We are traveling to a volleyball tournament and are going on a plane for the first time since my son has been using the ominpod. I read the Denied Air Travel discussion and am nervous!! We will be flying Southwest. My main question is…is the omnipod, supplies, and insulin ok to go through the security system? I plan to carry on all the supplies and want to make sure they are ok going through the xray thing. Any advice you have will be welcome!!
Hilary,
You can get a letter of medical necessity from the doctor and carry that with you to show if needed. I have been traveling with a Cozmo pump and now the OmniPod and have had no trouble whatsoever. The last time I went through security I was asked if I had a phone in my back pocket. I replied no, it was an insulin and pump and asked if they wanted to see it I was waived through. My insulin and all the rest has been through many security systems, no problem.
Good luck,
Becky in Dallas, TX
I believe the official statement is to declare them as medical supplies and have them hand checked. With that said, my PDM and supplies have been through the standard carry-on X-Ray machine at least twice and never had a problem. My pod walked through the metal detector with me without setting off any alarms. I think in that conversation the real problem was using an electronic device during takeoff or landing which could have been handled either by 1) just keeping it stored during those times or 2) hitting the power button and letting the screen turn off which would have satisfied the airline employees. Don’t worry about traveling, do bring notes from your doctors, properly label everything, and keep all your supplies with you on the plane.
Rest Easy!
I have flown a few times with the Onmi Pod. There is no problem whatsoever with security !! It goes through the x-rays, I carry my insulin in a small padded insulated bag, no problem there either. I carry extra pods as well. Of course I didn’t turn off my PDM, also didn’t show it around, just in case.
I just made sure nothing would beep when I traveled! 
Have a great trip and good luck in the tournament!
Hilary -
I used to travel everyday, domestikc and international as part of my job. I (as Becly suggests) always had a letter of medical necessity from my endo (they typically have these pre written form letters thay can get to you at the drop of a hat) have also been detained (becuase of the attached pod, and the fact that most airport personnel have never seen anything like it)…howvever, I have always gone through, and usually with no problem. The onece I was detained the letter from my doc and a small demo of what the pump was got me through. It is best to just tell the TSA people up front that you are a diabeic, and this (show the pod) is an isulin pump…youll cruise right through. Also, be sure to bring a couple pods with you just in case of a misfunction, and let them know at baggage check that there are a few extras in your bag. Travelling Iinternationally I often had to open the bag and show them, and demo the pod on my person at the time. Good luck and have a great trip!
All the supplies are fine going through the x-ray equipment. If you go through a body scanner (millimeter wave or the other type) then just tell them when you step into the machine, “I have an insulin pump right here” and point to where it’s at (if it’s not on an arm where they could see it). Sometimes they’ll do a pat down right over the pump area (like I’m lying to them? lol) or they will ask to see it (lift up my shirt), and that’s it.
If you go through a metal detector, the pod will not set it off. At least it never has for me. And so if it’s in a spot they can’t see (not on my arm) then I don’t even say anything about it. And I’ve never had any issues w/ all the extra pods/syringes I carry, or the insulin bottles.
I don’t travel w/ a letter of medical necessity, but I understand that it’s a very good idea and could save me some issues if anyone ever questioned my my need for the insulin or the medical devices…
Bottom line, I would get a letter, and I wouldn’t worry about any issues w/ the TSA folks. Just be honest and they’ll let you right on through w/ minimal or no difficulties
I echo what everyone has already said. It’s fairly easy to travel with the OmniPod on flights. I keep my PDM stowed in a bag throughout my time in the airport and then store the bag under the seat in front of me during the flight. In the same bag (under the seat in front of me) I keep all my supplies (test strips, lancets, glucose tablets, an extra pod, etc.) in gallon size bags in case I need to reach those quickly during flight … plus it makes me feel better knowing they’re in my sight the whole trip. I don’t travel with a doctor’s note, but I plan to get one this summer before I take my first international flight since diagnosis.
Most TSA agents are very kind and helpful when you tell them you’re diabetic. The TSA agents at the airport closest to me actually reminded me I’m allowed an extra carry on bag for my supplies. The same nice agent also told me I can bring juice boxes through security in case I had a hypo episode during my trip. If you decide to take the juice box be sure to mention it (and the diabetes) before your bags go through the scanner. I would recommend keeping glucose tablets (or other hypo treating agent) close at hand. For some silly reason I usually go really high before flying and then low during the flight.
I recommend against wearing the pod on your back if you bring a carry-on backpack. I found that a couple of hours running around airports with the backpack moving against the pod can become painful. Just my observations.
When I flew from Honolulu to California I had my OmniPod set on my tummy. I had some of my supplies and PDM in a carry on bag. I just put the bag on the belt and they passed me through without checking me. Maybe they were distracted because I was so upset leaving my family behind in the terminal I was walking backwards waving and crying. On the plane I put my bag under my seat and never opened it all the way to California. I was too upset to eat anything so I didn’t need to use the PDM to do a bolus and I didn’t even test my BG. I sat next to a nice old lady that said she had a daughter about my age. I was obviously near tears so she held my hand and talked to me the whole way.
It never occurred to me that I should tell them about the PDM. I don’t know what would have happened it they found out.
I’ve been on international and domestic flights, including Southwest, without telling anyone about it at all. I make sure the pod/PDM isn’t scheduled to alarm at such times (i.e. needing a pod change in the airport), but even that would prob be ok. I also make sure not to use the PDM while the flight attendants walk by since it looks so much like a blackberry that “should be turned off.” As for supplies, no one has ever questioned me about insulin, syringes, extra pods, PDM…you name it. I am always a little surprised that no one asks why I have tons of syringes and what look like little bottles of liquid drugs!
Have a nice trip!
I’ve done it any # of times, on SW as well as other airlines. I put my little make up pouch of supplies through the scanner with my ziplock bag of liquids. I’ve never had a bit of problem. Once or twice personnel has asked me if that is medicine…that’s it.
Good luck at the tournament! I know you are proud of your son.
Thank you everyone! I feel much better now!!
I found out the hard way, but when you travel, be sure to bring a copy of all your omnipod settings. My sons PDM malfunctioned and we lost all his settings on the first night away. Insulet was wonderful and spent 2 1/2 hours on the phone with us trying to retrieve them. We did pretty well, I think!! Rough first night (low of 25 and high of 450), but he was ok the next day.
Good news… absolutely no problems with the omnipod on the airplane!