Special needs and Medical Equipment

Let us know how we can best serve you!

Conditions for acceptance

Air Transat will accept the determination of a person with a disability as to their self-reliance. Some travellers may require an escort to travel, and this will be determined by the traveller’s own individual circumstances. Please contact us to review your personal circumstances so that we can collectively ensure your comfort and safety.   

Advance notice

For any special services, wheelchair requests, etc., including those involving medical requirements, please inform your travel agent or Air Transat directly at least 7 business days prior to departure. We will review your specific needs with you to ensure a safe and comfortable flight. Failure to do so may prevent you from departing on your scheduled flight. Where noted, the completion of an Air Transat medical form is required to determine your fitness to fly. Please contact us to discuss your needs, or to obtain our medical equipment.  

Aircraft specifications

The onboard dimensions of our seats, aisles and lavatories are available on request; we encourage you to contact us should you have any questions regarding on-board navigation or accessibility of these areas.

Pre-assigned seating

Air Transat pre-assigns appropriate seating for all passengers with special needs. Once you have identified yourself as a person with special needs and provided relevant details, all efforts will be made to accommodate you with a suitable seat including those with lifting armrests, additional floor space for service dogs, extra legroom, or those close to a washroom or exit. The seat selection fees may be waived; you may be asked to provide a medical letter supporting your request. We encourage our passengers with special needs to contact us directly to discuss their specific requirements.

Your journey

At departure

An Air Transat agent will help you with:

• Registration at the check-in counter
• Moving to the boarding area
• Transferring from your own mobility aid (if applicable)
• Pre-boarding

On board 

Our crew are fully trained in handling and transferring techniques for passengers with disabilities, and will help you:

• Stow and retrieve your carry-on items
• By periodically checking to inquire about your needs and well-being during the flight

Our aircraft are equipped with an accessible lavatory that accommodates our on-board wheelchair (maximum passenger weight of 170kg/375lb) and is designed to be operated with minimal effort. You must be able to use it independently or with assistance from your escort. The on-board dimensions of our seats, aisles and lavatories are available on request; we encourage you to contact us with any questions regarding on-board navigation or accessibility of these areas.

If you are travelling with your own equipment, please note that you must be self-reliant or travel with an escort, as our crew members cannot be responsible for any personal medical equipment.

If you have a visual impairment: 

• A crew member will give you an individual briefing on safety
• A Braille safety features card is available on all aircraft
• Each row number of our aircraft is identified with a tactile row marker at the bottom of the overhead bins

If you have a hearing impairment:

• Our inflight personnel have access to pen and paper to assist with communication

On arrival

An Air Transat agent will help you with:

• Deplaning
• The delivery of and transfer to your personal mobility aid at the aircraft door (where facilities/Customs regulations permit)
• Retrieving checked baggage
• Moving to the general public area
• Getting to a representative of another airline for a flight connection

Air Transat will accept the determination of a person with a disability as to their self-reliance. Some travellers may require an escort to travel, and this will be determined by the traveller’s own individual circumstances. Please contact us so that we can collectively ensure your comfort and safety.   

Air Transat is pleased to offer a 50% discounted rate for a passenger travelling with a person with a disability who cannot otherwise travel on his or her own. This discount is available on flights to/from the U.S. Please contact us to determine your eligibility for the program. 

Personal oxygen concentrator

You may use your Personal Oxygen Concentrator on board any Air Transat flight. Please ask your physician to complete the Air Transat medical form within 30 days of your departure, and return it to us at least 7 business days prior to your flight. Failure to do so may prevent you from departing on your scheduled flight.

The following models are acceptable for use: 

• Airsep Focus,
• Airsep Freestyle
• Airsep Free Style 5
• Airsep Lifestyle
• Delphi RS-00400
• DeVilbiss Healthcare’s iGO
• Inogen One
• Inogen’s Inogen One G2
• Inogen One G3
• Inova Labs LifeChoice
• Inova Labs LifeChoice Activox
• International Biophysics LifeChoice
• Invacare XPO2
• Invacare Solo 2
• Oxlife’s Independence Oxygen Concentrator
• Oxus RS-00400
• Precision Medical EasyPulse
• Respironics EverGo
• Respironics SimplyGo (please note the Respironics SimplyGo Mini is not approved for air travel)
• SeQual Eclipse
• Sequal SAROS 

Accepted models are approved by Transport Canada and subject to change without notice. Personal Oxygen Concentrators must be self-powered, as there are no power sources available on board our aircraft.

