Customers with a range of medical conditions and special requirements need to satisfy certain criteria before flying. This is to ensure your health and safety on board our aircraft.
In order to plan the assistance for your unique travel needs, special assistance requests need to be made at the time of booking or no later than 48 hours in advance. However, in some cases, further notice is required.
Please see below for further information.
If your flight is not operated by Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus Regional (Emerald Airlines), please refer to the relevant carrier for their rules.
We allow the carriage and use of approved medical devices which do not require pre-clearance or a medical form to be completed in advance.
Some medical devices may be carried on board but not used in any cabin, while others must be placed in your checked baggage. Checked baggage fees may apply. Please see the table below for details.
Further clarification on conditions related to some of the devices is provided in the subsections beneath this table.
Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POCs) can only be brought for use on board if they have been tested by the manufacturer to comply with FAA safety regulations and display a label indicating that the machine is approved for use on an aircraft.
If you wish to bring or use a POC on board, that is not FAA approved, please submit a Special Assistance Request form at least 10 days in advance of travel.
For items requiring batteries, please see the Battery Requirements section for further details.
For safety reasons, some medical devices can only be used in the economy cabin and cannot be used in the business cabin.
The below table applies to the carriage and/or use of medical devices on board.
| Medical Device | Carry on board | Use on board in Business Class | Use on board in Economy Class | Checked baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airway Clearance System | ||||
| Bi Pap Machine | ||||
| Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine (CPAP) | ||||
| Defibrillator* | ||||
| Electronic Injection Device | ||||
| Feeding Pump | ||||
| Functional Stimulation Electronic Machine | ||||
| Gas cylinders for mechanical limbs | ||||
| Humidifier | ||||
| Infusion Pump | Insulin Pumps or Continuous Glucose Monitors** | Nebuliser | Oximeter | Portable Dialysis Machine | Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) | Suction Machine/Unit | TENS Machine | Ventilator |
*If you intend to carry a defibrillator in your checked baggage please inform our Special Assistance team. If the defibrillator includes a lithium metal battery it must be removed.
**Permitted for use on board the aircraft provided it can be placed in Flight Mode.
Aer Lingus does not provide any onboard power sources for assistive devices. You are responsible for providing batteries with enough life to support the trip.
The FAA has advised users of assistive devices that (unless it is solely intended as a carry-on item and not for use during a flight) the device's battery should be charged to provide sufficient power to the device for at least 150% of the planned flight time, regardless of how long the user may intend to use the device in-flight.
The appropriate number of batteries should be calculated using the manufacturer's estimate of the hours of battery life while the device is in use. The expected maximum flight duration is defined as the carrier's best estimate of the total duration of the flight from departure gate to arrival gate.
Due to safety regulations, Aer Lingus will not accept any device, other than a mobility device, that requires a wet cell battery.
Spare lithium batteries must be suitably protected and any terminals taped over to prevent them from shorting out. Spare batteries are only permitted as carry-on items and are prohibited in checked bags. If you intend to carry a defibrillator in your checked baggage please inform our Special Assistance team. If the defibrillator includes a lithium metal battery it must be removed.
Due to safety requirements some devices may not be used on Aer Lingus Regional Flights.
We allow the carriage and use of prescribed medication onboard our flights. See the below table for summary information.
| Medicine | Carry on board | Use on board | Checked baggage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma Inhalers | You can take asthma inhalers in your carry-on or checked baggage. | |||
| EpiPens and Hypodermic Needles | You can take EpiPens and hypodermic needles in your carry-on baggage (with a doctor's note/prescription) or in your checked baggage. | |||
| Insulin | Please carry insulin in your carry-on baggage as it may freeze in the hold. Your insulin should be in original packaging, easily identifiable and accessible during the flight. | |||
| Liquid Medication | If needed during your flight, place in your carry-on baggage. You can then carry as much as you need, even if it exceeds the usual limit on liquids*. | |||
| Tablets & Capsules | You can take tablets and capsules in your carry-on baggage (with a doctor's note/prescription) or in your checked baggage. |
*Liquid medicine does not need to fit in the transparent bag for carrying liquids, but you should have it ready for inspection by airport security.
There are varying conditions for travelling while pregnant depending on the route and stage of pregnancy.
Up to week 27:
There are no special requirements.
Between weeks 28-35:
Your doctor must complete an Expectant Mother Travel Advice Form and if asked, you must present it at check in and/or the boarding gate. This applies if pregnancy is between 28 and 35 weeks for any part of the journey.
Week 36 or over:
You cannot travel on Aer Lingus flights.
Up to week 27:
There are no special requirements.
Between weeks 28-33:
Your doctor must complete an Expectant Mother Travel Advice Form and if asked, you must present it at check in and/or the boarding gate. This applies if pregnancy is between 28 and 33 weeks for any part of the journey.
North American originating passengers should contact North American special assistance for clearance to travel.
Week 34 or over:
You cannot travel on Aer Lingus flights.
For some medical conditions, we will need a statement from your doctor before you fly. For example:
Please see below for conditions requiring medical clearance:
Medical clearance is required for all customers requesting oxygen, including asthmatic customers who require oxygen or whose condition has deteriorated in the previous 48 hours.
