Refridgerated meds on a plane
Discussion
Trying to help my sister out as she's getting really stressed out that she might not be able to go on her honeymoon. She has MS and her meds have to be kept between 2 and 8 degrees C. She's flying Virgin atlantic and they have said they won't refridgerate meds for passengers so it's up to her to sort it out. Very unhelpful when she tried calling them. She's away for 3 weeks so leaving the meds at home isn't an option. Obviously she will need a doctors letter and all teh meds labelled up properly to get them on the plane.
Does anyone have any experience of flying with meds that need to be kept cool? All i can think of is pack them in a tupperware box with some ice, empty the ice to get through security then fill it up again in the departure lounge but she's not keen on this. I'm a bit stumped tbh.
Any help much appreciated
Does anyone have any experience of flying with meds that need to be kept cool? All i can think of is pack them in a tupperware box with some ice, empty the ice to get through security then fill it up again in the departure lounge but she's not keen on this. I'm a bit stumped tbh.
Any help much appreciated
Heathrow Security said:
Can I take medicines in my hand baggage?
You can take enough essential liquid, aerosol or gel medicines in your hand luggage to cover your flight plus a reasonable amount to cover any delays. Any liquid, aerosol or gel medication not needed on the flight, together with any spares must be packed in your hold baggage.
There are no security restrictions on the carriage of powder or solid based medicines.
Liquid, aerosol or gel medicines in containers of 100ml or less should be either:
Placed inside your single transparent, resealable plastic bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm, along with any other liquid items; or
Carried separately together with supporting documentary proof of authenticity such as a prescription or letter from your doctor.
Liquid, aerosol or gel medicines in containers over 100ml must be carried separately, together with supporting documentary proof of authenticity, such as a prescription or letter from your doctor.
At security, you must present all liquid, aerosol and gel medication for inspection. As part of the screening process and only if safe to do so you may be asked to apply some medication to your skin or taste it.
The rules above apply equally to homeopathic and children’s medicines.
There is no requirement to contact the airport in advance of your travels.
Can I carry an ice-pack / liquid cooling bag?
You can only carry an ice-pack or liquid / gas cooling bag if you are carrying essential medication required during the flight and you can provide proof that the medication must be kept cool. Please see the restrictions on the carriage of liquid medicines for further details.
If your medication is not required during the flight but needs to be temperature controlled you must make arrangements with your airline to store the medicines and cool bag in an appropriate area of the hold.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-gu...
You can take enough essential liquid, aerosol or gel medicines in your hand luggage to cover your flight plus a reasonable amount to cover any delays. Any liquid, aerosol or gel medication not needed on the flight, together with any spares must be packed in your hold baggage.
There are no security restrictions on the carriage of powder or solid based medicines.
Liquid, aerosol or gel medicines in containers of 100ml or less should be either:
Placed inside your single transparent, resealable plastic bag no larger than 20cm x 20cm, along with any other liquid items; or
Carried separately together with supporting documentary proof of authenticity such as a prescription or letter from your doctor.
Liquid, aerosol or gel medicines in containers over 100ml must be carried separately, together with supporting documentary proof of authenticity, such as a prescription or letter from your doctor.
At security, you must present all liquid, aerosol and gel medication for inspection. As part of the screening process and only if safe to do so you may be asked to apply some medication to your skin or taste it.
The rules above apply equally to homeopathic and children’s medicines.
There is no requirement to contact the airport in advance of your travels.
Can I carry an ice-pack / liquid cooling bag?
You can only carry an ice-pack or liquid / gas cooling bag if you are carrying essential medication required during the flight and you can provide proof that the medication must be kept cool. Please see the restrictions on the carriage of liquid medicines for further details.
If your medication is not required during the flight but needs to be temperature controlled you must make arrangements with your airline to store the medicines and cool bag in an appropriate area of the hold.
http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-gu...
Virgin Atlantic said:
Keeping your medication cold
The onboard fridge cannot be used to keep medication cold. However, if you bring a cool bag the crew will be happy to top it up with ice.
