TOOLS & TIPS FOR AUTISM FAMILY TRAVEL | RENT OUR CARAVAN IN DUNOON

Autism Family Travel Guide

Medical Luggage on Flights: A Complete Guide

flying with medical luggage allergy travel

When travelling by air, passengers with disabilities and medical conditions may need to carry additional equipment, medication or supplies. Depending on your individual needs, this may be referred to as medical luggage, medical baggage or medical equipment.

DISCLAIMER

We use affiliate links in our posts and if you click on them, we will earn a small commission if you book or buy something.

Medical luggage can include everything from mobility aids and CPAP machines to medication, syringes, medical devices and supplies needed to manage a disability or medical condition while travelling. However, the rules surrounding medical luggage can be confusing.

Is medical luggage free?

Does it count towards your normal baggage allowance?

Do you need a doctor’s letter?

Is there an airline code for medical luggage?

The answer often depends on the airline you are travelling with, the equipment or supplies you need to carry and the countries you are travelling between.

This guide explains what medical luggage is, what you may be able to carry and what you should do before flying with additional medical baggage.

Quick Guide to Medical Luggage

  • Medical luggage is baggage containing items needed because of a disability, medical condition or health-related requirement.
  • Depending on the passenger, this could include medication, mobility equipment, medical devices, CPAP machines, syringes, liquid medication or other essential supplies.
  • Some airlines allow passengers to carry additional medical luggage without charge, although the rules, baggage allowances and approval processes vary considerably between airlines.
  • Always contact your airline before travelling if you need to carry additional medical luggage or equipment.
  • You may also be asked to provide supporting documentation, such as a doctor’s letter, prescription or medical certificate.

What Is Medical Luggage?

Medical luggage or medical baggage generally refers to luggage containing items you need because of a disability or medical condition. What is considered medical luggage can vary considerably between passengers.

For some passengers it could include a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or walking aid, medication, medical devices, syringes, liquid medication, CPAP equipment or other essential medical supplies.

Some passengers may also need to carry additional items related to managing their disability while travelling, like compression garments, electrolytes or sensory items.

The important thing to understand is that there is no single definition or baggage allowance that applies to every airline. Each airline has its own medical luggage policy, which is why you should always check the requirements before travelling.

Travelling with ADHD? Learn more about travelling internationally with ADHD medication from my guide.

Who Can Bring Medical Luggage?

Passengers who need to carry additional items because of a disability or medical condition may be able to request additional medical baggage. However, approval processes vary between airlines. Some airlines simply ask passengers to contact their Special Assistance team before travelling. Others require a doctor’s letter, medical certificate or details about the equipment being transported.

You should contact your airline as early as possible and ask:

  • Whether additional medical luggage is available.
  • Whether there is a weight or size limit.
  • Whether the luggage must contain only medical items.
  • What supporting documentation is required.
  • Whether you need approval before arriving at the airport.
  • Whether the medical luggage can be carried in the cabin or must be checked into the hold.

Do not assume that additional medical baggage will automatically be accepted at the airport without prior approval.

If you are travelling with medication, my guide breaks down what to include on a doctors letter to travel smoothly with your medication internationally.

Is There an Airline Code for Medical Luggage?

There is no single universal airline Special Service Request (SSR) code that simply means medical luggage or additional medical baggage.

Airlines use SSR codes to communicate information about particular passenger requirements, including some medical conditions, disabilities and medical equipment. For example, MEDA may be used when medical clearance or assistance is required, while other SSR codes relate to specific equipment or assistance requirements. However, requesting additional medical baggage is generally handled according to the individual airline’s policy rather than through one universal medical luggage code.

If you need additional baggage for medical equipment or supplies, contact the airline’s Special Assistance team before travelling.

I have gathered together two lists of airlines with links to their medical luggage policies (where available) to make this part of planning your trip easier:

Is Medical Baggage Free on Flights?

Many airlines allow passengers to transport essential medical equipment without an additional charge. However, this does not mean that every passenger automatically receives an unlimited additional baggage allowance. Policies vary considerably between airlines, and often are dictated by the laws of the departing and arrival countries of the flight. Some airlines provide a specific additional weight allowance, while others allow passengers to transport medical equipment separately from their normal baggage.

You may need approval before travelling and could be asked to provide evidence showing why the equipment or supplies are medically necessary. Always check directly with your airline before booking additional baggage or arriving at the airport.

Does Medical Baggage Count Towards Your Baggage Allowance?

Whether medical equipment counts towards your normal baggage allowance depends on the airline and the items you are carrying. Some airlines transport essential medical equipment separately from a passenger’s standard baggage allowance. Others have specific rules about how much additional medical supplies can be carried without charge.

There may also be different rules for medical equipment carried in the cabin and equipment transported in the aircraft hold. Some airlines have limits on how many mobility aids you can transport, but also allow smaller medical devices and equipment as a separate allowance.

Contact your airline before travelling and ask whether your medical items will be counted towards your standard cabin or checked baggage allowance.

What Can You Pack in a Medical Bag for a Flight?

The contents of a medical bag will depend entirely on the needs of the passenger.

