Most people with existing medical conditions are able to fly on a commercial aircraft without difficulty. However in-flight the cabin air is pressurised and precautions are sometimes needed if you have a respiratory or heart problem.
We only request medical clearance when fitness to travel is in doubt.
Most people with existing medical conditions are able to fly on a commercial aircraft without difficulty. However in-flight the cabin air is pressurised and precautions are sometimes needed if you have a respiratory or heart problem.
Medical clearance is required when:
We strongly recommend that you check any vaccination requirements at least six weeks before you fly and ensure that you have adequate travel insurance to cover any medical costs should you become ill whilst you are away from home.
Most medical cases are straightforward but others require individual assessment. In some cases, we may ask that you travel with a medical escort or with supplementary oxygen (for which a charge is made).
We, in common with most airlines, assess your fitness to fly based on internationally accepted criteria, the aim being to ensure that you have a safe, comfortable and uneventful journey.
If you are flying with us and you have a condition that may affect you in-flight, contact the PMCU. The PMCU deals with over 650 medical clearance cases every month and will be able to advise you, your doctor or other healthcare professionals about fitness to fly on all British Airways and associated aircraft.
Medical clearance is only considered upon receipt of the following medical information (MEDIF) forms. Please fill in part 1 yourself and get your doctor to fill in parts 2 and 3.
If you have any queries you can contact the PMCU team by:
Tel: +44 (0)20 8738 5444
Fax:+44 (0)20 8738 9644
Email: PMCU.PMCU@BA.COM
The aircraft cabin environment differs from that on the ground and this can have an effect on any health issues you may have.
You must be extra careful about flying if you've had an operation or a serious illness, as travel can be stressful. It is wise not to travel if you don't feel up to it.
The following guide outlines the minimum time before it is advisable to travel if you have had some treatment or if you need to highlight your condition to us before travelling.
| Type of surgery | Travel allowed after (number of days) |
|---|---|
| Major chest, abdominal or cranial surgery middle ear surgery | 10 days |
| Cataract or corneal laser surgery, all other eye surgery Introduction of gas into the eye for retinal detachment | 1 day 6 days Contact the PMCU* |
| Tonsillectomy | 6 days |
| Appendectomy or abdominal keyhole surgery | 4 days |
| Heart conditions | |
| Angioplasty | If the procedure is straightforward you can usually fly after three to five days but you should discuss it with the PMCU. |
| Heart surgery | If you feel well enough and really need to fly you can travel after 10 days but four to six weeks is preferable. |
| Heart attack | You should not fly within seven days of a heart attack and only then if it's essential (i.e. if you need to be repatriated from overseas). Ideally it's probably sensible to delay travel for up to four weeks or longer if there are any complications. |
| Angina sufferers | As long as you don't have frequent attacks, there is no restriction. Remember to take your medication into the cabin with you. |
| Chest conditions | |
| Stable asthma | This is not usually a problem, as long as you take your inhalers with you. |
| Chronic bronchitis, emphysema or other forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | If you can walk (without extra oxygen) for 50 metres without getting breathless, you should be fit to fly. If you can't walk this far, you may be able to travel with supplementary oxygen. There is a charge for this and it must be booked in advance through the PMCU. We will need to discuss your condition with your doctor. |
| A pneumothorax (where the lung "deflates”) | Has to be fully resolved for at least a week before flying but you must contact the PMCU if you've had one in the month before you fly. |
| Neurological conditions | |
| A stroke | If your symptoms are stable or improving and you feel well enough, you can travel after 3 days. Please talk to the PMCU if you have had a stroke within the last 10 days. |
| Epilepsy | You should not travel within 24 hours of a grand mal fit. |
| Ear conditions | |
| An ear or sinus infection | If there is any possibility that your sinuses or the tube between your middle ear and the back of your mouth (the Eustachian tube) are blocked, you should not fly until the condition is better. A blockage can cause severe pain, perforation of the eardrum or other long-term damage. Under normal circumstances the air in your middle ear and sinuses is able to enter and escape, as it expands and contracts, without i.e. when your ears pop. |
| A broken bone | Due to the risk of swelling, if you have broken a bone and have been fitted with a plaster cast you cannot fly for 24 hours (if your flight is two hours or less) and for 48 hours (on longer flights). You may not be accepted to fly with a full leg plaster cast. All these requirements can be lifted in certain circumstances following discussions with the PMCU. |
| Anaemia | If you have a haemoglobin below 7.5g/dl, particularly if it is of recent onset, it must be discussed with the PMCU. |
| An infectious disease | The World Health Organisation prohibits an airline from carrying a passenger suffering from an infectious disease whilst they are contagious. Infectivity periods vary from illness to illness and further information can be obtained from your doctor or through the PMCU. |
| Travelling with a medical escort after a serious illness and injury | In some situations patients who are quite ill are able to travel with appropriate medical escorts, although we no longer carry stretchers on our mainline operations. We prefer such cases to be organised by a recognised medical assistance company because of the specialised nature of this work. |
| *Please contact the PMCU if you have had gas introduced into the body after an operation or for treatment purposes and which hasn't been resolved. Air retained in body cavities expands in-flight. | |
As long as your Diabetes is stable there are no restrictions:
British Airways does not include peanut products within aircraft meals or snacks in any cabin except on longhaul flights to/from the Far East where Peanut Satay may be included on the menu.
Please be aware that other passengers may bring their own peanut products on board.
Other types of nut may be included on the longhaul aircraft menu, for example as snacks in Club World and FIRST.
