has an on-board wheelchair to assist the passenger in getting to the lavatory.

Deplaning the aircraft

If you need wheelchair assistance at your destination or transfer point please ensure that you have notified a gate agent or a ticket counter agent so that they can fill out the proper documents and that your reservation is documented. By doing this, it will ensure that your wheelchair has been ordered and will be waiting for you upon arrival.

Transporting wheelchairs and other assistive devices

Manual wheelchairs, canes, crutches and walkers

For flights on aircraft with more than 100 seats, US Airways has room for one typical adult-sided folding, collapsible, or break-down manual wheelchair (or other assistive device such as canes, crutches and walkers) in the cabin’s priority stowage space, so long as it complies with applicable safety, security and hazardous materials rules. In some cases, the priority stowage space will be a closet and in some cases it will be the back row of seats (where the wheelchair is strapped to the seats).

US Airways offers in-cabin wheelchair stowage on a first-come, first-served basis.

If possible, please call 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 24 hours before your flight to document your request for in-cabin wheelchair stowage.

Wheelchairs stowed in the cabin do not count as a carry-on.

Walkers are stowed in the overhead storage compartment, and canes are usually stowed by the passenger at their seat.

If space is not available in the cabin for mobility aids and other assistive devices, or if the items cannot be transported in the cabin consistent with applicable safety, security and hazardous materials rules, then US Airways can transport the items in the cargo compartment. In that event, US Airways will tag your mobility aid or assistive device for special handling and place it in the cargo compartment as you board the aircraft. We will return the mobility aid or assistive device to you at the destination gate upon arrival or at a connecting airport. US Airways does not charge a checked baggage fee for this type of item.

Battery-powered mobility aids

For battery-powered mobility aids, such as a passenger’s battery-powered wheelchair or other mobility devices, US Airways can transport the items as checked baggage if the baggage compartment is large enough and if all aircraft airworthiness requirements are satisfied. We cannot transport a damaged or leaking battery.

If you wish to check your battery-powered wheelchair or other similar mobility device, you must call 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 48 hours in advance and check in one hour before the check-in time for the general public.

In some situations, it will be necessary to remove the battery from the passenger’s wheelchair or other similar mobility device, and to package it separately:

1) Any lithium-ion battery
2) Any battery that is inadequately secured to a wheelchair; or
3) Any spillable battery contained in a wheelchair that cannot be loaded, stowed, secured and unloaded in an upright position.

Please call 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 48 hours in advance, and check in one hour before the check-in time for the general public.

Also, Segway transporters when used as an assistive device will be accepted, but we are not authorized to transport the large lithium batteries that many Segway’s use, as per U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Regulations.

Transportation of lithium ion batteries requirements




  • Batteries must have 25 grams of equivalent lithium content “ELC” or less or rated 300 watt hours or less. The U.S. Department of Transportation considers lithium ion batteries to be hazardous materials, and prohibits lithium ion batteries with over 25 grams ELC or rated over 300 watt hours from air travel.
  • Batteries must be labeled or you must provide documentation showing the battery has been UN P.T. III Section 38.3 tested
  • US Airways will not transport more than 2 batteries at 25 grams ELC or rated 300 watt hours or less per person.

Please call 800-428-4322/TTY 800-245-2966 about:

  • Transportation of an electric wheelchair on an aircraft with fewer than 60 seats
  • Provision of hazardous materials packaging for batteries or other assistive devices that are required to have such packaging (a wheelchair or other device that uses a wet cell battery)

When disassembly in required

If US Airways will be required to disassemble your wheelchair, other mobility aid or other assistive device, please provide written directions (ideally from the manufacturer) for disassembly and reassembly.

Connecting assistance

Please advise us in advance if you prefer to use your own personal wheelchair at your connecting airport. At Charlotte, Philadelphia, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Phoenix and Las Vegas, we have special equipment to expedite the delivery of personal wheelchairs for use during your layover. Time between connecting flights may be insufficient to provide this service if disassembly and reassembly of a personal wheelchair is required. If time is a factor, we recommend taking advantage of our wheelchair service.