Medicine, medical conditions and equipment (2024)

Please check with your doctor or pharmacist if your prescription contains a controlled drug, as some countries have strict laws with these medications. Controlled drugs are medication that are subject to high levels of regulation as a result of government decisions, such as Diazepam, Lorazepam, Codeine or Tramadol.

If you need to travel with medicine that contains a controlled drug, please check the embassy rules for the country you’re travelling to, as well as the entry requirements before you fly. You will need to prove your medication is yours, either with a prescription or a letter from your doctor.

If you need to bring medication with you, please pack it in your cabin bag wherever possible.

A letter from your healthcare practitioner is only required If you are bringing any of the following items on board: 

• Liquids that exceed 100ml
• Sharp objects such as needles
• Oxygen cylinders and concentrators
• Any medical equipment that may be considered as dangerous goods in the aircraft cabin, a list of which can be found here

The letter should confirm that this medication is prescribed to you and it's necessary for you to bring the items on board.

We do not require a letter from your healthcare practitioner for all other medications and equipment including; gel packs and cooler bags to maintain the temperature of your medication, food and specialist devices such as dialysis machines (subject to size regulations), CPAP machines and nebulisers.

Please note: We’re unable to refrigerate medication on board.

Crutches and walking frames

Crutches and walking frames can be brought on-board. Our Cabin Crew will store them for you and return them after landing. Walking frames can be stored on board if space is available or we’ll put them into the aircraft hold and return them after landing.

 Portable medical devices

Portable medical equipment can be brought on board in addition to your cabin bag allowance. Portable medical devices must be no larger than 56 x 45 x 25 cm, otherwise they will have to travel in the hold.

If you need to carry a small portable medical device, such as:

• CPAP machines
• TENS machines
• Nebulisers
• Portable dialysis machines

Then this may be carried in addition to your cabin bag allowance, provided that it's no larger than 56 x 45 x 25 cm and that you have informed our Special Assistance Team, at least 48 hours before your flight that you require an additional medical bag for your journey. Non-essential  medical equipment which exceeds your cabin-bag allowance will be charged in line with our baggage policy and may need to be placed in the hold.  

If you need to bring several medical devices or a large piece of medical equipment, please contact our Special Assistance team at least 48 hours before your flight so that they can advise you.

If you’re pregnant, you can travel up until the end of your 35th week (32nd week for multiple pregnancies) and you don’t need to bring a medical certificate.

Some seats on board the aircraft may be restricted but we show you which ones when booking.

Please make sure you complete all return journeys no later than week 32/35 depending on pregnancy type.

• You contact your doctor to talk about your travel plans and the related risks. If he/she prescribes an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector, it is your responsibility to make sure you always carry this medication, any other prescribed medication for your allergy and your written emergency plan, in your hand baggage
• Your medication should be clearly labelled and should be easily accessible throughout the flight (at your feet or in the pocket in front of you)
• You carry a prescription for the auto-injector and an emergency plan signed by your doctor to avoid problems when passing through airport security
• You purchase travel insurance and ensure you are covered in case of anaphylaxis, or other severe allergic reactions.

If your plaster or resin cast has been fitted for less than 48 hours before you fly, the cast needs to be split to allow for potential swelling. The split needs to run along the entire length of the cast.

If you’re unable to bend your leg at the knee joint you will need to buy an additional seat so that your leg can be elevated to reduce swelling. The number of seats you’ll need will be determined by the length of the cast. Each additional seat allows for approximately 17" or 43 cm.

Adults travelling with lower limbs in cast, waist and/or full leg plaster must buy three seats in a row for each flight.

Children travelling with lower limbs in cast may need to buy one, two or three seats in total for each flight travelled. The exact number of seats will depend upon the size of the cast/leg.

To book extra seats and request special assistance at the airport, please contact our Special Assistance team.

We have oxygen on board but this is used for emergencies only.

You can take two small compressed air or oxygen cylinders for personal medical use only, in addition to your cabin baggage. They must not exceed 56cm in length, with a maximum diameter of 25cm and a maximum weight of 5 kg.

You'll need a medical certificate confirming the cylinders are required for medical reasons and that you are fit to fly. If you are taking oxygen cylinders please tell the Cabin Crew when you are boarding.

