AirTran, TSA, and meds

[lovethattink]

I read the info on the TSA site and here. I am a little confused and need some clarification. My son is flying solo. He has a battery operated nebulizer, a regular nebulizer, nebulizer solution, gastrocrom, twinjects (similar to epipens) and several solid dosage forms.

1. Do we need to take the batteries out of his nebulizer before inspection?

2. I assume we have to separate the liquid dosage forms. Is there a limit to how much to have on hand? I would like to send him with a pack of 25 vials, is that possible. The gastrocrom is a pack of 8 ampules.

3. Is it ok to have the nebulizers and everything, except the liquid in his carryon luggage? He will not have any checked in luggage, just a small carryon case.

 

[disney david]

I read the info on the TSA site and here. I am a little confused and need some clarification. My son is flying solo. He has a battery operated nebulizer, a regular nebulizer, nebulizer solution, gastrocrom, twinjects (similar to epipens) and several solid dosage forms.

1. Do we need to take the batteries out of his nebulizer before inspection?

2. I assume we have to separate the liquid dosage forms. Is there a limit to how much to have on hand? I would like to send him with a pack of 25 vials, is that possible. The gastrocrom is a pack of 8 ampules.

3. Is it ok to have the nebulizers and everything, except the liquid in his carryon luggage? He will not have any checked in luggage, just a small carryon case.

No for the batteries they don't make you take out batteries for med and non med devices. You have the right for them to hand inspect all medicines instead of it going through the X-ray just have to let them know before you put it through the machine. If he or the machine needs to be inspected he will have the right to do it in a private setting. You should be okay with the amount of liquid since it meeds they don't fall under the 3 oz rule. Sorry you proberlky read this before but thought it might be help full. Tsa also say if the meeds are more then 3.4 oz they must be declared to the tsp agent by verbal or in writing. Let me know if you need more help or if i need to clear up my answers.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/index.shtm

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks! What about the inhaler he usually keeps in his pants pocket?

 

[cantwaittoseemickey]

We had no problems with taking our sons nebulizer nor feeding pump flying Airtran. I had a dr note just in case for all medical items-meds and machines but didn't need it. I did put all of his medicine in one checked bag to make it easier in case they needed to go through it.

 

[disney david]

Thanks! What about the inhaler he usually keeps in his pants pocket?

If they have any metal or anything that can set off the metal detectors I would put in the bag to go through security.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks! What about the inhaler he usually keeps in his pants pocket?

As was already mentioned, there is not a limit on medical liquids.
If each container is less than the 3.4 ounce limit and there is room in the 1 quart bag, the liquid medication can be put in that bag. There is no rule that says medications must be in a separate bag. We have had small bottles of liquid medications in the one quart bag that each traveler is allowed.
If there are more liquids than will fit into that bag or if the individual containers are more than 3.4 ounces, then they need to be separated and declared to TSA. That sounds kind of mysterious, but it is basically just telling the agents that you have some extra liquids for medical reasons.

Tell him to look for signs at the screening area. Some airports, especially larger airports, have a line marked "Medical Liquids." He would not be required to go into that line, but they may be more prepared with a place to set things or to bypass the x-ray machine if he does not want his medications to be x-rayed.

Even if he doesn't think the inhaler in his pocket will set off the metal detector, I would still suggest taking it out and putting it with his other medications. Airports differ in how the sensitivity of their metal detectors are set, so I would take it out and eliminate any chance that it might set off the metal detector.

And, if he ends up at an airport or a line with the new type screeners, he will need to remove everything from his pockets. I went thru those scanners in Washington, D.C and they made everyone remove everything (even tissues) from their pockets.

The airlines will allow you to bring anything that has gone thru security, so Airtran won't be a problem.

Also, since he has only a carryon, he may want to check ahead of time to see what type of plane he will be on. We have been on planes twice recently where the overhead storage containers were quite small and the gate agent did make people with larger carry on bags check them at the gate. If the flight is full, it is also possible that all the overhead space will be filled when he boards. So, he may want to make sure that his carry on bag will fit under his seat and/or have a smaller bag packed with his necessities and medical supplies that is inside his larger bag in case he needs to check it.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks everyone! I put his meds in one of those draw string back pack things, separate inside the carry-on. That way if he has to check in the carry-on he can keep the meds with him. His carry-on is smaller than the max it says for air tran, but I can't imagine it would fit under the seat.

We put in a request for a gate pass for my husband to accompany him, so hopefully he will be with him through the scanning if there is any problem.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Thanks everyone! I put his meds in one of those draw string back pack things, separate inside the carry-on. That way if he has to check in the carry-on he can keep the meds with him. His carry-on is smaller than the max it says for air tran, but I can't imagine it would fit under the seat.

