Travelling with medicines...

[Spareribs]

British Airways advice...

Travelling with medicines or medical equipment

Always remember to pack your medication in your hand baggage, if possible in its original packaging.

We cannot help you keep your medication cool. Please talk to your pharmacist about your options.

If you are flying with medical equipment you may need to contact us for clearance. There are more details further down this page.

All equipment must be able to work from a battery, as we cannot guarantee a power supply on board.

In most circumstances you can use authorised medical equipment on board, except during taxi, take-off, approach and landing.

If you need to use essential medical equipment at your destination that will exceed your luggage allowance, please contact our PMCU.

If you have any additional questions please contact our PMCU.

I had NDT last time all was OK, a prescription for Levo this time...

Q Anyone experience any difficulties?

[Marz]

None

[lola1956]

No I've never had a problem

[Barrister]

Never had a problem and I also travel with pre filled injections of Humira. I fly regularly with BA. Clemmie

[Treepie]

Just returned from Canarys .Carried Levo., beta blockers and various vits . All pills. No problems.

Flew Thomas Cook. But will not in future after that company's performance at and after the recent inquest re the two children who were killed by carbon monoxide in their holiday apartment.

[PennyR]

I regularly travel with Emirates into Australia where they are fearsome about meds. However, apart from the first time, I have never had a problem. I carry, levo, sertraline, calcium and statin (all prescribed). That first time, I was also carrying tamoxifen and they did pull me out of the queue and asked a lot of questions as to what it was for (presumably checking it actually was what it said and that it was for personal use). I always tick the box on the landing card and occasionally now they just ask 'prescription meds?' and let me through - probably something on my file there. Make sure you carry a copy of your prescriptions with you, though.

[fennel]

use a plastic bottle as the glass one with thyroid-s always gets them interested at customs. I usually bag up daily doses of vitamins and then put the little bags into a plastic bottle with cotton wool so it wont rattle about. My stuff is just thyroid-s and plenty of vitamins, but they sometimes find it then swipe it with the drugs wand. If I took the bottles then there would be no room for clothes. If you are heading somewhere Arabic be careful about the pig extract, they think it is filth, and I hide mine in a vitamin bottle. Half the battle is getting through without being searched as it takes up time and is not fun. Make sure you have nothing metal on your person or you will get an ex-ray which is not good for you. Watch out for metal in shoes, and zips and buttons, and get a travel set of clothes that will be trouble free. I have loose cotton pants with elastic waist, and take some hotel slippers to put on when on board. Take a little cloth bag inside your carryon case, and you can keep stuff hanging on the tray, with your pills, glasses, slippers and gluten free snacks. I take oatcakes and then when everybody else has bread rolls I can get my oatcakes out and have the cheese and butter on that, and instead of the cakes I have a little bar of sesame seeds.

[jenniferh]

I had to put mine in a clear plastic bag and also had to have my prescription print out in the bag

[Zephyrbear]

My husband is about to travel to Brunei to see my son who lives out there and he was told that, because he has Zydol (which is a controlled drug) he has to also have a letter from the GP to confirm that he has a prescription for it in addition to having a full print-out of all his other prescriptions. This is especially important for Dubai apparently where he will have a 6 hour stop-over.

[Petronella]

I travel with levo. but have never bothered to take a prescription. I have been told to keep it in its original packaging, including insert, but often don't bother. I also travel with over-the-counter painkillers (paracetamol & ibuprofen) in foil packs, and supplements (vitamins & minerals) in plastic zip-bags. So far I have had no problems! BUT I have two titanium rods, with screws, straightening out my spine, plus a hip replacement, and so I always have fun with metal detectors!