Safe Carrying of Medications on a Plane: Why Should They Be in Your Hand Luggage?

When travelling by plane, every passenger has the right to take the necessary medications with them – regardless of the flight direction or the chosen airline. To avoid problems during security checks, it is worth knowing how to pack them correctly and what additional preparations to make. Can medical equipment be transported? Where to put medications – in hand luggage or checked baggage? We answer the most common questions and suggest how to prepare for a flight so that the journey goes smoothly and without complications.

Good preparation is key to any journey. Packing the most important things, which are undoubtedly medicines, should be planned in advance. It is worth making sure that we have a sufficient supply of medicines for the entire trip and an appropriate supply in case of unexpected delays or other emergencies.

Many passengers are still unsure whether it is allowed to carry medicines in hand luggage. It is worth emphasizing that, according to the current regulations, such action is not only acceptable, but also highly promoted by all airlines around the world. Medicines needed during travel should always be at hand at any time of the journey. At the same time, it should be emphasized that carrying medicines in checked luggage is also possible, but due to the risk of potential delays in its delivery, having them with you is extremely important. In addition, the luggage compartment often has much lower temperatures, which are not recommended for many pharmaceuticals.

Both over-the-counter medications and those prescribed by a doctor can be carried in your hand luggage:

• prescription drugs (e.g. antibiotics, specialist medicines)
• generally available medicines (including syrups, medicines containing liquids and gels, ointments, eye drops, nose/throat sprays, etc.)
• disinfection fluids
• contact lens fluids, saline solutions (treated as general medicines)

When it comes to air transport, there is one key rule – you should take the amount of medication that you need during your journey, with a reserve for unforeseen circumstances. Interestingly, this also applies to the transport of liquid medication. Passengers can take more than 100 ml of medication on board the plane, provided that we have the appropriate medical documentation with doctor's recommendations (also in English), if it is necessary for the passenger to travel for health reasons .

In some cases, during airport security checks, we may be asked to confirm the necessity of transporting a given medicine. That is why it is worth having the appropriate medical documentation with you, especially when carrying prescription medicines in your hand luggage. It is a good idea to have the free mojeIKP application, because it is there that you can easily find issued e-prescriptions, as well as have quick access to the history of medical events.

It is always important to bear in mind that each country has its own regulations regarding possession of medicinal substances. In some countries , opioids (codeine or tramadol) or pseudoephedrine, which is an ingredient in popular sinus and cold medications in Poland, are considered illegal .

Passengers can also take selected medical items on board for their own use. This group of items includes:

• oxygen or air containers weighing up to 5 kg,
• glucometer,
• portable inhalers,
• pre-filled syringes in original packaging (e.g. with liquid insulin),
• electronic thermometer (IMPORTANT: thermometers with mercury are prohibited in hand luggage)
• medical devices such as AED defibrillators,
• dry ice weighing up to 2.5 kg (transport only for the purpose of cooling other medicines),
• cooling packs.

It is very important to contact the carrier well in advance if you wish to transport additional medical equipment and discuss the possible conditions of transport in detail. The same applies to, for example, the transport of wheelchairs, because each airline has individual regulations in this regard. Knowledge of the rules for transporting medicines is, above all, a guarantee of a peaceful journey. It is worth dispelling any doubts in advance by contacting a representative of the airline, and also verifying the current transport rules on the official website of the Civil Aviation Authority in a dedicated search engine.

The material was created in cooperation with PLL LOT