The following information is provided to support passengers travelling with medical items.
It outlines the conditions that apply to medical devices, and when passengers should tell Aviation Security officers they have a medical device attached to their person to avoid misunderstandings.The Aviation Security Service respects passenger’s medical items, especially when attached to their person.
Passengers often take prescription medication with them when they travel on commercial passenger aircraft. If you are travelling with prescription medication, we recommend you carry the medication in its original [prescription] container or packaging.
Aviation Security Officers will not remove excess medication where there is evidence the medicine is prescribed to the person who is travelling.
Passengers on international flights are subject to certain limitations regarding the amount of liquids and inorganic powder they can carry in their carry-on bags. However, there is an exception to these restrictions for medications that meet the following criteria:
Each passenger is allowed to carry inorganic powders, including medication in the form of pills or tablets, in their carry-on bag as long as it doesn't exceed 350ml [350g].
There are no limitations on the quantity of pills and tablets passengers can pack in their checked luggage.
We recommend passengers keep their medication in its original container with the prescription information. This allows passengers to carry additional medicine in their carry-on bag, beyond the 350ml limit, or the amount needed during the flight.
If you need to carry medication in pill or tablet form that exceeds the allowed limit of 350ml (or grams), you should obtain a letter from your medical practitioner stating the medication you are taking and the quantity required. The letter should also mention that the medicine might be necessary during the flight. This letter is necessary to confirm that any medicine carried in excess of the 350ml (or grams) limit in your carry-on bag is eligible for the exemption.
Each passenger is allowed to carry liquids, including medication in liquid form like insulin, in containers that are no larger than 100ml. The total volume of liquids must not exceed one litre, or the number of containers that can fit into a re-sealable bag measuring 20cm by 20cm. It's important to note that the restriction applies to the size of the container, not the content.
There are no limitations on the amount of liquid medication passengers can pack in their checked luggage.
We recommend passengers carry medication in its original container with the prescription details. This allows passengers to carry liquid medicine in containers that exceed the 100ml or one-litre limit, as long as it is necessary during the flight.
Please be aware that passengers are permitted to carry dialysis solution in their carry-on bag if it needs to be used during the flight or during transit between flights.
If you are carrying medication in liquid form, in containers that exceed the allowed 100ml limit, we recommend obtaining a letter from your medical practitioner. The letter should list the medication you are taking and the volume required. Additionally, it should state that the medicine might be necessary during the flight. This letter is necessary to confirm that any medicine carried in excess of the 100ml limit in your carry-on bag qualifies for the exemption.
Passengers are allowed to carry syringes, needles, and EpiPens without any restrictions.
If you are carrying syringes and needles, including prefilled needles for administering your medication, it is advisable to obtain a letter from your medical practitioner. The letter should include the details of the medication you are taking, the volume needed, and if syringes or needles will be carried.
Passengers do not need a letter to carry EpiPens in their carry-on bags.
If medication needs to be kept cool, the exemption that applies to the medicine also applies to the thermal container or substance used to maintain the temperature, such as ice packs.
Certain medications require a thermal container to ensure a consistent temperature.
We recommend passengers include in the letter from their medical practitioner a statement clarifying why the medicine needs to be stored in a cooler or thermal container. If it is necessary for the passenger to monitor the temperature of their medication and that's why it is being carried in their carry-on bag, this information should also be disclosed in the letter from their medical practitioner.
There are no restrictions on the volume of inorganic powders and liquids passengers can take in their carry-on bags, or checked luggage, for domestic flights. Passengers can take the following medication, in any amount, for domestic flights:
If you have an artificial limb, the walk-through metal detector alarm will go off as you walk through. Following an alarm, you will be screened by an officer with a hand held metal detector or via a body scanner.
If you are screened by an officer with a hand held metal detector, before they begin, it is important you let them know you have an artificial limb. The officer will need to confirm this by:
If you are screened through a body scanner, you do not need to tell the officers before you enter that you have an artificial limb, however once you have exited, it is important you tell the officer conducting the search.
Following the body scanner you will be subject to a pat-down search. This involves an officer, of the same gender, running or patting their hand over the clothed areas of your person. You can request this search occur in private, out of the view of others.
If you wear a prosthetic breast, you do not need to tell the officer before entering the walk through metal detector, as it may not trigger the alarm.
If the alarm goes off, you will be screened by an officer with a hand held metal detector or via a body scanner. If you are to be screened by an officer with a hand held metal detector, you do not need to tell them of the prosthetic breast. However, if you are to be subject to a pat down search you may want to tell the officer of the prosthetic and have the search undertaken in private.
