Overview

• Starting Sept. 25, travelers using lithium-powered wheelchairs or scooters must remove any removable batteries before boarding and carry them into the cabin.
• The battery carried into the cabin will not count toward a customer’s carry-on or personal item allowance, according to the airline.
• A 300 watt-hour limit will apply to mobility-device batteries, with a grace period for larger batteries through Jan. 11, 2026; after that date, devices above the limit will not be accepted.
• Southwest says it has begun notifying customers with travel on or after the effective date and estimates the policy affects under 0.1% of passengers.
• The update follows FAA and TSA guidance on lithium-battery safety and builds on Southwest’s earlier rule to keep power banks visible in use, as other major U.S. carriers maintain varying mobility-device restrictions.