Medicals

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This page details American Airlines Medical Acceptance Policy.

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• American Airlines and American Eagle will accept unaccompanied blind and deaf passengers on any flight provided they can read braille, or communicate with the flight crew. If not, they must be accompanied.
• Braille emergency procedures cards are available on all flights. Passengers should ask flight attendants if needed.
• Please contact the local Special Assistance Coordinator through AA Reservations if a blind/deaf passenger requires extraordinary assistance, i.e. wheelchair.

• Not accepted on American Airlines/American Eagle. Passengers must be able to follow emergency procedures.

• Always contact Special Assistance Coordinator when dealing with questionable contagious diseases.
• Passengers with contagious diseases may require a medical certificate!

• Medical certificate may be required.
• Ear infections can cause ear blocks which can be painful during flight. Advise the passenger to contact their physician regarding any problems with air travel.

• Requires medical clearance through AA Speical Assistance Coordinator. Contact your local American Airlines Reservations office.
• Passengers may travel within 3 days of injury with a doctor's statement advising that the passenger is stable for air travel and that any swelling has gone down.
• AA can accomodate casts made of plaster, plastic or fiberglass.
• Broken limbs must be able to fit in airline seat without the limb protruding into the aisle.
• Passenger can purchase extra seat at normal fare.

• No medical clearance by AA required.
• Usually unaffected by security device. If more information is needed the passenger needs to speak with his/her doctor.

• Requires medical clearance through AA Special Assistance Coordinator.
• Please contact your local AA Reservations office.
• Passengers released from hospital within 2 weeks of travel require a doctor's statement authorising air travel.

• Requires medical clearance through AA Special Assistance Coordinator.
• Contact AA at your local AA Reservations office.

• Required medical clearance through AA Special Assistance Coordinator.
• Contact your local AA Reservations office.

• Requires medical clearance through AA Special Assistance Coordinator.
• Please contact your local AA Reservations office.
• All equipment must be battery operated.

• There are no mechanical refrigeration units on any American Eagle aircrafts. AA does provide ice for cooling medication. The passenger needs to alert the flight attendant of this.
• All medication needs to be in its original packaging.
• We recommend that the passenger carries a copy of the medical prescription with them, in order to clear customs.

• Requires medical clearance through AA Special Assistance Coordinator. Please contact your local AA medical desk.
• FAA regulations preclude the use of personal oxygen units on board commercial aircraft, hence only American Airlines supplied, FAA approved therapeutic oxygen may be used.
• American Airlines offers oxygen at a varied flow rate of 0.5 - 6 liters per minute for both domestic and international flights, in all classes of cabin.
• Flow rates are non adjustable and no other flow rate is acceptable. Nasal canula or mask are used for administration.
• A doctor's statement authorizing flow rate is required prior to the date of departure.
• Note: oxygen is provided only onboard the aircraft. American Airlines does not provide oxygen in the Terminal areas.
• Oxygen is NOT available on American Eagle equipment.
• No personal units are allowed.
• A minimum 72 hours advance notice is required, earlier notification is encouraged.

  Note: Without 72 hours notice, American Airlines cannot assure the availability of the oxygen for the passenger

• Cost is 100.00 USD per flight coupon. Charge is payable at city ticket or airport ticket office or at a travel agency and may be included in PTA. This fee is non-refundable.
• Aisle seat assignment is prefered. Bulkhead seating is not permitted. (Click on Seats for more information on seat types).
• Empty oxygen units may be accepted as checked baggage or in the cabin, provided the customer can demonstrate the bottle is empty. All others will be accepted as air cargo only.
• Full oxygen tanks must be shipped by air cargo.

• For domestic travel between the U.S. and Canada
  
  • Medical certificate is necessary within 4 weeks of the delivery date in uncomplicated pregnancy.
  • For domestic flights normally under 5 hours, travel is not permitted when requested within 7 days before or after delivery date without a medical certificate. clearance by Special Assist is required.

• For international travel or any flights over the water
  
  • Travel is not advised within 30 days of the due date, unless the passenger is examined by an obstetrician within 48hrs of outbound departure and certified in writing as medically stable for flight.
  • Travel within 10 days of the due date on international travel or within 7 days after delivery requires clearance by a special assistance coordinator.

