What are the requirements for travel if I have a special medical condition?

We know that there are health conditions that require special treatment. Below are some recommendations and requirements to consider if you need to travel with special medical equipment, require a special service or are travelling while pregnant. 

What should you know before you travel?

Women in pregnancy Portable dialysis equipment Oxygen concentrators Medical certificates

Before travelling consult your doctor if flying during your pregnancy is the safest and most convenient option for you. Once you have validated with your doctor you must meet the following requirements: 

Pregnancies of less than 30 weeks: 

• If you have a high-risk pregnancy, ask your doctor for a certificate authorising travel. If you are travelling to and from Peru, regulations require you to present this certificate from your 28th week of pregnancy.

Pregnancies of more than 30 weeks: 

• For each flight, you must present a medical certificate that specifies the estimated date of birth and that you can travel safely by air. This certificate must be less than 10 days old.
  

  • Before the flight contact our contact center to offer you the special attention you need. When you check in at the airport, present the certificate given to you beforehand by your specialist.

• Fill in the form Exoneration of Responsibility Release form, this form can be found at the airport modules.

How should you transport it?

• You can take it with you on board.
• The use of the machine during flight is restricted.
• Ancillary items such as the machine stand and peritoneal dialysis solution must be transported as checked baggage.
• When purchasing your ticket, please contact our contact center and request this service.

Measurements portable dialysis machine:

• Maximum weight: 12 kilograms (26 lb)
• Maximum dimensions:
  
  • Height: 16 centimetres (6.3 in)
  • Length: 38 centimetres (15 in)
  • Width: 30 centimetres (12 in)

Specifications for complementary elements:

• Portable dialysis machine stand: Approximate weight 9 kilograms (20 lb) and 158 linear centimetres (62 in).
• Peritoneal dialysis solution: 2-day treatment (8 bags), weighing approximately 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) per bag. That is, a total weight of approximately 20 kilograms (44 lbs).

What your medical certificate should include

• Personal data: name, age and ID number.
• Travel details: date of travel, route and booking code.
• Description of the medical diagnosis.

If you have an oxygen concentrates, you need to carry and use it on board, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the only models approved for use on board aircraft are:

Invacare Solo 2	AirSep FreeStyle
Respironics EverGo	AirSep Freestyle 5
SeQual SAROS	DeVilbiss Healthcare iGo
AirSep Focus	Inogen One G3
Delphi RS-00400 / Oxus RS-00400	Invacare XPO2 / XPO100
Inogen One G2	Precision Medical EasyPulse
International Biophysics LifeChoice / lnova Labs LifeChoice	Sequal Eclipse
Oxylife Independence Oxygen Concentrator	AirSep LifeStyle
Respironics SimplyGo	(Caire) SeQual eQuinox / Oxywell (model 4000)
VBox Trooper	Inogen One
ova Labs LifeChoice Activox

Conditions

• The AirSep Lifestyle device shall have a sticker affixed to the inside cover stating: "RTCA/DO-1600 21 category M Compliant" to indicate that it has been modified for airborne flight. If it does not have such a sticker, it shall not be permitted for use on board.
• The battery charge of the POC equipment plus backup batteries (if required) must cover 150% of the flight duration in the event of a delay or any other operational contingency. Aircraft power outlets may not be used for the use of these devices. If your device does not have these batteries, you will not be able to use it on board the aircraft.
• In case you have equipment different from the approved list, you must check the list of FAA approved POCs.

Situations in which you must present a medical certificate:

• Travel with newborns: If your baby is between 7 and 28 days old, premature or in need of special medical care.

• Pregnancy:When you are 30 weeks or morepregnant and there are no risks to your pregnancy. When you have a riskypregnancy and are 30 weeks pregnant or less. For flights with origin or final destination Peru, it will be required to present the medical certification from the 28th week of pregnancy by regulatory requirement of that country. 

• Surgeries: If you have had a surgical procedure, you can travel a certain number of days after the procedure. In some cases, you may not be eligible to travel.

• Diseases and other conditions: If you have cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological or psychiatric health problems. You can also travel with medical devices such as POCs.

Practical advice

• Medicines on the plane: Take them in your hand luggage and carry with you the medical prescription that certifies their use (you may be asked for it at the airport).

• No-fly cases: People with highly contagious diseases such as diphtheria, hepatitis, meningitis, measles, tuberculosis and smallpox.

• Transport of patients within Peru: If you have a special medical case and you must be transported in a plane other than an air ambulance, and your flights are within Peru and your ticket has been issued by Essalud or the Ministry of Health of this country, take into account this information and documents to present, ask your doctor to sign the documents.

Note 

The medical certificate must be issued no later than 10 days before the departure date of the flight. You can present it on your return, as long as not more than one month has passed and your state of health is stable.

In order to verify your POC, you need to check in at our counters at the airports.

Additional requirements if you are travelling with oxygen concentrators

When booking

• You must inform us that you need to use your POC as well as the brand you use.
• If you have a connection with another airline, even on codeshare flights other than those we operate, you are responsible for notifying the other airline and making the necessary arrangements for the use of your POC.
• Current FAA regulations allow airlines to accept portable oxygen concentrators (POCs), but do not require them to do so. Some airlines may not accept POCs or may require an additional fee, which you must pay in full.

Before the flight

• In order to use your POC on board, it is essential that you present the original medical certificate and photocopy at the airport*. Please note that the medical certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue and you will be responsible for renewing it if the oxygen requirements change and will be valid for a maximum period of one month of travel prior to your return. 
• You must carry the concentrator with you and present it to our partners when required.
• For the safety of the operation of the equipment, during your time at the airport you should not stand next to someone who is smoking.
• POCs to be used in flight do not count towards the weight of the carry-on baggage allowance. 

Important information:

If you wish to carry a POC that will not be used during the flight, it will be included within the weight of your free or carry-on baggage allowance, subject to the following conditions for packing spare batteries:

• POCs should only be used with the battery pre-charged on the ground. You should ensure that you have a charge for 150% of the expected travel time. For example, if you have a scheduled flight of 4 hours, you should ensure that the battery lasts up to 6 hours. It is important to check that spare batteries are in secure cases that prevent short circuits or have insulated edges and should be carried as hand luggage.
• Take into account the connection time. If this is the case, calculate the number of batteries described above for the second run.
• Spare batteries may be accepted in the following quantities:
  • Spare batteries with a capacity not exceeding 100wh (lithium ion) or with up to 2 grams of lithium (lithium metal) have no quantity restriction and may be carried as many as are necessary for the operation of the device.
  • Batteries with a capacity between 100wh and 160wh (lithium ion) or containing between 2 and 8 grams of lithium (lithium metal) may only be carried 2 per passenger.
  • Batteries with a capacity of more than 160wh (lithium ion) or containing more than 8 grams of lithium (lithium metal) may not be transported.

During the flight

• You may not occupy seats located at emergency exits.
• If possible, be located next to a window or in a seat close to regular exit doors.
• Store the POC completely under the front saddle.
• The CPAP (ContinuousPositiveAirway/Pressure) respiratory assist device may be used on board provided that the equipment's battery charge plus back-up batteries (if required) cover 150% of the flight duration, in case of a delay or any other operational contingency. Aircraft power outlets may not be used for the use of these devices. Remember that CPAP and POC cannot be connected during the flight.

Important information

You must be responsible for the use (hearing/noticing alarms and indicators that may be transmitted by the POC and taking action in response) and maintenance of your equipment. Otherwise, we suggest that you travel with an escort who is qualified to do so.