Travelling and Holidays

We want to help you enjoy your holidays and travel plans safely. If you are thinking about travelling, particularly by air, please let us know as early as possible, ideally at least 12 weeks before you travel. This gives us time to provide personalised advice and arrange any assessments or support that may be needed.

Air travel can expose passengers to lower oxygen levels than those experienced on the ground. Depending on your lung function, oxygen levels and overall health, you may require additional testing, such as a hypoxic challenge ("fit to fly") test, to assess whether in flight oxygen is needed. If required, we can help arrange oxygen for your journey. 

We can also provide a travel letter detailing your cystic fibrosis diagnosis, medications and medical equipment. This can be useful when carrying medications, nebulisers, airway clearance devices and other treatment equipment in your hand luggage, as well as when passing through airport security. A fit-to-fly letter can also be provided where appropriate.

If you are travelling abroad, it is important to have comprehensive travel insurance that covers cystic fibrosis and any related medical care, as some standard policies may not cover pre-existing medical conditions.

For further information and travel advice, visit the Cystic Fibrosis Trust resources:

• Going on holiday with cystic fibrosis 
• Travel insurance