We put in a request for a gate pass for my husband to accompany him, so hopefully he will be with him through the scanning if there is any problem.

These are both very good ideas.

It's really up to the person doing the check in whether your DH gets a gate pass . . . if that person says "no," look for a supervisory and ask again. It also probably pays to let them know that his carry-on has medical supplies and equipment before you pay their fee for it.

 

[SueM in MN]

These are both very good ideas. :thumbsup
It's really up to the person doing the check in whether your DH gets a gate pass . . . if that person says "no," look for a supervisory and ask again. It also probably pays to let them know that his carry-on has medical supplies and equipment before you pay their fee for it.

If you have to check a carry on at the gate because it is either too big for that plane (even though it meets the size requirement) or the space is all filled, you should not get charged at all.
We have had to gate check bags several times and were not charged on several different airlines. In fact, they made an announcement that there was no charge.

 

[Grace&Carolinesmom]

When we go thru security, I pack all DD's "stuff" in one carryon. I put the nebulizer equipment, medicines, masks, etc in there. I do make sure that I keep her nebulizer meds in their original sealed packaging with the original or photocopy of the prescription label showing her name, the doctor, the pharmacy etc. in the same ziploc bag. I carry the epipen and inhaler in my backpack purse. They have never given us any real trouble. They usually plug in her nebulizer (and DH's CPAP) to make sure they aren't a bomb?? Which I find silly because if it WERE a bomb, we would have all blown up when he plugged it in (not that blowing up is funny...I just find some of the procedures bizarre)

I never put medical equipment or prescription meds in checked luggage as I don't trust the baggage handlers along the way not to steal or break the stuff.

 

[SueM in MN]

As was already mentioned, there is not a limit on medical liquids.
If each container is less than the 3.4 ounce limit and there is room in the 1 quart bag, the liquid medication can be put in that bag. There is no rule that says medications must be in a separate bag. We have had small bottles of liquid medications in the one quart bag that each traveler is allowed.
If there are more liquids than will fit into that bag or if the individual containers are more than 3.4 ounces, then they need to be separated and declared to TSA. That sounds kind of mysterious, but it is basically just telling the agents that you have some extra liquids for medical reasons.

Tell him to look for signs at the screening area. Some airports, especially larger airports, have a line marked "Medical Liquids." He would not be required to go into that line, but they may be more prepared with a place to set things or to bypass the x-ray machine if he does not want his medications to be x-rayed.

Even if he doesn't think the inhaler in his pocket will set off the metal detector, I would still suggest taking it out and putting it with his other medications. Airports differ in how the sensitivity of their metal detectors are set, so I would take it out and eliminate any chance that it might set off the metal detector.

And, if he ends up at an airport or a line with the new type screeners, he will need to remove everything from his pockets. I went thru those scanners in Washington, D.C and they made everyone remove everything (even tissues) from their pockets.

The airlines will allow you to bring anything that has gone thru security, so Airtran won't be a problem.

Also, since he has only a carryon, he may want to check ahead of time to see what type of plane he will be on. We have been on planes twice recently where the overhead storage containers were quite small and the gate agent did make people with larger carry on bags check them at the gate. If the flight is full, it is also possible that all the overhead space will be filled when he boards. So, he may want to make sure that his carry on bag will fit under his seat and/or have a smaller bag packed with his necessities and medical supplies that is inside his larger bag in case he needs to check it.

clarification:
I meant that he should have the medical supplies in a smaller bag so he can take them out and carry them on if his main bags needs to be checked.
Medications, medical equipment and anything you can't be without should never be checked.

 

[lovethattink]

These are both very good ideas.

It's really up to the person doing the check in whether your DH gets a gate pass . . . if that person says "no," look for a supervisory and ask again. It also probably pays to let them know that his carry-on has medical supplies and equipment before you pay their fee for it.

He flew out yesterday with no problems at all. They didn't even want to open his carryon. He said I have medicine in there, and she asked if it's little vials and he said yes. She said that should be fine.

AirTran had put a notation in his file for a gate pass for dh and it had his name. The person at the AirTran desk said it's in the computer already and printed out a small piece of paper for him. DH had to show that piece of paper and his driver's license at the security check.

clarification:
I meant that he should have the medical supplies in a smaller bag so he can take them out and carry them on if his main bags needs to be checked.
Medications, medical equipment and anything you can't be without should never be checked.

I must have known what you meant, because that's exactly what we did! And everything went very smoothly!!


Thanks everyone for your help!