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Taking inhaler on easyJet flight?

42 replies

CrystalAmethyst93 · 04/10/2023 23:52

Hi, my gp are stating I have to pay £40 just for a little note stating I can take my blue reliever on plane if I need too and signed. That’s so much money for that. I don’t have severe asthma etc so it’s more if a reliever in case I need it. I’m flying to Venice via easyJet, anyone got any advice with this or experience? Thank you 🥰

OP posts:
McIntire · 04/10/2023 23:55

You can just take it on the plane.
Pop it in your clear liquids bag just in case

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 04/10/2023 23:57

I’ve travelled all over the place with asthma meds and never had to have a GP letter. Just take the inhaler in its original packaging - with your name on the sticker on the box - and in the event of them checking it it will obviously match up with your travel documents. I doubt they’ll care though. If you want belt and braces, you can print your prescription details from the NHS app I think.

gegs73 · 04/10/2023 23:57

I flew with a different airline (Corendon I think) this summer to Europe. I have an asthma inhaler and had no problems whatsoever. It was in my hand luggage, when I got to security it went through the scanners in a clear bag with my other hand luggage came out the other side and that was it. Same on the way back to the UK. I didn’t have a doctors note and no one asked. If you’re still worried, could you get the NHS app on your phone, any prescribed medicines will be shown on there.

Ineedwinenow · 04/10/2023 23:58

Eh? Your GP is trying to fleece you! Just put it in your carry on, I have three different inhalers and I travel regularly on lots of different airlines and it’s never been an issue at all

Firsttimecaller · 04/10/2023 23:59

You don't need a separate letter! You put your prescription medicines in a clear bag (a kitchen zip lock is fine - I use a sharpie to put my name, date & flight number on the outside) with a paper copy of your repeat prescription list. You carry it in hand luggage and as it goes through the security xray just mention to the the security person "this bag contains my medication". I fly with up to 14 prescriptions including injections; never need a separate GP letter.
It's a second allowable clear bag in addition to your cosmetic things like hand cream.

Powerplant · 05/10/2023 00:13

Just back from Malaga with easyJet I don’t have severe asthma and my blue reliever was just in my handbag through the scanner no problem. It’s alway been the same. I don’t know what your gp means!

BabyFireflyx · 05/10/2023 00:28

Take it in its packaging with the prescription label on it, I've never needed anything more for my inhalers. I've taken diazepam on planes for years and all I do is take the actual prescription sheet the pharmacy gets, or a copy of it with all my details on with the actual thing in packaging with printed label. Free of any charge. No one's ever even checked that. You do not need to pay to travel with an inhaler.

Totaly · 05/10/2023 00:34

Eh? Your GP is trying to fleece you!

No he isn’t, OP asked for a letter and the GP said he could write one for £40. I doubt the GP advised the OP she needed one!

I do wonder about some people.

cherryassam · 05/10/2023 00:36

I travel extensively for work with always 2 but often 3 or 4 inhalers plus other medicines. You don’t need a doctors letter - take a copy of your repeat prescription and the boxes at most. I’ve been asked maybe twice in the last 9 years of extensive travel why I’ve got the inhalers. Both times the answer “because I’ve got asthma” was enough - I think I might have had to take the inhaler once at Cagliari airport in Sardinia to prove I was happy to do so.

Chestnutz · 05/10/2023 01:54

Travelled with one extensively but have never been stopped and asked. I pop it in the clear bag as well.

oishutup · 05/10/2023 02:33

I travelled with easyJet in the last week. I took my brown and blue inhalers in hand luggage and it wasn't a problem at all.

ApolloandDaphne · 05/10/2023 04:46

I take my inhaler everywhere and have never had an issue with it in hand luggage.

Twiglets1 · 05/10/2023 06:27

What? I always have my blue inhaler in my handbag when I fly and it has never ever been questioned. Have flown EasyJet, BA, TUI etc with no issues.
Its not in any kind of packaging either, it’s literally just loose in my handbag.

LennyBalls · 05/10/2023 06:46

What a con. I take my blue inhaler in my handbag every single year and nobody bats an eyelid.
My son took his adhd meds through this year in hand luggage and again nobody batted an eye

Roselilly36 · 05/10/2023 06:52

You will be fine OP, DH travels with inhalers, never been a problem. Not something I have even thought about. Never taken a letter, you could pop the prescription repeat in your hand luggage just in case?

User56785 · 05/10/2023 07:07

What a con.
It's not a con, that's how much a letter from the GP costs.

If she doesn't and she puts her medication in the labelled boxes and takes them through like everyone else then she won't need a letter. If she wants a letter from her GP it's £40.

Deedippy · 05/10/2023 07:11

Another frequent flyer who also has blue inhalers in hand language. Not labelled and no prescription from GP and never an issue. Didn't even think of it

My hrt gel is a different story. That has to be labelled and I've been asked for the prescription too

Looneytune253 · 05/10/2023 07:16

I think everyone is overthinking it here. I literally just have it in my handbag and that's it. Sometimes I've taken it out and put it in tray at security but most of the time it just stays in the bag and no drama

Desecratedcoconut · 05/10/2023 07:21

I have a whole rainbow colour collection of inhalers that go in my handbag and have never had a doctor's note.

toastofthetown · 05/10/2023 07:22

I’ve flown with inhalers for decades and never had anyone show any interest in them. If you are flying from Manchester, they require them to go in your liquids bag (and seemingly anything with a wire removed from your bag) but everywhere else has been be fine with them loose in a bag. It’s more of an airport thing than an airline one,
as easyJet won’t be searching your bags.

Hmmthatsgoodchicken · 05/10/2023 07:27

Years ago I read online somewhere (probably on here) that you needed a letter from the GP to take your prescribed meds abroad. My mum uses an inhaler- so she asked when she went to the chemist and he said no, they aren't too fussy, as long as it's in its box with your name on it'll be fine.
When we went last week, I think it was just loose in her handbag. No one cared.

YellowDots · 05/10/2023 07:29

The only thing you have to be aware of is taking medication to a country where you are not allowed to take it. Like Dubai.

EfficientlyDecluttering · 05/10/2023 07:32

The airlines say this about GP letters in the small print but I don't think anyone does it in practice, labels, copies of prescriptions just in case, one of my family members travels with a load of prescription meds and its never been queried.

EfficientlyDecluttering · 05/10/2023 07:33

But yes to checking the rules of the countries you travel to.