The Journal.

Trip Planning · 3 min read

Can you request a low-salt meal on an Air India international flight?

Yes - Air India lists a Low Salt Meal (LSML) among its special meals, a vegetarian tray prepared with minimum or no added salt for passengers on a low-sodium diet. The one condition: pre-order it at least 24 hours before departure through the website or customer care. It cannot be arranged at the airport or on board. How to book it and what to expect.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 4 min read

No fridge in the hotel room: confirm a medicine-specific storage plan

Use the exact medicine label and pharmacist or manufacturer advice, not a universal temperature or an improvised ice bucket. Confirm the actual hotel storage, access and collection plan, including power loss and checkout.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 3 min read

Can you carry Ayurvedic medicine powders from India to Thailand?

Yes. Thailand's FDA treats Ayurvedic preparations as herbal products: allowed for personal use in quantities up to 90 days, as long as they are not prohibited herbs and you carry labels or documents proving personal use. Sealed original packaging, an ingredient list and a practitioner letter turn the customs conversation into a formality. The details and limits, below.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 3 min read

Can Indian travellers bring prescribed sleeping tablets into Singapore?

Yes - but the active ingredient decides the rules, not the brand on the strip. Non-controlled medicines: up to 3 months' supply with a prescription, no approval needed. Common prescription sleeping pills containing controlled substances like zolpidem or benzodiazepines need HSA's online approval before you fly. Prohibited ingredients are not allowed at all. How to check yours in five minutes.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 3 min read

Do metal knee implants require special paperwork at airport security in India?

No paperwork is mandatory - the BCAS screening protocol says medical documentation is "helpful but not essential". What is guaranteed: your implant will set off the door-frame detector, you will get a hand-held wand check and a pat-down, and you can ask for a private screening room. Carrying the implant card or discharge summary still makes the conversation much faster. What to expect, step by step.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 4 min read

How can you keep temperature-sensitive injectable medicine cold during a long international flight?

Keep it in the cabin, never in checked baggage - the hold can freeze or overheat it. For the flight itself you have three working options: an evaporative cooling wallet (stays cool 45+ hours, no ice needed), an insulated pouch with a gel ice pack (frozen-solid packs pass security; medically necessary ones are allowed even when melting), or nothing at all if the pen is already in use, since in-use insulin is fine at room temperature for about 4 weeks. The method and the mistakes to avoid, below.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 3 min read

Can a passenger use a portable oxygen concentrator during an Air India flight?

Yes - Air India permits FAA/EASA-approved portable oxygen concentrators in the cabin, and the device plus its battery bag count as assistive devices, outside your cabin baggage allowance. The conditions: a physician's signed statement with your hourly oxygen need and flow rate, a medical certificate issued within 10 days of departure, batteries charged for 150 percent of the flight time, and no exit-row seat. Here is the full preparation.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 3 min read

Can you carry a CPAP machine on an IndiGo international flight?

Yes. A CPAP machine is a portable medical electronic device, and IndiGo's own dangerous-goods rules allow such devices in the cabin - the machine and its battery follow the standard lithium limits (up to 100 Wh freely, 100-160 Wh with airline approval, spare batteries in the cabin only). If you plan to use it during the flight, tell IndiGo at least 48 hours before departure, carry your prescription, and empty the humidifier before security.

03 Nov 2026

Trip Planning · 4 min read

What should you do if your Indian passport gets water-damaged during an overseas trip?

Do not repair it and do not try to fly on it - airlines and border officers can refuse a damaged passport. Let it dry naturally, photograph every page, then contact the nearest Indian embassy or consulate. Two routes exist: a re-issued passport if you have time, or an Emergency Certificate for a one-way return to India, which a consulate can issue in about a working day once your nationality is confirmed.

03 Nov 2026