Spare lithium or lithium ion batteries may only be transported in your carry-on baggage (carry-on maximum size 23 x 40 x 51 cm (9 x 16 x 20 in) including wheels and handles) under controlled conditions and sizes, and quantity is limited to the amount needed for the duration of your flight. Dry cell and gel batteries are accepted; however, we do not transport wet cell batteries, or any battery that is damaged or leaking.

Please contact us to discuss your medical equipment and acceptance for travel.

Supplemental medical oxygen 

To ensure your safety and wellbeing, Air Transat provides oxygen kits as medically required*, from your departure airport to your airport of arrival, on most routes. You may not bring personal oxygen kits (O² tanks/cylinders, liquid, canned or recreational oxygen) into the cabin on Air Transat flights.

Our oxygen supplier is VitalAire. Our MediPak is equipped with "D" cylinder model 390 I. This type of oxygen machine can be used occasionally or on a continuous flow during the flight.

*Please contact us for rates and charges. Because your medical oxygen supply is based on your doctor’s orders, we are unable to provide a refund for unused supplies.

We encourage you to contact our Information and Seat Selection Centre so that we may arrange appropriate seating. Bulkhead and Emergency Exit seating is not available for passengers using oxygen, as the cylinders must be stored under the seat in front for take-off and landing.

You may bring your own empty cylinder carefully packed as carry-on if the size conforms to regulations or as checked baggage. 

Guidelines for transportation of wheelchairs and scooters

Air Transat will handle passenger mobility aids, wheelchairs and scooters with priority and free of charge.

• Check in 3 hours prior to departure to allow sufficient time for safe handling of your equipment
• To check in battery-powered equipment, arrive early so that Air Transat can ensure it meets all federal handling requirements for dangerous goods
• Wheelchairs or other battery-powered mobility aids may be carried as checked baggage when:
  • Battery is disconnected
  • Terminals are protected from short circuits
  • Battery is securely attached to the wheelchair or mobility aid

• No damaged or leaking batteries
• We will disassemble electric/battery powered mobility aids where required
• On arrival, we will deliver your personal mobility aid to the aircraft door (where facilities/Customs regulations permit)

As battery powered mobility aids must be loaded and stowed in an upright position, the height and width of the device cannot exceed the size of the cargo hold door. While most devices can be accommodated on our fleet, the following door and weight restrictions apply when flights are operated by Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircraft:

• Maximum door width 48 inches/122 cm
• Maximum door height 35 inches/89 cm
• Maximum weight: 330 pounds/150 kg

Please contact our Information and Seat Selection Center if your device will exceed this size.

Batteries and power sources

Please contact us to discuss your equipment's batteries and their acceptance for travel.

All medical devices must be self-powered, as there are no power sources available on-board our aircraft.

Spare lithium or lithium ion batteries may only be transported in your carry-on baggage (carry-on maximum size 23 x 40 x 51 cm (9 x 16 x 20 in) including wheels and handles) under controlled conditions and sizes, and quantity is limited to amount needed for duration of flight. Dry cell and gel batteries are accepted, however, we do not transport wet cell batteries, or any battery that is damaged or leaking.

Lithium-ion battery powered wheelchair/mobility aids must adhere to the following conditions (where battery-powered wheelchairs or other similar mobility aids are specifically designed to allow their batteries to be removed by the user, e.g. collapsible):

• Batteries must be removed and placed in individual protective pouches for carriage into the passenger cabin. The wheelchair/mobility aid may then be carried as checked baggage without restriction.
• Terminals must be protected from short circuits.
• Batteries will not be accepted as CHECKED baggage.
• The battery must be removed from the device by following the instructions of the manufacturer or the device owner.
• The battery must not exceed 300 Wh; a maximum of one spare battery not exceeding 300 Wh or two spares each not exceeding 160 Wh may be carried.

