Here at Suncoast Mobility one of our most frequently asked questions is which mobility scooters are airline approved and best for travel. After all, losing your mobility does not mean you need to give up your freedom to explore and your passion for travel. Luckily, many of our mobility scooters aid in making travel a breeze. Some of our most popular travel scooters are in the folding mobility scooter category. In this article we will discuss some helpful tips and outline some of the best mobility scooters for the frequent traveler. Whether it’s road trips, cruises or air travel, we certainly have the right mobility scooter for you.
Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Compact Airline Approved Travel Scooter
To pick the best portable mobility scooter for your needs, there are a few things you should consider. What is the weight of the electric mobility scooter? What is its width? Does it fold or disassemble? What is the price? Will the ride be comfortable? We'll go over a few of the most important characteristics to consider when buying a new travel mobility scooter below.
Cost
A folding or portable travel scooter can range in price from $1,400.00 to $3,000.00 or more, depending on the model. The majority of the time, high-tech mobility scooters with a plethora of functions and add-ons will cost more than basic or conventional models. Prior to making a choice, be sure to think about the characteristics you'll actually need.
Weight
The weight is always an important factor to consider when purchasing a mobility scooter. It becomes even more important while purchasing a portable mobility scooter because someone will frequently be lifting the scooter during various types of travel. This means choosing a device that is either lightweight or disassembles into small enough pieces for you or a loved one to handle is critical.
Portability
All compact travel scooters are designed with portability in mind, however, each model achieves this in a different way. Some of them will fold up (automatically or manually) to a compact size, while others disassemble into multiple pieces. Many users find that automatic folding electric travel scooters are more convenient, but for some, these may be too heavy to lift in and out of a vehicle. Others may find that a scooter that disassembles may be lighter and easier to lift in and out of the car. Keep in mind a scooter that disassembles will take a little extra time to reassemble. Be sure to consider which style will better suit your needs before purchasing or even reach out to one of our mobility experts to discuss in depth.
Airline Approved
Do you have a big trip planned and need an airline approved device? If so you may be wondering if the travel scooter you’re considering is airline approved. In the past, lithium-ion batteries have been a hot topic and have caused issues for some travelers. The FAA states that travelers may either pack one battery (with a maximum capacity of 300 watt hours) or two batteries (with a maximum capacity of 160 watt hours each. Fortunately all the models listed here fit within these restrictions or offer alternatives that are acceptable to airlines.
What Are the Best Airline Approved Travel Scooters for 2023?
We’ve put together a list of what we consider the 3 best travel scooters for 2023. These models are all portable and perfect for airline, cruise, and local travel. Below we review some key things to consider during your research such as turning radius, weight capacity, price, and the scooters total weight.
Golden Technology CarryOn
The Golden Technologies Buzzaround CarryOn folding mobility scooter is a compact and sleek design with elements of a heavy duty unit. Some features are an infinite adjustable tiller, full front, and rear lighting package, USB port, lithium-ion battery pack (travel battery pack sold separately), and 300 lb. weight capacity. The heaviest piece is 47.5 lbs. (without seat and batteries) and the height when folded is only 12”.
The compact folded CarryOn will fit under your bed at home and even underneath beds on a cruise ship. The Golden Technologies Buzzaround CarryOn can even be towed like luggage by placing the scooter in free-wheel mode and lifting up on the front handle. Making it ideal for all forms of travel. A travel battery is required for airline travel.
Golden Technologies offers a comprehensive factory warranty that rivals any other competitor in the industry. All Golden Technologies mobility scooters come with a one-year in-home service contract at our cost. This means if you have any issues for the first year we will dispatch a licensed technician to your home to diagnose and repair the unit for free for one year.
| Turning Radius | 48.75" |
| Weight Capacity | 300 lbs |
| Weight of Unit | 47.5 lbs (w/o seat and battery) |
| Folds | Yes |
| Disassembles |
Yes
|
EV Rider Transport 4AF
The EV Rider Transport line of scooters has always been hugely popular with clients looking to travel. They are a line of foldable, compact, and easy to use devices. Among them, the EV Rider Transport 4AF is the newest and most advanced.
