Yes, you can fly with crutches, and airlines must help you move through the airport and cabin safely.
Flying with crutches can look daunting the first time you try it. Plan the steps from home to the arrival airport and the whole trip becomes more manageable. This guide walks through each stage so you know what to expect and what to ask for.
Airlines treat crutches as mobility aids, not regular luggage. That means staff must carry them for you when needed, let you keep them nearby when possible, and help you board and exit the aircraft. The exact process changes a little by airline and country, yet the main pattern is similar worldwide.
Can You Fly With Crutches? Airport Steps At A Glance
If you are wondering can you fly with crutches?, the answer is yes as long as you can travel safely and your doctor is happy with you flying. The law protects passengers who use mobility aids, though you still need to prepare for security checks, boarding, and tight spaces on board.
The stages below show where crutches sit, who handles them, and what you can do to keep the trip smooth.
| Travel Stage | What Happens With Crutches | What You Can Do |
|---|---|---|
| Before You Book | You check airline rules and seat layouts for legroom and aisle space. | Pick flights with enough time for transfers and add a request for mobility help. |
| Before You Fly | You add details about crutches to your booking and pack light around them. | Call the airline to add assistance notes and reach the airport early. |
| Check In | Staff tag your booking and, if needed, order a wheelchair or escort. | Explain how far you can walk, how many stairs you can handle, and where you need help. |
| Security Screening | TSA or local screeners inspect crutches by X-ray or hand swab. | Tell officers if you cannot stand unaided or walk through the scanner at all. |
| Boarding | Gate agents give you extra time to reach the aircraft door and seat. | Ask for preboarding and keep medicines and papers in a small carry on bag. |
| In Flight | Cabin crew store crutches in an overhead bin, closet, or against the bulkhead. | Check that you can reach the aisle when you need the restroom or to stretch. |
| Arrival | Staff return your crutches at the door or on the jet bridge. | Wait for help before stepping into busy aisles or stairs if your balance feels shaky. |
Flying With Crutches On A Plane: What Airlines Must Provide
In many countries, disability law stops airlines from treating passengers who use crutches unfairly. In the United States, the Air Carrier Access Act and the Airline Passengers With Disabilities Bill Of Rights explain what help you can request on each flight.
Airlines cannot refuse you just because you walk with crutches, unless a medical issue makes flying unsafe in general. They have to carry your crutches free of charge, give you help through the terminal if you ask, and board you before the main crowd when extra time is needed.
You can choose how you move through the airport. Some travelers stay on crutches the whole way. Others switch between a wheelchair and crutches depending on pain and distance. Staff should not force you into one plan if another safe option works better for you.
Preparing To Fly With Crutches Before You Leave Home
Good planning starts long before you reach the check in desk. Think about pain levels, stamina, and how much weight you can carry on your shoulders or back. The more you simplify bags and documents, the easier it feels to keep your balance on crutches.
Talk To Your Medical Team Early
If you use crutches after a fracture, surgery, or a recent flare of a long term condition, speak with your doctor, surgeon, or clinic. Ask whether cabin pressure, sitting for long periods, or walking long distances could cause problems for you. Ask whether you need extra blood clot prevention, a letter for security, or changes to medication times during travel days.
Choose Flights And Seats That Work With Crutches
Nonstop flights cut down on transfers and extra walks through terminals. When you do need a connection, pick longer layovers so you can move at your own pace between gates. At booking, look for aisle seats near the front or close to the restroom, depending on your needs.
Many airlines let you request seating changes at no extra cost when you use mobility aids. This can include bulkhead rows with more knee space or seats near transfer chairs. If online tools do not show these options, call and speak to an agent and explain your limits in plain terms.
Security Screening With Crutches
Security lines can cause the most stress, since you pass your crutches through a scanner and stand without them for a short time. Agencies such as the TSA explain that walkers, canes, and crutches must be screened, and that officers can adapt their methods to your needs. You can read more on the TSA disabilities and medical conditions page at the TSA Cares program.
What Happens At The Checkpoint
When you reach the officer, say clearly that you travel with crutches and tell them how stable you feel without them. If you can stand briefly, you may walk through the metal detector while an officer X-rays or inspects the crutches. If standing without the crutches is risky, you can request a pat down while seated.
