Medication whilst in flight
#16
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: New Zealand (most of the time)
Programs: Air NZ Elite *G, Honors Gold, IHG Platinum Elite
Posts: 6,114
I think it's probably worth adding that you never know what an individual crew and FSM/ISM may do - but it's clearly not policy to do this.
Depending on the product you also need to be aware of Avsec LAG rules.
Depending on the product you also need to be aware of Avsec LAG rules.
#17
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: Lifetime *G (MP), Lifetime PE (Bonvoy)
Posts: 1,465
I'm diabetic and travel with insulin. When I first started I was a little paranoid about keeping it cool and KiwiJC has hit it on the nail. No flight attendant wants to take responsibility for keeping it in a controlled environment and they will respond that they can't do this. If you are concerned you can use cooling packs, but not freezer packs as they're far too cold.
I recently looked at the warnings on my insulin and it essentially said "store cool, once started maintain at room temperature". These days I just keep in my carryon and store in a fridge as soon as I get to my destination. I've never had it go bad on me. My 2 cents is that the insulin today is a lot more resilient than it used to be.
I recently looked at the warnings on my insulin and it essentially said "store cool, once started maintain at room temperature". These days I just keep in my carryon and store in a fridge as soon as I get to my destination. I've never had it go bad on me. My 2 cents is that the insulin today is a lot more resilient than it used to be.
#18
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ*S plus various hotel programs
Posts: 945
#19
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ*E
Posts: 186
I think as noted above, the more 'modern' varieties of insulin are much more resilient to room temperature - I got advised the same when I changed my treatment regime a few years ago which is definitely much more convenient!
#20
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
OP has not said that the drug is insulin. The specific requirements for drugs may differ even between insulins. Thus, generalized advice about how to store one's own drug may not apply to the ext person.
The specific information should be available on both the package insert and the manufacturer's website. One can also go to secondary sources such as one's physician, but a careful physician will just look up the information as well.
Ice packs especially may be a very bad idea, especially if they come into direct contact with the drug. Similarly, counting on the air carrier itself for anything is a bad idea because it may not materialize.
The specific information should be available on both the package insert and the manufacturer's website. One can also go to secondary sources such as one's physician, but a careful physician will just look up the information as well.
Ice packs especially may be a very bad idea, especially if they come into direct contact with the drug. Similarly, counting on the air carrier itself for anything is a bad idea because it may not materialize.