Flights need to be as safe as possible for everyone on board so certain airlines are very strict with certain health conditions.
This means that you might not always be allowed to fly and make be required to present medical paperwork
On Virgin Atlantic you won’t be able to fly if you’ve had a general anaesthetic or dental treatment within 48 hours prior to your flight.
“Certain medical conditions can be affected by flying, and may require medical clearance, which is written confirmation from your doctor that you are well enough to fly,” the Virgin website states.
The reason behind this rule is because of the air pressure in the cabin which could result in a passenger whose had recent surgery experiencing a lot of pain.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesman told Express.co.uk: “Following our medical guidelines which are outlined by the International Air Transport Association’s guidance, if a customer is having a simple dental procedure then they can travel two days after having this procedure.
“If a passenger is having a tooth extraction or having any stitches then they can travel three days after having this procedure.
“The reason for this is due to the reduced air pressure within the cabin. Any enclosed air will expand by at least 30 per cent.
“If for example, a customer had had simple dental work (such as a filling) there may be trapped air in the cavity which has not had enough time to settle itself, meaning that it would be very painful when flying.”
However, the airline does deal with every passenger on a case by case basis with the Virgin’s medical team.
“If the passenger is looking to travel earlier than the set guideline then we may require medical paperwork from their doctor to confirm that they are fit to fly which can be reviewed by our medical team,” the spokesman said.
According to the airline’s Conditions of Carriage, if you are asked to provide evidence of your fitness to fly and a flight is diverted as a direct result of your health – and Virgin have reasons to doubt the veracity of your evidence – they will “not be responsible for any fines, detention, medical or repatriation costs incurred by you and [they] reserve the right to seek reimbursement of any costs we incur as a result.”
However, Virgin Atlantic is not alone in its strict rules for who they allow on board.
American Airlines lists its reasons for why it may refuse to transport passengers is it Conditions of Carriage.
One of these is if you smell really bad. In their words: “If you have an offensive odour not caused by a disability or illness.”
In 2010 a passenger was reportedly kicked off an Air Canada Jazz flight after fellow fliers complained about an odour, reported ABC News.
They will also not allow you on if you are barefoot.
American Airlines can also refuse entry to passengers who “are clothed in a manner that will cause discomfort or offence to other passengers.”
The airline is not alone in this. Last year a group of ladies on a hen-do were kicked off a Jet 2 flight because their T-shirts said “B*****s On Tour”.
A Jet2 spokesman told The Sun: “At check-in for our East Midlands to Majorca flight, a group of passengers were reminded of our Onboard Together policy and told that they would not be permitted to fly with us whilst wearing t-shirts which displayed offensive language.”
