To declare or not to declare, international travel

[klpants]

Hi All

I'm going back to Canada for a visit soon and even though I've travelledmany times before, this time I won't be taking any luggage, just a backpack. Now, I know when at the checking desk the question is asked "are you carrying any sharp objects"? I always say no and just keep my diabetes to myself. I'm wondering though if my backpack is full of syringes and does get searched I may get in trouble for not declaring?. Has anyone had any similar experience?

I find if we (as diabetics) are honest with the "system" this honesty just comes back and bites us in the nose. I don't want to be in the situation where iIve said I have syringes on me and the cabin crew take them off me and say I can ask for them when I need them. I can just imagine this kind of "babying" overreacting behaviour may result if I am honest.

Anyhoo................

[notme]

I travel internationally and have adopted a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. If I am asked, I declare. If I am not, I wait for them to ask me. I have only once been asked and that was in South Africa when I was coming home. Not goint there...weird. Anyhow, when I was asked if I had anything sharp in my bag I said yes, diabetes supplies. I produced a letter from my doctor. The baggage handler told me he had to make reasonable accommodation for me and he said I should give my diabetes supplies to the flight attendant when I was on board. He said I could ask them for my supplies when I needed them. I assured him that I would and then did not. I figured if they asked....I would give it to them. If they didn't, then .....well I had them.

I have also traveled to New Zealand, Ireland, England, Italy and the British Virgin Islands and have never been asked. My carry on bags were always xrayed and nothing was ever said. My old pump has never set off the alarms. I am traveling to South Africa again this year as well as Botswana and Zambia. We will see. LOL. I will have my letter and my supplies and will adopt the same policy as always.

Nancy

[Erin]

I never bother telling them. Ryan-air (cheap European airline) has a standard question at check in "do you have anything sharp in your hand luggage" and they even go so far as to list medical supplies in the things they are talking about, I always say no. If anyone noticed when they checked my bag they never said anything. I figure, I legally, have to be allowed to keep my medical supplies with me, and if I tell you I have them we're just going to get into a bureaucratic fight, which I will eventually win. Much better to have a don't tell policy.

The only time I will ALWAYS tell, is if someone is going to hand search my bag. I feel I owe them the respect to let them know they're sharps in there, for the off chance something became uncapped during my travels.

Security personnel have a bigger problem with cigarette lighters, toenail scissors, knitting needles, and laptop computers, than they do with syringes. I HAVE been stopped for all of those items, while carrying loads of sharps with me... go figure!

[DeusXM]

Take a doctor's note with you, explaining why you're carrying that gear and why you need it with you at all times.

For the record, airport security actually seem to be pretty sound. I regularly carry my insulin pens in my pockets and so when I go through the metal detectors, naturally I have to take them out and put them in the little basket thing.

The security guys always pick them up to have a look at them, which is understandable because it's not as if they're that common items to have. However they always ask what they are and I've always just said 'it's an insulin pen'. There's never been any further questions from that.

And this is with American officials, who I assume to be rather more thorough with security than most other ones.

[Erin]

And this is with American officials, who I assume to be rather more thorough with security than most other ones.

You'd think that, but it's not actually the case...

Remember back in '03 when us Americans were having a fun time renaming French fries and French dressing, and basically just bashing the French? Freedom fries, what nonsense! I was traveling Europe at the time, and the French actually had the best security. And I flew out of Newark, NJ here in the States, just a stones throw across the river from New York City.

But in any case, I never had any problems, and actually saw one security x-ray technician guy explaining to another guy what the meter/syringes/pens were (the second guy asked what it was) and telling him not to bother me about it.

[koblenz]

I've not flown internationally since diagnosis, but quite a few times in the states. I always tell the screener as I plop my bag down. They just say "uh, OK, thanks". Never been asked to surrender anything, never been given any trouble about it.

My pump has set off the metal detector a few times, but you get the "wand job" and you are on your way.

Good luck and have a safe flight.

Geez Nancy, you have been everywhere. If you need someone to carry your bags on your next trip, count me in!

[notme]

Ok Koblenz, we leave the first week in August for Botswana.....I travel heavy so start workin out!!! LOL

My husbands company pays for these nice trips Koblenz. Haven't done Asia yet. Maybe in the future.

[klpants]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I'll keep quiet (but have a doctors letter in case anything silly happenns!) :thumbsup:

[rea]

I have had the opposite experience, going from Canada to the US, and then returning.

no problems. Just keep a doctors note stating your prescriptions, taht you must keep your supplies near you, and a business card from your pharmacy with you. Its also good incase you have an emergency and need to get more supplies.

If you have a medi bracelet, wear it.

only when entering the states did I have any problems, and had to de-assemble my insulin pen to show the inside of it. that was it.

[rzrbks]

klpants Thanks for the replies everyone, I think I'll keep quiet (but have a doctors letter in case anything silly happenns!)


That's the main thing to carry.

[vvti-le]

I travelled last year to Japan but didn't have any problems. I read the TSA web site regarding Diabetic medications for screening. When I approached the x-ray screener about my insulin and syringes he didn't care I had them and asked me if it didn't get affected by the x-ray machine then to just scan it through. I thought I was going to be interogated but I guess the TSA screeners were forewarned about diabetics travelling abroad.


http://www.diabetes.org/advocacy-and-legalresources/discrimination/public_accommodation/travel.jsp



http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1059.xml


http://securitymatters.about.com/od/travelsecurity/a/securitymeds.htm

[Georgia]

Hi

I've been to Kenya, US, Mexico, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Egypt, Israel & Europe & have never had any problems. But there was a report a couple of years ago that a woman had been refused travel on a British Airways flight for not having a doctors note with her. I'm flying to NZ next month with British Airways but this time I am not taking any chances - have asked my gp for a letter.

Georgia

[Type 1]

I travel all the time internationally (since I live in Mexico)...and I never tell unless I am asked, but I think the person who said we should forewarn them if they are going to hand search a bag with syringes is right and I will start in that case. Only one time (in probably 200 trips abroad) did a security baggage handler in the Dominican Republic say something, not to me but to a fellow guard, "He must be diabetic." I thought about laughing (it was pre-9/11), but was too happy with the acceptance. Just once a problem: from Paris to NYC..."NON, you cannot carry so many syringes with you on the plane!!!" Well, I said, I have no intention of disposing of them and my bag has already been checked...so they told me to go back to the ticket counter and get a box (size of a cereal box) and then put them in there and check it...which I did. I still kept 10 with me, though I only used 3. Another tactic I have used when the beeper goes off on the xray machine is to quickly suggest that it must be the insulin bag, with a meter in it...so I take it out and distract them with that and then they never see the bags of syringes inside the suitcase. I have never found that the needles set of the xray machine. I do carry a doctor's note on a prescription pad paper, but it is at least 10 years old...DM1 is not curable, I tell them.

Dr. Stan De Loach, www.continents.com/diabetes-safari06.htm
saludo@usa.net

[Starlight]

I travelled to Greece at the start of this year and from athens back to Australia they made me empty all my used needles out of the container. They have some law/rule according to the amount of used needles you can have. I dont know if that had anything to do with unused needles as well.

I followed by the rule- if they dont ask, i dont say anything. From my experiences, they dont have much compassion and just raise an eyebrow, which i know i should learn to deal with but i think you guys understand what it feels like. :thumpdown