Crutches on an Airplane? Our Guide to Flying While Injured

Flying with crutches or a non-weight bearing leg is not most people’s idea of a relaxing trip. Between airport security, tight aisles, and crowded boarding lines, it can feel stressful before you even leave the ground.

This guide walks you through how to handle crutches on an airplane, how airlines treat mobility aids, and practical tips for flying with a broken or injured foot. You will also see why a hands-free device like the Freedom Leg can make airport days and flights much easier.

Taking your Crutches on a Plane

If you are using crutches, a boot, or another mobility aid, the good news is that most airlines and airports work with you, not against you.

A few key points:

• Crutches are mobility aids, not regular luggage. In many cases they do not count toward your standard baggage or hand luggage allowance.

• You can usually take your crutches right up to the gate. Many travelers board with crutches, then gate-check other devices like wheelchairs or scooters.

• Airlines often allow early boarding or priority boarding for passengers with injuries, so you have more time and space to reach your seat safely.

• You can request special assistance such as a wheelchair from check-in to the gate, help with bags, or help getting on and off the aircraft.

Always check your specific airline’s policy, but overall, airlines understand that mobility aids are essential medical devices, not optional extras.

Are crutches allowed on a plane?

In almost all cases, yes, crutches are allowed on a plane.

Here is what typically happens:

• At check-in: You let the airline know you are flying with crutches or another mobility aid. They may mark your reservation for special assistance and note that you need extra time for boarding.

• At security screenings: Crutches and other devices must go through airport security. Sometimes they are scanned, sometimes they are hand-inspected while you stand or sit nearby. If you cannot walk without your device, tell the officers. They are trained to adjust the screening process.

• On the aircraft: You may be allowed to store your crutches in the overhead bin or have the crew secure them in a dedicated storage space. On smaller planes, they may be tagged and stored just outside the aircraft door, then returned to you when you land.

Most airlines treat crutches and similar mobility aids as medical equipment and do not charge extra fees for them. Still, it is smart to keep copies of your medical instructions or doctor’s note in case staff have questions.

Our Tips for Flying While Injured

Traveling with a cast, boot, or injured leg can still go smoothly with a bit of planning. Here are practical ways to make your trip less stressful.

Notify the airline in advance

As soon as you book your trip, notify the airline that you are non-weight bearing or limited weight bearing, will be flying with crutches or another mobility aid, and if needed, that you may need special assistance, a wheelchair, or extra time to get to your seat

You can usually add this information online under “special assistance” or by calling customer service. When the airline knows in advance, it is much easier to arrange early or priority boarding, and you can also request a wheelchair at check-in and at your arrival airport. 

Good communication up front often leads to a much smoother airport experience.

Pack Light…If You Can

Every extra pound you carry shows up in your shoulders and hands when you’re on crutches. Try to keep your hand luggage and checked bags as simple and light as possible. Consider:

• A small rolling suitcase that someone else can pull for you

• A backpack rather than tote bags, so your shoulders carry the weight and your hands stay free

• Packing essentials like medications, chargers, and a change of clothes in one compact carry-on

If a friend or family member is traveling with you, ask them to handle most of the bags so you can focus on safe movement.

Book a Seat with More Leg Room

When you book a seat, think about comfort and safety rather than just price.

If your budget allows, try to choose:

• Extra legroom seats so you can safely position your injured leg

• An aisle seat so you can stand and adjust more easily during the flight

• A seat closer to the front of the plane so boarding and exiting are easier

You can often reserve these options when you book the ticket. If not, call the airline and explain that you are flying while injured and need more space for a cast, boot, or Freedom Leg.

Prep for Airport security

Airport security screenings can be the most stressful part of flying with crutches, but you can make them easier if you know what to expect. Here are some steps we recommend following for getting through security with crutches:

• Arrive early. Give yourself extra time in case security is busy or your screening takes longer.

• Tell the officers immediately that you are non-weight bearing and cannot walk safely without your device.

