General Information

Medical Clearance

Customers who have mobility limitations will not require Qantas Medical Clearance to fly, unless:

• Their disability is new (has occurred within six weeks of travel) or is unstable (has changed within six weeks of travel).
• Their condition may deteriorate during the flight.
• Their condition may deteriorate due to a decrease in oxygen levels in the aircraft cabin environment or a decrease in cabin pressure.

If your customer has a medical condition, we recommend you refer to the Qantas Group Medical Travel Clearance Form at the time of booking in case medical clearance is required.

Mobility Aids

Please refer to the following information for carriage of mobility aids.

Carriage of Walking Canes, Crutches and Walking Frames

Walking canes and crutches may be carried in the aircraft cabin and are stowed in an overhead locker or alternative storage space. Walking frames are permitted in the aircraft cabin if collapsible and able to be stowed safely by the cabin crew. Non-collapsible walking frames are not permitted in the aircraft cabin. If your customer checks their walking frame in, they will be transferred to the departure gate by a Qantas wheelchair or people mover.

Carriage of Mobility Aids and Wheelchairs

On Airbus A380 and B787 aircraft, one personal manual collapsible wheelchair can be stowed in the cabin. This can be requested at the airport during check-in and is provided on a first come first serve basis. The permitted dimensions are 33cm x 91cm x 106cm in the collapsed state and the maximum weight is 30.9kg. All other passenger mobility aids will be stowed in the hold.

On all other aircraft types, passengers cannot take their collapsible wheelchairs into the aircraft cabin.

Mobility Aid Size Restrictions

In accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and to reduce any risk of damage, restrictions apply to the acceptance of mobility aids. For further information please refer to Mobility Aid Size Restrictions

Your Customer

Requesting Wheelchair Assistance

The following types of wheelchair requests can be added to bookings made via your Technology Partner connected to the Qantas Distribution Platform and other technology systems. Please use the entry formats provided below and refer to your Technology Partner for any additional information regarding wheelchair requests, including via the Qantas Distribution Platform.

Note: All wheelchair requests – WCHR, WCHS and WCHC for Qantas (QF) operated flights remain as HN status in your customer's booking.

When requesting wheelchair assistance, please select from the following three options best suited to your customer's needs Only one option should be selected:

Type of Wheelchairs Assistance

WCHR - Wheelchair Ramp – for wheelchair provided by QF:

Add a WCHR request for a wheelchair provided by Qantas for a customer who:

• Cannot walk long distances.
• Can ascend/descend steps unassisted.
• Can make their own way within the aircraft cabin to/from their seat.

Required Entries:

WCHS - Wheelchair Step - for wheelchair provided by QF:

Add a WCHS request for a wheelchair provided by Qantas for a customer who:

• Cannot walk long distances.
• Cannot ascend/descend steps unassisted.
• Can make their own way within the aircraft cabin to/from their seat.

Required Entries:

WCHC - Wheelchair Cabin - Customer travels with own wheelchair:

Add a WCHC request for a customer travelling with their own wheelchair who:

• Cannot walk long distances.
• Cannot ascend/descend steps unassisted.
• Is immobile within the aircraft cabin and may require assistance with transfer into/out of their aircraft seat.

In addition, you need to provide the following mandatory information:

• Manual (collapsible or non-collapsible) plus weight of wheelchair; or

• Battery-Operated plus weight of wheelchair*

• Type of Battery – select from:

  • Non-spillable (Gel/Dry Cell, Sealed Lead Acid, AGM)
  • Lithium
  • Nickel Metal Hydride/Nickel Cadmium

• Measurements of the wheelchair in its most collapsed state

• Whether the customer can self-transfer or not

*If travelling with a battery powered mobility aid, your customers are required to obtain Dangerous Goods approval from Qantas. Visit our Dangerous Goods page for information.

Amadeus Entries

Travelport - Galileo Entries

Sabre Entries

Worldspan Entries

Travelsky

Note:

Qantas can supply a chair for customers who require WCHC assistance. The following service information should be added to their booking using the above entry formats for WCHC:

WCHC QF NOT TAKING OWN REQUIRES USE OF AIRLINE CHAIR

PAX ABLE TO SELF TRANSFER

When a WCHC is requested, your booking will be auto queued to Qantas to ensure all the above mandatory details are included. We ask that the above information is included for your customer to prevent any delays with processing by our Specific Needs team.

Upper Torso Support Harness

For customers requiring an upper torso support harness supplied by Qantas, please contact our Specific Needs Team at least 7 days prior to departure, where possible. Customers wishing to use their own harness must allow at least 14 days for QF Engineering to assess if it can be approved. For more information, please contact the Specific Needs Team:

• 1800 177 474 within Australia, or

• +61 2 9123 7471 from outside Australia

  Whilst all reasonable care will be taken, your customers remain responsible for obtaining insurance in relation to the carriage of their mobility aid.

  Mobility Equipment Allowance

  Please refer to Mobility equipment allowance for information on the types and number of pieces of mobility aids and assistive devices that can be carried on Qantas flights.

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  At the Airport

  If kerbside assistance is required, a carer will need to come inside the terminal and advise a Qantas staff member of the need for a wheelchair.

  For further information refer to Mobility Assistance.

  Seating for passengers travelling with mobility aids will be allocated at the airport.

  Passengers may surrender their mobility aid at check-in or at the departure gate. If they choose to surrender their mobility aid at check-in, they will be transferred to a Qantas wheelchair or people mover, and assisted to the departure gate by a Qantas staff member. Customers may choose to have their mobility aid delivered to them at the gate lounge on arrival or it can be collected from the baggage collection area.

  Check-in

  Passengers who require mobility assistance are required to be at the airport:

• 60 minutes before departure at Australian domestic terminals.

• At least two hours before departure at international terminals.

For departures from overseas ports, check with the local Qantas office and allow an extra 30 minutes in addition to the normal check-in time.

Boarding

If your customer chooses to surrender their mobility aid at the departure gate, they must check in and complete all security and immigration formalities (if applicable) and be at the departure gate:

• 40mins before departure at Australian domestic terminals, or;
• 60mins before departure at international terminals.

Passengers travelling with wheelchairs will be asked to board first and are generally last off the aircraft.