Crutches often set off scanners due to metal parts. That does not mean you did anything wrong. Officers may swab the grips or tips for traces of explosives or run a hand search of padding and moving parts. Once screening is complete, they should hand the crutches back before you take a single step.
Tips To Make Security Easier
Wear slip on shoes so you spend less time bending or balancing on one leg. Keep medical letters, prescriptions, and any implant cards in a small pouch at the top of your bag. Tell officers if you live with chronic pain or fatigue so they understand why you move slowly or need a chair while you wait.
Boarding And Seating When You Use Crutches
Boarding is the point where the aisle narrows, bags pile up, and every bump feels sharper. Early boarding gives you space and time to move through the cabin without pressure from other passengers. At the gate, tell staff that you use crutches and would like extra time to reach your seat.
Where Crutches Go During The Flight
On many aircraft, short underarm or forearm crutches fit in overhead bins or a closet near the front of the plane. Some airlines strap them to a bulkhead, out of the way yet reachable when you stand up. Extra tall or bulky crutches may travel as checked assistive devices and wait for you at the door on arrival.
Tell cabin crew how often you expect to stand, stretch, or use the restroom. They can choose a storage spot that balances safety with access so you are not stuck waiting each time.
| Seat Or Option | Best For Travelers With Crutches | What To Know Before You Choose |
|---|---|---|
| Aisle Seat | Quicker access to the restroom and easier transfers from crutches to seat. | Watch for carts and passing bags that may bump your injured leg or crutches. |
| Bulkhead Row | Extra knee space and fewer feet to step around near the wall. | Under seat storage may be limited, so keep a small bag for medicines and documents. |
| Front Of Cabin | Shorter walk from aircraft door to seat. | Can reduce fatigue, especially on large aircraft with long aisles. |
| Exit Row | Extra legroom in some layouts. | Many airlines will not seat passengers who use crutches in exit rows due to safety duties. |
| Preboarding | Time to walk slowly down the jet bridge and settle before crowds arrive. | Ask at the gate rather than at the check in desk so staff can board you at the right moment. |
Practical Tips To Make Your Flight With Crutches Easier
Lighten Your Load
Every extra kilogram in your backpack or tote ends up on your wrists and shoulders. Choose a small rolling bag if your doctor allows it, or ask a travel partner to carry shared items. Pack only what you will truly use on the plane and place heavy things in checked luggage.
Protect Skin, Joints, And Energy
Long travel days can flare pressure points on hands, underarms, or forearms. Padding, ergonomic grips, and gloves can help spread the load. Schedule regular breaks to sit, stretch your non weight bearing leg, and roll ankles and toes if that is safe for you.
Plan Bathroom Trips And Hydration
Cabin restrooms are tiny, so it helps to plan. Visit once near the start of the flight and again before descent. Sip water steadily instead of in big bursts and limit drinks that make you run to the restroom repeatedly. When you stand, give crew a second to bring your crutches or aisle chair if needed.
Travel With Backup Gear
If crutches are adjustable, tighten all screws before the trip and pack a small tool to fix them. Carry spare rubber tips in your checked bag, especially for winter trips where ice and wet floors can wear them down quickly. A light folding cane or spare crutch can save the trip if one piece breaks.
When Flying With Crutches Might Not Be Wise
Sometimes the real answer to can you fly with crutches? is that you could, yet waiting a little might be safer. Recent surgery, unstable fractures, fresh blood clots, or severe breathlessness can turn a minor problem into an emergency at altitude.
Before you buy tickets, ask your doctor or clinic to review your plans. Questions to raise include how long you can sit without raising your leg, whether you need a special cast that can handle cabin pressure, and what extra medicine or compression garments you should use on long flights.
This article can guide planning, but it cannot replace medical advice tailored to your body. If your medical team seems unsure, ask whether a short delay or a different type of trip would suit you better than flying right away.
Bringing It All Together For A Confident Trip
Flying with crutches can work well when you plan and know your rights. Tell the airline what you need, arrive early, and take each stage step by step. With a bit of patience from you and steady help from airline staff, your crutches become just another part of the trip instead of the center of it.