• If you use a removable device, ask if it needs to go through the scanner. Sometimes they will swab or inspect it while you stand or sit nearby.

• Keep metal items in your bag to avoid extra alarms: watches, belts, coins, and keys.
  

Remember, you are allowed to request a private screening or to stay seated if standing is not safe for you. The goal is to maintain safety for you and others, not to rush you through.

Use a Better Mobility Device

Traditional crutches work, but they take a toll on your hands, wrists, and shoulders. They also keep your hands busy when you are trying to manage tickets, bags, or kids in a crowded airport.

A hands-free, non-weight bearing mobility aid like the Freedom Leg can be a major upgrade for travel. Instead of supporting your weight through your arms, the Freedom Leg transfers weight to your upper leg, keeping your injured foot completely off the ground while you walk on both legs.

Here is how that helps when you are on the move:

Immobilization and Protection

When you are in airports and airplanes, your injured leg is constantly at risk of being bumped by rolling suitcases, getting stepped on in boarding lines, or being twisted in tight spaces

The Freedom Leg is built to immobilize and protect your lower leg and foot while still allowing a natural walking motion. It is designed for:

• Foot, ankle, and knee surgeries

• Fractures and ligament injuries

• Plantar wounds and other conditions that require strict off-loading

With the Freedom Leg, you get the stability and protection your doctor wants while still being able to move with confidence in crowded terminals.

Sit and Stand Without Taking it Off

One of the hardest parts of flying with crutches is the constant on-and-off routine. You sit, remove your crutches, stow them, then struggle to stand again in a tight row.

With the Freedom Leg, you can sit and stand without removing the device, keep your injured leg suspended and protected even in a cramped seat, and even use both hands on the armrests or aisle seat for balance instead of managing crutches!

This is especially helpful if you booked extra legroom or an aisle seat. You can see your leg, adjust the brace, and get comfortable without reassembling your entire setup every time the seatbelt sign changes.

Freedom Leg is Perfect for Travel

The Freedom Leg was designed so people could stay active and independent while they heal, and that includes travel days.

For flying, this can mean:

• Walking with a more natural, reciprocal gait instead of hopping on one leg

• Having your hands free to hold a boarding pass, a coffee, or a rail on the jet bridge

• Navigating stairs and jet bridges more safely, especially in airports without jetways

• Reducing fatigue in your arms and shoulders that usually comes with traditional crutches

Many travelers use the Freedom Leg as their primary mobility aid on trips, then keep crutches as a backup for short distances. It gives them freedom in the airport and at their destination, whether they are navigating hotel hallways or sightseeing once they arrive.

Freedom Leg: Helping You Stay Active!

Travel does not have to stop just because you are recovering from a foot, ankle, or lower-leg injury.

If you are non-weight bearing and nervous about boarding and deplaning, tired of the strain that comes from flying with crutches, or simply looking for an easier way to travel, then the Freedom Leg may be the mobility device that will change your entire recovery experience.

The Freedom Leg is:

• A doctor-recommended, hands-free, non-weight bearing “crutch”

• Designed to help you walk on both legs without putting weight on your injured foot

• Durable, supportive, and built from top-quality materials so you can trust it on busy travel days

Instead of planning your whole trip around what your crutches cannot do, you can plan around what you can do: walk, carry things, climb stairs, and move more independently.

If you are getting ready to fly after a lower-leg injury or surgery, talk with your medical provider about whether the Freedom Leg is right for you! Shop the Freedom Leg today to start traveling with confidence again.

Check out our other guides on moving with the Freedom Leg!

How to Keep Active with a Broken Ankle or While Non-Weight Bearing

How to Safely Work Out with Crutches

Low Impact Exercises After Foot Injury - Freedom Leg

Post Ankle Surgery Exercises

Joel Smith

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Joel Smith is the creator of the Freedom Leg brace. An accomplished inventor with a passion for developing practical solutions that improve everyday life, Joel won the 2009 Newpreneur of the Year award from Inc. Magazine and Alibaba.com for his Freedom Leg innovation.