Pain-Free Living

Getting Through Airport Security

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Getting through the gauntlet of airport security can be a challenge when you have arthritis, but the following guidelines can help you prepare.

Shoes and bags. On the day of your flight, wear shoes that are easy for you to take off and put on as needed. If you can’t easily do that, you can request help from a security officer in removing your shoes and putting them back on. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), people with disabilities do not need to remove their shoes, but they may need to go through extra security procedures so that the shoes can be examined while still on their feet. You can also ask an inspector for help if you can’t lift your bag onto the x-ray machine.

Replacement joints and implants. If you have replacement joints or other implanted medical devices, you do not need to carry a doctor’s note, but you should check with your doctor about whether it is safe for you to walk through a metal detector or be hand-wanded. If it is not safe, let the security officers know about your implant and ask for a pat-down inspection at the checkpoint. Alternatively, you may be asked to go through one of the new advanced imaging (or “full body”) scanners, which are safe for medical implants.

Injectable and other drugs. Your medicines can be another concern at security. The TSA does not require you to keep all prescription drugs in their original containers with your name on them, but it does recommend keeping the labels on as some localities have different regulations concerning medications.

If you use an injectable drug — such as adalimumab (brand name Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), or golimumab (Simponi) — to manage your arthritis, you may need to take extra steps to keep your drugs cool and get your syringes or pens through security at the airport. Some companies make special travel packs available free of charge to store your supplies and keep them cool. Ask your doctor or call the manufacturer’s toll-free number for more information.

At the security checkpoint, notify the security officers if you have needles, lancets, or injection pens in your carry-on baggage. If you want your drugs to be inspected by hand, put them in a separate clear plastic bag. According to current TSA guidelines, you may carry any drug you need, including needles and syringes, onto an airplane in the United States. The TSA recommends (but doesn’t require) that you carry medical documentation, such as a letter from your doctor that says that you need the medicine, to show to security officers. However, some other countries do require that you have proof of medical need to bring syringes onto an airplane, so if you are traveling internationally, make sure to check with your airline (or airlines, if you’ll be flying with multiple carriers) about what kind of documentation you’ll need to carry.

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