Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

Medications

You may bring all prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols) including KY jelly, eye drops, and saline solution for medical purposes.

Additonal items you may bring include:

• Liquids including water, juice, or liquid nutrition or gels for passengers with a disability or medical condition;
• Life-support and life-sustaining liquids such as bone marrow, blood products, and transplant organs;
• Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
• Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

You are not limited in the amount or volume of these items you may bring in your carry-on baggage.  BUT if the medically necessary items exceed 3 ounces or are not contained in a one-quart, zip-top plastic bag, you MUST declare to one of our Security Officers at the checkpoint for further inspection.

For more information on these measures, please read our memo outlining our policy. Changes in Allowances for Persons with Disabilities at Airport Security Checkpoints  (PDF 101 KB)

Non-liquid or gel medications of all kinds such as solid pills, or inhalers are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. Please make sure your medications are labeled.

We normally X-ray medication and related supplies.  However, as a customer service, you may ask that Security Officers visually inspect your medication and associated supplies.  

• You must ask for visual inspection before the screening process begins; otherwise your medications and supplies will be X-rayed.  
• If you would like to take advantage of this option, please have your medication and associated supplies separated from your other property in a separate pouch/bag when you approach the Security Officer at the walk-through metal detector.  
• Ask the Security Officer to visually inspect your medication and hand your medication pouch/bag to him or her.  
• To prevent your medication, associated supplies or fragile medical materials for contamination or damage, we will ask you to display, handle, and repack your own medication and associated supplies during visual inspection. Any medication and/or associated supplies that we can’t clear visually will be X-rayed.  If you refuse, you will not be permitted to carry your medications and related supplies into the sterile area.

While we can not provide an exhaustive list of items, below are some of the most common. Please note, if you have questions or doubts on certain items, place those in your checked baggage. We strongly encourage travelers to read our full list of prohibited items to avoid hassle.

The links below have more detailed information for people traveling with:

• Mobility Disabilities
• Hearing Disabilities
• Visual Disabilities
• Hidden Disabilities
• Medical and Assistive Devices
• Service Animals
• Children with Disabilities
• Medical Conditions
• Medications
• Military Severely Injured Joint Services Operations Program

< =text/> Thanks Lev!  That's very kind of you to do this research. I did take a look through this website, and while they menton that associate supplies are allowed, they seem to make a point of not specifically mentioning needles.

As such, I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has any personal experience.

Many thanks!

- Joy If you find it too much trouble, you can try to take the pills on vacation instead.  I know there might be more stomach problems etc. (people i know didn't see a difference) but it may be better in the long run if you find it harder to figure out how to bring it and keep it cool.

I have travelled with my Humira.  I asked the TSA person at the airport a couple of times but since they x-ray the carry-on they don't care.  Going to Europe, get a letter from your drs. office stating it is your medication and you have the right to have the meds with you.  Keep that letter with your passport.  I put the used needle in my checked luggage coming home--again no problem. 

I did run into a problem because not all hotels have refrigerators in your room.  I had extra plastic bags and went to the ice machine and kept the Humira cool that way.  It is a pain but do-able. 

Enjoy your trips.

I spoke with my father about this - He works for TSA -

 

He said that you absolutely can bring those needles in your carry on. He sees them every day, and said to just keep your prescription labels on everything they come on. When you go through security, just let them know that you have medical needles in your bag, they may want to hand search it instead of x-raying it - but typically not.

 

Have fun!!

That's  fantastic!  Thanks so much ...  I knew the kind folks here at AI would come through for me. I know people travel with their epi pens all the time so it should not be a
problem. You may get questioned but that is not a bad thing.
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