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How to travel with medicines on European flight

(58 Posts)
susytish Thu 12-Sept-24 15:47:31

My husband is travelling soon within Europe and has quite a few medicines. He checked with the airline as he wanted to carry the meds in a rucksack. He has a cabin sized bag to go under the seat but wants his meds with him. It is about a 4 hour flight.
The airline are saying he needs a signed letter from the GP and can carry a handbag sort of thing.
He would not have known this if he hadn’t checked.
The problem is whether he can take his rucksack.
He has not travelled outside UK for over 6 years so maybe things have changed?,

Cath9 Sun 15-Sept-24 16:13:17

Wow!
There was me thinking I would not get ONE reply!
All interesting to read, thanks.
Ok, I will try to explain without going on too much
This is for you grandmas who have very young grandchildren.
When I was 4 yrs of age I had a high temperature with measles as this was before there was any injection preventing the illness. When 8yrs I started to get seizures which I have had on and off ever since although over the last 27 years they are minor. no falling. no shaking just day dreaming if I get any at all.
For this reason I still have to take my AEDs regularly.

susytish Tue 17-Sept-24 19:22:32

We have bought a small bag like a bum bag from M&S today. Husbands meds bag fits in it and lots of pockets for phone, passport etc. He feels happier.
The problem was the airline company saying he couldn’t travel without a doctors letter, signed and stamped on letter-headed paper.
He has the regulation bag to go under the seat and wanted a small cross body bag for his meds.
People we have spoken to have said it’s the customs who will be looking at it.
He won’t be using this particular airline again that’s for sure.

jeanie99 Sat 26-Oct-24 00:28:06

You should have a letter from your GP to show if necessary keep it in your passport.
Never ever pack medication in your suitcase always have it on you.
When we traveled for a year we took a years supply of medication with back up information of the countries we were traveling too and airline tickets. Never had a problem.

nanna8 Sat 26-Oct-24 02:17:44

I’ve had the letters from the GPs over the years and no one asks to see them. I always take pills etc in my hand luggage in case my suitcase gets lost, as they are wont to do over this way from time to time. Sleeping pills seem to be the ones they need a letter for, not anything else.

Tj19 Sun 10-Nov-24 07:15:08

Hi from Australia, I travelled 9 weeks Europe this year, and we are advised by customs before leaving Aussie to have letters and original packets with name on and chemist name, I was stopped in Berlin and Greece as I hard hard core pain meds, showed letters and packets no problems,good luck

Beazy Thu 28-Nov-24 23:14:21

I take enough medication that I would rattle if you shook me.

I was worried about a trip to the US, but I took advice to keep them in original prescription boxes, and I kept them in hand luggage so they could be easily questioned if needed.

Nobody cared.

petal53 Fri 29-Nov-24 00:04:35

You just put the medications in your hand luggage. No need for a doctor’s letter unless you’re carrying controlled medications. Even then you don’t really need a letter, just the medicine in its original box and your prescription showing the medication was prescribed for you.