Are you medically fit to fly?

Imarocker

When we went to Antarctica last year the tour company asked me to get the GP to fill in a form and confirm that I was fit enough to do the trip. I hadn’t been to the surgery in 3 years and no one phoned to ask how I was but they charged me £30 for the signature.

Let’s be honest. If yiu can afford Antarctica, £30 admin fee for overstretched GPs is cheap

I was only ever asked once, when we were seated by an emergency exit. It was a flight either to or from Orlando -I can't remember - but from other commnts I guess it was probably the return, I was with my then teenage DD and DS who were 17 and 19 at the time.
Now at 69 I would say fit to fly but possibly not to open an emengency exit!

My DH up to his early 70s was very fit physically but as he wore hearing aids and laterly a cochlear implant he could not book any seats near an emergency exit, you have to be fit with no health issues. America is paranoid about being sued so if you are asked if you are fit and you are not then you could be sued if there is any issues in an emergency.

What an odd thing to be asked!

You aren't likely to say no.

Someone became suddenly sick and died on a plane next to my DDiL (who was with her 10month old DS at the time)
DDiL is a nurse and was soon involved with coping with the situation.
The plane was almost in NZ but had to turn and land in Australia because the death had occurred in Australian air space.
There were very long delays, no meals screaming baby , a new crew and the poor bereaved partner was interrogated and even asked where he was staying in Australia!

Well said Dr Watson 😊

What would have happened if you had said No?

That’s a bit unkind

Oh dear BigLouis, whilst the airport experience is a test of patience, would yours be better served if they got some much better paid security MANAGER to to come and yell at you, as befits your status?!! [and for those who don't know, IF you can fly from a quieter regional airport, that does usually help a little with the parking and/or queues delays.]

annodomini

I've never been asked, even when I was 5 months pregnant, in 1970, flying from Nairobi to Heathrow. Not very comfortable!

No, you wouldn't have been asked. Women are allowed to travel by air until the start of the ninth month of pregnancy.

Apart from women about to give birth, I believe it is the passenger's responsiblity, not the airlines, to make sure that they are medically fit to fly, or indeed travel by any other means of transport.

biglouis

I have no intention of ever flying again because of the way you get treated at airports. I have no intention of allowing myself to be yelled at by some minimum wage security oik.

What on earth has his wage got to do with any of it? Judgemental? just a tat!!!

I have no intention of ever flying again because of the way you get treated at airports. I have no intention of allowing myself to be yelled at by some minimum wage security oik.

In my own opinion - Yes! In the airlines opinion - No!

We Chunnel on over and drive to the slopes, my knees permit skiing but not decent seats over wing with leg room. Silly really.

Once. On Singapore Airlines flight, I booked seats with wider legroom near the emergency exit. When we boarded the flight at Manchester Airport, there was no problem.

The flight touched down somewhere in Germany, we disembarked and when we try to board again, we were told we must move seats because of our age. Apparently, we were not strong enough to open the exit door in the case of emergency.

We were given a row of three seats for the two of us, so we were quite happy to move seats.

When we went to Antarctica last year the tour company asked me to get the GP to fill in a form and confirm that I was fit enough to do the trip. I hadn’t been to the surgery in 3 years and no one phoned to ask how I was but they charged me £30 for the signature.

Yes, I am and also my wife. We are planning to visit Egypt soon.

After what happened to us last September I would urge anyone with any conditions to get a Fitness to fly certificate from your Dr, and it has to be your Dr
Virgin Atlantic cancelled my daughter’s flight to Hawaii with 4 days notice. This was despite the fact that she had flown to the US with them 6 times, and, flew to Scotland every month for 2 years. She has always had her condition.

There reason being that if the pressure dropped too much in the cabin she would be in danger.
This was despite the fact that she holds a PADI certificate for
diving.
This was with Virgin. Be aware.

M0nica

Primrose You are rehashing very old stories. The Nigerian woman having quads - hat event happened 7 years ago and the reason it hit the headlines was because it was exceptional.

Portugal is a member of the EU, which we were, so she would have been covered by reciprocal arrangements.

Exceptional cases are unsatisfactory example. If Nigerian women were having quads at our expense every month - that would be different.

It’s still costing us millions!

The reciprocal agreements don’t cover things like major heart surgery. The woman and her sister openly admitted they came here for that reason because she could not get it done in Portugal. Why should we pick up the tab?

Primrose You are rehashing very old stories. The Nigerian woman having quads - hat event happened 7 years ago and the reason it hit the headlines was because it was exceptional.

Portugal is a member of the EU, which we were, so she would have been covered by reciprocal arrangements.

Exceptional cases are unsatisfactory example. If Nigerian women were having quads at our expense every month - that would be different.

We usually book seats with extra legroom, usually over the wing so we are regularly asked if we are fit enough to operate the doors should we need to, but not on check in which is really when we should be asked.

But If the USA are asking the question on check in then I suppose all countries will follow.

I had pre booked my seat and checked in online (not an exit seat). I don't have mobility issues. I don't think I look old or doddery, size 10, dressed in skinny jeans and timberland boots.
If its an age thing then it is ageist.
The woman in the seat directly behind me was obviously unwell with what seemed like a chest infection. She had a thick mucus sounding cough with regular coughing fits. Im just hoping I didn't catch whatever she had!

I've never been asked, even when I was 5 months pregnant, in 1970, flying from Nairobi to Heathrow. Not very comfortable!

I wish they would ask the same question of people leaving other countries to come here. I am thinking about the Health Tourists who travel here to get their treatment and care free on the NHS.

I watched a programme about this and there was an Egyptian man who knew he was very ill who flew here and went straight to a London hospital as an emergency. There was also a Nigerian woman expecting quads who cost us £250,000++ as they were all delivered here and in hospital for weeks. Her husband was actually very wealthy but despite chasing him he has never paid up yet. Then there was a Portuguese lady with heart problems and she also travelled knowing she was ill, got here, seen as an emergency and had free heart surgery.
It’s a disgrace!

The only time I have been asked was when I was pregnant, just a short flight from the Uk to Portugal. That was in 1971!

I’ve never been asked (75). Maybe it depends on whether you look very frail or doddery - or both…..

My reply was to Tanith