Flying tomorrow for the first time with the Omnipod since 2010, and I expect the full pat down or the "touch your pod/ explosive test"
I know medication is supposed to be in its "original container/box" Do they care about insulin? I dont really want to bring a brand new bottle since I just opened one yesterday and threw away the box.
Also...has anyone ever been asked for a doctor note explaining that you are diabetic and require all the supplies necessary?
Thanks!
I’ve never been asked for a note. Let me know how it goes, I travel in September. Safe travels!!
I just got back from BC to Ontario, either way did not ask me for a letter but had one just in case, My Endo said that I would need it. They never asked. I did not have any pods with me since my start date is this Saturday, so I had syringes etc… they just put it in the x-ray machine and that was it. so you should be good, if worried get a doctor’s note to be on the safe side. Let us know how it went. I am curious what they will think of a wireless pump. LOL
Well on my first go around with the omnipod, I only flew once (2010). I was departing from Dallas, they didn't say a word, not even a pat down, right through machine and I was on plane. In Fort Lauderdale, they saw the pod on the "stick your arms up in the air" machine, and I got the full pat down.
Whenever I have traveled with syringes/etc, they have never said anything.
It will be interesting...I have some time to kill at airport tomorrow , so I may post how it went..haha
Security was a non issue!
I had a letter just in case…all they did was clean my hands, in case it was as explosive…
I've been through airports a number of times in Canada and the US with little difficulty. I've never been asked for a letter from my Dr. The most I've had to do was choose the pat down or the body scan, I took the scan because the pat down dude didn't impress me, lol. I usually put my pod on my arm to travel so that it's easier to show them, and let them know beforehand that I have it, they look and that's about it. Once I had it swabbed.
I keep my diabetes gear, including open insulin, along with some spare pods, in a small leather travel bag in my briefcase and run it through their xray machine with no problems. I just leave my pdm in the plastic box along with the cell phone, wallet, and other crap when I walk through their scanners. I've never had any problems yet and hope not to. Good luck.
As others have mentioned, they've never asked for a note. After the full body scan, they just pat around the pod, and do the explosive swab test. They've never said anything about the syringes, insulin, etc., in my bag. I only ever have the insulin in the vials, and never carry the boxes. I do carry the prescription sticker from one of the boxes with me as a precaution, but have never been asked to see it.
One thing to note, is that I never put pods in checked luggage anymore. I always carry them all onboard. I checked my (old) pods once, and during that week long trip I had 3 pod errors. The failures may have just been a coincidence, but I won't take that chance anymore.
I always put insulin into a clear plastic baggie, just like they say to do with any liquid, and I invariably forget to take it out at security. I've been through Dulles, DCA, Orlando, and LAX doing this, forgetting every time,and gone through fine. I went through the fancy-schmancy full-body scanner once with a pod (and CGM sensor) on and was asked about it by the TSA person, but they took my answer of "insulin pump -- it is a kind that doesn't come off" and let me through.
That being said, the more documentation you have along: doctor's note, medic-alert ID, prescription labels for meds... the better off you will be if there is any trouble.
In my last trip, a full body scan resulted in a short Q/A and swabbing of the pod. But on the return the metal detector only pass didn't detect the pod and I got no questions.
P.S. I'd take the bottle if it were me. My luck as it is, there'd be a problem during the trip. I like to be safe. It's that .01% chance that is make or break on keeping healthy as a diabetic...
Yeah thankfully im not checking any bags. I will grab the label off one of my humalog bottles just in case. Houston hasn't ever given me an issue with having diabetes stuff...I usually have it all in one large plastic bag. Haven't flown with pod from here though, so interested to see what process they use. On the return trip, i'll be departing from a pretty small regional airport in Illinois. My parents went through there last month, and said its kind of a hassle due to them not having the same equipment. My dad has a knee replacement....Oh man they are going to love us coming through there back to back :) the ROBOT family
I fly out of HOU and and IAH, here's my experience.
1. No letter needed.
2. I just pull my omnipod case out of my bag and place it in a bin w/ my liquids, etc.
3. Let them know when you walk into the scanner that you have an insulin pump on - this usually means they won't be surprised when they see something on the scan. They will ask you to swipe your pump w/ your hand and then will swab your hand for explosives. Takes all of about 30 seconds, if even.
