Pre-travel medical examinations

It is recommended that international passengers seek a pre-travel medical examination and advice on vaccinations, safety precautions and information on the current situation at the destination, before and for the duration of the trip.

Whilst traveling

Air travel may have physical or psychological effects: stress, abdominal distension, ear pain, sinus congestion, leg swelling, body ache, airsickness, jet lag and, in rare cases, deep vein thrombosis.

  • Avoid heavy meals before and during flight
  • Breath deeply, be relaxed, as stress increases gastric acidity and abdominal discomfort
  • Keep hydrated by drinking water or fruit juice throughout the flight; avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks because of their diuretic effect
  • Use moisturizer to prevent skin dryness
  • Wear loose fitting cloths, take off shoes and move around in the cabin
  • Stretch and move your body as recommended for in-flight exercises
  • Consult your doctor for appropriate treatment to prevent airsickness; keep eyes fixed on a non-moving object during turbulence
  • For personnel hygiene, wash hands regularly

Well controlled, diabetics can travel by adjusting their treatment and meal times to specific time zones. Patients with insulin should inform the airline before departure and carry with them a medical certificate (in English) for bringing syringes and needles on board.

Otitis and sinusitis:

  • Passengers with nasal allergies or chronic sinusitis are more prone to have ear and sinus problems because of low humidity in the cabin, changes in cabin pressure during ascent and descent aggravated nasal congestion. Especially during descent, the Eustachian tube tends to collapse in the middle ear, resulting in the characteristic “pop” sensation, difficulty hearing and pain. To avoid ear blockage :
  • Keep hydrated by drinking throughout the flight
  • Use nasal decongestant spray, normal saline spray or other decongestants 30 minutes before departure to prevent nasal swelling
  • To prevent blockage, practice frequent swallowing, chewing or gentle Vasalva maneuver (holding nose and generating pressure with closed mouth until ears pop)

DVT

So-called “economy class syndrome” is a condition in which the thrombus develops in deep veins due to long distance flights, variation of cabin atmosphere (decrease in humidity and hypoxia, for example), immobility and dehydration. A dangerous consequence is that DVT can result in a pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of DVT can come late, after flights, indicated by aching or soreness in the calf, swelling in the calf or ankles, slight fever or feeling unwell.

  • People over 40 
  • Past history of venous thrombosis
  • Recent surgery especially abdominal, pelvic or leg surgery 
  • Prolonged immobilization
  • Coagulation problems or increased blood viscosity
  • Pregnancy or recent delivery
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Estrogen hormone therapy or oral contraception
  • Cigarettes smokers
  • Varicose veins
  • Obesity

  • Wear loose fitting and comfortable clothing
  • Wear graduated compression stockings
  • Keep hydrated by drinking lots of water throughout the flight
  • Leave the underside of the seat in front of you free to be able to move the legs
  • Walk often in the cabin
  • Exercise as recommended in the aircraft
  • High risk passengers should consult their doctor before travelling for prevention (such as with low molecular weight heparin or aspirin)
health-and-wellbeing-image

THAI like every airline has some capability to render medical care in flight. Cabin crews are well and regularly trained for first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and they also may ask for assistance from an on-board medical doctor.

Medical equipment available includes:
  • First- aid kits (to used by cabin crew)
  • Medical kits (one white and one black) are available for on-board medical doctors or with use of defibrillator
  • Automatic external defibrillator (AED)
  • Wheelchair (for long distance flight)

For Your Safety

Be Careful with Hot Drinks

While en route our flight attendants will provide hot beverage service to passengers. In order to prevent burn injuries from hot liquid spills, we would advise passengers:

  • When a coffee/tea cup is placed on a carry tray, please wait until the flight attendant finishes pouring the hot liquid and then pick up the coffee/tea cup with caution; otherwise hot liquid may spill out and possibly cause injury.   
  • In case of no carry tray in use, the flight attendant will pour the hot liquid into a coffee/tea cup that the passenger holds with a handle. Please wait until they finishes pouring before taking it back; otherwise hot liquid may spill out and possibly cause injury.             

Lying on the Cabin Floor

Passenger seats on board all THAI aircraft have been designed, in line with standard aviation regulations, to be properly fitted, convenient and secure. In particular on long haul flights, some passengers may prefer to change their position by lying on the cabin floor around seating areas, but this can pose a threat to their own safety

Despite a clean and tidy floor, tiny dust particles in the carpet may cause allergic symptoms, and even affect the respiratory system. Moreover, the on-board oxygen may not be circulated fully and sufficiently down on the floor, causing difficult to breathe, and, upon getting up, the passenger may feel light-headed and dizzy. Most importantly, when lying on the cabin floor contact with the metal parts of the seat and floor can cause severe injury, especially during turbulence.