Taking Medicines on a Flight

Key information for confident family travel

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OVERVIEW

Customers with a range of medical conditions and special requirements need to satisfy certain criteria before flying. This is to ensure your health and safety on board an aircraft.

In order to plan the assistance for your unique travel needs, special assistance requests need to be made at the time of booking or no later than 48 hours in advance. However, in some cases, further notice is required.

Please double check with your relevant airline for their rules.

LIQUID MEDICINE

Liquid medicine does not need to fit in the transparent bag for carrying liquids, but you should have it ready for inspection by airport security. If needed during your flight, place in your carry-on baggage. You can then carry as much as you need, even if it exceeds the usual limit on liquids.

Even if you dont need it during the flight I would still advise taking it on board with you in case your luggage gets lost.

Ensure that you are transporting the medicine in its ORIGINAL BOX that contains child's prescription label on it, and ideally on the bottle. The name of child and medication should match the ACCOMPANYING GP or HOSPITAL LETTER than confirms the medication is prescribed and why.

It is a good idea to also have a paper copy of your child's prescription list and to be aware of the generic name for the medication - not just the brand.

If supplies are needed whilst abroad, a pharmacy or health care provider should be consulted for advice. Travellers should be aware that whilst the name and appearance of medication prescribed in the UK may look the same or similar in other countries, the amount and type of active ingredients may differ.

Expect that security staff will take the medication off to be tested both within and outside of the UK. Medications for recognised health conditions may come under intense scrutiny by foreign officials at border controls. This can result in delays, disruption or medicines being confiscated if the correct paperwork and permissions have not been arranged (e.g. where there are specific regulations and/requirements relating to taking a medication abroad such as for medications containing controlled drugs).

We have successfully carried the folowing liquid medications through security and customs:

Sodium Valporate

Leviteracetam

Buccual Midazolam - controlled drug

Cetirizine

SOLID MEDICATION

You can take tablets and capsules in your carry-on baggage (with a doctor's note / prescription) or in your checked baggage.

EPIPENS AND HYPODERMIC NEEDLES

You can take EpiPens and hypodermic needles in your carry-on baggage (with a doctor's note/prescription) that confirms the medication is prescribed and why.

ASTHMA PUMP / INHALER

You can take asthma inhalers in your carry-on or checked baggage.

FURTHER INFORMATION

MEDICAL CLEARANCE TO FLY

You might need a medical clearance if your child has had a recent injury, hospitalization, or surgery, or if theyu have a medical condition that could be affected by flying. You may be asked for proof of your child's “fitness to fly” when requesting assistance.

If they have a stable condition, there is generally no need to be cleared for travel.

There are usually two parts to the medical clearance process:

You will be asked to provide information about your child's situation or condition and, for many passengers, this will be all you will need to complete.
If the airline has concerns about how flying might impact your child's particular condition, it will ask you to complete a further form.

You may also be asked to provide medical proof at this stage, often a doctor’s note.

Please check directly with your airline as they may have different processes e.g. British Airways has a dedicated Passenger Medical Clearance team who can assess your fitness to fly and advise if your child will be able to travel.