Anything special one should know about checking in a medical bag at the airport?

[Bete]

Now, I feel safe with using a medical bag (from another post of mine); so, is there any special procedures you go through doing this?

Can you do curb service for a medical bag or must you go through the regular line for luggage check-in? Do they identify that medical luggage with a special tag?

If you are doing magical express and getting resort drop off for your medical luggage is there anything special there that you must considered? Also, when you check your bags in for going home is there anything special you need to do with a medical bag?

We don't need it as a carry on; I just don't want it counted against us for luggage. TIA

 

[peemagg]

I lable mine as medical supplies on the outside of the bag. I'm not sure how the airlines handle checking medical supplies. I have always brought mine as a carry-on. I would think that the airline would recommend that for yours also.

 

[newdrama12]

I would take it as a carry-on. That way, if your luggage happens to get lost, you wouldn't have to worry about the meds, since lost luggage can take a day or two before it gets returned.

 

[SueM in MN]

The bag can only contain medical supplies. They probably won't inspect to make sure, but they could. I saw a post once on another site where someone gave the hint to pack a little bit of medical supplies in each bag, so you would not be charged for any of them. That's one of the things the airlines are up against.

If you carry it on, the bag still needs to fit the size and shape requirements for carry on luggage (ie, must fit under the seat ahead of you or in the overhead compartment).

I have lost bags on one leg of my last 2 trips; the information I got from the airline at the time is that they have 24 hours to return your bag to you without penalty. The criteria I use for what I would put in a checked bag is:
- could I do without it for at least 24 hours?
- if it was lost, would it be easy to replace?
- if it was lost, would it be inexpensive to replace?
- is it sturdy and not easily damaged?

If the answer to all of those is yes, I would consider checking it. If any of the answers are no, I would carry it on.
This may vary from airline to airline, but I have never heard of any special tag and you can do curbside check in.

 

[Bete]

The bag can only contain medical supplies. They probably won't inspect to make sure, but they could. I saw a post once on another site where someone gave the hint to pack a little bit of medical supplies in each bag, so you would not be charged for any of them. That's one of the things the airlines are up against.

If you carry it on, the bag still needs to fit the size and shape requirements for carry on luggage (ie, must fit under the seat ahead of you or in the overhead compartment).

I have lost bags on one leg of my last 2 trips; the information I got from the airline at the time is that they have 24 hours to return your bag to you without penalty. The criteria I use for what I would put in a checked bag is:
- could I do without it for at least 24 hours?
- if it was lost, would it be easy to replace?
- if it was lost, would it be inexpensive to replace?
- is it sturdy and not easily damaged?

If the answer to all of those is yes, I would consider checking it. If any of the answers are no, I would carry it on.
This may vary from airline to airline, but I have never heard of any special tag and you can do curbside check in.

I think I better prepare a carry on and a checked bag with her medical supplies. I'll be on pins and needles until that medical bag arrives to our resort room. The carry on will not have enough of her supplies for the entire trip. This has just made the trip more complicated, but I'd rather be on the safe side. Thank you, once again.

 

[Mary976]

I feel like we get stuck on those little jets for a lot of the trips we take. With DDs stuff, sometimes they will want to gate check the "medical bag" along with her wheelchair (because the plane is so small). I'm fine with that since they bring it up and you get it as you are walking off the plane. We have had our luggage lost one too many times for me to completely trust checked baggage. If you are worried about too many carry ons, or it's a small plane, maybe the gate check option would work.

Mary