The EV Rider Transport 4AF automatic folding mobility scooter is equipped with an 11.5Ah lithium battery and weighs just 51 lbs making it perfect for travel and easy storage. Due to its turning radius, this compact mobility scooter offers great maneuverability in narrow spaces making it a breeze to use in public. The Transport AF easily fits in the trunk of most automobiles making it that much more convenient for daily use.
The EV Rider Transport 4AF automatic folding mobility scooter easily folds with a push of a button on your handheld key fob. This mobility scooter is approved for most airlines and cruises making it the perfect device for travel. We suggest contacting the air or cruise line ahead of time to alert them and to prevent any possible delays.
| Turning Radius | 39.4" |
| Weight Capacity | 250 lbs |
| Weight of Unit | 51 lbs |
| Folds | Yes |
| Disassembles | No |
Enhance Mobility Transformer 2
The Enhance Mobility Transformer 2 is easy to use, is ultra-portable and extremely user friendly. Offering Remote Control operation for opening and closing plus a manual option if necessary. The Transformer has a 300lb weight capacity and comes standard with a lightweight Lithium battery (13.5 Miles on a single charge). The lithium battery is also backed by a one-year warranty and the unit comes with a free one-year in-home service contract.
The Transformer 2 is ideal for all forms of travel including airline and cruise ships. Once folded it can be stored in the back of most vehicles making it ideal for someone on the move. It can also be stored almost anywhere in your home without taking up too much space. Enhance Mobility offers a service contract for no extra charge. If anything goes wrong with your device a service professional will come to your home to complete any repairs needed.
| Turning Radius | 55" |
| Weight Capacity | 300 lbs. |
| Weight of Unit | 55 lbs. |
| Folds | Yes |
| Disassembles | No |
EV Rider Transport AF Plus
The EV Rider AF Plus automatic folding mobility scooter is equipped with an 11.5Ah lithium battery and weighs just 49 lbs making it perfect for travel and easy storage. Due to its 31" turning radius it has great maneuverability in narrow spaces making it a breeze to use in public and your home. The Transport AF easily fits in the trunk of most automobiles making it ideal for someone with an active lifestyle.
The EV Rider Transport AF Plus automatic folding mobility scooter easily folds and unfolds with a push of a button on your handheld key fob. This mobility scooter is approved for most airlines and cruises making it the perfect device for travel. We suggest contacting the air or cruise line ahead of time to alert them and to prevent any possible delays on your trip.
|
Turning Radius
|
31"
|
|
Weight Capacity
|
250 lbs
|
|
Weight of Unit
|
49 lbs
|
|
Folds
|
Yes
|
|
Disassembles
|
No
|
Tips for Traveling with a Mobility Scooter
Although the right mobility scooter can make traveling a lot easier, there are still a few tips we recommend when traveling with one that can help avoid any road bumps.
Call Ahead: Always call your airline ahead of time and let them know your travel needs and that you will be flying with your mobility scooter. Transporting your scooter is usually free, but notifying your airline ahead of time is always a good practice to prevent any delays on the day of your departure.
Take Pictures: We always suggest to photograph your mobility scooter before you fly. This way if the airline happens to damage your mobility scooter you will have proof for compensation.
Ask Questions: Reach out to your place of accommodation about wheelchair access and maneuvering the property upon your arrival. Be sure to study the city you’re visiting to avoid any surprises upon arrival. We also suggest booking with enough time to fully understand where you are headed.
Know Your Scooter: Every client should know the dimensions of their mobility scooter. This will aid in assisting the airline to make proper accommodations for your flight.
Know Your Rights: You should have a good understanding of the US Air Carrier Access Act and even save it on your phone in the off chance you run into any hassles.
Go With the Flow: Be adaptable during your travel and most importantly have fun!
Questions? Contact Us.
When trying to determine the best airline approved travel mobility scooter for your needs it’s important to take into account what specifically you are looking for from the device. Our team of mobility experts are here to guide you every step of the way. Please do not hesitate to call us at (727) 537-6275 or email us at info@suncoastmobility.com. We look forward to speaking with you.