Well, we've booked for a week in Portugal in October (I'm 60 and it's my pressie ). I walk with 2 elbow crutches, I can muddle along with 1 on the plot but really need the 2. Are there any restrictions about taking them on board a flight and what about medicines, we both take some morning, lunchtime and supper. Any advice gratefully received ;D
I think you are ok with tablets, as long as they are labelled to show that they are prescription drugs. Crutches? Not sure, have you looked at the website of the airline you are travelling with?
You need to check with the airline, generally there are no restrictions, but you have to inform them about the crutches and assistance you may need boarding and with hand luggage etc. This is foc. Boarding low cost airline planes can be quite difficult - long walk to the terminal with escalators and then steep, rickety steps up into the plane in a crowd. Get assistance to avoid this. The orange or the airline with the harp tend to have terminals the best part of a mile away from the main airport building and it can be a chore to get there if you are physically restricted.
Don't know about the medicines and depends on what it is. Travel agent or airline would know. Maybe you have to show them in a plastic bag when you go through customs, like you have to show liquid toiletries.
I wouldn't bother with ordinary tablets. I never show my paracetamols which I always carry. OH puts his asthma inhalers into a clear plastic baggie and takes them through customs separately to the suitcase, together with the liquid toiletries.
Think about seating - you may decide to request a seat with a bit more leg room on medical grounds but it could be a real struggle in cattle class if your seat is miles from the loo.
Have a great time !!
ETA: perhaps request an aisle seat near the loo ?
Our Johnny has a letter from the doctor re. his diabetic meds. (insulin pens etc.)
I bet you are looking forward to the trip Mal. :D
Quote from: Ellen K on July 17, 2012, 10:36:31
Think about seating - you may decide to request a seat with a bit more leg room on medical grounds but it could be a real struggle in cattle class if your seat is miles from the loo.
Have a great time !!
Ask for it by all means, but they may not give them to you, because the legroom seats are usually next to the emergency exits. Flight attendants generally want very able bodied and english speaking passengers there, because they expect help in an emergency. OH is very tall and always asks to sit in the legroom isle. On two occasions we were actually briefed on how to remove the doors in an emergency and on other occasions we were asked to read the info. The airline with the harp now charges extra for these seats to boot.
We haven't booked flights yet, looking at Monarch Airlines, flying into Faro. We're not using a travel agent as the apartment belongs to a family friend.
Luckily ray's only on tablets for diabetes but lots of them, stomach stuff, too which are 3 times a day.
Any tips for airlines? not easjet etc, just not business class ;D
And, yes, maggie, I'm looking forward to it , all the judging will be over and hopefully, nothing on the plot will need urgent attention ;D
I have found even the 'cattle class' airlines very accommodating about requests to be near the loo.
No problem ,meds slip handy in your hand bag in container just enough for whilst on flight, any liquid meds aerosols (Gt spray)will need to be shown at scanner, when you book ask for assistance ,tell them you have crutches ,request wheelchair assistance,you actually jump queues this way ,crutches/walking sticks need to go through scanner,so you will have to walk through without them if you do not request assistance !!!!!
My husband had severe walking problems so know all this to be true, if you can fly B.A. I would thoroughly endorse them if the flights are not much more worth the little extra,crutches will have to be placed in overhead locker for take off/landing but if you get assistance they do it all for you . Also request help onto plane as climbing steps hard ,they will push you on wheelchair onto plane and you can then get to seat ,its a first on last off with assistance but I always found by the time we off and through to luggage carousel it had just started coming through, Also when booking request seats to front due to disability most will oblige, finally don`t worry they keep the party together so you will not be boarding seperately.
I would carry more than just the flight with you. I had four days in Rome without my luggage. Even getting factor 60 sun tan lotion proved impossible.
My husband is on lots of medication and he always takes the whole lot of it in his hand luggage. As Digeroo says, checked-in luggage can go missing so better safe than sorry.
Hi Manics, my husband & i fly with our 2wks tablets in our hand luggage, we take such a lot between us never ever been any problem & believe me we do take loads. Never pack them in your case.