What we recommend
To ensure a smooth journey, please take note of the following tips with regard to your medication:
Bring sufficient medication for your flight into the cabin, plus two or three days just in case. The rest should be packed in the hold, where the temperature is maintained between four and five degrees centigrade.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-inform...
Looks like she can carry an insulated lunch bag for immediate needs on the flight but needs to talk to Virgin about where the rest of the medication goes in the hold and how it is handled (especially if travelling to a hot country).The onboard fridge cannot be used to keep medication cold. However, if you bring a cool bag the crew will be happy to top it up with ice.
What we recommend
To ensure a smooth journey, please take note of the following tips with regard to your medication:
Bring sufficient medication for your flight into the cabin, plus two or three days just in case. The rest should be packed in the hold, where the temperature is maintained between four and five degrees centigrade.
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-inform...
Advice for keeping insulin (and other medicines cool): http://www.diabetes.co.uk/travel/keeping-insulin-c...
Edited by ninja-lewis on Monday 20th May 12:47
We take Embrel on flights.
Container, been a small sized cool bag about the size of an egg box and ice packes, along with letter from the hospital
We only travel short haul so its not an issue.
At the airport security are usually spot on and some times don't bat an eyelid when the stuff goes through their scanner.
Airlines are ok too and thats the likes of easyjet and ryanair.
Hope she gets her medication through and enjoys the honeymoon
Container, been a small sized cool bag about the size of an egg box and ice packes, along with letter from the hospital
We only travel short haul so its not an issue.
At the airport security are usually spot on and some times don't bat an eyelid when the stuff goes through their scanner.
Airlines are ok too and thats the likes of easyjet and ryanair.
Hope she gets her medication through and enjoys the honeymoon
Edited by Thurstonland on Monday 20th May 13:11
How critical is the temperature? Would too low a temperature be as bad as too high? Because the only way to be sure it's the correct temperature is a fridge, and understandably the airline don't want their fridge full of medication. She needs to talk to a decent pharmacist and/or the manufacturer.
The other question is, if she hasn't considered her medication before booking, how is she going to cope with a long haul flight. MS sufferers tend not to have great stamina.
The other question is how she's going to keep them at the right temperature while travelling about there (assuming she's not just staying in one place.)
The other question is, if she hasn't considered her medication before booking, how is she going to cope with a long haul flight. MS sufferers tend not to have great stamina.
condor said:
Is it possible to arrange for the meds to be picked up after the plane has landed? either as hold/freight luggage or from a pharmacy?
This. Depending where she's going, obviously.The other question is how she's going to keep them at the right temperature while travelling about there (assuming she's not just staying in one place.)
Just spoken to her and passed on this thraed, some helpful stuff here, thanks guys. Temperature range according to her is 2 to 5 degrees C but on the manufacturers website it says 2 to 8 degrees.
She has been issued a transport bag and special gel ice packs but it seems Virgin Atlantic have only "approved" a different sort of ice pack that is more suited to insulin use (doesn't go as cold) and can't tell her if they will accept the ones she has.
Honeymoon was booked before she was diagnosed- but she's been to australia recently (pre-diagnosis but after the symptoms appeared) and was fine so no worries there.
She has been issued a transport bag and special gel ice packs but it seems Virgin Atlantic have only "approved" a different sort of ice pack that is more suited to insulin use (doesn't go as cold) and can't tell her if they will accept the ones she has.
Honeymoon was booked before she was diagnosed- but she's been to australia recently (pre-diagnosis but after the symptoms appeared) and was fine so no worries there.
You can buy battery operated travel fridges just or medication
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mo-Vcvo3II&sns...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mo-Vcvo3II&sns...
She has, it's one of those situations where all the people she has spoken to have given her different advice but no-one will commit to giving a yes/no answer- the airline say its the airports responsibility, the airport say it's down to the airline . . . The MS Society and her nurse seem quite confident that it will all be fine but it's the first time she has had to do this and is a bit nervous about it all.
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