Before the flight

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, epilepsy, or other chronic disease, see your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel.

Vaccines and immunisations for travel

Some countries require proof of vaccination before you enter. Check with your doctor four to six weeks before you travel to see if you need any specific vaccinations for your destination. Even if you’ve had a vaccine before, you may need a booster. You can also check the vaccination requirements. Remember to bring a copy of your vaccination records with you on your trip.

Keep your immunisations up to date and carry your immunisation information with you.

Malaria

Check if your destination is a risk area for malaria and speak to your doctor about malaria medication. You can use this map from the US Center for Disease Control to check the destinations that pose a risk of malaria.

Insurance

For every trip, make sure you have comprehensive insurance cover for international travel.

If you have a medical condition, you may need to complete a MEDIF form so our team can assess whether it’s medically safe for you to travel.

You need to submit your medical form within a month before you travel and no later than 48 hours before your flight. Part one is completed by you, and Part 2 is completed by your doctor.

You can read our guidance on whether you need to complete a form and the steps to submit your details on our Medical Information Form (MEDIF) page.

It’s important to carry your prescription with you when you board any flight. You also need to check whether your medication isn’t prohibited in your destination and whether you need special authorisation. Consult with your physician and contact the local embassy in the country you’re travelling to. For Dubai and the UAE, you can check the medications you’re allowed to bring with you on the UAE government website.

Ask your doctor for a letter describing any medical conditions you have and the usual treatments, including specific medications and dosages. Some countries also have limited supplies if you need to refill your prescription, so make sure you have enough medication for your journey and carry it in your cabin baggage.

We’re unable to keep your medication cool, so make sure you bring a cool bag or vacuum flask if you need to.

Check our dangerous goods policy to find out what you can and can’t bring with you into the UAE, including medical items and substances.

Find information about travelling with oxygen, CPAP or PAP machines and portable dialysis machines.

Portable dialysis machines

If you are dependent on a portable dialysis machine you can bring one machine on board as cabin baggage, as long as it fits within the size and weight limits of your travel class and if it can be safely stowed in the cabin. It cannot be used during the flight. Otherwise, you can check in one machine and all its associated equipment free of charge. The portable dialysis machine must comply with our safety and dangerous goods rules.

Oxygen assistance

Therapeutic oxygen

We can provide onboard therapeutic oxygen free of charge. You will need to complete our medical form at least 48 hours ahead of your flight to tell us the flow rate in litres per minute that you need.

Travelling with your portable oxygen concentrator (POC)

You can travel with your own POC as long as it’s approved and permitted for use on board. You do not need to complete our medical form.

The approved models are:

• Airsep Focus
• AirSep Free Style
• Airsep Free Style 5
• Airsep Lifestyle
• Delphi.RS-00400
• DeVilbiss Healthcare iGo
• Inogen One
• Inogen One G2
• Inogen One G3
• Inogen One G4
• Inova Labs LifeChoice
• Inova Labs Lifechoice Activox
• International Biophysics LifeChoice
• Invacare Solo2
• Invacare XPO2
• Oxlife Independence
• Oxus RS-00400
• Oxywell Oxygen System (model 4000)
• Precision Medical EasyPulse
• Respironics EverGo
• Respironics SimplyGO
• S8 AutoSetSpirit
• SeQuel Eclipse
• eQuinox Oxygen System (model 4000)
• SeQuel SAROS
• VBOX Trooper

Before you travel with your POC

Please make sure you have sufficient batteries to last the entire journey (factoring in transit times and unexpected delays) as you can’t plug the POC into the in-seat power.

You can check other POCs into the hold as long as:

• The POC is empty and free of pressure
• The battery should be removed and packed separately, or
• The POC should have a recessed battery terminal and the packed battery terminals are prevented from touching metal objects, including other battery terminals.

Physician’s statement to travel with a POC

To meet UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regulations, you must bring a signed doctor’s statement with you to check-in on the day you travel.

You can download a sample doctor’s statement for the use of POC devices here.

The letter should state:

• You have the physical and cognitive ability to see, hear and understand the device’s aural and visual cautions and warnings, and can take the appropriate action without assistance.
• Whether or not oxygen is medically necessary for the entire flight or for a certain duration.
• The maximum oxygen flow rate corresponding to the cabin pressure under normal operating conditions.

Flying with PAP or CPAP equipment, ventilator and respiratory devices

You can travel with positive airway pressure (PAP) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment on board without a medical form, unless you need further assistance. It will not count towards your total baggage limit.

• The equipment must be within the approved size and weight limits so it can be used without blocking access and can be stowed safely in the cabin.
• Please make sure you have sufficient batteries to last the journey (factoring in transit times and unexpected delays). However, you can plug PAP or CPAP devices into the in-seat power.
• You can use the device at any time other than taxi, take-off and landing
• For safety reasons, you can’t sit in an exit row seat.

Carrying PAP and CPAP batteries

• Two fully charged spare batteries must be packaged securely and carried in the cabin. You can plug your device into the in-seat power, but we can’t guarantee it will be available for the whole flight.
• Batteries must be protected against short circuiting, such as recessed battery terminals or packaged to prevent the batteries from touching metal objects, including the terminals of other batteries.
• If you’re bringing CPAP/PAP devices into the cabin but don’t intend to use it during the flight, the batteries must be removed and packaged separately.