Plane travel

[Injector1]

I'm flying to Portugal via Easyjet and flying back by Ryanair. I wear Libre and have an Omnipod pump, I'm away for 12 days, so I'll need to take pods and insulin etc. Will I need a doctor's note for all the medical stuff?

 

[Richard F]

Its a while since I've flown but never had an issue, diabetes is well understood by border control and customs.
I was always advised to take a letter, but probably just take a copy of my prescription, if you need anything abroad a copy of the prescription will help explain things anyway.

 

[Deleted member 527103]

The advice is to carry a letter from your doctor.
I have done so for many years but never needed to show it (it is looking little tatty now).

I was always advised to take a letter, but probably just take a copy of my prescription, if you need anything abroad a copy of the prescription will help explain things anyway.

A prescription may be a suitable alternative for medication but as pump supplies are not provide vi prescription, it will not help if there is an issue with the OmniPod.

@Injector1 my suggestion would be to contact your diabetes clinic (DSN) and request a letter.
However, this will not be needed by the airline - it is no interest to them - it may be needed by airport security.

 

[Juicyj]

I carried the letter once when first diagnosed and wasn't asked for it so haven't taken it since over 12 years ago, just take x3 of what you think you'll need, is my advice for travel.

 

[medievalbiker]

It is handy to have a letter from your consultant/doctor although weather the airports take any notice unlikely at best. I recently flew to the Azores and the security totally ignored the letter putting the spare libre 2 through the scanners regardless of instructions saying not to. The only thing they cared about was the needles.

 

[ElenaP]

I've just returned from a short trip yesterday. I always place all my diabetes (and other medications) in a separate, thin, bag inside by hand luggage that is easy to pull out and hand to the officials to rummage through. I also leave my DSN's letter in the bag, in a plastic sleeve. I always mention that the bag contains liquid insulin. I wear a disability lanyard, which helps when I say that I do not wish to go through some gates. Both ways, I was patted down, and asked to remove my shoes.

 

[Injector1]

Thank you one and all for these helpful comments and suggestions. Yes, I think that a prescription is probably the way to go.

 

[antmos]

I've just returned from a short trip yesterday. I always place all my diabetes (and other medications) in a separate, thin, bag inside by hand luggage that is easy to pull out and hand to the officials to rummage through. I also leave my DSN's letter in the bag, in a plastic sleeve. I always mention that the bag contains liquid insulin. I wear a disability lanyard, which helps when I say that I do not wish to go through some gates. Both ways, I was patted down, and asked to remove my shoes.

I keep everything in my hand luggage and just go through. In 20 years of travelling with insulin I have only been stopped and questioned once.

 

[EllieM]

I think the critical thing here is that most insulin pumps shouldn't go through xray . So far all the security gates I've been through have been ok with patting me down (yes wear shoes that are easy to take on/off) but I do also carry a letter fromy my pump clinic and the pump manufacturers.

 

[Tony337]

I regularly fly to the canaries from manchester airport and have a copy of my prescription.
The new scanners there don't even need you to remove any liquids from your hand luggage.

I did get questioned about my gluten free sausage roll which was in tin foil mind you!
They never queried the insulin just the sausage roll !

Strange but true...

Have a fantastic time

Tony

 

[Lynne C J]

I keep everything in my hand luggage and just go through. In 20 years of travelling with insulin I have only been stopped and questioned once.

I always tell the security person that I'm diabetic and carrying insulin pens and this has never been a problem, literally all over the world. Heathrow T5 in September wanted me to show them the spare pens which were in Frio wallets. First time but it wasn't an issue for security or for me.

 

[Bashert]

I flew last year and went through the new scanners, hand luggage with everything still in passed through the machine. later that night my libra stopped working. Odd i thought as id read they where ok, i replaced with my spare and that too lasted 24 hours. May be a bad batch or the new scanners. so now i opt for the search staff have always been understanding.