We are pleased to welcome on board emotional support and certified service dogs that are travelling with a person with a disability.

Before you travel

We recommend that you review the section on service animals on the Canadian Transportation Agency websiteWill open in a separate browser window.

Please be aware that Air Transat does not transport the following breeds of dogs or mixed breeds including one or more of the following breeds:

• Mastiffs: All breeds including; Argentine (Dogo Argentino), Bandog (Bandogge/band dog), South African (Boerboel), Brazilian (Fila Brasileiro), Italian (Cane Corso and Neapolitan), Canary Mastiff (Presa Canario), Japanese Mastiff (Tosa Inu)
• Pit Bulls: All breeds including; American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Akita (Akita Inu)
• Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd Dog)
• Karabash Dog (Kangal/Anatolian Shepherd Dog)
• Rottweiler
• Wolf Dog Hybrid
• Doberman Pinscher

The following breeds are exempt from the above restriction and will be accepted for transport:

• All other Mastiff breeds, not specified above, such as Bull Mastiffs and French Mastiffs (Dogue de Bordeaux)

Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs and cats will be accepted for transport; however, due to the increased risk of respiratory distress, the following transport requirements must be met:

• The animal must be shipped in a kennel one size larger than the normal standard.
• There must be ventilation openings on the four sides of the carrier.
• It is recommended that the pet be acclimatized to the carrier as long as possible before departure.
• You are solely responsible for your pet’s health.

See the list of accepted brachycephalic dogs and cats Breeds.
 

Please also note the following country-specific restrictions on travelling with pets:

To Jamaica: No animals are accepted on flights to Jamaica.

To St. Lucia, to Republic of Ireland and to United Kingdom: Cats and dogs are accepted as cargo only on Air Transat flights – advance arrangements are required and additional fees apply. 
Exceptions:

• Certified service dogs and emotional support dogs are accepted on flights to London.
• Certified service dogs are accepted on flights to Manchester, Dublin and Glasgow.

To Mexico: Strict regulations are in effect. Owners must hold specific health certificates issued within a certain time period prior to travel. Failure to present valid documents will result in the quarantine of the animal upon arrival and additional costs for veterinary inspection. Complete information can be found on the Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria website (only in Spanish).

To Portugal: Advance arrangements are mandatory for all cats & dogs (including service dogs) entering Portugal from outside the European Union. Click here Will open in a separate browser window for details.

To St. Maarten: An advance application for entry is required and can be requested via email at lvv@sintmaartengov.org, minimum five (5) days prior to your expected arrival date. For further information, please contact: Inspection Department TEZVT - Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Tel: +1 (721) 542-5641, +1 (721) 542-9887 (O) / +1 (721) 520-7213 (M)

How to book

Please contact us at least 7 days prior to departure to discuss the most appropriate arrangements for your trip.

Documentation

Assistance dogs will not be carried unless proper permits are obtained for entry into the countries of transit or final destination and such permits are presented prior to commencement of travel. For certified service dogs, you will also be required to present a valid training certificate. Please contact us for details.

How we will help you

At departure:

• Registration at check-in counter
• Moving to the boarding area
• Pre-boarding (passengers with service dogs board in priority)

On board:

• Your assistance dog must remain under your supervision and wear its leash and harness at all times

On arrival:

• Deplaning
• Retrieving checked baggage
• Moving to the general public area
• Getting to a representative of another airline for a flight connection

Seating devices

Passengers who want to use any type of customized seat insert, restraint device or support device, or those who are unable to use a standard seat belt or an aircraft seat in an upright position must contact us well in advance. We will be happy to review your personal needs and discuss our aircraft configuration, as restrictions may apply and/or prior authorization required. Special approval may be required for certain devices and we recommend you contact us well in advance of flight day to allow sufficient time for processing. Only Transport Canada and FAA approved car seats can be accepted automatically.

Knee defenders and/or other similar devices restricting seat recline are not permitted for use on board Air Transat or our partner airlines.

