Medicines and Liquids in Cabin Baggage at Košice Airport

Prescription medicines, insulin, syringes, a CPAP machine or eye drops – all of these can be carried through security at Košice Airport, as long as you know how to pack your luggage correctly. Liquid and gel medicines are exempt from the usual liquid limit within the EU, but security staff must be able to inspect them separately, and for larger quantities or needles they may ask for a doctor’s confirmation. This article gives you an overview of what to pack, where to put it, and what to keep in mind if you’re flying outside the European Union.

Liquids and Medicines in Cabin Baggage – the Rules at Košice

The standard rule for liquids in cabin baggage is the same across the EU: each container up to 100 ml, with a total of no more than 1 litre in one transparent resealable bag. Medicines are exempt from this limit – liquid medicines, drops, syrups or contact lens solution can be carried in larger volumes if they match the length of your trip. At the checkpoint, take them out of your luggage and present them to staff separately, outside the liquids bag, so they can be assessed apart from your other liquids.

Some European airports already use new CT scanners that allow liquids up to 2 litres per container. However, this rule isn’t yet applied everywhere, and on your return flight or at a different airport you may still encounter the original 100 ml limit. When packing, it’s therefore safer to plan around the stricter rule to avoid problems right at the checkpoint. You’ll find the exact check-in procedure, as well as how much time to allow before security, in our article on check-in at Košice Airport, which also describes how the baggage check itself works.

How to Pack Medicines So Security Goes Smoothly

The most important rule is: pack the medicines you’ll need for your whole stay, plus a reasonable reserve, in your cabin baggage rather than your checked baggage. Checked baggage can be delayed or lost, and the aircraft hold can experience temperature conditions that aren’t ideal for some medicines. It’s therefore a good idea to split your supply between two bags (for example your cabin bag and personal item), so that losing one of them doesn’t leave you without any medication at all.

Pack medicines in their original packaging with the leaflet included – this makes it easier to identify the active substance at the checkpoint, and later on if needed in your destination country.
Prepare a list of your medicines using the international generic name of the active substance, not just the brand name, since brand names often differ between countries.
If you have a connecting flight, expect an additional security check, so keep your medicines within easy reach rather than packed at the bottom of your bag.
If you’re not sure exactly what you’re allowed to bring and in what quantity, check with your doctor or pharmacist in advance.

It’s also worth thinking in advance about how much luggage you’re actually bringing, since cabin baggage allowances are limited with low-cost carriers. If you also need to check the size and weight limits for a specific airline’s cabin baggage, you’ll find an overview of the rules in our article on Ryanair and Wizz Air cabin baggage, which also has tips on fitting your medicines within the allowed dimensions.

Insulin, Injections, CPAP and Other Medical Devices

Insulin, other injectable medicines, syringes or needles are among the items for which security staff most often ask for documentation – a doctor’s confirmation or prescription showing that the item is medically necessary. We recommend having this ready in advance, ideally also in English even if you’re only flying within the EU, since it will speed up communication with security staff.

If you’re travelling with a CPAP machine, an oxygen concentrator or another bulky medical device, notify your airline in advance – some carriers have a specific procedure for such devices at check-in and for seating on board. Batteries and power banks that are part of such equipment always belong in cabin baggage, never in checked baggage. You can find up-to-date information on how these rules are applied at Košice Airport in the security control section of the airport’s official website, specifically in the sections on carrying liquids and on passengers with medical equipment.

If you’re bringing such a device for the first time, allow extra time for its inspection – staff may want to examine it separately, outside the X-ray belt. It’s therefore worth arriving at the airport with a comfortable time margin, especially if you’re also carrying a larger quantity of liquid medicines.

Prescription Medicines and Travel Outside the EU

While the situation within the Schengen area is fairly straightforward, for flights outside the European Union it’s worth checking the rules of your destination country in advance. Some commonly available medicines – for example those containing pseudoephedrine or codeine, stronger painkillers or psychotropic medication – are restricted or even banned in some non-EU countries, even though you can buy them over the counter at home without any issue. Check this information on the website of the destination country’s embassy or consulate before your trip, to avoid complications right at the border.

If you take a medicine containing narcotic or psychotropic substances and you’re travelling within the Schengen area, there’s a specific certificate for this under Article 75 of the Schengen Implementing Convention. It’s issued or confirmed by the relevant authority based on a doctor’s prescription, and it’s worth carrying it together with the prescription, even if security staff ultimately don’t ask for it. Similar practical topics to consider before departure, such as travel health insurance, are covered in our article on travel insurance and the EHIC, which is worth reading before you book your flight.

What Else to Prepare Before You Fly

Besides the medicines themselves, it’s worth having your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) ready, along with your doctor’s contact details in case you need a confirmation or replacement prescription abroad. It’s also a good idea to save a digital copy of your medicine list, for example as a photo on your phone, as a backup in case you lose the paper list or the leaflet.

If you’re not sure exactly what the check will look like for your specific flight, you’ll find practical details about check-in, connections, and arrival and departure times in the arrivals and departures section. It’s also worth keeping generally up to date on current travel requirements, since these can affect flying with medicines and medical equipment just as much as airport-specific rules.

If you’re looking for answers to other practical questions before your trip, take a look at our frequently asked questions page, where we’re gradually adding answers on the topic of medicines and medical equipment in baggage as well. With the right preparation – original packaging, a list of active substances and, if needed, a doctor’s confirmation – you’ll get through security at Košice Airport without unnecessary stress.

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