If you are screened through a body scanner, you do not need to tell the officer before you enter that you have a prosthetic breast, however once you have exited, it is important you tell the officer conducting the search if there is an alarm over the breast area.
Following the body scanner you will be subject to a pat-down search which involves an officer, of the same gender, running or patting their hands over the clothed areas of your person. You can request this search occur in private, out of the view of others.
If you use a colostomy bag, you do not need to tell the officer before entering the walk through metal detector, as it may not trigger the alarm. If an alarm goes off you will be screened by an officer with a hand held metal detector or via a body scanner.
If you are to be screened by an officer with a hand held metal detector, you do not have to tell the officer unless the metal detector alarms in vicinity of the colostomy bag. If they request to view the colostomy bag you can request this occur in private, out of the view of others.
If you are screened through a body scanner, you do not need to tell the officer before you enter that you have a colostomy bag, however once you have exited, it is important you tell the officer conducting the search.
Following the body scanner you will be subject to a pat-down search which involves an officer, of the same gender, running or patting their hand over the clothed areas of your person. As part of this process the officer may request to view the colostomy bag. You can request this search occur in private, out of the view of others.
Advise your airline if you need to take a medical device to use during the flight, e.g. continuous positive airway pressure device.
If the medical device is powered by lithium batteries check they do not exceed 8g or 160 watt hours [Wh]. If they do, they cannot go onto a plane.
If the battery exceeds 100Wh, you need the approval of your airline.
If you do not need to access the device during the flight and it is being carried as checked luggage it must be turned off and packed to prevent damage.
Learn more about navigating airport security screening for people living with diabetes [PDF 1.3 MB]
Print friendly black and white version [PDF 2.6 MB]
If you have metal implants, you do not need to tell the officer before entering the walk through the metal detector, as the metal implants may not set off the alarm. If the metal implant does set off the alarm, you will be screened through a body scanner or need to consent to a pat-down search.
If you are screened through a body scanner, you do not need to tell the officer that you have a metal implants as the body scanner will not alarm on them. However, if the body scanner does alarm for any other reason, you will need to consent to a pat-down search.
A pat-down search involves an officer of the same gender, running or patting their hand over the clothed areas of your person.
You need the approval of your airline to take oxygen gas cylinders onto their aircraft.
The oxygen gas cylinders cannot exceed 5 kilograms and the valves and regulator must be protected from damage.
Liquid oxygen systems cannot go onto a passenger aircraft.
If you have a pacemaker how you are screened will depend on the medical advice you have received.
If the medical advice is that you should not be screened by metal detectors tell an officer and request a pat-down search.
If the medical advice is that you can go through the walk through metal detector but the area of the pacemaker should not be screened by a hand held metal detector, the officer will screen you using the hand held metal detector except the area where the pacemaker is located. You can place your hand over this area. The officer will use their hand to check the area.
You may be required to be screened through a body scanner. There are no known safety concerns for people with pacemakers undergoing a body scan but if you have concerns you can request a pat-down search.
A pat-down search involves an officer of the same gender, running or patting their hand over the clothed areas of your person. You can request this search occur in private, out of the view of others.
If you use a wireless medical device e.g. glucose monitoring system, it will trigger the walk through metal detector’s alarm.
Following the alarm, you must tell the officer that you have a medical device attached to your person, that you are in possession of a receiver that will be damaged if X-rayed, and the transmitter and receiver must stay in close proximity to each other.
The officer may request to view the device and subject you to a pat-down search. You can request this occur in private, out of the view of others.
A pat-down search involves an officer, of the same gender, running or patting their hand over the clothed areas of your person. You can request this search occur in private, out of the view of others.
Learn more about navigating airport security screening for people living with diabetes [PDF 1.3 MB]
Print friendly black and white version [PDF 2.6 MB]
You must contact your airline for approval to take a mobility device onto their aircraft.
This guidance has been developed by the New Zealand Aviation Security Service in collaboration with Diabetes New Zealand. The advice applies to security screening at New Zealand airports. If you’re travelling internationally, please be aware that advice may vary for other countries due to different procedures and equipment in use. Please contact your airline or the relevant screening authority in each country where you’ll pass through security screening.
Learn more about navigating airport security screening for people living with diabetes [PDF 1.3 MB]
Print friendly black and white version [PDF 2.6 MB]
You will be asked to relinquish all dangerous goods and weapons found in your luggage, carried contrary to the restrictions. If you refuse:
We use a number of security measures, including x-raying bags to make sure there is nothing dangerous in them. If something is seen on the x-ray that needs checking, the bag will be opened, searched and any dangerous goods and weapons located will be removed.
If you have any questions about this topic, use our contact form, or email reception@avsec.govt.nz.
