Illnesses
Illnesses restricting air travel
The following illnesses may restrict air travel:
- Recent myocardial infarction
- Recent injuries
- Recent surgeries
- Recent cerebral circulatory disorders
- Symptomatic coronary disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Patients requiring oxygen therapy
- Psychoses
- Infectious diseases (tuberculosis, diphtheria)
- Anaemia (Hb less than 75 g/l)
- Chickenpox is contagious during the vesicle phase. Travelling is not permitted during the vesicle phase because other passengers may be at risk of contracting the disease. Once the vesicles dry and form scabs, traveling is permitted.
In all such cases, the airline must be notified when booking the flight to allow the airline to undertake any precautionary measures it may deem necessary. Fill in the MEDIF-form (Standard Medical Information Form for Air Travel) and send it to the airline well in advance of the travel date. The airline needs a few days to process it, especially if further clarification is required.
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Cabin attendants are not required to give special assistance to a particular passenger, as they are responsible for the safety of everyone onboard. Cabin crew are trained only in first aid and they are not authorised to administer any injections or medications. Cabin crew are also not allowed to store medicines during the flight. |
Circulatory problems on long flights
Sitting upright in a stationary position for a long period of time increases the amount of fluid accumulated in the lower extremities, resulting in swollen feet. Prolonged immobility may be a risk factor in the formation of blood clots in legs (deep vein thrombosis), so it's a good idea to move your legs and feet every 1–2 hours whenever possible. Click here for inflight exercises.
Ear symptoms
The middle ear cavity is connected to the nasopharynx through the narrow Eustachian tube and thus to the surrounding air. The Eustachian tube balances the air pressure in the middle air, thus protecting the ear-drum against exposure to fluctuations in air pressure.
The Eustachian tube may become partially blocked, due to the flu or an allergy, for example. This may cause insufficient functioning of the Eustachian tube. Air is removed from the middle ear through the Eustachian tube; however, the air supply to the middle air is not replenished, causing negative pressure to develop in the middle ear as the aircraft descends. The air pressure pushes the ear-drum forcefully inward, which causes pain in the ear and deterioration of hearing. In the worst case, the middle ear reacts to the negative pressure by secreting fluid into the middle ear cavity.
Tips for ear symptoms during the flight:
- Ear symptoms can be prevented or relieved by nasal drops available at the pharmacy. Nasal drops are administered while lying down, deep into each nostril, from where they drip down to the throat. This causes the nasal-drop fluid to drip into the Eustachian tube as well, helping it to stay open.
- You can balance the difference in pressure of outside air and the middle ear as the aircraft descends by blowing ”air into the ears” while holding on to your nose and keeping your mouth closed.
Infectious diseases
To prevent the spreading of infectious diseases, please read this information published by the World Health Organization.
Special meals
We offer our customers several dietary options required for medical, nutritional or personal reasons, upon request. Further information on our special meals.
Included are:
- Vegetarian meals
- Lactose-free meals
- Diabetic meals
- Low-salt/unsalted meals
- Low-cholesterol/low-fat meals
- Meals for gout patients
Keywords
Illness
Restrictions
Ability to travel
Earache
Circulatory problems
Special meals
