Traveling with a medical condition
Jetsetting with Pompe Disease
Travelling with medical equipment and a "special" disease takes a little more planning than just being able to "hop a flight" at whim.
When booking, tell them all about your needs. Can you climb stairs to get into the aircraft? Do you need the high lift? Do you need a wheelchair to get to your seat? Can you walk along the air bridge?
And sometimes, just when you think you have it all down pat, it will jump up and bite you in your butt! So MAKE SURE you have your bases covered!
Let them know what you are travelling with. BiPAP? Wheelchair? Mobility scooter? They will want to know the weight, measurements length and width and height. The type of battery. How many volts? Dry cell? Lithium? Get all of the information and keep it with your travel documents so you can just show them at the check in counter. I got asked once how much the battery weighed on my scooter. So take that info printed out as well! Take the booklet that comes with all of your equipment. Highlight the information.
Shop around to get insurance. It is possible to get it, even if you have Pompe.
Don't let having Pompe put you off travel!
When booking, tell them all about your needs. Can you climb stairs to get into the aircraft? Do you need the high lift? Do you need a wheelchair to get to your seat? Can you walk along the air bridge?
And sometimes, just when you think you have it all down pat, it will jump up and bite you in your butt! So MAKE SURE you have your bases covered!
Let them know what you are travelling with. BiPAP? Wheelchair? Mobility scooter? They will want to know the weight, measurements length and width and height. The type of battery. How many volts? Dry cell? Lithium? Get all of the information and keep it with your travel documents so you can just show them at the check in counter. I got asked once how much the battery weighed on my scooter. So take that info printed out as well! Take the booklet that comes with all of your equipment. Highlight the information.
Shop around to get insurance. It is possible to get it, even if you have Pompe.
Don't let having Pompe put you off travel!
Keep an eye on this website below to make sure you are up to date with the rules and regulations surrounding your return to New Zealand
Traveling with a medical condition - Helpful links:
If you have a Resmed breathing machine, please see this website
Go to this link to see if your breathing machine is FAA approved
It’s a good idea to print out the Travel Compliance letter and highlight your machine to show any staff that may want to see it, or who are questioning whether or not your machine is approved for use during air travel.
NOTE:
You NEED to have a lead with a USA plug for your bipap. Not a conversion plug, but a lead with the plug attached. Apparently the conversion plugs can cause arcing so they won’t let you use them. I have also found that it depends on who you ask as to whether or not you can fly with a conversion plug, or the USA lead. As I said, make sure before you fly! Make sure you are on a "medical outlet", it's not the same as the average electrical outlet.
Traveling with a medical condition - Helpful links:
- Air New Zealand guide to travelling with a medical condition
- Air New Zealand guide to using medical equipment on their airline
- Flying with a disability
If you have a Resmed breathing machine, please see this website
Go to this link to see if your breathing machine is FAA approved
It’s a good idea to print out the Travel Compliance letter and highlight your machine to show any staff that may want to see it, or who are questioning whether or not your machine is approved for use during air travel.
NOTE:
You NEED to have a lead with a USA plug for your bipap. Not a conversion plug, but a lead with the plug attached. Apparently the conversion plugs can cause arcing so they won’t let you use them. I have also found that it depends on who you ask as to whether or not you can fly with a conversion plug, or the USA lead. As I said, make sure before you fly! Make sure you are on a "medical outlet", it's not the same as the average electrical outlet.