Carrying liquids in hand baggage

priscilla

Does anyone know if this applies to medicines?

I've got a BA flight booked UK - Delhi in July and have just read on their website that India has a "no liquids at all" in hand luggage policy. I had a heart attack a few months ago and now have GTN spray (very tiny bottle) I probably won't even need it but as this is my first flight post heart attack I'd be a bit anxious without it.

I also have an internal flight booked (Delhi - Kolkata with Indigo) Their website indicates that a small quantity of liquid is ok, so it seems odd that its prohibited on the international flight.

Anyone have any info about this?

Haylo

First I've heard of it, I know that's what the BA site says, but I think it is plain wrong. I've flown in and out of India three times this year and the policy is exactly the same as everywhere else as regards maximum size of 100ml bottles in a resealable bag in hand luggage.

I'd take your medicine with you in a ziploc bag and not worry about it for a moment.

Oh, and welcome to the site.

__________________
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Nick-H

If you have some documentation, like a copy of the prescription, might be good.

RWeHavingFunYet

... a letter from the doctor recommending the medication might also help.

obione980

X ray screening of hand (and checked-in) luggage within India is very - Indian!!

In Khurajaho - they detected my 'medicinal' bottle of Scotch in my check-in; and insisted - censoriously - on entering it in a register - and had me sign the register - then allowed it through. Point?? Who knows!

On the other hand - in Mumbai domestic (emplaning for Aurangabad) - when they detected a fluid (sun screen) in my carry-on (which I'd simply over-looked) - they took no end of trouble to avoid having to confiscate it. Really went out of their way, in a very busy airport - to clear it.

I'd suggest you get the glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) tablets instead of the spray. No hassles with them. The 'shelf life' of the tablets is less than the spray - but it is 8 weeks. Surely long enough for your holiday!

priscilla

Thanks everyone for the reassurance! This is my first flight to India post Mumbai and I just wasn't sure how twitchy they had got.

obione980 - great suggestion, I'll get my doc to prescribe tablets just to be on the safe side.

nycank

It must be a BA thing... because post BOM,I've flown into BOM; and flown out and into BOM later on... I carried >3oz fluid in a stubby container in my backpack without hassles internally... YMMV

anonymouse

I suspect this is old advice. BA normally allow 100ml bottles of liquid in hand luggage, like all other airlines, so it's not a BA restriction. I didn't come across this rule when I flew out of India last month (although that was on Virgin).

namaste_cat

For what it's worth, I had absolutely no problems with liquids in hand baggage in India on internal flights. Ditto when flying out of India to come back to the States. In fact, at one point I felt bad because as it turns out I had some cough medicine that was over the 100ml limit. No one gave me a hard time at all.

I had no trouble in India or Europe, but when I returned to the U.S, and had to get on a domestic flight, they gave me all kinds of hell over ayurvedic meds especially liquids even those less than 3 oz

I think you got a good suggestion to carry a note from your doc in case you're stopped. Make sure bottle's labeled and official, etc.

nycank

Carry doctor's note, and the meds and be ready to put it in your checked (gate-check) if there are issues.

__________________
bade bhaisaheb is outsourced

HelsThomas

Just wondering if anybody's had recent experience of flying BA to India from the UK, and if this strict-sounding policy of no liquids/cosmetics etc in carry on luggage is enforced?

Flying to Delhi on Saturday; can't wait!

Thanks for any advice,

Hels.

Nick-H

It doesn't matter where you are flying to, the rules are strictly enforced. Whilst BA has its own Heathrow terminal (T5), people will be flying to many destinations; the security check is the same. I would imagine it is the same at other terminals, traveling with other airlines too, as these are government-stipulated restrictions.

My latest experience: Heathrow-->Chennai, 19 June 2009.

By the way, before that, I flew in December 2008. Then, I was not asked to take my shoes off, this last time we were, so, if anything, it is getting stricter.

Haylo

Nick, the rules that are strictly enforced at Heathrow are rules about maximum sizes of liquids, and that they have to be carried in a resealable clear plastic bag, not a total ban.

What is being suggested here is that no liquids whatsoever are allowed in carryon, and that is simply not the case.

HelsThomas

Thanks; the BA website is very confusing. (States: 'The following British Airways destinations do not permit liquids, gels, creams or cosmetics in hand baggage under any circumstances:India, Kenya, Pakistan.' Although presumably, that means journeys starting in India etc? Who knows.)

I will go with the 'tiny bottles in plastic bag' method and hope it will all be ok. If the worst comes to the worst, I'll just have to go shopping when I get to Delhi. How will I cope? ;-)

Haylo

Ignore it, at least as far as India is concerned.

There is absolutely no problem carrying the standard 100ml max size of liquids onto flights either into, within*, or out of India.