Items could include:

  • Prescription medication.
  • Medical devices.
  • CPAP machines.
  • Syringes and needles.
  • Liquid medication.
  • Medical dressings.
  • Ostomy supplies.
  • Diabetes equipment.
  • Mobility equipment.
  • Battery-powered medical devices.
  • Other essential supplies needed to manage a disability or medical condition.

Airlines may require additional medical luggage to contain only medical equipment and supplies. You should therefore avoid using additional medical equipment allowance to carry ordinary clothes, toiletries or other holiday items unless the airline specifically allows this.

How Do You Get an Extra Medical Baggage Allowance?

The process for requesting additional medical baggage varies between airlines. Your first step should be to contact the airline or its Special Assistance team. Explain what you need to carry, why it is required and approximately how much the equipment weighs. The airline should then explain its policy and tell you whether you need to provide additional documentation.

Do this well before your planned departure date. Some airlines require medical baggage requests or equipment approval to be completed a certain number of hours or days before departure and some will also ask for a doctors letter that explains what items you plan to bring and why you need them.

Do You Need a Doctor’s Letter for Medical Luggage?

You may need a doctor’s letter or other medical documentation when travelling with extra luggage due to medical reasons. Requirements vary depending on the airline, destination and equipment or medication you are carrying.

A doctor’s letter may need to explain:

  • Your medical condition.
  • Why the equipment or supplies are necessary.
  • The medication you are carrying.
  • The generic names of prescribed medications.
  • Why you need additional medical baggage.

Some airlines have their own medical forms that must be completed instead of, or in addition to, a standard doctor’s letter. Always check the requirements of your airline before arranging documentation.

Can You Take Medical Equipment as Hand Luggage?

Some medical equipment can be carried in the aircraft cabin, but this depends on the equipment, its size and applicable safety requirements. You should contact your airline before travelling with larger medical devices or equipment containing batteries. There may also be restrictions on where equipment can be stored during take-off and landing.

Never assume that essential medical equipment will automatically be accepted as additional cabin baggage. Check the airline’s policy before travelling and speak directly with the airline to seek approval for the additional luggage with medical equipment.

Medical Luggage and Airport Security

Medical equipment and medication may require additional screening when passing through airport security. Keep medications and medical supplies easily accessible and inform security staff if you are carrying items that may require additional checks.

Liquid medication and essential medical supplies may be subject to different rules from ordinary liquids, although requirements vary between countries and airports. You may need to provide evidence that the medication or equipment is medically necessary, this is often the case in airports with the 100ml liquid rule in place and where the passenger is travelling with liquid medication. Bottles over 100ml without a prescription or a doctors letter can be confiscated at security.

You should also research the medication rules for your destination and any countries you will transit through. A medication that is legal in your home country may be restricted or controlled elsewhere. This is very often true for strong pain medication and ADHD medication. In my guide to travelling with ADHD I cover the medication rules for different countries I have personally visited and imported my medication to.

Travelling With Battery-Powered Medical Equipment

If your medical equipment uses batteries, check the airline’s requirements before travelling. Airlines have strict safety rules surrounding lithium batteries and other battery types. The airline may need information about the device, battery type, battery capacity and whether you intend to use the equipment during the flight. It is helpful to keep the instruction booklet with you when you contact the airline so you can give them details about the equipment you are travelling with. Spare batteries may also need to be transported in a particular way.

Contact the airline before travelling if you are unsure whether your medical device or batteries require approval.

Medical Luggage Policies by Airline

Medical baggage policies vary considerably between airlines. Some airlines provide a specific additional baggage allowance, while others assess medical equipment requests individually.

The documentation, notification periods, weight allowances and approval processes can also differ.

I have put together more detailed guides to help you compare individual airline requirements:

Always check directly with your airline before travelling, as medical baggage policies and requirements can change.

Tips for Travelling With Medical Luggage

  • Contact your airline as early as possible and keep a written copy of any approval you receive.
  • Ask exactly what documentation you need and whether there are restrictions on the size or weight of your medical baggage.
  • Keep medications in their original packaging where possible and retain the pharmacy labels attached to prescription medication. As a backup, travel with a doctors letter for your medication if possible.
  • Make copies of important medical documents and keep them somewhere separate from the originals. I find that having copies stored in a Google drive is the best way for our family.
  • Check the medication rules for your destination and any countries you will transit through.
  • If you are carrying expensive or essential medical equipment, consider what you would do if your equipment was delayed, damaged or lost during your journey.
  • Most importantly, do not assume that one airline’s medical luggage policy will be the same as another airline’s policy.

Travelling with medical luggage can require additional planning, but contacting your airline in advance can help you understand exactly what you are allowed to carry and what documentation you need. There is no universal medical luggage allowance or airline code that applies to every passenger and airline.

Policies vary depending on the airline, equipment and individual circumstances, so always check the requirements before travelling. Preparing your documentation, requesting approval where necessary and understanding the rules surrounding your equipment can help make travelling with medical luggage considerably easier.

Continue Planning Your Trip With An Allergy

Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children

Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides

You can click on each image to go directly to the guide for that topic.

travelling with autism and with autistic children
travelling with reduced mobility and disability pushchairs
travelling with allergies family travel guide for disabled passengers
travelling with adhd guide for disabled travellers
travelling with fibromyalgia and chronic pain guide