As for sticks i have to travel with 2 the staff are brilliant they will put your sticks in a cupboard for you untill you need them,
Seats, i have to have a leg room seat so when we check in we always ask for first 3 rows for disabled or have an isle seat each which is very comfortable also near the loo, first 3 rows. Have a lovely holiday.I have been travelling DISABLED for years now & never have a problem if i can help you anymore please PM me ok.
Manics I travelled back to Canada with 2 elbow crutches three years ago, no problems and I didn't have to pre inform them. I also had a wheelchair which I did inform about, they took me to the plane I it then stowed it and brought it back when we landed. The sticks I used on board, they did not take them off me and stow them. I had ALL my meds in my hand luggage, that is what they told me to do in case the luggage was lost and I had three months supply. We actually had a laptop bag full of meds for John and I. No problem at all at check in, they were all prescription.
Some airlines will let you preboard if you are disabled and let them know in advance but they will keep the doorway seats clear and not put anyone there who can't move quick in an emergency.
Have a lovely trip.
Re food if it is on offer, pre choose and go for the Kosher choice, it is always so much better than the regular meal as it is not mass produced like the other stuff. I have tried them all over the years and the Jewish one far outshines the others.
XX Jeannine
We travel to turkey twice a yr taking 1months worth of tablets which is loads,I always take my prescription with me just in case but this goes in the hand luggage ,Easy Jet are very good with dissable & wheel chair users ,let them know when you arrive at the airport that you need assistance (wheel chair) it'll be fine ;)
NO medication should be put in hold,always pack in hand luggage,but do you really want to be rifling through for meds ,easier if enough for flight in pocket/handbag
I am surprised that Ace has made no remarks about witches and broomsticks, considering the name of the topic! :P
(Have a nice time! And do ask for priority access, the airlines are usually very good with that. Love Portugal, the people are a little reserved but I love its quaintness. Very good meat and fish, the way of ordering food is a little strange, those tidbits on the table, you will pay for them, so be wary! And the dishes are very generous! Order one dish for two and see how you get on, ordering another afterwards if needed. Me and my 2 kids shared a dish of grilled chops, we had trouble finishing it! Try their soup, they make excellent soups. You will eat a lot of potatoes and will become addicted to the little custard pies that they eat everywhere (pasteis de nata). DO pop into the local bakeries, they make lots of lovely sweet breads and buns. It's all pretty cheap too. )
Love Portugal been 3 times this year so far !! Whereabouts in Portugal are you going?
Easyjet are fine have taken older relation in wheelchair and was really looked after.
I always take my medication in my handbag never had any problem and I always get searched!!! They even did a drug test on my toothpaste once!!!
X Chas
Did think about witches and broomsticks, but thought it would be inappropriate. Maybe ACE is still recovering from his boil (or whatever). Know they didn't like my friends walking sticks, the points have to be covered or disassembled and put in suitcase, but hopefully you should be OK. Not sure it was a good idea for her to argue with customs. Have a great holiday. ;D ;D ;D
Arguing with Customs Officers reminds me of my Dad when he went back to visit his family in the Ukraine in the 90s after the break up of the Soviet Union. It was his first visit since he left in the War and so of course he took lots of gifts. And rather than return with an empty suitcase, he brought back bottles of the local moonshine.
Well of course he got stopped going through Customs and they opened his suitcase. The Customs Officer said: How many bottles have you got here then? My Dad said: 14. The Officer then said: And how many are you allowed? Dad said: 1.
There was this silence and then my Dad leaned forward and whispered to the Customs Officer: "Would you like one?"
Quote from: antipodes on July 18, 2012, 10:30:38
I am surprised that Ace has made no remarks about witches and broomsticks, considering the name of the topic! :P
Funny, every time I read this title I have a mental image of the MIL flying over from Northern Ireland, astride her broomstick with the cat sat on the back.
Have a good break!
Funny, every time I read this title I have a mental image of the MIL flying over from Northern Ireland, astride her broomstick with the cat sat on the back
Some people would agree with this about me ;D
Albufeira, Charlie, don't know if that's the correct spelling ;D