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Letter for flights

SB2015

SB2015

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I have just come back from a trip with EasyJet. For the first time in years I was asked for my hospital letter. I couldn’t get all my sensors etc from my pump in small carry on bag so did my usual of putting them in a separate ‘medical bag’ as I have always done before. Their website states that this is okay and it has always been fine.

This time
- on the way out at the gate I was told that I should have registered the extra bag with my booking. They asked to see me letter which I had with me and that was fine, but the gate staff advised me to register it another time. Tried to do this online but could not see how, so just decided to wing it.
- on the way back I wore my sunshine lanyard and they just waved me through without even questioning the bag.
Just thought that it was worth flagging up. HAVE YOUR HOSPITAL LETTER WITH YOU
I shall look into how to register an extra bag for next time (unless anyone else knows? )

They were also being very hot on size on carryon bags, and charging £50 for any that did not fit in the box.
Fair enough as they do specify the size. I think a lot of airlines do not enforce it so people may be more relaxed. This time a lot got caught out.
 
Thanks for the heads up @SB2015
In my experience with EasyJet, it all depends upon the staff you get and how they are feeling on the day.
But I always carry my letter just in case - it lives with my passport (and is getting rather tatty).

I have no experience of registering a medical bag. I have always found a way to force my supplies in my carry-on. As I often travel alone for work (and even when I travel with my partner I am ridiculously independent), I need everything to be easy to carry and get to, from and around the airport with.
 
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I travel with Jet2. They allow an extra hand luggage for medical supplies, you just have to phone them to register it. Last year they just put a note on the booking, this year they have given me “assisted travel” with a letter to show. Not quite sure what that entails, we’ll see when we get to the airport!
 
Just an aside - isn't is a shame that we have to remember to carry an extra piece of (tatty) paper around with us, especially when most of us have a mobile phone with the NHS app on it and, often, our boarding pass.
It feels like the kind of thing that could work well as a "eCertificate" or something along those lines.

This thread has motivated me to take a photo of my tatty letter and add it to my phone wallet.
For now, I will continue to keep my letter with my passport but, hopefully, the scanned version will be a suitable back up if I ever forget.
 
A good reminder, coming into holiday season @SB2015

I’ve not checked the links for a few years, but these used to point to the right places of several airlines/travel companies

www.t1resources.uk

Air travel - additional luggage allowance for medical supplies

Many aircraft carriers permit passengers with type 1 diabetes to take an additional piece of hand luggage to contain their medical supplies. You may need to notify them beforehand.
www.t1resources.uk www.t1resources.uk
 
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