Flights
We are able to accommodate guests with a variety of medical and mobility needs on our flights. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, please contact our Customer Service department (if flights were booked by Cunard) or your Travel Advisor for more information. Please note that, in some cases, it may be necessary for guests to speak with the airline directly, and we will advise guests and travel advisors should this be the case. To ensure we meet these needs, please return your completed medical/mobility questionnaire to us at least 14 days prior to your departure.
Flying when pregnant
Please contact our Customer Service department (if flights were booked by Cunard) or your Travel Advisor, who can confirm if you are able to travel on your flight.
Life-threatening allergies
If you suffer from any severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), we recommend that you speak to your doctor as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee a nut-free environment or prevent other passengers from bringing their own food on board the ship or on the flights.
Please ensure you complete your medical/mobility questionnaire with the full details of your allergy. We recommend that you liaise directly with the airline’s welfare team and advise the cabin crew upon boarding the aircraft of your severe allergy.
For all passengers on our charter flights, please ensure you complete your medical/mobility questionnaire and get in contact with our Customer Service department.
Please note that, depending on the severity, airlines may require you to complete a medical form and provide a doctor’s certificate.
For any special meal requests regarding allergies, please note that the airlines are limited in their offerings. Therefore, it may be necessary for the passengers to supply their own food. Please inquire with our Customer Service department, who will be able to advise if your meal request could be accommodated by the airline.
Reduced mobility
If you need to request mobility assistance at the airport or on your flight, please ensure you make this clear on your medical/mobility questionnaire. We may contact you to ensure we fully understand your requirements.
Airport assistance is only provided from check-in by the airport operator. There are three possible types of airport mobility assistance available (summarized below), but please be aware that availability varies by airport:
- Check-in to gate assistance – This assistance type is suitable for guests who can manage steps and seat themselves, but cannot walk long distances.
- Assistance onto aircraft – This assistance type is suitable for guests who can seat themselves, but cannot manage steps or walk long distances.
- Assistance into seat – This assistance type is suitable for guests who are completely immobile and may require lifting into their seat.
Flying with a mobility aid
If you wish to travel with your own wheelchair or mobility aid, please complete your medical/mobility questionnaire with full details. This is to ensure we can make the necessary arrangements to help you make the most of your journey.
Any medical equipment you require must be battery-operated, as the aircraft cannot provide a power supply.
If you are flying to/from an airport in the United Kingdom, in order to comply with Civil Aviation Authority regulations, you must advise us at the time of booking if you plan to carry an electrical mobility aid on board your flight(s). These include, but may not be limited to, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters. Assessments will then be made as to the safety of carrying an electric mobility aid on board the aircraft.
We also need to inform the airline about the size and weight of your wheelchair/mobility equipment, so please include these details on your questionnaire. Please be aware that, if you are traveling with TUI Airways, you also need to contact them directly, and we will provide details of how to do so. It is an airline requirement that they speak with you directly to discuss your needs and any mobility information they require for you to travel. Wheelchairs, scooters and mobility aids for personal use are carried free of charge in addition to the checked baggage allowance on your flight.
All mobility scooters must be checked in with your baggage and will be transported to and securely stored in the aircraft hold. Wheelchairs may either be checked in with your baggage or taken from you at the aircraft gate. This is dependent on the airline and departure airport. At airports where it is not possible to take your wheelchair or mobility aid to the gate, the airline may have to secure the item at check-in and return it to you upon arrival. In these circumstances, another wheelchair will be provided to transport you from check-in to the aircraft and from the aircraft to the baggage hall upon arrival.
Pre-existing medical conditions
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or have been hospitalized within the last 6 months, you may need to get medical clearance before you can fly. These include:
- Recent illness, hospitalization, injury or surgery
- An existing unstable medical condition
- Need for additional oxygen or use of medical equipment on board
- Traveling for medical reasons or treatment
If you have recently experienced any of the above or are about to, please contact our Customer Service department (if flights were booked by Cunard) or your Travel Advisor as soon as possible. Please note that airlines may request to speak with you directly to confirm you are able to travel and that you can provide a fit-to-fly certificate.
Additional oxygen
Should you require additional in-flight oxygen, you must advise this at the time of booking, as airlines dictate that only one passenger is permitted to fly with oxygen.
Some airlines are not able to provide in-flight oxygen on all of their flights. If you have already confirmed your flight booking prior to notifying us that you require oxygen, we may have to amend your flights to an alternative airline.
For all scheduled flights, please refer to your carrier’s website for its individual oxygen policy. You will also need to contact our Customer Service department to discuss your oxygen requirements with us.
Recent injuries
If you have recently been injured or have a medical condition which could affect your ability to fly, a fit-to-fly letter from your doctor or hospital is usually required. If you are required to wear a plaster cast, you are permitted to travel, provided it is a split plaster cast and has not been fitted or changed within 48 hours. Casts fitted within 48 hours prior to departure will need to be split by your doctor or hospital. For further advice, we recommend that you liaise directly with your physician.