How to travel with medicines on European flight

Arrived in Turkey for onward journey to visit SILs, refugees in the country. Border control asked for tablet. I gave them my blood pressure meds! They got slightly irritated and wanted my ipad.

Don't tell them - just go with your meds in your hand luggage. After 9/11 my husband was told he needed a letter from the GP to say he was a diabetic and needed his hypodermics in the cabin with him but permanently 8mm needles were banned and had to go in the hold. Ridiculous. He just carried them on with him and told no-one

I flew to Spain and just told the airline I had a medical bag which must be available to me at all times. I let them know exactly what was in it, drugs, stoma care etc. and they said no problem, they asked it I wanted it stowed in the kitchen area out of all the passengers way which I was happy with. It's a good job I didn't put it in my main luggage as my case went missing on arrival!

I travel regularly with Insulin, sharps etc as well as oral meds. Have had no issues, just inform them that I have medical sharps. Also have letter from GP listing all prescription items which they re issue if any changes.
I put spare needles and travel sharps box in hold luggage

You cannot take any liquids with you into a plane cabin and have not been able to do so, since the twin towers were destroyed, so you really are behind the times.

Nor on any European flight may you take anything of metal with you in your hand luggage, including knitting needles, nail files etc.

If you need medicines with you, you MUST have a letter in English, French or German with you signed by whichever doctor prescribed them. If you are of the age to travel with an infant in arms and the child is bottle fed, you cannot take milk or formula for the infant with you without special permission either.

Medcines etc. that you do have a covering letter for should be packed in a transparent pouch or sponge-bag, so staff easily can verify what it is.

If like my DH you had a bone pinned with surgical steel it was as well to have copies of the relevant X-rays with you on a thumb drive and a signed copied of the medical notes from the orthopaedic dept. where treatment had been carried out

Turn up early, as checking in will take longer and if you ever should need to take a wheel-chair or crutches with you then you will probably need to be at the airport two hours before the scheduled check-in-time, having advised the airline that you are a wheel-chair user or accompanying one, as you will have to go through a different entrance to the general public.

This is the official advice from the E.U.. As far as I know, it is current.

Liquids carried in the aircraft cabin such as aerosols, drinks, toothpaste, cosmetic creams or gels must be carried in a transparent plastic bag - maximum capacity 1 litre - and no container may hold more than 100 ml. Liquid containers larger than 100 ml must be placed in checked baggage. The volume restriction does not apply to medicines and baby food.

europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/luggage-restrictions/index_en.htm

I take all my medication in my hand luggage, I travel a lot and never had issues. Have lots medications The only time I am careful is when going to uae as can’t take opioids, Europe will be fine .

One of my medications is oramorph which is morphine liquid. I decant a small amount into one of those tiny 'holiday size' shampoo bottles and put it in my carry-on luggage with my toothbrush etc and a copy of my prescription in my handbag.
I've been all over Europe and North Africa (Morocco etc) with no trouble.

I should add, my big (300ml) bottle of liquid morphine is in my checked-in luggage.

I usually fly from Birmingham, and I’ve had no end of stuff fished out of my hand luggage and binned by Security, including expensive emollient cleansers for my skin condition. So unless I had specific permission for my essential meds to be in hand luggage, I wouldn’t risk it. Maybe your GP would know?

DH was on around 20 meds and never had any trouble travelling within Europe or worldwide. They were always carried in hand luggage together with the GP's prescription print out showing they were prescribed meds.

The original packing should have your name label (from the pharmacy) still represent.

My worry was always losing hold luggage if my meds were in it. Everything goes in hand luggage.
My injections alone cost £1000 monthly and as for opiods, imagine the withdrawl symptoms if they went missing.

I worried about medication when I flew to Dubai last year. They have a strict list of banned drugs so I found that and all my meds were ok. But I take a weekly injection of ozempic which has to be kept chilled. I phoned the airline who said it was fine to wrap it with a frozen ice pack in bubble wrap and keep in hand luggage with all my other meds. The only trouble I had was at Heathrow where I was kept for ages while they scanned the ice pack! Coming back from Dubai no-one batted an eyelid! I carried a copy of my repeatprescription to prove I needed everything.

Ive taken all my tablets with me with them in a clear plastic bag, but included a current prescription then put that inside my hand luggage many times over the years,and sons meds & inhalers, been fine in european countries and even New york in 2017- yes was surprised the JFK airport was nearly empty, on arrival, and after a brief check & digital fingerprints taken, we were expecting to go somewhere else as thought there'd be more security checks- i asked the guy where now and he waved his arm theatrically towards the OUT section and said "freedom ma'am" smiling at us.

Yes, had to have them all still in the original boxes with printed label on, which can take up quite a bit of room, but you would have to check with airline for if rucksacks are allowed as handluggage.(i think those 'back packing' must take them though?)

The rules must have changed sine 2019 as my husband only needed to make sure they were all in their original Packaging and took a copy of his repeat prescription.

If the rucksack would count as "a handbag sort of thing", then he can use it but he might be better to get man bag handbag, which could include cross body or small rucksack type bags.

In short, a rucksack might be too rucksacky! if you see what I mean.

I take all my meds in my hand luggage, in the original boxes together with the prescription. For my Pregabalin (class C drug) I have a signed doctor's letter. Never had any problem at Leeds/Bradford, Newcastle or Manchester.

Friend who has to use regular medication for heart, blood pressure recently travelled to and from EU country and needed a Drs letter. Takes it all in hand luggage. This came up in our coffee morning group and seems to be the norm now. Of course had to pay for letter.

I have travelled the world with all my many medications ! always take original a=packagine, my prescription etc ...never been asked for a Drs letter so far ...this includes the US and Canada, plus many other, as well as Europe. There are regulations airlines must adhered to in allowing a customer to carry medication (look online !) mine cannot go into the hold so they must be in my hand luggage ! Never had any trouble apart from a UK airport, who took my insulin to test it !!!!

I’m on meds now for the first time ever, I don’t see a prescription it’s sent electronically from my GP to pharmacy and then I pick them up - I wouldn’t have a prescription to take with me.

Make sure that you have your prescription and doctor's letter .
Some countries take a dim view if you have opioids such as codeine in your hand luggage .

Prescriptions are on the NHS app just to be safe I've got the parts of each box that shows the label with my name and the name of the drug etc. I've been to 3 countries this year but not been asked to show anything but I'm ready.

I went to Australia and only got a GP letter as I was transiting through Dubai and Singapore. European never had a GP letter,ever. Just the current prescription and a GHIC card. Enough in hand luggage to cover a few days rest in suitcase