Pre-planning:
- I purchased a MedicAlert bracelet & had the details of my illness put on file. I also bought a 'respirator' style mask & tested it several times in high exposure settings before the flight.
- My husband decided to invest in carbon blankets, both for the flight & for the bedding at the other end.
- We were extremely happy to find a direct flight to our destination. That was something we thought didn't exist, but it made a world of difference - we now only had to worry about 1 flight & 2 airports, rather than 2 flights & 3 airports. It also reduced the travel time by many hours.
- My husband phoned the airline & the airport. Initially it was difficult but finally we were put on to the manager for the airline at the particular airport from which we were departing. Once he was involved everything became comparatively simple.
- In my own case because of my ME/CFS planning included a wheelchair plus assist. It also included arranging a late check in time, and organising with staff to be boarded last. Passengers with disability are routinely boarded first.
- Towards the date of departure the airline contacted us to advise that they would be able to leave seats around us free of passengers so I would have less exposure.
- Before we left I saw my GP. She provided two letters; one detailing my medication, the other detailing my illness & what my requirements would be including the wearing of the mask, access to fragrance free bathrooms and a "fragrance free flight" :o).
- I topped up all of my prescription medications & supplements, particularly tri-salts which I use for chemical reactions.
- Clothing was planned to allow for least skin exposure possible. This included hat & gloves.
At the airport
- On arrival at the airport we were checked straight in. My air purifier was accepted as checked luggage. Because it was medical equipment & labelled such we did not pay for it as additional cargo.
- For check in I had only to shift my respirator briefly while my passport was checked, to allow confirmation of my identity.
- Due to airport redesign I did have to be taken through duty free. This is something we would have avoided previously by using a side door. Due to the renovations this was not available.
- The airline arranged for the disabled bathroom in the lounge to be cleaned only with water & bicarb for 2 days prior to our trip. On the morning of the trip, once we arrived at the lounge the door to the disabled bathroom was locked so that only I would be able to access it. At the time we were flying the lounge was reasonably empty so this would have had no impact on other travellers. Also due to the few people waiting in the lounge I was able to replace my respirator briefly with my plain carbon filter mask for a break.
On the plane & off again
- We were boarded last as arranged. On the aeroplane the staff were extremely helpful. While we had not been able to arrange a fragrance free bathroom on the plane they did arrange for us to be first off. Remarkably they also ensured that the plane was not refuelled until after we'd disembarked.
- Once off the plane I was provided again with a wheelchair plus assist. At immigration we were able to "queue jump" & once more I removed my respirator for identification. Once we'd claimed our luggage we were quickly through customs, declaring all of our "declarables".
- My father had arranged to collect us & was able to arrange to park in a disabled access carpark near the terminal exit at which point I was able to remove my respirator & replace it with a regular carbon filter mask from there on.
And Home!
Once "home" I was amazed to find that neither my clothing nor that of my husband was contaminated with scent. We'd probably been on the first flight for that plane that day & avoided scents from previous passengers. I had no MCS reaction at all to the flight.
Overall it was an incredibly positive experience. It has been two years since I last flew & while I was grateful this was a one-way flight I am absolutely thrilled with the help we were able to obtain from the airline & airport for a condition that it is fairly certain they knew nothing about.
Now here we are dealing with the challenge of a new life in a new home. The house is not MCS perfect, but few houses bar those purpose built would be & I am hopeful we'll be able to make the required changes easily. That is a story for another blog!
Meanwhile, if you have MCS & are flying all I can suggest is make a million plans, ask for help & keep asking. We got a lot of "no"s before we found our one "yes", but it was all we needed & without the help we got I would not have arrived as safely as I did.