If you require oxygen, please give us a minimum of 48 hours’ notice of your intention to travel by completing the Special Assistance Request Form.
Contact Special Assistance also if you need us to supply oxygen for you.
Note that we cannot supply oxygen in the business class cabin of any of our transatlantic aircraft. Oxygen can be supplied in the economy cabin of these aircraft.
Customers are not permitted to transport or use their own oxygen on Aer Lingus aircraft either on board or as checked baggage. Please see the Carriage of Medical Devices section for more information.
A fee of EUR 150/GBP 140/USD 180/CAD 225 will be charged per flight and is payable at the time of booking.
Personal oxygen bottles are permitted on board for customers travelling on the Aer Lingus Regional services, provided the following conditions are met:
* Please note that there is a limit of 4 personal oxygen bottles per flight on the Aer Lingus Regional Services. This limit is per flight and not per passenger.
Allergies
We cannot guarantee an allergen-free cabin environment or prevent other passengers from bringing their own food on board. When boarding the aircraft, you must inform the cabin crew of your food allergy.
EpiPens
Your medication/epinephrine/adrenaline auto-injector should be carried in your carry-on baggage, accompanied by a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription to present to airport security personnel.
Upper limb fractures
You may travel if the injury occurred more than 48 hours prior to departure, the cast has been in place for more than 24 hours, and no swelling is evident. In this instance, a bivalve is not required. If the injury occurred less than 48 hours prior to departure, please complete a Medical Information Form and bring it with you to the gate.
Shoe boot
There are no additional restrictions travelling with a shoe boot.
Deep vein thrombosis and compartment syndrome
Due to the risk of deep vein thrombosis, all broken lower limbs need medical clearance. Flying within 24 hours post-surgery/break also has a significant risk for compartment syndrome due to potential swelling.
Please submit a Medical Information Form at least 48 hours in advance of travel.
Please seek medical clearance if you have had an episode within 12 hours of your departure time to ensure you are able to fly.
You should not fly within 10 days and then only fly if it's easier. We recommend waiting until 4 weeks post occurrence. Please submit a Medical Clearance Form at least 48 hours in advance of travel.
If you suffer from a severe, acute or unstable psychiatric disorder which is likely to affect you during the flight, you must submit a Medical Information Form at least 48 hours in advance of travel. Depending on the severity of the disorder, customers may need to be accompanied by a medical escort.
Infants born prematurely require medical clearance to fly up to the age of 6 months, plus the number of days that they were born prematurely. An infant is considered premature if they were born 3 or more weeks before their original due delivery date. Customers travelling with premature infants are required to submit a Medical Information Form at least 48 hours in advance of travel.
If your baby requires a medical escort, please see the medical escort section below.
Different surgeries may require different recovery periods prior to boarding a flight. Generally, you cannot fly if you have undergone surgery in the previous 10 days.
Some surgery-specific clarifications are detailed below:
Anaesthesia
For general/conscious sedation, you may travel 24 hours post anaesthesia. For local anaesthesia, you may travel immediately.
Abdominal surgery
Brain surgery
Dental surgery
In case of a root canal/extraction where gas may get trapped, air travel is only advised 24 hours post procedure. Simple procedures may travel immediately.
Ear, nose and throat Surgery (ENT)
Eye surgery
Endoscopic surgery
You may travel 72 hours post endoscopic surgery.
Hip/Knee replacement
You may travel after 5 days, provided you are able to sit upright for takeoff, landing and when the seatbelt light is on. If you cannot yet sit upright, you are not yet permitted to travel with us. However, medical clearance will be required for the 6 weeks post-surgery.
Orthopaedic surgery
Air travel is not recommended for any dislocation until it has been reset. Otherwise, you may travel as per anaesthesia and broken bone guidelines where applicable.
Open heart surgery
You may travel after 10 days with a Medical Information Form signed by your physician.
Pacemaker
You may travel 3 days post-surgery.
Plastic surgery
You may travel given there is no bleeding visible and the wounds are clean and dry and the anaesthesia guidance has been satisfied.
Stent/other surgery
Any intervention/surgery post myocardial infarction should be declared to Aer Lingus be filling out a Medical Information Form.
Thoracic surgery
You may travel after 7 days with no medical form, or within 7 days if your treating physician has cleared you. Please complete a Medical Information Form to travel earlier. If an indwelling tube was used, there are some additional restrictions:
Vascular surgery
You may travel 48 hours post-surgery.
Transplant patients
If you are awaiting a transplant or receiving treatment for transplant operations, you’re advised to contact our special assistance department in advance or at the time of making your booking. This will enable us to complete the necessary administration work involved in allowing you to travel by air, such as having additional oxygen on standby. Please consider bringing a medical escortif you require any in-flight assistance.
Sometimes, even if your medical condition is serious, you can still travel, but it must be with a medical escort. We recommend you book this through a recognised medical assistance company that specialises in this type of service.
Seatbelt extensions are available on all of our aircraft. Simply advise cabin crew when boarding if you require a seatbelt extension. Seatbelt extensions can’t be pre-booked. If you require a seatbelt extension, you will unfortunately be unable to sit at an exit row.