Medical Disclaimer

Please read this before you act on anything you find on TripKinetics. It sets out plainly what this site is, and, more importantly, what it is not.

General information only

Everything here is general information about travelling and flying while recovering from surgery or injury. It is written to help you understand the issues and ask better questions. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it is not a substitute for the judgement of the surgeon or doctor treating you. Reading a guide here creates no clinical relationship between you and this site.

Timings are general guides, not clearance

The fitness to fly intervals on this site, the typical wait after a given operation, the point at which most people can travel, the windows for higher clot risk, are general guides drawn from published sources. They describe what tends to be true across many people. They cannot account for your specific operation, your recovery, your other conditions or your medications. A figure here is a starting point for a conversation, never a green light for you personally.

Your surgeon decides your case

The one person who can say when you are fit to travel is the surgeon who performed your operation, or the doctor managing your care. They know what was done, how you are healing and what you need to watch. If this site and your surgeon ever seem to disagree, follow your surgeon. Ask them directly when you may fly, whether you need a fit to fly letter, and what precautions apply to you. Do not delay, avoid or change any treatment because of something you read here.

In an emergency

If you have symptoms that worry you, before, during or after a flight, do not wait on a website. Warning signs such as chest pain, breathlessness, or a swollen, hot or painful calf can be serious and need prompt assessment. Seek urgent medical care straight away, and in a life threatening situation call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department.

Rules and figures change

Airline policies, medical clearance requirements, insurance conditions and clinical guidance all change, and they can differ between carriers and countries. Figures on this site are correct to the best of my knowledge when written and reviewed, but they can date. Always confirm the current position directly with your airline, your insurer and your treating clinician before you travel.

Outside links

Where this site links to other organisations, those links are provided for convenience and further reading. I do not control that content and cannot vouch for its accuracy or its currency. A link is not an endorsement.

The medical content here is reviewed by Dr Helena Boyd, a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, and how that review works is described in the Editorial Policy. That review improves the general information; it does not turn it into advice for your individual case.