Chicken Pox and Flying?

[dynie]

My granson has just developed chicken pox and we are due to fly to Cyprus in 1 week, does anyone know the airlines ruling on flying with this condition?

[redcrx]

Speak to your GP. I can never remember if contagious before or after spots show. Also you need to consider how poorly your grandson feels. Have you got travel insurance in case he cant fly?

[Drusilla1S]

The airlines are increasingly concerned about children flying if they have chicken pox because it can have dreadful consequences for other passengers with lowered immune systems.

The attached site gives details.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=97

[gessoo]

Personally, I would telephone the airline concerned and get the information from them. I should think the rules would differ airline to airline. Also, I would not think it would be fair to fly with your grandson. Chicken pox can be a nasty illness, especially in adults or vulnerable people and he will be infectious until the last of the scabs has formed. Don't forget too that chicken pox can cause serious complications in early pregnancy, such as deformed foetus. Your grandchild could be sitting very near to a pregnant lady in a very confined space.

I would see if your holiday insurance will compensate you if you do not travel.

However, if all the scabs have crusted over all should be OK. But still check with the airline for your own peace of mind.

Best wishes.

[gessoo]

I didn't see DrusillaIS post before I posted, but we obviously think alike.

[gessoo]

Also, taking redcrx's point, your grandson might feel off colour for a while and all the travelling would not be very fair to him.

[dzug]

Have a look here at someone who was denied boarding when trying to fly with a grandson with chicken pox

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=73042

[scubadiver]

Once all the spots have crusted over, he will no longer be contagious. As a rule of thumb, it usually takes 6 days from the first spot until they have crusted over, so you may be ok.