Travel & Flying

Yes — many patients on home enteral and parenteral nutrition travel, including flying abroad. It takes extra planning, but with the right preparation it is very achievable.

The first step is to talk to your nutrition team before you book anything. They can advise on your specific situation, write a medical/customs letter, and flag anything that might need special preparation (for example, adjusting your feed timing around a long-haul flight or managing time-zone changes).

Key things to think about early:

• Your overall health and stability — is now a good time to travel?
• How your feeds will work around the trip (timing, time zones, fridge access)
• Getting travel insurance that covers your condition and equipment
• Arranging enough supply — including extra for delays
• Notifying your home care company and any overseas emergency contacts

• Medical / customs letter — ask your GP, consultant or nutrition team for a letter on headed paper explaining that you carry medically necessary equipment (feed, pump, syringes, needles, IV fluids, giving sets). Carry copies — one in hand luggage, one with travel documents.
• Copies of prescriptions — for all feeds, medications, and consumables. Some countries require these at customs.
• GHIC / EHIC card — apply for a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if travelling in Europe. It gives access to state-provided healthcare in the EU/EEA. It is not a substitute for travel insurance.
• Travel insurance — essential. Declare your condition in full (see below).
• Notify your home care / delivery company early — they can often arrange delivery abroad, advise on fridge storage, or supply extra stock. Give plenty of notice (ideally weeks, not days).
• Plan your feeds around travel — work with your dietitian to adjust timing for early starts, long journeys, and time-zone shifts.
• Know how to get help abroad — research the nearest hospital and nutrition unit at your destination. Keep your nutrition team's emergency number saved.

Standard travel insurance policies often exclude pre-existing conditions. You must declare your nutrition condition, your line or tube, and all associated equipment. Failure to declare means any related claims will be refused.

• Use a specialist insurer experienced with complex or pre-existing conditions. PINNT maintains guidance on finding suitable insurers — see pinnt.com.
• Ensure your policy covers: medical repatriation, emergency treatment abroad, lost or damaged equipment, and cancellation if you become unwell before travel.
• Confirm cover for your pump, feed bags, and consumables — declare their total value.
• A GHIC/EHIC card is not travel insurance. It only covers state-funded healthcare in EU/EEA countries at local rates — it does not cover repatriation, private treatment, or equipment.

Always carry your feed, pump and vital supplies in hand luggage — never check them into the hold. The hold is unheated, bags can be lost or delayed, and PN bags in particular need controlled temperature storage.

• Medical liquids and feed are exempt from the 100ml liquid rule in UK and most EU airports, but you must declare them at security. Have your medical letter ready.
• You may be subject to additional security screening — swabs, separate scanning of your bag. Carry your letter and remain calm; this is normal.
• Sharps (needles, lancets) — carry in a sharps bin in hand luggage with your medical letter. Different airlines and countries have varying rules; check in advance.
• Keep medications in their original packaging where possible.
• Arrive early to allow extra time for security checks.
• Consider contacting the airport's special assistance or medical desk before travel — some airports can arrange dedicated lanes or escort through security.

Running a feed in-flight is usually possible, but requires advance notice and planning.

• Notify the airline in advance — contact the airline's medical or special assistance desk before flying. Some airlines require a MEDIF (Medical Information Form) or doctor's clearance letter. Do this early — processing can take time.
• Use a battery-powered pump — mains power is not reliably available on aircraft. Check your pump's battery life against your flight duration and carry spare batteries or a power bank.
• Keep your bag and supplies in the overhead locker above your seat or under the seat in front — not in a separate locker down the aisle.
• Hand hygiene — use alcohol gel (which is permitted in a medical liquids bag) and gloves for any line or tube access during the flight.
• Sharps disposal — ask cabin crew if they can dispose of sharps for you; some airlines have medical kits that include a sharps bin. Bring your own just in case.
• Cabin pressure changes can occasionally affect flow rates on gravity feeds — use a pump where possible.
• Stay well hydrated — aircraft cabins are very dry. Discuss additional fluid allowance with your team if needed.

Always take more than you think you will need — aim for at least 2–3 extra days of supply to cover delays, lost bags, or supply problems at your destination.

• Feed bags / formula — PN bags need a fridge (2–8°C); EN formula is shelf-stable but needs cool storage once opened. Check fridge availability at your accommodation in advance.
• Cool bags / temperature monitoring — use insulated cool bags with ice packs for PN bags in transit. PN must not be frozen.
• Pump — your main pump plus a backup or manual check valve if advised by your team. Charger and travel adapters for your destination's plug type.
• Giving sets and consumables — more than you need: giving sets, syringes, flushes, dressings, gloves, alcohol wipes, sterile gauze.
• Sharps bin — a travel sharps bin for used needles and syringes.
• Routine medication — all prescription medicines, including those you might take less regularly (e.g. trace elements). Carry in hand luggage.
• A written note of your feed regime and emergency contacts (in case you lose your phone).

• Supply deliveries abroad — some UK home care companies can arrange or source supplies overseas; discuss this well in advance. It is not always straightforward.
• Fridge storage — if your accommodation doesn't have a fridge, ask before booking. Hotels can often store items in their kitchen fridge; self-catering is often easier for PN patients.
• Locate the nearest hospital — before you arrive, know where the nearest A&E or emergency department is, and whether the destination has a nutrition or IV therapy team.
• Have a plan for emergencies — if supplies are lost, damaged or unavailable: contact your home care company, your nutrition team in the UK, and your travel insurer. Keep numbers saved offline (not just in the cloud).
• Consider wearing a medical ID bracelet or card in the language of your destination that explains your nutrition needs.

• PINNT — Patients on Intravenous and Nasogastric Nutrition Therapy. Excellent travel guidance for home PN and EN patients, including insurance advice and member experiences.
• BAPEN — British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Clinical resources and guidance.
• Your home care company — for supply queries, deliveries abroad, and equipment issues.
• Your nutrition nurse / dietitian — for clinical advice before, during, and after travel.
• Your airline's medical / special assistance desk — to pre-notify about your equipment and request any clearance forms needed.
• UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) — guidance on travelling with medical conditions and equipment by air.