Liquid oxygen is not permitted on board aircraft in the cabin or the hold.

Oxygen concentrators (either mains or battery powered) can be taken on board - you'll need a medical certificate confirming that it's for medical reasons and that you're fit to fly.

See our ‘medicines or medical equipment guide’.

Gas cylinders worn for the operation of mechanical limbs and a spare cylinder of a similar size may be taken on board.

Stretchers cannot be taken on board.

There's no weight limit on the wheelchairs that we carry (but see ‘Powered wheelchairs’ below) however, it must be able to fit through the cargo doors of the aircraft. Cargo doors have a maximum size of 1.70m wide by 1.22m high. If you're in doubt, please contact our Special Assistance team.

We recommend that you take any loose items such as pressure-relief cushions, removable footrests, etc. in your cabin bag.

• Reference number
• Flight details and date
• Passenger name
• Name of model and manufacturer
• Length, height and width (metric)
• Weight (KG)
• Battery type (in Watt/h)
• Details of how to inhibit the circuits and isolate the battery to prevent the electric wheelchair or mobility aid from inadvertently turning on during the flight
  

There are three types of wheelchair batteries:

• Wet-cell batteries -these are not allowed on board our flights
• Gel batteries;
• and dry-cell batteries (including lithium batteries).

For chairs with dry-cell or lithium batteries:

• the battery can remain attached to the wheelchair;
• thepower should be switched off and the battery disengaged.

Your wheelchair battery type can be found on your wheelchair or in the handbook that came with it or on the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) website.

Please ensure that you can demonstrate to our Ground Crew how to disengage the motor.

Personal wheelchairs will be stowed in the aircraft hold. We recommend you take any removable foot pedals or cushions with you in your cabin baggage.

Your health and comfort on board the flight are important to us. If you’ve recently been unwell, you can read about some of the conditions you can fly with and those you can’t below. If your medical condition isn’t covered, or if you have any doubt about your fitness to fly, please seek advice and a fitness to fly certificate from a doctor before you travel. We also recommend that you take out travel insurance before making a booking, in case any unexpected illness or event means you need to change your plans.

Infectious Diseases

If you are suffering from a severe infectious disease, for example, tuberculosis, pneumonia or a severe respiratory infection you will not be able to travel. Passengers with meningitis or currently infected with any virus resulting from a pandemic such as SARS or H1N1 ('Swine Flu') will not be able to travel unless they have a certificate confirming fitness to fly from a medical practitioner.

Passengers travelling with a minor infectious disease, including any of the following conditions, are allowed to fly subject to the guidelines below:

Travelling following an operation

If you’ve recently had surgery, you’re allowed to fly with a doctor’s certificate confirming fitness to fly subject to the guidelines below:

Travelling after a medical incident

Travelling with a medical condition

If you have a medical condition, you are allowed to travel with us subject to the following guidelines:

Please note that passengers showing a shortness of breath will not be allowed to fly. Children with respiratory problems must have a medical certificate from a medical practitioner confirming fitness to fly.

Diabetic insulin pens are permitted for travel without a medical certificate.

Hypodermic needles are allowed in the aircraft cabin for medical purposes only. You must show your medical certificate at the security screening points.

Make sure that you carry sufficient supplies of insulin in your cabin baggage, rather than in your hold luggage. Insulin may be inactivated if carried in the hold due to freezing temperatures.

If you need an injection during the flight it must be self-administered. Cabin Crew are not allowed to administer any medication or injections.

Let the Cabin Crew know if you need to use a hypodermic needle on board so they can arrange a sharps box for safe disposal of the needle.

Asthma sufferers are able to take inhalers and/or nebulisers on board provided they do not contain oxygen cylinders.

Passengers suffering from severe asthma or those who have recently been prescribed oral steroids will need to have a medical certificate confirming fitness to fly.

You can travel if you have an implanted cardiac pacemaker or another device including those powered by lithium batteries, or implanted radio-pharmaceuticals.

We recommend that you bring your device identification card with you and inform the staff at security that you have a device implanted.

You should not dive for 24 hours prior to flying to minimise the risk of decompression sickness.

Air cylinders for diving/scuba diving will not be accepted on board unless they are empty.