Do you intend to travel with an electric wheelchair, gas cylinder or similar?
I regularly travel with my electric wheelchair and needed to get dangerous goods approval for the battery that powers the chair. I had to attend the special assistance help desk and seek dangerous goods approval for the battery – (quite an extensive process that is time consuming.)
Tip – make sure you allow time for this to avoid missing your flight.
Once dangerous goods approval is completed, you need to take the chair to the oversize help desk to be checked in and loaded. The battery goes into your cabin baggage and through security.
I was advised by Qantas staff, that they issue a 12-month dangerous goods approval that you can print out or take a photo to keep on your phone. Whenever you check in your wheelchair and the battery, you simply show the approval and proceed to the security area once the wheelchair is checked in at the oversized area, saved me approx. 30-45 mins. Click on the image above for an example of the 12-month approval form.
Getting the 12 months approval means less time spent waiting in line to check in your medical equipment/mobility aid etc. Also means you don’t have to get dangerous good approval every time you check in for your flight. You can get a renewal once the approval expires.
Each airline’s web site has useful information to know when flying with any medical devices eg: gas cylinders, electric wheelchair battery etc. and will require a Dangerous Goods approval for the listed items.
All the dangerous goods information can be found on the Qantas website or Email –
Jetstar dangerous goods information information is here and Virgin Australia is here. At the time of writing Virgin Australia does not offer a 12 month approval.