Cool deal..this is IAH. I haven't been in terminal A in probably 10 yrs so I wasn't sure if terminal matters there. Good thing flight is early and im an early arrival kind of guy. Better to be safe right?
Hi there
I've just flown London to Crete and back - and yes, the hospital letter confirming the need for the supplies and the fact that the pod cannot be removed was most helpful. Generally find that security don't bother too much with all the medical supplies once they understand the general principal!!
Good luck and good trip
Pam
I've been asked once for a doctors note by an officious airline employee in Lisbon who wanted me to prove I needed insulin. I did a blood test and was well over 300, the employee resorted to the "don't do it again" line.
I do now carry a doctor's letter. I've had medication questioned once in the US, before the TSA got their act together. These days everything ends up in a gallon baggy and it is so obviously diabetic stuff that I can't imagine anyone complaining.
I am now a GOES (https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes) "trusted traveler", but I only got that done last month - first test of utility comes in a week or so when I travel to the UK.
John Bowler
I fly a few times a year both domestically and internationally. I've never had a problem. I refuse to go through a scanner and just opt out for the pat down and swab. Probably saves time since it sounds like they'll do a swab anyway once they see the pod in the scanner.
I carry all my supplies in my carry on whether it's a weekend trip or a month trip. Again, never had a problem getting any of it through security, but I do carry a doctor's note with me just in case.
The only thing close to an issue I had was during a stopover in Frankfurt on the way to Qatar. They have a second security check and the x-ray tech saw my 10 pack box of pods in my backpack. I was stopped and asked to show the pods to the security agent. I just told him they were my insulin pumps and that was that. Took less than 5 minutes.
I just throw all of my diabetes stuff in a separate case -- no plastic baggies for insulin, no doctor's notes, nothing. With a 500,000 domestic and foreign miles under my belt, never had a real issue.
I do find one aspect of my experience with the TSA frustrating and stupid: the hand swab for explosive residue. About 80% of the time, the TSA agent swipes my hand and runs the stupid little test. In the meantime, I've sometimes got a box of ten spare pods in my carryon luggage that have never been swabbed for explosives or scrutinized. The TSA seems to be more of a theatrical organization than a practical one. Just smile a lot, and all will be OK.
I traveled to Ireland last year and to California last month. International security was a breeze - they didn't check or question my Pods (the one I was wearing or packed in my carry-on), medication or PDM. When I traveled to Cali, I told security about my Omnipod (just tell them insulin pump - no one knows what an Omnipod is ) and they did the wipe-down thing on each of my palms. An extra 2 minutes at security, but no big deal. They didn't question my meds or supplies either. Also, I do keep the box the insulin vial is contained in, packed in my carry-on, since it has my identification info on it, but I've never needed it.
Last month I flew for the first time w/ my Omnipod. I went Minneapolis to Chicago to Dublin, and it was the first time I've ever had any extra check of my bags for security. (Happened in Chicago on the way to Dublin.) And it was regarding what they saw in my carryon (pods, backup syringes, etc.) They didn't care about the pump I was wearing. It didn't happen on the way back, and I've never been stopped for things any other time I've flown (which is a few times per year.) I've always carried a letter from my doctor, just in case, but I've never had come close to needing it. Should be no problems.
Now...2 words of warning: A) Be careful to not bump the door as you exit the body scanner thing. I navigated busy city streets, carrying luggage, cab rides and an 8 hour trans-Atlantic flight, only to knock off my stupid pump as I exited the scanner at O'Hare trying to get to my final leg of the trip. And B) be prepared to quickly change a failed (or knocked off) pump at the airport, and hope you can quiet a screaming pod! I couldn've shut down O'Hare and caused major air traffic problems across the country with the two screaming failed pods I had at the gate. (Try explaining THAT to an airport customer.)
I have traveled internationally with the Pod and there is generally no problem if you can communicate! But I just returned from China and I did have a problem they did not understand or speak english. I was whisked awaybfrom the group for about 30 minutes until they found someone who spoke enough english to speak with me. They kept trying to pull if off of my arm!! After that i found a travel guide to write a note in chinese as I went through several airports during ourv3 week tour. So yes carry a doctors note and a letter in a language if going to a foreign country.