By Destination Select Country Australia Austria Canada Croatia Cyprus Egypt France Germany Greece India Italy Kenya Malta Malaysia Mexico Portugal South Africa Spain Turkey UAE USA

By Medical Condition Select Condition Asthma Angina Arthritis Cancer COAD / COPD Depression Diabetes Epilepsy Glaucoma Heart Attack High Blood Pressure Irregular Heartbeat

By Disabled Information Disabled Info 12 Steps for Holidays ABTA Form Airline Forms Airline Equipment Regs Airline Medication Regs Blind Travellers Blind : Transport Blue Badge Deaf Travellers Defining Disabled Disabled Info D'd Security Guide Disabled Considerations Electric Wheelchairs Flying & My Ears Independant Travel Medically Fit to Travel Medication Printable Checklist Service Animal Guide Travel Checklist Travel Health Your Right to Fly
For General Info Select Category DVT Earthquakes EHIC Info ESTA Flying & My Ears Food & Drink HIV / AIDS Hurricanes Infant Safety Jetlag Malaria Medically Fit to Travel Medication Printable Checklist Your Right to Fly Sun Tips Swine Flu Sustainable Tourism Vaccines

Medically fit to Travel

Any form of travel can involve the dreaded Jet Lag.

For more details on Jet lag and how to deal with it read our Jet Lag section.

Medically fit to fly

All airlines have their own guidelines for defining being medically fit to fly. To avoid problems you must always check with the airline before booking. If you cannot find what you are looking for on your airlines website, give them a call and they will be able to check with a medical adviser on your behalf.

INSERT LINK Click here for a list of airlines and their websites.

Generally speaking you are medically fit to fly with cardiac and respiratory conditions if you can climb 12 steps and walk 50 meters on a flat surface without having an attack of angina or experiencing severe breathlessness.

You are generally unfit to fly if you are in one of the following categories:

• Clearly having trouble breathing when at rest
• Unsatisfactory control of heart failure
• Uncontrolled arrhythmia
• Unpredictable angina
• Haemoglobin levels below 7.5g/dl
• Currently have a transmittable infectious disease
• Experience psychotic illness

You may fly with a psychotic illness if you are travelling with an escort and proven to be stable.

The following will have issues to address before flying:

• Epileptics : If you do not have good control over your epilepsy you may need to increase your medication for the flight and the periods either side of it.
• Pregnancy : You must not travel after 36 weeks. After 28 weeks you will need to provide a letter containing your expected delivery date.
• Undergone surgery : You cannot fly for at least 10 days after chest or abdominal surgery even if it was keyhole surgery.
• The same 10 day period applies after a GI (gastrointestinal) bleed, uncomplicated myocardial infarction (heart attack) and cerebrovascular accident (stroke) even with good recovery.
• Newborns : Babies should preferably be two weeks old before they fly, but MUST be at least 48 hours.
• Casts : If your flight is under 2 hours long you should wait at least 24 hours after having the cast applied before you fly. If the flight is over 2 hours then wait 48 hours after the cast has been applied to fly.

DVT’s are a possible cause for concern, especially on long haul flights.

To read more about them and how to prevent them see our DVT section

If you have an applicable condition then your airline or travel agent should supply you with a MEDIF form which both you and your GP should fill out.

Click here to see our Airline Forms section

Medically fit to Cruise

Cruising can be preferable to flying for people with medical conditions and disabilities, especially those which prohibit you from flying. You must be aware of cruises which require you to fly to and from a departure point.

Be sure to cover your medical condition under your insurance. Find a specialist insurer like AllClear2Cruise. Click here for a quote.

Medical facilities on board cruise liners vary, so it is advisable to contact your supplier and if possible the ship itself to enquire about the facilities tat will be available to you should you need them. There is the possibility that if you have a medial emergency you will have to disembark the ship to be taken to a medical facility on land.

Sea sickness is a major concern for those travelling on a ship. Although it is much less likely to affect you on a large ship transfers and transport to and from mainland destinations are likely to be on smaller boats. These transfers may require you to have a certain level of mobility and agility. Check with your agent before you book on the frequency and details of day trips and transfers.

Eating on board a ship is generally considered to be safer than eating some local cuisines, but gastrointestinal virus can run wild aboard cruise ships for a number of reasons. To see more on the reasons for the spread of viruses onboard cruise ships read our blog at Globebloggers and read this article