A woman has raised an important issue regarding travelling with medicines after being stopped at Stansted airport.
Taking to social media to ask for advice on who was in the right, she explained that when going through security her bag was taken to be searched because she didn’t remove her various inhalers and medicine capsules.
She wrote: “The security guy gave me a lecture that I need to put my inhalers and medication in a separate clear plastic bag (same one as for liquids). I told him that I had been instructed NOT to put my inhalers in a liquid bag. I asked when this rule about putting medication into the clear bag came into effect and he said two and a half years ago.”
She then asked: “What do you think? I checked the Stansted Airport website and it doesn’t mention that you have to put powder-based medication in a clear plastic bag. What do you do with your medicine at security?”
People were quick to comment on the post with many admitting they had found out the hard way that inhalers should be placed in a clear plastic bag. One person replied: “Inhalers, yes. I’m asthmatic and found this out at Machester in July. Even got the, ‘why do you need THREE inhalers?’ lecture. Two of them are rescue inhalers as I always have a backup and one was my steroid inhaler.”
Another person who had also been stopped, blasted: “It’s crazy! I’ve been to countless airports in the last year all over the world and nobody has made me take my inhalers out of my bag!
“I used to put them with my liquids but a security person told me you don’t need to because it ain’t a liquid. Also why should you have to justify your inhaler quantity to someone who clearly is not a doctor… if you had like ten maybe, but three?! Of course you need your spare inhaler!”
And a third commented: “I flew from Stansted 2 weeks ago, with 2 inhalers in my backpack pocket. I got selected for a luggage search. They noted my inhalers but said absolutely nothing about needing to put them in a liquids bag. I’ve flown from Stansted at least half a dozen times in the past two years, same with Gatwick and Luton, and that’s the one and only time my inhalers have ever been mentioned.”
According to the Stansted Airport website, inhalers are considered a liquid and therefore should be placed in a clear plastic bag if you’re taking them in hand luggage. Holidaysextras.com advises: “You should pack medical equipment carefully and let security staff know it is in your hand luggage before you go through security. You should also check whether any medicine you are packing in the hold will be affected by the low temperature.”