smc4761
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 1,039
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
My 640g has been through the walk through scanner many times. I would put it in the baggage or full body scanner tho.This will be my first time flying with my pump a Medtronic 640 pump. Flying from Edinburgh to Alicante in 10 days
I have a letter about my pump, a letter about my other diabetes kit and my prescription so that should be enough ??
I know not to put my pump through in hand luggage through X ray. So far so good
Now when we go through the scanner is that just a walk through metal detector scanner I guess that is OK. Or should I mention to security about my pump and ask to be hand scanned ?
Do many airports have a full body scanner which i guess I should not go through with my pump ?
The metal detector is fine to go through. I usually don't mention my pump unless there are body scanners, which you shouldn't go through with your pump, usually you can have a pat down instead or take your pump off and go through the body scanner, make sure if you take your pump off, to get somebody you trust to keep a hold of it. Usually my pump and/or hands will be swabbed (for drugs? explosives? not sure) but I don't know if that's the case for everybody or all airports.Now when we go through the scanner is that just a walk through metal detector scanner I guess that is OK. Or should I mention to security about my pump and ask to be hand scanned ?
Do many airports have a full body scanner which i guess I should not go through with my pump ?
My 640g has been through the walk through scanner many times. I would put it in the baggage or full body scanner tho.
This will be my first time flying with my pump a Medtronic 640 pump. Flying from Edinburgh to Alicante in 10 days
I have a letter about my pump, a letter about my other diabetes kit and my prescription so that should be enough ??
I know not to put my pump through in hand luggage through X ray. So far so good
Now when we go through the scanner is that just a walk through metal detector scanner I guess that is OK. Or should I mention to security about my pump and ask to be hand scanned ?
Do many airports have a full body scanner which i guess I should not go through with my pump ?
Hi @smc4761 the walk thru scans are fine BUT do not go thru the ones where you have to put your hands in the air. Airport security in most cases are fully aware of insulin pumps BUT there are a few people who are definitely not. All your letters are enough mate.
Go to the help/disability section of the airport as soon as you get there and ask for the "hidden disability lanyard".......it helps no end, straight through customs and priority boarding for you and whoever is traveling with you.
PS all your supplies in your carry on PLUS you will be allowed an extra carry on for your medical bits and bobs
Oppps! Yes, not.Do you mean you would NOT put it in the baggare or the full body scanner ??
Just to update everyone since my original query...I didnt end up taking the letter from my gp as she was charging me £30 which I just couldn't get my head around. Eventually got one from my dsn but it arrived after my holiday!
At the airport I didn't take the lanyard just a personal decision. I thought at security I would wait till I was asked. I wasnt. I stepped through the metal detector and was waved on through. Same on return so thankfully I didn't have any struggle there.
On the flight there i put my pump on airplane mode. About 30mins after take off I went hypo and ended up having to suspend my pump for over an hour. So on landing I disconnected. I disconnected for take off and landing on way home too. No hypo. Dont know if it was the stress though as I had myself needlessly worked up over security.
Next time I wont be so anxious but I'm glad I now have a letter explaining all incase I need it.
I stepped through the metal detector and was waved on through. Same on return so thankfully I didn't have any struggle there.