Yes, you can take your SmartScoot electric mobility scooter on Southwest! To speed up the process, you can print a wheelchair/scooter information form and bring it with you to the airport when presenting your assistive device to Southwest employees. Completing the form, while not required, “will serve as a useful guide to the employees who will be handling your assistive device.”
Ask for a gate check tag, ride your electric mobility scooter to the end of the jetway and leave it there. If the battery can be removed, Southwest asks that it be carried onboard to be stowed in the cabin. The SmartScoot mobility scooter easily collapses for storage.
To remove the scooter’s 5-pound battery, just slide the battery holder latch and disconnect the battery cord. Carefully slide up the battery pack, remove and bring it with you on the plane. The scooter will be waiting for you outside the aircraft doors when you land.
The SmartScoot electric mobility scooter meets Southwest Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations for traveling with mobility scooters and lithium-ion batteries. The mobility scooter uses a lithium-ion (li-ion) battery rated at 288-watt hours, which is below Southwest’s maximum of 300-watt hours for such batteries. “Southwest must be able to access the battery to determine that it is approved for transportation.”
You can download the SmartScootbattery compliance certificate here and take it with you on your next flight! This makes sure that there are no questions about whether your electric mobility scooter is in compliance.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also offers a helpline for travelers who need special assistance. You should call the TSA Cares helpline 3 days before departure with questions about screening policies and what to expect at the security checkpoint. Travelers requiring extra help can also request a passenger support specialist help them at the airport.