• Service animals are trained to work with people who have different types of disablilities including people who are blind, deaf, mobility impaired, developmentally disabled, autistic and senior citizens. Service animals may include dogs and certain species of monkeys.

• Service animals will be accepted for transportation when accompanied by handlers of a service animal or passengers who require their assistance.
• Health certificates are a government requirement and although American and Eagle do not require one for acceptance, customers should be encouraged to obtain the proper documents and contact local government authorities for detailed requirements to avoid quarantine or destruction in certain countries including (but not limited to) the U.K., Japan and Hawaii.
• The service animal is carried free of charge.
• It must be harnessed and sit at the handler's/passenger's feet.
• Only one service animal per handler/passenger is permitted.

• The passenger/handler and service animal may be seated in any row, except a designated exit row.

• The service animal may not travel in the cabin into the U.K. It must travel in the cargo compartment. Special requirements exist for animals to Hawaii and Japan. Please call AA Reservation for more informations.

• Legitimate intramuscular or subcutaneous medical treatments are permitted in flight provided no assistance in administration is required from the flight crew, and the shot is administered in a discreet manner by the passenger.
• The need for in-flight injections other than insulin should be confirmed by a medical certificate.
• Needle length is not specified, but the passanger will require a doctor's letter for airport security.
• The passenger is responsible for needle recapping and proper disposal in a personal unit. If they do not have one they need to alert the flight atttendant who will dispose of it properly.
• It is necessary to carry a doctor's statement in the event anyone at security or customs has questions.

• Requires medical clearance throught AA Special Assistance Coordinator.
• They will determine if the model and battery can be accepted on the aircraft.
• Please call your local AA Reservations office.

• Request at Airport
  
  • Passenger must request a wheelchair from the sky cap or other American/American Eagle employee upon arrival at the airport.
  • A wheelchair will not be waiting at curbside, it must be requested.

• Interline Connections
  
  • AA does provide wheelchair assistance for passengers making interline connections. Each airport sets local procedures for providing this service in accordance with their structure and facilities.

• PNR update
  
  • Add wheelchair requests to PNR. (See codes and formats below).

• Acceptance as carry-on
  
  • Only one manually operated wheelchair will be accommodated as carry-on in the cabin of each aircraft containing a stowage closet. They will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis at the gate area.

• Check-in
  
  • It is recommended that manual wheelchairs be checked with luggage at the check-in desk.

• Charges
  
  • All assistive devices will be checked free of charge in addition to the free baggage allowance.

• WCHR
  • Passenger needs wheelchair though he/she can walk and climb stairs.
  • Advise passenger to request wheelchair upon arrival at the airport.
  • A passenger's own manual wheelchair may be used to transport him/her to the gate area. (Wheelchair may be boarded as carry-on on first come, first served basis at the gate).
    - or -

  • The passenger may check his/her own wheelchair as baggage and use one of American Airlines' manual wheelchairs for transportation to the gate area.
  • Passenger should request preboard assistance from the gate agent if desired. (30 minutes prior to departure).
  • Passenger should reconfirm downline wheelchair request at the airport ticket office or gate on their day of departure.
  • We suggest that the passenger advises the cabin crew of their wheelchair request 60 mins before landing so that they can alert wheelchair assist staff in the arrival city.
  • Clearance by AA Special Assistance Coordinator is not required unless other additional special assistance is required.

• WCHS

  Note:    Please contact AA Medical Department when requesting WCHS

  • Passenger cannot climb stairs, but he/she can walk to seat. Clarify if passenger needs assistance with the stairs to board the aircraft, or to get from the terminal to/from the tarmac area.
  • If passenger cannot walk the stairs and needs arm assistance or total assistance on the aircraft stairs, use WCHS and call your local AA Reservations office for clearance by a Special Assistance Coordinator.

• WCHC

  Note:    Please contact AA Medical Department when requesting WCHC

  • Passenger must be carried to their seat. Clearance by AA Special Assistance Coordinator is required. Please call your local AA Reservations office.

• Available on all jet aircraft only.
• AA has installed in-flight wheelchairs on all our jet aircraft. The chairs are stowed in a collapsed position and can be used to assist passengers to/from the lavatory. When asked, flight personnel will obtain the chairs for the passenger.