UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi everyone,

I flew over to N ireland on Wednesday night with my wife and our two small children 1 of 4 and 1 14 months old.

I was meant to fly back yesterday morning but my flight was cancelled so was the the rebooked flight for today.

I basically travelled with 1 days supply of everything.

Yes the dailys are at home. it is now quite painful to wear the rgps without them.

We went to bloomfileds in bangor and there were two opticians facing each other Vision express and spec savers.

Well those lovely people at vision express gave me enough dailies to last til I get home on sunday.

Withoout charge.

A Big thanks.

|Just waiting to see if the laptop survives the hold going back

Ususally the main highstree optoms get a hamering here. Good to know some are very good.

My laptop has always travelled in the hold and so far always survived.

Cheers Gareth, or do i call you Mr Moderator.

I see No pun intended) you can take contact lenses as hand luggage but no solution.

I suppose I better pack the dailies I have left ha ha

I am not looking forward to tasting the baby milk leave that one to the Wife.

I had this very debate at work. My collegue insisted that a doctors note would surfice.

My wife who works as a researcher for a company associated with the airline industry did some research.

My GP at anyrate would not gve a doctors note because I am under the care of the hospital. The hospital say I would need an appointment so they knew who exactly was getting the medical note. Basically to ensure it was not being obtained under false pretences which I fully understand due to the nature of the security risk that has caused this. Appontment would be at least 4 weeks!

She then called the airport who said they had no way of confirming the Doctors not as original therefore advised best to remove the lenses and put securly in luggage to go in the hold. They did say that they will make the usual provision for people who are disabled.

As far as we could asertain, this would include us if traveling alone in that airport staff would help us to get to the correct departure gate and help us find our seats.

This is purly based on an example of my vision that if it was unable to be corrected I would be lgally blind in my right eye and partially sighted in my left.

My advice to anyone travelling by air at the moment is to call the airport beforehand and discuss your circumstances. Be sure to make a note of who you spoke to and take their contact details should you need to speak with them again.

You don't need to be registered blind/PS to book yourself as requiring special assistance with the airline you're flying with.
Do it! You may get a young lady to meet you pushing a wheelchair (!) but you should get attention.
Rosemary

James,

"Moderator" does not carry a "Mr" (unlike words like 'chairman' or even 'president'.)

You just say "Moderator".

the emergency level has been lowered today, but even when this filters through to the airports (probably tomorrow) there will still be a restriction on carrying liquids onto aircraft.

It is imperative that people with KC who need towear contact lenses know what they may or may not take with them.

I have an additional problem. I need to travel with my CPAP machine. (enables me to sleep without forgetting to breathe). It seems that these, too, need to go into the hold. This risks damage to a relatively delicate bit of machinary, and if my luggage ends up in a different airport, would leave me in serious trouble at my destination.

Gareth, thank you for the research.

Andrew