LIVING WELL & TRAVEL FURTHER

How to Travel with Your Powerchair

A practical step by step guide to fly with your Anvia Powerchair From booking through to arrival.

Travelling with a powerchair doesn't have to be complicated. With the right preparation, your ANVIA powerchair can go where you go — on domestic hops or international adventures. This guide walks you through everything you need to know, step by step.

— Step 1

Which Anvia Product can fly?

Three ANVIA products are approved for air travel, provided the correct battery is used. Always confirm with your airline before booking, as aircraft hold dimensions vary between aircraft types.

R-300

Full Powerchair

⚠ Use 10Ah battery only. 20Ah exceeds airline limits.

R-300 Lite

Compact travel Powerchair

Dual 10Ah batteries within limits.

— Step 2

F-100

Ultra light foldable scooter

Dual 6Ah batteries within limits.

✓ Battery certification

ANVIA's approved batteries are LiFePO4 with full BMS protection, compliant with UN38.3 and IEC62133. This means they meet the safety standards airlines require for lithium batteries in the hold.

— Step 1

Before you book your flight

A little preparation before booking saves a lot of stress at the airport. Here is what to sort in advance:

1 Confirm you have the right battery

  • For the R-300 and R-300 Lite, ensure you are using the 10Ah battery, not the 20Ah. The 20Ah exceeds the 300Wh airline limit. Contact ANVIA at customerservice@anvia.co.nz if you need to swap yours.

2 Check your chair's dimensions against the aircraft

  • Hold sizes vary. Smaller aircraft like the ATR72 and Q300 have strict size limits. Confirm with Air New Zealand (or your airline) that your model fits before purchasing your ticket.

3 Assess your evacuation capability

  • Airlines ask whether you can assist in your own emergency evacuation. If you are unable to do so, you will need a safety assistant aged 16 or older to travel with you.

4 Know your battery's Watt-hour (Wh) rating

  • This is printed on the battery label. To calculate: Volts × Amp-hours = Wh. You will need this at check-in. Batteries with no clear Wh marking will not be accepted by the airline.

5 Connecting flights on other airlines

  • If your journey involves more than one airline, contact each carrier separately. Policies on battery type, chair dimensions, and assistance services differ between airlines.

Adding your power chair to your booking

When booking with Air New Zealand through online or via the app — add a Special Service Request (SSR) to your reservation. This tells the airline exactly what level of assistance you need. Choose the code that best reflects your situation:

WCHR

Can walk short distances and use stairs — needs assistance to and from the aircraft.

WCHS

Can walk short distances but cannot use stairs — needs assistance getting to the aircraft.

WCHC

Fully reliant on wheelchair — requires assistance transferring to and from the aircraft seat.

ℹ Seating note

Adding an SSR temporarily disables online seat selection. Air New Zealand will assign you an appropriate seat and seat your travel companions or safety assistant alongside you.