Battery operated nebulisers can be used in-flight with the exception of take off and landing. It is not possible to supply mains power and you need to notify the PMCU before you travel.
In most circumstances you can take equipment with you. If it is likely that you will exceed normal baggage allowances, you should discuss it with Reservations or the PMCU in advance of travel and well before you arrive at the airport, otherwise you may be liable for excess baggage charges.
Special arrangements exist for the carriage of essential medical equipment for use at your destination, such as portable dialysis machines. This can be arranged through your booking agent.
We carry millions of passengers each year on more than 400,000 flights, yet medical incidents are fortunately rare. The most common in-flight medical incidents are fainting and stomach upsets.
We train our cabin crew in advanced first aid and intermediate life support and they undergo annual refresher training. The standards required exceed those laid down by the regulatory bodies. In addition they have access to the MedLink service, allowing them to receive immediate advice from an experienced physician.
Our medical kits contain additional drugs and medical equipment far in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements, and are recognised worldwide as a benchmark. The kits include drugs, which can be administered by cabin crew, as well as drugs and equipment for use by an assisting doctor or nurse. The content of the kits is regularly reviewed. Aeromedic Innovations Ltd, who track and replenish the kits and their contents, supplies our kits under contract.
Download the list of content in the following British Airways kits:
All our aircraft are equipped with Automated External Defibrillators, which are used in the event of cardiac arrest. Cabin crew members are trained in their use, using the protocols of the European Resuscitation Council.
The MedLink service has been managed for us since June 1998 by MedAire Inc, of Phoenix, Arizona. MedLink provides us with the following:
A Good Samaritan is a doctor or other health professional who offers assistance with a medical emergency. Occasionally cabin crew may ask if there are any health professionals on board who are willing to volunteer to assist if the situation appears serious and beyond the experience or training of the crew, or if specifically requested by the MedLink physician.
We will indemnify a ‘Good Samaritan’ health professional against any legal liability that might arise from their assistance with a medical emergency on the aircraft. In addition, some countries, such as the USA, have enacted legislation, which protects health professionals from litigation in 'Good Samaritan' situations.
Traveller’s thrombosis (DVT) Clotting of blood, usually occurring in the lower legs - is known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT can occur in anyone at any time, although some individuals are more at risk than others. Recent research has confirmed that anyone seated in an aircraft; car, bus or train for more than four hours may also be at increased risk.
Factors increasing the risk of DVT include:
Following our advice to reduce the risk of DVT:
If you have any of the additional risk factors listed, you should seek medical advice before travelling. In particular, you should discuss whether compression stockings would be appropriate and whether anti-coagulant medication is necessary.
We are required by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to spray the cabin of aircraft at certain destinations, to prevent the risk of insects spreading disease such as malaria and dengue fever that are highly dangerous.
On routes where we are required to spray, cabin crew will read out a brief statement advising you that spraying is about to take place. This will give you the opportunity to cover you eyes and nose if you wish. The spray clears from the aircraft in a few minutes.
The sprays contain synthetic pyrethroids which are widely used in sanitation products.
The WHO assesses the safety of insecticides and recommends the use of the following synthetic pyrethroids:
Disinsection is mandatory for the following routes:
| Abidjan | Harare |
| Abuja | Hurghada** |
| Accra | Islamabad |
| Alexandria* | Johannesburg |
| Bangkok | Kolkata (Calcutta) |
| Bangalore | Lagos |
| Cairo | Luanda |
| Cape Town | Lusaka |
| Chennai | Mumbai |
| Dar-es-Salaam | Nairobi |
| Delhi | Tehran* |
| Dhaka | Sharm El Sheikh** |
| Entebbe |
| INDIA |
| Bangalore |
| Chennai |
| Delhi |
| Kolkata (Calcutta) |
| Mumbai |
| NB. All aircraft entering India are required to undergo disinsection. |
| CARIBBEAN |
| Barbados |
| Kingston |
| From: | To: |
| Bangkok | Sydney |
| Singapore | Sydney |
| Singapore | Melbourne |
| Khartoum* | Amman* |
| Antigua | Grenada |
| Antigua | St Lucia |
| Antigua | Tobago |
NB. Aircraft entering Australia and New Zealand need to be sprayed twice, initially with Permethrin residual insecticide, and secondly with a Phenothrin spray.
*Flights operated by BMED. **Flights operated by GB Airways.
Pregnancy is not considered a medical condition, so you are able to travel until quite late into your pregnancy. Please note that:
British Airways Travel Clinics have now closed due to the closure of the British Airways Travel Shops with which we were co-located.
We have transferred our Travel Clinic business to MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad), who have become British Airways Preferred Partner for travel health services.
MASTA is a travel health provider with a network of travel clinics across the UK. They provide expert travel medicine advice and treatment to the travelling public, including a comprehensive immunisation service and a wide range of anti-malarial drugs.
British Airways will retain copies of customers' vaccination records. If you require a letter confirming these, please write to the address below stating your name, address, data of birth, contact number and enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. Please note that information will only be traced back as far as 2002.
However, we do provide duplicate current Yellow Fever certificates. Please also write to the address below stating your name, address, date of birth, contact telephone number, month and year of your Yellow Fever vaccination and enclose a stamped, addressed envelope. An administrative charge of £10 is made for this service which should be paid by cheque made payable to British Airways Health Services.
British Airways Health Services - Travel Clinic records
British Airways Plc
Europe House
Waterside (HMAG)
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth UB7 0GB