CPAP

A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine will be accepted as a carry-on if it meets our standard carry-on dimensions. Due to the excess weight of these machines, we ask that you limit your other carry-on items to the minimum that is required for your personal needs during flight. Please note that your medical equipment must be equipped with an independent power source (i.e., battery-powered) should you wish to use it during your flight. Air Transat regrets we are unable to provide you with power from any source. Note: A limited quantity of distilled water used by this device is exempt from the liquid restrictions for carry-on baggage. We recommend that passengers carry supporting documentation from their doctor to facilitate security screening.

Other medical equipment

You can bring your own medical equipment for use during the flight, if the size conforms to our carry-on baggage size regulations (total size/dimensions not to exceed 23 x 40 x 51 cm (9 x 16 x 20 in), including wheels and handles).

It is important to note that you should be self-reliant or travel with an escort, as our crew members cannot be responsible for your personal medical equipment.

Please submit your request for equipment transport at least 7 business days prior to departure, along with the following information:  

• Type and specifications of your medical equipment (including type of battery used)
• A medical certificate from your physician, including a statement that you can fly without risk to yourself or other passengers
• Name and telephone number of your physician
• Size and dimensions of your own medical equipment, which must conform to our carry-on size regulations

You may carry Epi-Pens or hypodermic needles only for personal medical use. The needle guard must be in place and the needle must be accompanied by the medication in its original labelled container or with a signed doctor's certificate.

Passengers having a condition that may impact their responsiveness

The lack of responsiveness of a passenger can pose a potential risk to this person as well as to other passengers and crew members. Therefore, passengers that are unconscious or that present a low level of responsiveness may be denied boarding. In order to minimise the risk posed to passengers and crew members, without unduly affecting passengers that present certain disabilities that may result in symptoms or behaviours that appear to be akin to unresponsiveness, Air Transat has adopted the following assessment tool.

Passengers with a high body mass

We highly recommend you purchase either 2 Economy Class seats with the armrest between the seats placed in the vertical position — a seatbelt extension will be available, and the cabin attendant will provide you with assistance during boarding. Please note that extension seatbelts are not available on emergency exit seats. Our Information and Seat Selection agents can help you select the most comfortable seating for your journey. Bulkhead seating and emergency exit rows are not recommended as these seats have fixed armrests that narrow the available seating area. To assist in planning your trip, we can also provide you with on-board dimensions of our seats, aisles and lavatories.

Language

If you speak a language other than French or English, please notify your travel agent (or Air Transat directly) of your spoken language. Many of our employees speak several languages.

Visual impairment

On the ground, an Air Transat agent will help you with:

• Registration at the check-in counter
• Moving to the boarding area
• Transferring from your own mobility aid (if applicable)
• Pre-boarding

On board, a crew member will give you an individual briefing on safety. We have Braille safety feature cards on all of our aircraft. Each row number of our aircraft is identified with a tactile row marker at the bottom of the overhead bins.

Hearing impairment

For passengers with hearing impairments, our ground and inflight personnel have access to pen and paper to assist with communication.

Allergies

Rest assured that Air Transat does not serve peanut products on board. However, as all foods are prepared in an external facility, we are unable to guarantee that allergens will not be present in the food or snacks served on board or that other passengers will not bring these products on board. For travellers with severe allergies to nuts and peanut products, we will be happy to assist with on-board comfort by making a general announcement, as well as asking adjacent passengers to refrain from consuming their own nut and peanut products on board.

However, we strongly suggest that passengers with severe food allergies bring their own food and snacks for the duration of the flight, as well as any appropriate medication such as an EpiPen.

If you have a history of severe allergy, please contact our Information and Seat Selection Centre at least seven days prior to your scheduled departure time. We will be happy to review your personal needs and answer any additional questions.

Stretchers

Air Transat aircraft are not equipped to transport passengers on stretchers.

Air Transat works with MedLink, an emergency telemedicine service that enables crewmembers (and ground personnel) to contact an emergency physician at all times. The physician assesses the medical situation and recommends a plan of care. Defibrillators are also on board all of our aircraft; our crew is fully trained in the use of this equipment.