Can I carry my medication in my hand luggage?
We get asked quite a lot by our customers what the rules are for carrying medication onto aircraft in hand luggage. Whilst there are rules against carrying liquids of more than 100ml onto flights in hand luggage, these can be overruled in the case of medication that is essential to your journey.
According to the Gov.uk website, essential medicines over 100ml and medical equipment can both be carried onto flights if you alert a screening officer that you have these items with you, and provide documentation to show that the articles are essential (such as a doctor’s note, original medicine packaging or other documentation).
Essential medicines and medical equipment includes:
- Tablets and capsules
- Essential liquid medicines
- Hypodermic syringes
- Inhalers
- Cooling gel packs
- Medical equipment (e.g. CPAP and TENS machines)
- Special food and liquids needed for medical reasons
- Oxygen cylinders (it is recommended to contact your airline if you do need to carry oxygen cylinders, as rules vary depending on the airline).
Please note, although you are able to carry these items onto aircraft, the screening process can sometimes take a little longer than usual. Because of this, we recommend arriving at the airport well in advance of your flight to ensure you have enough time to pass through security stress-free!
If you’re planning a trip abroad and need somewhere to store your medicines, why not try one of our Medpacs? With a variety of sizes and styles to choose from, there’s something for all needs, and they’re the perfect solution for keeping all medication and accompanying documentation together in one place. Have a look at the full collection here.
For more information on travelling with specific syringes, pens or pumps - check out this great blog by MedAngel.